Often you can find articles in magazines or ball company recommendations which will give you clues on which works best with your particular ball. Ball Cleaning and Oil Extraction Two areas of ball maintenance have come to the forefront with the advent of reactive and pro-active coverstocks. They are ball cleaning and oil extraction. Todays balls, by design, absorb oil in order to keep clean, dry coverstock on the lane and maintain the tacky feel. Dirt is deposited on the ball as the oil is absorbed.
Dirt diminishes the tackiness, reducing friction and plugs the pores of the coverstock.
This is best done on a spinner where the coverstock can be heated by friction. After about 50 games, you will notice your breakpoint moving down the lane and fewer boards being covered on the hook. The ball has become saturated with lane oil and the oil absorption is no longer effective.