A portion of an AMF ball return system is disclosed wherein the ball lift belt is shown with two humps thereon, and when the belt is rotated, a bowling ball is compressed between a hump on the belt and the adjoining lift rail. A ball placed thereon rolls up the lift ramp and down the engaging hump while moving the ball.

A covered rail assembly for the bowling ball return of a bowling alley. The rails are made of cylindrical metal and the cover for the rail fits over the engaging surface thereof and is secured thereto by ties, with the ball engaging surface of the cover of concave semi cylindrical shape so as to conform to a ball's surface contacted thereby. The cover is impregnated with oil absorbing particles.