overseas bowling balls

[djgook]

As a new bowler. What is so special about the overseas ball? besides color. Can you use them in a USBC santioned league in the U.S? The reason I am asking this is because the Black Widow (gold) Carbon infused (Korea release) and the Scandal Pearl has caught my eyes. Could I mess with my scandal and make it have the same reaction?
Thank you in advance.

[milorafferty]

Sometimes you can get an overseas ball that is just not available to the U.S. market. But mostly it seems to be the same product with different colors and/or names.

[REmarcaBOWL]

Yes, you can use them in ALL USBC ruled events except for PBA (unless a written approval is granted). I have used them everywhere

There are plethora of coverstocks and cores that never released in the USA. The Snap Lock cover, (R3S Pearl) has been out for YEARS out there but barely made it to the states in June.

The greatest advantage of the hoards of international equipment is that they can fill all the voids/gaps in an arsenal without having to tweak/manipulate surface/layout with all your equipment.

USA has one Scandal (Hilary Clinton  ) which has the Semtex CFI Solid at 2000grit

Overseas has already 3 pearls
Black Ice - Carbon Pearl
Amazing - Semtex Pearl
Orange/Black - Semtex Pearl

and one sexy solid
Scandal Tour - Purple Semtex Solid @ 1500grit


Due to high cost of shipping/importing and international markup, I do not recommend them to new bowlers. I highly recommend them to the very competitive who use them as investment tools for the great chance at getting a return for the "higher than usual" investment.

Sometimes some USA distributors can get them before they embark for overseas, or get their hands on the blems/2nd qualities, and then sell them for a cheaper cost than importing.

[bradl]

Let's answer these one at a time.

As a new bowler. What is so special about the overseas ball? besides color.

Outside of availability, they could come in a different OOB finish, and core/coverstock combination, or even a core that has been discontinued in the US. For example, the One and Mission cores haven't been used or seen in the US for years, yet they still have them being used over there. Add to that current coverstocks, and you have a different combination than would be seen here.

Can you use them in a USBC santioned league in the U.S?

Yes, you can, as most do appear on the USBC's Certified List. I've seen a few Mission 1.5s, 2.5s, a Black Widow Danger, and used an Ebonite Undefeated Fire (all overseas balls), and they were all USBC Certified.

The reason I am asking this is because the Black Widow (gold) Carbon infused (Korea release) and the Scandal Pearl has caught my eyes. Could I mess with my scandal and make it have the same reaction?
Thank you in advance.

You could, but it still would be different. Have a look here at the thread on the BW Gold. We went a bit into it there:

http://www.ballreviews.com/hammer/star-legend-demoes-the-black-widow-gold-t311118.0.html

If you have the BW Limited, you could make the surface adjustment to get to the BW Gold's OOB finish.

As far as the Amazing Scandal, that is harder, as the Scandal is a solid cover while the Amazing Scandal is pearl. Personally, I was hoping that a pearl Scandal would have been announced at Bowl Expo, but it wasn't, meaning that it may come out later in the fall season. For that one, I'd say to wait instead of trying to take a ball and match to it.

BL.