HOPKINSVILLE, Kent. – Do bowling balls really die and lose their performance capabilities? And, why does this happen?

Ebonite International, a leading provider of bowling products, now has the real answers to these questions….and, more importantly, the solution. The company is introducing its patent-pending Hook Again™ formula designed to restore a ball’s performance.  “Since the advent of reactive cover balls in the early 1990s, Dead Ball Syndrome (DBS) has been a burning issue with pro shops and consumers,” said Bob Reid, Ebonite’s vice president of marketing. “It has been very evident to consumers that balls – from all manufacturers – lose their ‘out of the box’ performance capabilities over time. In our industry, DBS has become accepted as part of the business.”

Ebonite’s research and development team has spent considerable time exploring DBS. Below is a recap of their findings:

Why Balls Hook?
Bowling balls with reactive cover stock are designed to absorb lane oil. This oil absorption creates more lane friction which leads to more potential hook. All manufacturers of high-performance bowling balls use components from the chemical families of polyols, isos and plasticizers in their reactive cover stock. Plasticizer is the main component that increases a reactive ball’s hook potential over standard urethane.

Do Balls Lose Their Hook?
Based on extensive research, Ebonite has found that all reactive performance balls – regardless of manufacturer - begin to lose reaction after anywhere from 50 to 150 plus games. This loss of reaction is most pronounced in the backend where it’s needed most.

Why Do Balls Die?
The most common theory on why balls die is that it’s due to lane oil absorption and saturation. According to Ebonite’s R&D team, lane oil does play a small role in DBS but there’s a much more significant reason.  Ebonite has discovered that when a ball is compressed by repeated use, the plasticizer migrates to the surface and concentrates in the track area of the ball. This build up of plasticizer acts as a lubricant that diminishes friction and performance in the backend. In effect, the same thing that causes a ball to hook causes it to lose its hook.

How Can Hook be Restored to Dead Balls?
Once Ebonite uncovered plasticizer as the culprit in DBS, it was able to find an effective solution. Through extensive research and testing, the company has created a product, the Ebonite Powerhouse® Hook Again™, that has proven to restore hook to bowling balls that have lost performance in the backend due to over-saturation.  Hook Again™ is a scientifically-developed formula that extracts plasticizer and oil from the ball using only direct compressive contact. “This should be the product of the year in the bowling industry,” said Reid. “For years, people have tried all sorts of radical treatments to regain performance from their favorite balls. Now, we’ve found the elusive ‘fountain of youth’ for balls.”  According to Ebonite’s testing, Hook Again™ has proven to restore up to 99.8% of performance loss due to plasticizer saturation. And, this product does not use heat to restore performance, it is not abrasive to the surface and will not harm the ball. The process of treating a ball is simple. The ball is placed in a specially-designed treatment chamber, the Hook Again™ compound is added for 24 hours. The ball is then removed and wiped off. It is then ready for renewed life.