While reading another post on fall arsenal, the poster indicated he would not be buying a new ball for the coming season and instead will rely on some one on one practice time to sharpen his game. This got me thinking a little; especially as a purchaser if used balls only (so far). How do you know when the ball you have is played out? Iny case it's a bit more difficult than comparing how it reacted new as opposed to how it reacts now because I never had one new.

I have only really gotten into bowling since this past January when my son got into it. Yes I have played when I was a kid and intramurals in high school, but sporadically at best since then (I'm in mid 40s). I bought a used ball (and several more since) in order to play with my son. Just seemed logical if I wanted to get better myself, but couldn't justify new since I was not in a league myself.

I have been playing in an adult junior league this summer with the boy and I may actually look into an adult league in the fall. So my question is, how do you know if you're no longer getting max benefit from your equipment. Or rather, how do you know when it's time to get something new?

Or can you replicate new with a refinish and is there a law of diminishing returns going that route. Just looking for some thoughts and opinions. Thanks.

Thanks for your thoughts. So good ball maintenance is certainly key for long life, but then it begs the question, what good reason is there to buy 'this year's ball'?  Unless of course you do t like the action. I'm sure ball reps don't like that question but how many years does the average person here use a particular ball? Do you replace it because you itch for something new or because you honestly believe its not the same ball anymore?

If I have the extra cash and am getting what I consider a deal, I will buy stuff that I feel compliments what I already have (weaker/stronger) and stuff to use for new ideas in layouts.

For example, my last two purchases were a Misfit Pearl since the Green/White Misfit is such a good, all-around, ball for me... and a Pursuit-S on "steep" clearance to use for the MOtion hole layout.

I don't frequently keep stuff in my active rotation for more than a year or so and usually kick decent single drill equipment to the pile being donated to local HS bowlers.

I do, however, buy and drill old "gems" and am sometimes impressed how competitive with modern equipment a ball poured in the late 90's can be...

I have 100's of games on most of my balls and they still work great.  But I clean after every 3 games and oil remove after 30 games or so and then fully resurface around 100 games.  But I can say that I have had 2 balls "die" on me of the many I have owned. A columbia ransom demand and a amf double clutch solid.  Once you see how a ball reacts and overtime it doesn't seem the same and you are sure the conditions are similar, you oil extract and completely resurface it and then if its still not back then you could consider it "dead".  Other than that I will only replace a ball if it cracks beyond repair.  Most of the time I just replace my oiler and my previous oiler becomes my med/heavy ball.

While not exactly in the same position I can definitely understand. I came back to bowling a few months ago after taking several years off ( last bowled in 2001 or 2, can't really remember) and at first I was perfectly happy with my old equipment ( Blood Red Beast, Storm Eraser, Storm El Nino, Ace Supreme polyster), but after seeing the new stuff out there I'm jumping in with both feet.

I'll be buying two today for sure ( First Blood and Arson Low Flare) and probably a new spare ball as well being mine busted out around one of the fingers and has several cracks around it just waiting to pop out.

While I can't bowl leagues right now, its my hobby, and I may be retired before I can again but I'm gonna enjoy it.

Great thing about the new stuff coming out today compared to a decade ago, theres not nearly the big change that you used to see from new balls. So if you buy new and take care of it, it should last you a good long while.

I am new to bowling but my wifes been bowling for 15+ years. Im like you in that anything im into I like the latest greates, bowling has been no exception. I started with a used ball off Craigslist and that lasted about 2 weeks! Since then I purchased a new DV8 Reckless, a Storm Sync, Defiant Soul a White Dot for spares and a couple other new balls that didnt last. While i've since got rid of the Sync and the Reckless I love my Defiant Soul. Thing is I lost my butt selling the Sync being a high end ball. I have 3 used balls as well, all single drills bought on the bay I just had the thumbs moved for my span, all 3 are keeper and being used regurlarly. While I do bowl in Leauge and practice a couple nights a week at this point im just not good enough to notice the differance from the high end stuff to lower/mid stuff, plus if I dont like it I loose more money selling it than just buying single drill used or lower/mid level. I just bough a new Storm Tropical Heat Hybrid for $70 shipped and LOVE it, and if I didnt I could redrill or sell it without taking a big loss compared to something like my Sync. I bought a ball spinner and do the hot bath with my and the wifes equiptment to maintain everything. I also think a good pair of shoes (I bought some SST 8's) with changable souls is more benafit than another new ball. Oh and FWIW my wife was throwing an old Columbia Beast and Storm Too Hot when I started bowling. Sinces then shes got a 3 new balls. A Diva, Misfit and used Rising Star. Her average is up 20 pins so I would say upgrading to newer equiptemnt has definately helped her game but with the maintenance I do on our gear I dont think it would've mattered had I bought her used stuff.

Gizmo... I think "shelf life" is not the quite the right terminology...

I know what you are trying to say, but undrilled balls don't have a hook potential "half life" so to speak.