Good bowling ball care comes down to four habits: wipe the ball between shots, clean it after every session, have the oil extracted and the surface refreshed every 60 to 80 games, and store it at room temperature. In Malaysia, the last one matters most. Storm tells bowlers not to leave a ball in the car, so always take it indoors.
Why bowling balls need care
Lanes carry oil, and a reactive resin cover soaks it up like a sponge. As the pores fill, the ball grips the lane less and hooks weaker. At the same time, friction slowly wears the surface smooth along the track. Storm describes three stages: fresh, unmaintained and neglected. A neglected ball skids too long, hooks late and becomes unpredictable. That is why regular bowling ball care pays off.
Plastic and urethane balls absorb far less oil, so they need less deep cleaning. Our page on types of bowling balls explains the covers.
During the session: wipe between shots
Keep a shammy or microfibre towel on the ball return. Wipe the ball after each shot to remove the oil ring before it soaks in. This also keeps the ball's reaction steadier through the night. It is the cheapest bowling ball care habit of all.
Don't use cleaner during league or tournament play, though. Under the USBC playing rules, you may not use liquid cleaners, abrasives, rosin or powder on a ball once competition starts. A dry towel is the only tool allowed. If residue won't come off with a towel, you may use an approved cleaner, but only with an official's consent. You may clean balls with an approved cleaner during practice, unless local rules say otherwise.
After every session: clean the ball
Fresh oil comes off easily. So clean the ball before you pack it away, every time, because this step does most of the work in bowling ball care.
- Spray a bowling ball cleaner on a clean microfibre towel or on the ball.
- Wipe the whole ball, not just the track, turning it as you go.
- Wipe again with a dry part of the towel until no oil smears show.
- Let it dry, then put it in its bag.
Malaysian pro shops listed cleaners at RM20 to RM85 in October 2026. Examples include Tacky Wipe at RM20, Storm Reacta Foam at RM82 and Kegel Revive at RM85. Use products made for bowling balls, since Storm warns against harsh chemicals.
Oil extraction: the deep clean
Even with good cleaning, oil builds up inside the cover. Storm suggests a deep clean every 60 to 80 games, or sooner when the backend weakens and the oil ring turns dark.
Most pro shops use a ball rejuvenator, a machine that gently warms the ball so oil seeps out to the surface. Staff then wipe the oil off and usually resurface the ball. Ask your shop for the price, since we found no published Malaysian rate.
Watch out
Home tricks with hot water, ovens or hair dryers can overheat the ball. Uneven heat may damage the cover. Leave heat-based oil extraction to a pro shop.
Resurfacing with abrasive pads
Resurfacing sands away the worn track and restores an even surface. Storm's method uses a ball spinner and a grit progression from 180 up to 4,000, with optional polish. Each grit removes the scratches of the one before.
Lower grits make the surface duller, so the ball hooks earlier. Higher grits and polish make it skid longer and hook later. Many bowlers carry Abralon pads, which cost RM25 to RM28 in Malaysian shops, to adjust the surface between sessions.
- Treat the whole ball. USBC rules require the entire surface to be prepared evenly. Sanding only the track is not allowed in competition.
- Do it before play starts. Surface changes are not allowed once a league or tournament begins.
- Return to factory grit unless you have a reason to change it. The oil patterns guide helps you decide when to change.
Storage in Malaysian heat and humidity
Proper bowling ball care includes how you store the ball between games. Storm's advice is short: store at room temperature, and avoid leaving the ball in the car.
- Not in the car boot. Parked cars in the Malaysian sun get far hotter than any room.
- Avoid sudden changes. Don't move a ball straight from a hot car into a cold, air-conditioned centre and bowl at once. Let it settle first.
- Keep it clean and dry. Store the ball clean, in a bag, away from direct sunlight.
- Check for cracks around the holes now and then. USBC rules bar a cracked ball from certified competition.
Plugging and redrilling
If your hand changes, or you buy a used ball, a pro shop can fill the old holes with plug material and drill a new layout. Sunway Megalanes Pro Shop advertises drilling, filling and re-drilling. We found no current Malaysian price, so ask first. A 2014 local blog put drilling a ball bought elsewhere at about RM50, which is likely out of date. Our drilling layouts guide explains the options.
A simple bowling ball care schedule
| When | What to do | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Every shot | Wipe off the oil ring with a shammy or microfibre towel | You |
| Every session | Clean the whole ball with a bowling ball cleaner, then store at room temperature | You |
| Every 60–80 games | Oil extraction and full resurface | Pro shop |
| When hand or layout changes | Plug and redrill, or adjust the fit with inserts and tape | Pro shop |
| When resurfacing stops helping | Replace the ball (Storm cites about 300–600+ games) | You |
Follow this schedule and your ball will keep its reaction far longer. For the tools, see our bowling equipment guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean my bowling ball at home?
Spray a bowling ball cleaner onto a clean microfibre towel or the ball, then wipe the whole surface in even strokes until no oil smears come off. Rotate the ball so you cover it evenly, not just the track. Let it dry before bagging it. Do this after every session, since fresh oil comes off far more easily than oil that has soaked in.
How often should you resurface a bowling ball?
Storm's maintenance guide suggests resurfacing and deep cleaning every 60 to 80 games, or sooner when the ball loses backend and the oil ring looks dark. For a weekly league bowler playing three games a night, that is roughly every five to six months. Many Malaysian bowlers ask their pro shop to do it on a ball spinner.
Can I leave my bowling ball in a hot car?
No. Storm tells bowlers to store balls at room temperature and to avoid leaving them in the car. A Malaysian car boot in the afternoon sun gets very hot, and sudden temperature swings are best avoided. Take the ball indoors, and let a cold ball warm up before you bowl with it.
Can you use alcohol to clean a bowling ball?
Use a cleaner made for bowling balls instead. Storm advises against harsh chemicals, and some household products can dry or damage the cover. Also, in USBC-certified competition you can only clean your ball before play starts, or with an official's permission. Ask your pro shop which products suit your ball's cover.
Why is my bowling ball not hooking anymore?
Usually because the cover is full of oil or the surface has worn smooth. Both make the ball skid longer and hook weaker. A deep clean and oil extraction, then a resurface back to the factory grit, often restores it. If several resurfaces fail, the ball may have reached the end of its useful life.
Sources
- Storm: bowling ball care and maintenance guide
- USBC Playing Rules 2026-27, Rule 18 (altering ball surface) and Q&A 18/1–18/10
- Bowling.com Knowledge Hub: using surface to fix your bowling ball
- X Proshop and Sunway Megalanes web stores, cleaner and pad prices read 16 Oct 2026
- Sunway Megalanes pro shop page (drilling, filling and re-drilling)
