I have owned 11 different bowling balls in my life now and had never had one crack.  I just got the Reax Version 2 today (see post in other thread) and love it.  I was talking to another guy in my league who throws one of the Yetis, and his dad has a Reax V2.

He said that the V2 cracked.  He didn't drop it or keep it in the garage or anything.  I have also read other threads on this site mentioning balls cracking for no apparent reason.

He was able to get a replacement from the manufacturer, so that is all well and good, but I was wondering how common a phenomenon this is?  Also, it seems most of the ones I have heard about happened in the first year of ownership and were replaced free of charge.  Does this mean that, if you make it the first year or so, it is less likely to happen after that?

And is there any way to prevent it, other than the obvious, don't drop it onto a hard surface, don't leave it out in the garage or other cold place, etc?

And, are Radical balls, or any one brand more likely to have this happen?

Just curious.

Unless the balls are in constant rotation, I'd suggest keeping the ball in its original plastic bag, inside its box. Keep the box in an area that does not change rapidly in temperature and humidity. I have done that for around 15 years, covering 120 - 150 balls in my basement. Only one has cracked, a 1997 Track Sensor.

Most balls have 3 different parts surrounding one another: core, filler and coverstock. All three are made of different materials. They expand and shrink at different rates due to both temperature and humidity (those materials can and do absorb water as well as oil). Given this information, it's amazing that more balls don't crack. Most balls can endure large changes in temperature and humidity; where and when they suffer is when the changes are rapid, relative to the absorption.

Also see Aloarjr810's list of short term items. Most of those are the responsibility of the driller. He has to treat the ball right during drilling. You can add one more item: his drill bits MUST be sharp.

So if you don't bowl over the summer, store the ball in plastic, in the original box,

Well it doesn't have to be in the original box.

but during the season, is it OK to leave it in the bowling bag, if you bowl twice a week?

Yes

That sounds reasonable.  What about my question of time?  If it's going to crack, is it likely to do so in the first year or so, or can it happen at any time?  I assume any manufacturer is only going to replace a cracked ball for a certain amount of time, probably one year?

I have 5 balls and three of them have a worse crack so I keep buying and it cost me a lot, because for 3 months I have damage the 3 balls. Do you have any suggestion where I can buy that last for a while?