Frequently asked questions about the Ballscatcher®

1. How many times can you resurface a ball?

• Each cycle with 5-8 balls takes about 30 seconds, depending on the torque and speed of your particular drill.   In this time, a very thin layer of material is removed, exposing the grippy surface you are looking for to make the ball feel correct.   If you don’t overdo it, you can typically get 8 -12 cycles on the ball before the logo stamp starts to fade, and with it, the ever-important NOCSAE stamp.  Why is this important?
  • Let’s look first at the US  Lacrosse and NOCSAE rules about ball standards. Per the standards published by US Lacrosse, all lacrosse balls must meet NOCSAE standard to be deemed legal for play by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), and include the words “Meets NOCSAE Standard” on the surface of the ball. The text on the ball must be in a typeface that is readable at 18 inches by a person with 20/20 vision.  Also, the ball must be made of solid rubber, and can be white, yellow(girls) or orange(girls). The ball must be within the tolerance of 7.75 – 8 inches in circumference, and must weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces.  Below are the links to the US Lacrosse published NOCSAE standards:

USLacrosse.org-2015-Equipment Standards for balls

 2015 NOCSAE-Ball Standards

• Our standard answer when people ask this questions is that one still needs to see the NOCSAE stamp on the ball per US Lacrosse regulations. Using only the published engineering tolerance standards of circumference and weight mentioned above, one could regrip a ball up to 30 times using those measurements (if the balls start out maximum specs), but most people don’t have the equipment to measure the circumference or weight accurately. By using the Ballscratcher® with 5 to 8 balls at the average of 30 seconds at a time, one could resurface a ball roughly 6 -12 times, or until the NOCSAE logo is no longer visible on the ball.

2. What does the Ballscratcher® do to the ball during resurfacing?

• The Ballscratcher® utilizes your drill as a motor to drive a circular disc in the container, mechanically abrading multiple balls simultaneously, thus revealing a tacky surface texture again and again…

3. Is there a chemical solution added to make the Ballscratcher® work?

• No.  the Ballscratcher® does not require any chemicals or solutions to operate.

4. What’s the difference between the 2.0 and the 3.0 models?

• The Ballscratcher® 2.0 is a much improved version of the original, with a patented lid latching system.   It is ready to operate right out of the box, with the adhesive disc attached directly to the circular plate in the unit.   It is effective for 3000 to 4000 balls before disc replacement or sidewall tape replacement is needed, but it requires disassembly to replace the abrasive disc.   Instructions,  replacement discs, and sidewall tape can be purchased directly from hedgehoglacrosse.com and can be found on our “Shop Now” page.

The 2.0 is perfect for single teams or families tired of paying ridiculous prices for balls that will only last for a few weeks before turning into greasers, but requires disassembly to replace the disc

• The Ballscratcher® 3.0 comes with an extra sanding disc and set of sidewall tape, and operates the same way as the Ballscratcher® 2.0. The difference between the two is a “quick change disc” design that allows the old disc to be removed and replaced without any tools necessary.  Simply reach in from the top, remove the old disc, clean the plate of any residue with glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol, and apply the new disc per the included instructions.   Replacing the sidewall tape is the same for the 2.0 and 3.0 models. Just remove the old tape, clean the residue off the interior walls, and apply the new tape.

The Ballscatcher® 3.0 is designed for ease of replacement, without tools, and for programs, large lacrosse families and coaches  that go through a lot of balls in a season. 

5. What kind of drill do I need?

• The Ballscratcher®  was designed with common cordless drills in mind, to allow for complete portability.   We recommend a minimum 18 volt drill to provide the torque, speed, and power necessary to effectively and quickly resurface your balls.  You can pick up a really good Lithium Ion drill from your local home center for under $70.00. (We use DeWalt and Ryobi). Check holiday sales as starting at $49…
• If you are tempted to use a corded drill, we do not recommend it.  Not only do corded drills run much faster than cordless, the cord itself presents a safety hazard. Please refer to our instructions page for proper use and always follow the safety instructions for your particular drill.

6. How does the drill attach to the drive shaft?

• The Ballscratcher® drive shaft is designed to fit a standard drill chuck, so that no adapters or bits are required for operation.   We did this knowing that losing an adapter would put your unit out of commission until a replacement could be ordered. Also, we intended for the Ballscratcher® to be operated outdoors and knew that a small bit dropped in tall grass could cause real problems.  Just tighten your drill chuck on the shaft and let it rip!

7. Can I build my own Ballscratcher®?  

• We get this question a lot, and we can tell you that we have a bunch of early (trashed) prototypes laying around that showed us a bunch of ways NOT to build it, and it took many attempts to get a design that will last for years. In fact, every component in our unit is sourced specifically to our standards, and there’s nothing in our current design that comes from a hardware store.   You will be much happier if you just get the real deal, and beware of cheap knockoffs in the market.  No one else has our warranty and track record of satisfaction.  We take this seriously.

8. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, let us know.   We would love to talk.  Send us an email at support@hedgehoglacrosse.com  .