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Author Topic: Scuffing Ball  (Read 3302 times)

Rileybowler

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Scuffing Ball
« on: July 19, 2003, 03:34:11 AM »
I wanted to know if anyone could answer a question concerning scuffing a ball on league night. Let's say you practice before play starts don't have proper reaction can you scuff the ball you practiced with. Also between 1st and 2nd game can you get a ball that has not been used and scuff that. The rule book seems vague on it. It seems to me logic would say that you can scuff any ball before a game or between games. I would appreciate an answer thanks
Carl
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CB

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2003, 06:54:58 PM »
Rule 18 states:  
quote:
Altering the surface of a bowling ball by the use of abrasives while bowlin in WIBC/ABC competieion is prohibited.
it further states
quote:
Competition is defined as the remainder of the current game and remaining game(s) in the series being bowled
Practice is not the actual competition, so my guess is that as long as it was altered prior to the start of the competition it would not violate the rule.  As for the ball not used prior and scuffed before use in the competition, it doesn't seem to be a violation either.  MHO
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michelle

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2003, 12:59:38 PM »
quote:
If you practice before a tournament and decide to scuff a ball that is fine. Also, if you are bowling in a tournament and you decide that you want to bring a ball out of your bag and scuff it prior to it being thrown within that series, you can do that also.


Not always correct...you need to check the specific rules for that event.  Some tournaments do not allow any surface alteration once the practice block has started...doesn't happen often, but you need to be aware of it.

Edited on 7/20/2003 1:03 PM

seadrive

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2003, 01:35:55 PM »
quote:
Altering the surface of a bowling ball by the use of abrasives while bowling in WIBC/ABC competition is prohibited.

I don't see how you can read this to mean that it's okay to scuff the surface of a ball, as long as you haven't used it yet, but then the rule itself no longer makes sense, so who knows.

Personally, I think all ball surfaces below 400 grit, maybe even below 600 grit, should be prohibited at all times, but you should be free to change the surface of a ball whenever you like, as long as you don't cause a "delay of game".  I mean, I don't want to have to wait 10 minutes for some clown to finish working on a ball in the middle of a game, but between games seems okay to me.
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2003, 05:42:01 PM »
The rule is, that you can alter the surface of a ball at any time as long as you have not used it during competition on any given day. If you practice with a ball, you can alter that ball's surface at any time before using it once competition begins.  Even if you do not use it in practice, you can alter the surface just so long as you have not used it to compete on that given day.
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2003, 11:10:46 AM »
All right, BIG.  If you read my post, it says that you can as long as you HAVE NOT used it during competition.  You just reiterated what I said.  It does not matter if you have bowled 6 games in a tournament.  If you have not used a particular ball as of yet, you can do whatever the heck you want to it unless the tournament says you can't.  Nowhere in my post does it say that you can use it in competition, and then alter the surface.
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michelle

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2003, 11:16:34 AM »

Actually TWOHAND, the rule says the opposite of what you are claiming.  Once the scores start in league play, you cannot decide that the ball in your bag will be good for Game 2 with a little extra surface.

AND, the fact still remains that there are events where scuffing during the practice block is not permitted...the bowler needs to check the rules for the particular event.

LuckyLefty

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2003, 11:47:11 AM »
What about polish or cleaning.

I have had a discussion with a new member and he was applying a polish because it said approved for league play(during competition).

I stated that once competition started no surface alterations available?

Well?

REgards,

Luckylefty
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James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

TWOHAND834

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2003, 11:47:24 AM »
Michelle,

Then that is my fault.  I have seen people reaching for a ball not yet thrown long after the arrows have gone up, and did surface alterations.  The way it was explained to me was that you could alter the surface if it had not been used.  My apologies to you and BIG.  I also need to pass on this info to those I see doing the altering.  Thanks for the clarification.
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michelle

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2003, 12:02:20 PM »
quote:
What about polish or cleaning.



now, now Sawbones...err LuckyLefty

That is where the grey area becomes a lovely shade of charcoal...they allow the LustreKing and by default, anything else that contains no abrasives.  I don't really agree that the polishes are abrasive-free, but it isn't my call to make.  

Bottom line...consult the list that they have at bowl.com and if it isn't there, probably ought to presume not to use it in competition

LuckyLefty

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Re: Scuffing Ball
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2003, 01:43:21 PM »
Really Michelle,

Polish allowed????

Well I'll be a monkee's sawbones!

Luckysaw???

REgards,

Luckylefty

It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana