The Impact of Bowling Ball Surface Adjustments

How Different Surfaces Will Make The Bowling Ball React Differently

Today, we’ll visit the subject of ball surface and its impact on your bowling ball’s reaction.

Changing the texture of the coverstock on the bowling ball is the easiest way to change your ball reaction. Not only does it have the greatest impact on the end result, but you always can change it again if you didn’t like the result.

Unlike drilling a ball, which modifies the ball’s characteristics for life, ball surface can be altered dozens of times to experiment with ball motion.

How Much Can You Change Bowling Ball Reaction By Adjusting The Surface?

To give you an idea of how much range you can create by just sanding a ball, we’ve recorded two videos for you.

These balls are the same model, and we drilled them identically. The only difference is the surface preparation. We have one ball at 1,000-grit Abralon and one ball at 4,000-grit Abralon. The higher the number, the finer the grit used on the surface of the ball, creating a smoother texture. The lower the number, the more coarse.

We’ll start with the 4,000-grit surface, which gives the bowler a moderately strong ball reaction. Notice the distance on the lane that this shot begins to transition from right to left.

Bowling Ball Surface Is The Biggest Influence On Bowling Ball Reaction

The Impact of Bowling Ball Surface Adjustments from BowlersMart.com on Vimeo.

Here is the same ball in the same layout at a 1,000-grit surface. This ball hooks noticeably earlier than the one at 4,000 and will not hold the pocket. After making an adjustment of five boards with the bowler’s feet, the 1,000-grit ball now will hold the line to the pocket.

Surface is the biggest influence on your ball’s reaction. Surface dictates about 70 percent of the total ball motion. If you need more or less hook, change the surface, not the layout. The layout only determines the shape of the ball motion. Without even using polish, we created five boards in separation through these two balls.

Is your equipment over or under reacting? There’s likely a surface change you can make to improve your results.

John Gaines – From the Pro Shop to Team USA to the USBC Bowling Hall of Fame

The Iconic Lodge Lanes USBC Open Championships Bowling Team If you have ever bowled the [...]

1 Comments

900 Global Tour Rep Day 5 & 6 – The USBC Masters

Being The 900 Global Tour Rep Day 5 & 6 – The USBC Masters By [...]

900 Global Tour Rep Day 4 – The USBC Masters

Tour Rep USBC Masters Syracuse, NY 2018: [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Day 4 Today is known as [...]

900 Global Tour Rep Day 3 – The USBC Masters

Global 900 Tour Rep USBC Masters Syracuse, NY 2018: [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Day 3 Today is [...]

900 Global Tour Rep Day 2 – The USBC Masters

900 Global Tour Rep USBC Masters Syracuse, NY 2018: [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Day 2 Today starts [...]

Tour Repping USBC Masters Day 1

Tour Rep USBC Masters Syracuse, NY 2018: Day 1 Today was practice session for A, [...]

The Coach To The Pro Bowlers In Competition – PBA Tour Rep

Tour Reps Are Another Set Of Eyes For The Pros [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] If you follow [...]

3 Comments

Better Balance at the Foul Line – By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Ways To Keep Your Balance While Bowling And Not Fall Off Your Shot [...]

1 Comments

A Simple Tip For Making The 10 Pin or 7 Pin In Bowling By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] A Simple Tip For Knocking Down The 10 Pin Or 7 Pin There [...]

1 Comments

30 Days To Becoming A Better Bowler By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] 30 Days Or Practicing To Improve Your Bowling Scores I know, it sounds [...]

4 Comments

The Importance of Making Adjustments During League Bowling.

Making Adjustments During League Bowling Q&A With John Gaines BowlerSmart along with BowlersMart Merritt Island [...]

1 Comments

Changing Bowling Ball Surface Is The Easiest Way To Change Bowling Ball Motion By John Gaines

Bowling Ball Surface Is 70% Of The Balls Reaction Having issues hitting the pocket with [...]

How Do I Choose The Best Bowling Ball For Me?

So Many Bowling Balls On The Market, How Do You Choose One? There are a [...]

7 Comments

How To Read An Oil Pattern When Bowling

Importance Of Knowing The Oil Pattern Before Bowling The Different Well Known Oil Patterns PBA [...]

A Great Bowling Lesson With Gerry Aquino

An Awesome Bowling Lesson With Gerry Aquino [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Gerry is basically a new bowler. [...]

Achieve Your Bowling Goals With A Solid Practice Plan

If You Want Higher Bowling Scores Create A Practice Plan [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Most of us [...]

2 Comments

What A Great 2 Day Bowling Camp In Las Vegas With Sean Rash

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Sean Rash 2 Day Bowling Camp Las Vegas Sponsored By BowlersMart – Brunswick [...]

Great Bowling Lesson With Andrew Colon By John Gaines

Todays Bowling Lesson – Working on the pushaway and spine angle [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Andrew’s pushaway [...]

Creating the Simple and Effective Bowling Ball Arsenal Part 3 By John Gaines

  [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”]   Part three of my blog series deals with choosing bowling balls. [...]

3 Comments

Creating the Simple and Effective Bowling Ball Arsenal Part 2 By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Part 2 On How To Create A Simple But Effective Bowling Ball Arsenal [...]

1 Comments

Creating the Simple and Effective Bowling Ball Arsenal Part 1 By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] How To Make A Great Bowling Ball Arsenal Simplified Are you confused by [...]

2 Comments

Coming Back To League Bowling After A Break By John Gaines

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Coming Back To League Bowling After A Layoff If you took some time [...]

Finger Inserts & Thumb Slugs Explained

  [addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Today in the Coaching Corner, we take a look at finger inserts [...]

3 Comments

The Impact of Bowling Ball Surface Adjustments

How Different Surfaces Will Make The Bowling Ball React Differently Today, we’ll visit the subject [...]

2 Comments

The Slide And Finish Position – Building Proper Bowling Technique And An Ideal Bowling Approach

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox”] Last Part of a Great Approach In Bowling –  The Finish Position & [...]

1 Comments

2 thoughts on “The Impact of Bowling Ball Surface Adjustments

  1. Eric Sider says:

    John, I took 5 pads and my polish to a practice session last summer with my Track 706a, hyroad Pearl and roto grip theory. Started with 1000 pad on all 3, then added polish. Then 1500 pad then polish. Same for 2000, 3000 and 4000 pads then with polish. Helped me settle on 1000 polished on hyroad Pearl,1500 polished on 706a and 1000 polished on theory. For me polish is a must on house shot here in Daytona Beach area. Theory was okay a few years back when I was back in Annapolis area.
    Eric Sider(Bowl America Odenton)

  2. roderick allen says:

    Not fully understanding how this works….I change the surface of a No Rules from 2000 too 4 thousand….and then back…ball still read too soon… still needing more length I returned the surface too 2000… polished the 2000 which smooths the 2000 surface back out…I’m I back too 4000 or what?? The results were just what I wanted but how does this work?? THANKS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *