Let’s face it - when we think about bowling, cleaning our bowling balls isn’t exactly the first thing we think of.
A lot of people will just wipe off the ball and then keep on playing. In reality though, not giving your bowling ball a proper clean can often contribute to a lower hook potential as the ball absorbs the oil on the lane.
Having the right bowling ball cleaner is thus essential to making sure that you get the most out of every game of bowling. Of course, there are a lot of great bowling ball cleaners on the market so it can sometimes be tricky to narrow down what is going to be the best option for you.
Thankfully, we’re here to help. Read on for our picks of the best bowling ball cleaners on the market!
We’ve also written a handy buyer’s guide to help you to narrow down your decision.
Top 5 Best Bowling Ball Cleaners
OUR TOP PICK
This bowling ball cleaner doesn’t just have a cool name, it’s very effective! The Lane Ghost Bowling Ball Cleaner Spray Kit can remove any oily scum, belt marks and dust in no time!
The ball has been USBC approved too so if you play professionally you can use this cleaner.
The ball is ideal for all cover materials, including plastic, reactive resin and urethane. It doesn’t contain any ingredients that could damage the ball such as waxes and abrasives.
Perhaps one of the coolest things about this product is actually the fact that it has been manufactured in the USA! It’s also very affordable, while still providing all of the quality that you would expect.
In addition to all of this, the ball also comes with a cleaning cloth which is perfect to use with the cleaner. It means you don’t even need to go out of your way to buy a separate cloth!
If you ever need any help the company provides impeccable customer service too, so you know that you are covered in that regard.
Pros
- Comes with a cleaning cloth
- Minimal effort required by the user to get rid of any scuff marks
- Affordable
- USBC approved
Cons
- None!
EDITORS CHOICE
The Monster Tac Remove All Bowling Ball Cleaner is certainly one of the most effective bowling ball cleaners on the market.
It comes in 32 ounces and 4 ounces too, so you can test it out using the smaller option if you wish.
You will be pleased to know that if you are a professional bowler, it is actually possible to use this cleaner out on the lanes as it has been USBC approved!
The cleaner will effectively get rid of any tough stains and oil on the ball. In fact, this is a great product to help you to improve your ball’s lifespan overall. You can carry the smaller ball in your bag too, so it’s very compact!
This ball is perfect if you are looking for an affordable option that has a number of users. It’s also ideal if you have a number of different bowling balls or if you are looking for a cleaner for a commercial bowling alley.
Pros
- Effective
- Affordable
- USBC approved
Cons
- It can remove the tac on the ball, so it’s not ideal for bowlers with high hook potential
BEST VALUE
If you have a higher hook potential, then the Storm Reacta Foam Bowling Ball Cleaner is a great choice for you. This cleaner is designed to leave your balls squeaky clean while also improving the tac on the ball.
The ball cleaner is ideal for helping to improve the amount of roll and spin on the ball as it really digs right into the oil and gets rid of dust in a flash. This means that you will have a much cleaner and more powerful ball, which can help with your backend power too.
Perhaps the biggest issue with this ball cleaner, however, is that you can only buy it in a 4 ounce bottle.
This means that it may not be ideal for people that are regularly out on the bowling alley or for professionals that wish to give their balls a good cleaning after every single session.
It can get rather expensive in this case as you will need to buy a new bottle more often.
Pros
- Well priced for what it offers
- Helps to improve the tac on the ball
- Can be used easily
Cons
- Only a 4 ounce bottle available
RUNNER UP
If you are looking for a truly affordable bowling ball cleaner, then look no further than the Neo Tac Hook It Bowling Ball Cleaner.
This is a very well priced bowling ball cleaner that certainly will not break the bank. In fact, it has been designed for those of us that want to make sure that the ball surface remains intact but you need to still be able to get rid of any little bits of dust particle that may end up getting stuck after you have thrown the ball.
If you want to improve the tac on your ball then this is certainly an option with this ball cleaner. This means that you will get better hook potential and your ball’s spin will be even better, providing you with the utmost consistency every single time.
The ball cleaner has been approved by the USBC too, which means that it is possible to use it for professional level tournaments without a hitch. It will also help your ball to look all shiny and new, and there are no terrible scents included either!
The cleaner is incredibly affordable, providing 6 ounces of product that you should be able to use for a long time. It’s also very compact so you can put it into your bowling bag with ease.
Pros
- Compact
- Affordable
- USBC Approved
Cons
- It can add more hook to the ball
RUNNER UP
If you’re a casual player that wants to be able to really improve their bowling game, then you may want to opt for the Tac Up Bowling Ball Cleaner.
This cleaner is very effective at cutting right into any grease, oil and grime and will leave your ball looking like it’s just come straight out of the box.
Not only that, but it even helps you to improve the tac on the ball which means you will have even more hook potential!
The ball comes in an 8 ounce bottle, and you don’t need to provide a lot of product in order for it to be effective.
Of course, it will need to be applied quite often on lanes that are heavily oiled which is why it’s better suited to the casual player.
If you are environmentally conscious, you will also be pleased to know that this formula is bio degradable. It will help you to achieve a consistent game and should help you to improve your hook potential.
It can also be carried around quite easily in a bowling bag as the bottle is quite compact. Of course, it should be noted that it does have quite a funky smell which may put you off a little bit, and the cap mechanism is not ideal.
