Author Topic: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls (Read 1312 times)

s_hemker · « **on:** February 02, 2009, 05:40:28 AM »

I have a question about usbc's list of non-comforming bowling balls.

Does anybody have exact reasons why these are on the list? I have a buddy that throws the brunswick web but I was also curious about all the other ones on the list. Thanks!

stormed1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2009, 02:08:38 PM »

If I remember correctly the reason the web was not approved was that the yellow lines were raised above the surface

tenpinspro · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2009, 03:45:57 PM »

Michael Jordan "basketball" (still have one for keepsake) and the Web were not completely sealed or covered with a final/smooth coating which then left the lines physically exposed to touch. I'm "assuming" it didn't pass one of their friction tests.

Whiskey bottles in the ball might have been the caps (if they were tin) and the Quasar had actual batteries in them (ball blinked in 2 spots as it rolled, used to sell them). I believe this is their rule of no metals or alloys allowed in the ball.

Petraglia threw a gold flaked spare ball which was illegal to abc/usbc but allowed on tour a few years back. Supposedly it was actual "gold flake" inside the cover of the ball. Not sure on the other balls that were rejected.

On edit: The no metal or foreign alloys stemmed from back in the day (prior to reactive or true core technology) where guys would load their balls with ball bearings, fishing weights, coins etc... I was told (by Del I think) that even the "titanium" cores are not pure titanium (some form of mixed compound) or that would have also been deemed illegal per abc/usbc standards/guidelines.
--------------------
Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Tag Team Coaching - Co-Founder
"El" Presidente of the Legion

Edited on 2/2/2009 5:21 PM

notsohotshot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:00:30 PM »

I think that you also can't have vertical or lateral straight lines on the ball. The Quasar was because of the void for the batteries.

JessN16 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:15:31 PM »

The answers here are correct. Parker Bohn threw the Web ball at spares one year on the tour. It was legal for PBA but not for USBC competition.

The whisky bottle ball had metal caps in it. Same company made one with a naked lady inside that is illegal because ... well, it's got a naked lady in it.

Quasar ball has metal in it (batteries), so it's out.

There's a USBC rule about balls not having marks in the coverstock from the factory (which could be used to grip the lane, if engineered correctly). That's why the Jordan ball is out.

My mystery has always been why Bonanza balls are legal but Bonanza II aren't.

I believe the ceramicore thing isn't for balls with ceramic inside, it's those "titanium cored" balls which are actually ceramic with some kind of titanium powder. If you put a block of titanium in the ball, it would be illegal.

Jess

tenpinspro · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:20:53 PM »

quote:
I believe the ceramicore thing isn't for balls with ceramic inside, it's those "titanium cored" balls which are actually ceramic with some kind of titanium powder. If you put a block of titanium in the ball, it would be illegal.

Jess

Oh yeah, that's it (too long ago..and I'm old

). Thanks Jess...I will correct.
--------------------
Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Tag Team Coaching - Co-Founder
"El" Presidente of the Legion

J_w73 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:26:48 PM »

quote:
Michael Jordan "basketball" (still have one for keepsake) and the Web were not completely sealed or covered with a final/smooth coating which then left the lines physically exposed to touch. I'm "assuming" it didn't pass one of their friction tests.

Whiskey bottles in the ball might have been the caps (if they were tin) and the Quasar had actual batteries in them (ball blinked in 2 spots as it rolled, used to sell them). I believe this is their rule of no metals or alloys allowed in the ball.

Petraglia threw a gold flaked spare ball which was illegal to abc/usbc but allowed on tour a few years back. Supposedly it was actual "gold flake" inside the cover of the ball. Not sure on the other balls that were rejected.

On edit: The no metal or foreign alloys stemmed from back in the day (prior to reactive or true core technology) where guys would load their balls with ball bearings, fishing weights, coins etc... I was told (by Del I think) that even the "titanium" cores are not pure titanium (some form of mixed compound) or that would have also been deemed illegal per abc/usbc standards/guidelines.
--------------------
Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Tag Team Coaching - Co-Founder
"El" Presidente of the Legion

Edited on 2/2/2009 5:21 PM

I'm pretty sure the Ti - Titanium cores are mostly titanium dioxide. It is actually used as a pigment in white opaque paints. It is a fairly dense material.
--------------------
16-17 mph
350 rpm
PAP 5 1/2 x 3/8 up
High Game 300 x 3
High Series 782
Book Average 215 / 205
PBA Xperience ave 180
years bowling 22

BBB · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2009, 05:11:40 PM »

But itÂ´s perfectly okay to load the coverstock with particles, even diamonds, just makes me wonder......

Author Topic: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls (Read 1312 times)

s_hemker

Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

stormed1

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

tenpinspro

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

notsohotshot

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

JessN16

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

tenpinspro

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

J_w73

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls

BBB

Re: Non-Comforming Bowling Balls