The Columbia brand produces a variety of bowling ball models, including the Columbia Messenger. Owning your own bowling ball can help you bowl more consistently than you would with a bowling alley's house balls. When you own your own ball, however, you must take the time to clean it regularly. After extensive use on waxed bowling lanes, bowling balls begin to develop an oily buildup that can interfere with their rotation and sensitivity to spin. Your hook shots and straight shots will suffer as a result of this oily buildup. Clean your Columbia Messenger ball regularly to keep its performance consistent.
Step 1
Pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol or bowling ball cleaning solution onto a soft towel.
Step 2
Rub the alcohol or cleaning solution over the ball’s surface in a gentle, circular motion. If necessary, add more cleaning solution to the cloth to cover the entire surface of the ball. Remove any chunks of oily buildup as you go.
Step 3
Wipe all traces of the cleaning solution off the ball’s surface with a clean towel.
Step 4
Dry the ball thoroughly before you store it. Store the ball in a temperature-controlled environment to avoid warping or cracking.
Tips and Warnings
- Many bowlers recommend warming your ball in the sun or using a hair dryer to melt oily buildup from the ball’s surface. Though these techniques can effectively melt and remove oily buildup, extreme heat can also damage or warp your ball. Do not leave your ball in the sun for too long or place a hair dryer too close to its surface. Many people also wash their bowling balls in the dishwasher to clean them with detergent. If you follow this method, do not leave the ball in hot water in the dishwasher for longer than 20 minutes.
- Prolonged contact with alcohol can damage the paint on a bowling ball. When you use rubbing alcohol as a cleaning solution, make sure you wipe all traces of the alcohol away immediately after cleaning the ball.
Things You'll Need
- Rubbing alcohol or bowling ball cleaner
- Soft towels
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