I work at the bowling alley and repair balls that have been damaged.  I got to checking out this nice looking x factor that was damaged when i noticed a quarter in the middle finger hole locked in by the finger insert.  I fixed his ball and when he picked it up I asked him about it.  He said there was a funny story behind the quarter so i insisted he tell me.  He goes on to tell me his story about a ball he drilled for himself a couple years back.  He was drilling the ball for himself at home and walked away for a while for dinner.  After dinner he put the finishing touches which included glueing the inserts in place.  He then took the ball out and bowled a 300 and now views a quarter in the hole as luck.  He found out later that his kid put the quarter in there and now does that with all his balls for luck.

My question is, is that legal?  If it keeps the static weight within abc requirements, why would it be illegal?

Greatness

I don't have the rule book in front of me, but I don't think you're allowed to have any foreign objects (excluding slugs and inserts made of approved materials) on or in the ball.  I know the weight of his lucky charm doesn't give him any real advantage, but that's the rule.

Actually, I did find the rule.  It says:

Movable devices are not permitted in a ball except that a device for changing the finger span or the size of finger and thumb holes may be inserted, providing the device is locked in position during delivery and cannot be removed from the ball without destroying the device.

Removable devices shall be permitted, provided:

1. Such devices are used for changing the span, pitch or the size of the gripping holes.
2. Are constructed of a nonmetallic material.
3. Are locked in position during delivery.
4. No device shall be employed for the purpose of adjusting the static balance of the ball.
5. No voids shall be permitted under the device.

All such devices must first be submitted and approved by ABC/WIBC before being used in ABC/WIBC competition. Once approved, the device may not be altered and may not be used in conjunction with any other approved device.

The introduction of metal or any other substance not comparable to the original material used in the manufacture of the ball is prohibited. Also, altering a ball in any way, to increase its weight or cause it to be out of balance beyond the tolerances, is prohibited. Plugs may be inserted for the purpose of redrilling a ball. Designs may be embedded in a ball as guides, or observation or identification purposes, provided the designs are flush with the outer surface of the ball. There shall be no interior voids and the plugs or designs must be of material similar to, although not exactly the same as, the original material out of which the ball was made; and shall otherwise comply with all bowling ball specifications. No foreign material may be placed on the outer surface of the ball.


The ABC tournament might find the quarter and reject it for use, but he's probably safe in league.  Technically, the ball is illegal.
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