Best Cleaners for Bowling Balls
You’ve taken all the time to figure out your throw, what kind of bowler you are, and what kind of ball will suit you. You researched and chose the best ball for you, had it weighted & drilled, and now it’s a major part of your game. However, when that prized ball starts betraying you because it’s gummed up with oil and residue from the lanes, it’s time to get a good bowling cleaner.
Most cleaners are approved for competition, but it may be good to check the list of approved bowling ball cleaners and non-approved bowling ball cleaners so that you’re not left in the dark. Non-approved cleaners are harsh on the lanes, they can soften your ball, or leave a residue that changes play. Here are the two lists provided by the USBC:
Approved Bowling Ball Cleaners:
See Full List of Approved Cleaners
Non-Approved Bowling Ball Cleaners:
See Full List of Non-Approved Cleaners
If you’re a recreational bowler not looking for a fancy cleaner, then look no further than under your kitchen sink. On the approved list of cleaners, you’ll find Simple Green and Windex. Both of these will cut grease and restore shine to some degree. There is no actual Simple Green bowling ball cleaner, but plenty of bowlers use the original formula at home to do the job. On the same note, clean bowling ball with Windex will remove the oil and grime left from multiple throws.
Name Brand Bowling Ball Cleaners
If you’re looking for something more custom-made for bowling balls, there are a handful of products from brands you’ll recognize.
We’re not going to label any of these as the “best bowling ball cleaner” since preferences can change from bowler to bowler. Any of them will do the trick.
Storm Bowling Ball Cleaners:
Storm is producing some of the most-loved cleaning products for bowlers. These are just a few of the many storm bowling ball cleaner options, and their bowling ball cleaning kit is one of the best in the business. (Also makes a great gift.)
Brunswick Bowling Ball Cleaners:
The Brunswick team also has an impressive line of bowling ball cleaning products to check out. Their Crown Factory compound, polish, scrubbing gel, and foaming cleaner are top of the line for babying your reactive ball. These are the same products used in the Brunswick bowling ball factory and work on any type of ball surface.
Other Great Bowling Ball Cleaners
Monster Tac Bowling Ball Cleaner
Bowlingball.com has partnered with Pyramid and come out with a line of Monster Tac products that are making quite an impression on the bowling world. This Monster Tac Ball Cleaner cuts oil and belt marks very well before and after competitions. The Monster Tac/Pyramid line is worth taking a look at – especially considering their price is competitive also.
Another great option to have in your bag is the Tac up Bowling Ball Cleaner. It removes dirt, oil, belt marks, and scuffs with a strong biodegradable formula. It dries quickly and is safe for all ball surfaces. Our bowlers with matte balls have especially liked Tac Up because it cuts through oil better than other cleaners they’ve tried. It’s also USBC approved as “use any time.”
Bowling Ball Polish
What’s the difference between bowling ball cleaners and bowling ball polish? Cleaners aim to remove oil, dirt, belt marks and residue from the ball and restore tackiness to reactive balls. Polish is used for changing the ball’s reaction on the lane. If you’re looking into polish, you should understand your ball’s grit number (from 500-5500+) and what polish will use on your ball. You could use a hand polish every 15 games or so, where a cleaner would be used between each game. Here are the two best bowling ball polish brands we recommend.
Final Thoughts on Bowling Cleaner and Polish
Because any approved ball cleaner or polish will work on your ball, we recommend trying several of them out to see what you like the best. There are many to choose from but we have put together what we think is a list of the best bowling ball cleaners and ball polish to maintain the performance of your bowling balls and keep you consistent through all of your games and matches.