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Bowling Ball Spinner Machine: Buy or Make DIY Homemade Device

Two rows of multiple bowling balls on a ball return that have perfect ball surface.

When it comes to bowling ball maintenance, you’ve got a lot of options. You can go the traditional route (without any gadgets or gizmos) or get your hands on a bowling ball spinner.

If you have no idea what a bowling ball spinner is, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about them, how they work, and much more! 

What Is a Bowling Ball Spinner?

A bowling ball spinner is a machine you can use to clean, sand, and polish your bowling ball. The machine has a motor that spins the ball while you apply pressure to it with a polishing pad, washcloth, or brush.

You’re likely to see one of these at a bowling alley or pro shop. At the bowling alley, they are sometimes available to bowlers to polish their balls before play. At the pro shop, professionals use them to resurface, clean, or polish bowling balls. 

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Signs You Need a Bowling Ball Spinner

There are several reasons why you might want to use a bowling ball spinner, and we’ll go through each of them in this section. 

If you’ve noticed that your ball isn’t hooking like it used to, it might be time for a good cleaning. A build-up of oil and dirt can cause your ball to lose its grip on the lane, resulting in less hook. 

Another reason to use a spinner is if you’ve just purchased a used ball. You’ll want to give it a deep clean before using it to ensure peak performance. A ball spinner can make the process of cleansing and restoring a ball a cinch.

Also, if your ball has lots of visible scratches or nicks, a spinner can make it easier to remove them. Scratches and nicks can change the trajectory of your ball post-release, so it’s important to get rid of them if you want to improve your game.

You could spend a ton of time sanding the scratches down one by one, or you can use a bowling ball spinner to get them all at once.

Upclose on several house bowling balls that all have debris and nicks on them.

How to Use a Bowling Ball Spinner

Wondering how to use a bowling ball spinner? The process is actually pretty simple. Here’s how to use both electric and non-electric ones.

Electric Bowling Ball Spinner

Start by attaching the ball to the spinner using the provided clips or clamps. Once the ball is attached, apply pressure to it with a polishing pad or brush.

As you do this, turn on the spinner. Once you’ve done that, the motor and spinning apparatus will spin the ball, allowing you to evenly clean, polish, or sand it.

When you’re finished, remove the ball from the spinner and admire your handiwork. Your ball should be clean and free of superficial scratches, nicks, and dirt.

Note: As wild as it sounds, there are six sides to a bowling ball. So, you’ll have to remove and reposition the ball repeatedly to get all the sides.

Hot Off the Press - How to Resurface a Bowling Ball (Surface Adjustments Part 6 of 6)

Manual Bowling Ball Spinner

With a manual (non-electric) bowling ball spinner, you’ll simply place the bowling ball on top of the spinner and then proceed to work on your ball. When you want to work on a new area, you’ll simply rotate the ball manually while it’s on the spinner. 

Do You Need Your Own Bowling Ball Spinner?

A bowling ball spinner is a great tool to have if you bowl often and notice that your ball takes a beating. But it’s not a necessity, especially if you’re just starting out and only bowl occasionally.

Still, no one can tell you what to do with your money or time. You can buy your own bowling ball spinner if you want to. 

Just be aware that your local bowling alley or pro shop may have a bowling ball spinner that you can use for free or for a small fee. 

How Much Does a Bowling Ball Spinner Cost?

Knowing how much a bowling ball spinner costs can make it easier to decide whether to take the plunge and purchase one.

A basic at-home bowling ball spinner with no motor will cost around $20, while a high-end powered professional model may cost much more – up to $600 or more.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Bowling Ball Spinner

Are you on the fence about buying and regularly using a bowling ball spinner? To help you make your decision, here are some pros and cons of using one.

After reading through them, you should have a better idea of whether or not buying a spinner is right for you.

Pros:

  • They make it easier to thoroughly clean, polish or resurface the entire exterior of your bowling ball. 
  • They are easy to find online and at your local pro shop. 
  • They come in two main configurations (electric and non-electric), and the non-electric one is affordable on just about any budget. 

Cons:

  • They can be expensive, especially if you want a high-end professional model.
  • With certain models, you have to remove and reposition the ball multiple times to treat all sides of the ball.

Do you think the pros outweigh the cons? If so, then a bowling ball spinner may be a good investment for you.

DIY Bowling Ball Spinners

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can make your own electric bowling ball spinner.

Just be aware that it is a very involved process, and you’ll need access to a drill press, a bench, and other supplies you probably don’t have at home.

DIY 10-Pin Bowling Ball Spinner

Top Bowling Ball Spinners Online

If you’ve decided that you want to buy a bowling ball spinner, the next step is to choose which one you want. Below are some of the most popular bowling ball spinners available online at several price points.

  • Brunswick Bowling Rotating Ball Cup – This is a simple, no-frills ball cup that will do the job. It allows you to manually spin the ball and cleanse or polish it with a cloth, paper towel, or brush. It’s one of the most affordable options out there at less than $20.
  • Bowlerstore Products Innovative Personal Ball Spinner – This is a mid-priced option that will do a good job of cleaning and polishing your ball on both high school teams and collegiate teams. It’s electric, so it does all the work for you – simply place the ball in the spinner, choose your setting, and your ball will get to spinning. You can then grab your washcloth, paper towel, or sanding pad, hold it against your ball and let the Innovative Personal Ball Spinner do the rest.
  • Bowlerstore Products Innovative 2 Speed Ball Spinner – If you want a higher-end professional ball spinner that will give your ball a deeper clean and pinpoint polishing, this is the one for you. It has two speeds – low and high – so you can really customize the experience.

Should You Go Cheap or Expensive?

Deciding how much to spend on your bowling ball spinner can be difficult. This section should help out a bit. The answer to this question depends on how serious you are about bowling.

If you are a casual bowler who only goes out every once in a while, the cheaper option will probably suffice. If you don’t use your ball often, it won’t need much maintenance.

But if you are a serious bowler who wants your ball to be in top-notch condition at all times, you may want to consider spending more money on a higher-quality model.

Ten bowling balls sit on a ball return as they were just polished by pro shop operator at a local bowling alley.

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So, there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about bowling ball spinners. We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what they are, how to use them, and whether you need to add one to your bowling equipment stash. We wish you the best of luck in all your future bowling endeavors!