Pros
- Good for casual bowlers
- Dries quickly
- Good value for money
- Helps to keep the ball’s surface intact
Cons
- It smells a little bit
Best Bowling Ball Cleaner Buying Guide
You may be wondering why your ball isn’t hooking anymore. Well, in short, it could be the result of poor maintenance of the ball. When you are bowling, dirt and oil from the lanes will absorb into the coverstock of the ball.
This residue will cause the performance of the ball to decrease over time. Once the oil manifests in the ball, the ball will have more problems gripping onto the lanes, which means that your hook won’t be as good.
Proper maintenance is thus essential when it comes to bowling balls to help to make sure that you are still hooking well.
Before you put your ball in the bag after a session, make sure that you give it a good cleaning by using a couple of sprays of bowling ball cleaner. This will help to make sure that the oil is gone before it gets soaked into the ball.
Things to Consider
So now that you have seen the best bowling ball cleaners that the market has to offer, it is now time to consider the different things that make a great bowling ball cleaner so that you can make the best possible decision for you.
Here are a few things that you should think about when buying a bowling ball cleaner.
Price
Whenever you’re buying anything, price always comes into play. Of course, you may expect that your ball cleaner will be expensive because your bowling ball was expensive, but this certainly does not have to be the case.
There are a lot of bowling ball cleaners on the market that are pretty expensive, but at the same time there are also a lot of more affordable options that will clean your ball just as well as one that’s double the price.
Cleaners usually come in a range of different sizes, but of course if you do bowl quite a lot then you will obviously need a bigger bottle.
USBC Approval
The USBC, also known as the United States Bowling Congress, dictates all of the items that you will need and what you are able to use in your game. For this reason, it is important that the cleaner you are going to purchase has been USBC approved so you can actually use it while you play.
The USBC have the authority to test all sorts of products to determine whether you can actually use them for professional competitions. Bowling ball cleaners are required to meet specific criteria that can affect the finish of the ball.
For example, does the cleaner change the finish, does it make the ball have a slicker surface or a duller surface? Does it have any harsh abrasives that may affect the surface of the lane and ball?
It is important that if you are serious about really improving your game that you only choose cleaners that have qualities that have been approved by the USBC.
Of course, this may not be relevant to you if you only play casually, but if you are a professional player then it is essential that you use USBC approved products, or else you may get penalized.
How Much You Play
If you are a professional bowler or if you spend a lot of time in the bowling alley, it is only natural that you are going to need to ensure that you get a really impeccable bowling ball cleaner.
Make sure that you get a cleaner that is able to work with any cover stocks. It is also possible to use one or two different cleaners if you wish. You may want to try a couple of different products to see what will work the best for you.
Environmentally Friendly
If you are environmentally conscious, you may want to take a moment to truly consider the product that you are buying. A lot of cleaning agents can be harsh on the environment as well as the world around you.
You can usually tell whether the solution is going to contain harmful chemicals from the scent alone. The strong smells may even throw you off from what you are doing.
If you are concerned though, there are a lot of biodegradable products out there that can let you clean your ball without the fear of damaging the environment.
With that being said, you should make sure that you keep your bowling ball cleaner away from children as they are not to be ingested.
Type of Use
There are some bowling ball cleaners that are made too clean the bowling ball, and there are others that can help you to get rid of marks and scratches.
You will need to consider what exactly you want the cleaner to do. Some of them do both, which can save you some money because you won’t need to buy two separate products.
There are also some cleaners that will sort out any dirt and grime on the surface and there are others that are designed to get rid of oil buildup. To remove oil, you are better suited to looking for an emulsifying compound.
Size
If you spend a lot of time bowling, a large bottle would probably be a better choice. You will also get more value for your money because you will have more product.
On the other hand, a large bottle can get rather cumbersome in your bag, so if you want something that isn’t going to take up as much space inside of your bag you may be better suited to investing in a smaller bottle instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a bowling ball cleaner?
Every bowling ball cleaner is going to contain different products, so this isn’t a simple question to answer. In general though, all of the products will have degreaser agents inside and these are designed to help get rid of any dirt and oil from the bowling ball’s surface.
How do you use a bowling ball cleaner?
First of all, it should be noted that all cleaners will have their own directions for use so if you are ever unsure make sure that you check the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
This will help you to make sure that you are using the bowling ball cleaner in the correct manner. Generally though, only two steps are required to use a cleaner.
First of all, put a little bit of product into a dry, clean cloth, in the case of gels. If your cleaner is a liquid in a spray bottle, then you will need to spray it right onto the ball. Once you have done this, wipe the cloth over the whole ball.
Make sure that you cover the whole ball so you don’t end up missing any patches or oil strips that may potentially end up throwing off your game.
How regularly do you need to use a bowling ball cleaner?
There are mixed opinions about how often you should be cleaning your bowling balls. There are some bowlers that will only get their balls professionally cleaned once a season, whereas others suggest cleaning more regularly based on the needs of your ball.
In general though, most people suggest cleaning balls after every playing session. This will help to stop oil from soaking through the surface of the ball.
How do you clean bowling ball finger holes?
To stop the finger holes from irritating your hands and becoming greasy, it’s important to make sure that they are properly cleaned. In order to do this, you simply need to wipe it properly using alcohol to disinfect them correctly.
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