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Author Topic: Towelling off your balls  (Read 1600 times)

WiscBowler

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Towelling off your balls
« on: January 02, 2004, 11:18:39 PM »
How much does using a towel after every shot affect the performance and longevity of the ball?  I do it after every shot, but I would say only 1 in 4 guys in my league use a towel at all.  My dad averages 205 and never uses a towel.
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seadrive

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2004, 02:26:19 PM »
I don't think it makes any difference at all, especially if you wipe the ball off just before you throw it, rather than when it first returns to the ball rack.

I used to be religious about wiping off the ball before every shot.  I even used to spray a little Formula 409 on my towel to aid in the removal of the lane oil.  Now, I don't bother.  I'd rather spend my time focusing on where I'm going to stand and how I'm going to roll the ball, rather than worrying about where my towel is, and did I get every little bit of oil off the ball.

Besides, all those damn towels on the (circular) ball return just keep the balls from moving where they're supposed to.  Sorry, one of my pet peeves!
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
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TheBowlingKid25

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2004, 02:43:35 PM »
I wipe mine off before every shot. It bothers me to get oil on my hands, and just to see it. Of course I am a very odd person But I agree I dont see any performance difference, BUT as for longevity cleaning the ball with some type of cleaner (i.e.-409,alchahol, etc.) will help prolong the life of the ball. After a while the ball will absorb the oil sitting on the surface, and after long enough the ball will start to lose reaction. There are ways to draw the oil out though. Hook again, rejouvanation. Actually I even gave my particle ball a warm bath, which drew out a good bit of oil. Just remember if you do this, make sure its not to hot, like how hot you would take a bath, and DO NOT! let the grips sit under the water, make sure all the holes are facing up, out of the water.
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15 years and still going strong! 15 years old that is! DA DA DAAAAAA!! UP UP AND AWAY! TO THE BAT CAVE ROBIN!
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omegabowler

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2004, 04:15:14 PM »
f you are going to wiper your balls, A microfiber towel is the only way to go. cotton towels along with the oil will polish the surface.

this will change your reaction more than not wiping.
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"deserves got nothing to do with it."
-- William Munny

nd300

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2004, 04:21:17 PM »
I've wiped my ball off as a part of my pre-shot routine for years. I'm not sure that Formula 409 is an approved cleaner that you can use during league or tournament play under ABC rules. I use rubbing alcohol which is approved for use during league or tournament play under ABC rules.
 If I am wrong about the Formula 409 then I apologize as I have not looked at a rule book in a few years. I have bowled against the league officers and none of them has ever said oen thing about my use of rubbing alcohol. Also, during the State Handicap Tournament last year the State Officers were walking around and saw me apply rubbing alcohol to my towel.They stopped and looked at the bottle,actually sniffed it to make sure that it was alcohol and nothing else, and told me that it was ok. I also saw these same officers remove a bowler who was applying what looked to be furniture polish to his ball( The lanes were dry and this bowler was a cranker).
 I can only gather from this episode that alcohol is allowed under ABC rules. If anyone can double check this and let me know I would greatly appreciate it.
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Chris
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LuvThatWhiteDot

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2004, 04:49:32 PM »
quote:
I can only gather from this episode that alcohol is allowed under ABC rules. If anyone can double check this and let me know I would greatly appreciate it.


I hope this link works... it's the approved/not approved ball cleaner page from bowl.com.

http://www.bowl.com/bowl/BowlDotCom/common/static.html?page=bowl_speccert_ballcleaner
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White Dot
Queen of the Stone 8 Pin
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seadrive

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Re: Towelling off your balls
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2004, 09:44:24 AM »
Formula 409 is in the same category as Simple Green and Windex, both of which are specifically approved for use during competition.

I just noticed that a product called "Master Ball Cleaner" is on the "Not Acceptable at Any Time" list.  I have a bottle of "Master Reactive Urethane Ball Cleaner".  Does anyone know if that's the same stuff, and why it's not acceptable for use?

If Neo-Tac's Liquid Sandpaper and Renew-It can be used at any time, it's really difficult to figure out why anything except solvents should be prohibited.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
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