Repairing Cracked Bowling ball

[jjones]

Hello all.

We are starting to see more and more cracked bowling balls and subsequently more people repairing them. So my question has two parts.

First, is it feasible to repair a cracked ball?

Secondly if you repair a cracked ball, isn't the circumference greater than when new and isn't the ball out of round now?

Jai Jones

[DarkHorse]

Hello all.

We are starting to see more and more cracked bowling balls and subsequently more people repairing them. So my question has two parts.

First, is it feasible to repair a cracked ball?

Secondly if you repair a cracked ball, isn't the circumference greater than when new and isn't the ball out of round now?

Jai Jones

1) Anything is feasible at the right price. I know someone that charged about $40, and he had plenty of customers for that service (he's probably done over 20). Time consuming, but people were usually willing to wait 1-2 weeks longer due to the amount of work involved.

2) Bowling balls are not all the same diameter when made. You can take a Quarter-scale to any Pro Shop and it will fit snugly on some new balls, and loosely on others. My friend had the Innovative rings to measure, and all of the balls he fixed were in range. As to roundness, I haven't seen any problems with his work. With a proper surfacing unit (ahem, Haus), this is an issue that 5 minutes of diamond wheels will fix.

Personally, I'd junk it if it's too old for warranty replacement, but I'm also lazy and have more bowling balls than any person should. YMMV

[snick]

1/8" crack would increase the diameter of the ball ~1/32".

[JohnP]

Don't worry about the diameter, the only USBC spec on diameter is a manufacturer's spec. As long as the diameter is OK for the ball returns and the label and serial number can be read you're legal. And there are ways to get around the label and serial number problem, see the Equipment Specifications Manual. -- JohnP