How to Adjust a Bowling Ball’s Surface

Why does a bowling ball hook? Layout, axis tilt, axis rotation, and a bowling ball’s core are all factors, but the single largest contributing factor (75%) of a bowling ball’s reaction is having the correct surface on its coverstock.

In this Premium Video, Scott Pohl, the owner of On Track Pro Shop, explains how to control where and when your bowling ball hooks, utilizing sanding pads.

Sanding Pads

Matching up to the lane conditions you are bowling on can be confusing and frustrating. It feels like some weeks you have it and others, well, you don’t. When you have the right ball with the correct surface you’re setting yourself up for success on the lanes.

Changing the bowling ball’s surface requires sanding pads. The lower grit sanding pad the earlier the bowling ball will hook and the higher number sanding pad will make the bowling ball hook later.

Over/Under

Another reason to keep up with maintaining your bowling ball’s surface is to avoid over/under reaction. Over/under reaction is when the bowling ball skids too far through the oil and overreacts when it hits the friction at the end of the oil pattern.

When the ball rolls down the lane, oil gets absorbed into the surface or coverstock on the bowling ball. This alters its ability to grab onto the lane when it’s supposed to. Think about your car’s tires. When the tread wears over time, they lose the ability to grab onto the road like they once did when they were new.

Check out When Should I Use Surface On My Bowling Ball and Bowling Ball Grit Adjustments to learn more from National Bowling Academy experts to help you increase your average and improve your game.