This is the rules question I posted a couple of days ago. The link is to the original post and the BR readers interpretations.  ABC disagreed with all of us!! At the bottom I posted my follow-up question to their interpretation.

http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=50215&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5

Question: A bowler on team A throws his first shot and leaves a split.
He turns around and when he looks up the split is gone and he has a
2-pin leave remaining. No one on either team is sure if the pin fell
legally or was knocked down by the pinsetter. The bowler throws his 2nd
shot and picks up the spare. Ultimately the game is decided by 5 pins
and team A wins. At the completion of the game a bowler from an adjacent
lane says to a member of team "B" that they would have won had the
pinsetter not knocked down the split and that the pin should have been
reset.  Much discussion takes place.  It is determined that the split
will now, after the game is complete, be reset and the bowler will have
to shoot at the split. He does, he misses, his score is altered and team
"B" wins. What is the correct call in this situation? And, what should
be done to the results of that game?

Date Submited:  3/26/2004
 


This is in reference to your email dated 03/26/04.


According to Rule 10 (see below) a provisional ball is rolled when
there is a question regarding legal pinfall. The two separate scores are
kept, taken before the league board of directors, and then they by a
majority vote decide which score stands.  Therefore, based upon the
scenario presented in your email the league was correct to reset the pin
up and have him shoot the spare.  However, the two scoresheets should
have been taken before the league's board for a decision.


"Legal Pinfall
Rule 6a. Pins to be credited to a player following a legal delivery
shall include:
1  Pins knocked down or off the pin deck by the ball or another pin.
2.  Pins knocked down or off the pin deck by a pin rebounding from a
side partition or rear cushion.
3.  Pins knocked down or off the pin deck by a pin rebounding from the
sweep bar when it is at rest on the pin deck before sweeping dead wood
from the pin deck.
4.  Pins that lean and touch the kickback or side partition.
All such pins are termed dead wood and must be removed before the next
delivery.
No pins may be conceded and only pins actually knocked down or moved
entirely off the playing surface of the lane as a result of a legal
delivery may be counted.

Illegal Pinfall
Rule 6b. When any of the following occur the delivery counts but the
resulting pinfall does not:
1.  A ball leaves the lane before reaching the pins.
2.  A ball rebounds from the rear cushion.
3.  A pin rebounds after coming in contact with the body, arms or legs
of a human pinsetter.
4.  A pin is touched by mechanical pinsetting equipment.
5.  Any pin knocked down when dead wood is being removed.
6.  Any pin knocked down by a human pinsetter.
7.  The player commits a foul.
8.  A delivery is made with dead wood on the lane or in the gutter and
the ball contacts such dead wood before leaving the lane surface.
If illegal pinfall occurs and the player is entitled to additional
deliveries in the frame, the pin(s) illegally knocked down must be
respotted where they originally stood before delivery of the ball.

Provisional Ball
Rule 10. A provisional ball or frame shall be bowled when a protest
involving a foul, legal pinfall or a dead ball is made and cannot be
resolved by the two team captains or a tournament official.
The following procedures apply when a dispute occurs:
a.  For the first ball of any frame, or after the second ball in the
tenth frame if the first ball was a strike:
  1.  Foul: The player shall complete the frame and then bowl one
provisional ball at a full setup of pins.
  2.  Illegal Pinfall: The player shall complete the frame and then
bowl one provisional ball at the same setup which would have remained
standing had the disputed pin(s) not have fallen.
  3.Dead Ball: The player shall complete the frame and then bowl a
complete provisional frame.
b.  On a spare attempt or the third ball of the tenth frame:
  1.  Foul and Illegal Pinfall: No provisional ball is necessary.
  2.  Dead Ball: A provisional ball shall be bowled at the same setup
which was standing when the disputed ball was bowled.
The scoresheet and a record of both scores for the frame which the
provisional delivery was made shall be kept. The protest must be
referred to the league board of directors or tournament managing
committee for a decision. If they are unable to make a decision, the
local association or Congress can be asked for a decision on submission
of the facts relating to the protest."

Feel free to contact us should you have additional questions regarding
this matter by replying to this e-mail.
 
Sincerely,
 
Gary Brown
Rules Staff
 
www.bowlingrulebook.com is your source for rules, specifications and
other resources focused on the issues that govern the sport of bowling.

 Gary,
I understand the interpretation but I do have one question.
 
2.  Illegal Pinfall: The player shall complete the frame and then
bowl one provisional ball at the same setup which would have remained
standing had the disputed pin(s) not have fallen.
 
Does bowling the provisional at the end of the game make a difference? It seems to me that the provisional should have been bowled immediately after the spare attempt, not after the game was over.


Let's see if the timing of the provisional makes any difference, from Gary's response it appears not but I'll keep you posted on his reply




Edited on 3/30/2004 1:48 PM