QuestionDoes a highly polished ball slow or prevent oil from absorbing into the ball. Like a protective barrier? Thanks for the answer to this difficult question.
Answer
True Bowler Adjustment
Hello Benjamin! Wow, what a question! To the point it will slow oil penetration. First of all, polish when applied clogs the pores or the surface of a bowling ball. Factory finish applied polish clogs those pores even more and is harder! Even though manufactures do this to make the balls more attractive to customers and to protect against scuffing and scratching during transport prior to sale, this finish is rare achieved again!
Benjamin, again this is a great question because bowlers often don't think about the heat units generated as the ball contacts the lane surface! A melt down of sorts occurs at the friction point in the mid lane or where the oil buffs out to dry, or just ends. When contact occurs between the ball and the lane, that factory finished shell or polished surface is broken. The tiny fibers of the ball cover break loose and begin to soak up oil and often will blend together and mat down, creating a wider ball track. Sometimes this is good for a bowler and sometimes bad. Good because this may bring the ball into the pocket just right for a while. Bad sometimes because that length, or extra distance the ball use to travel, begins to decrease!
Bowling balls that are polished will tug, jerk, or snap generally at the backend depending on how much torque(REVS), layout, and axis rotation or axis tilt the ball has remaining as it hits the drier boards or break point on the backend!
In my book True Bowler Adjustments, I talk about polish, using different surface grits and "how" a bowler can match up and be successful on the lanes. So, as a high level coach, I teach bowlers not to fault the ball, especially, if you are not performing ball maintenance. It is something "EVERY" bowler needs to learn to do. It will give you the edge! Thanks for you question Benjamin!
Wow, Japan...I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan for three years! So beautiful! Beautiful people, great bowling their. I believe my PBA partners go there also.
-Gary
Las Vegas, NV
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great book!)
