USBC modifies rule on bowling ball gripping holes

[vdubtx]

Aslan should like this as he despises 2 handed bowlers!

LINK (http://www.bowl.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?id=23622321723)


Lucas Wiseman
USBC Communications
Published: May 7, 2014 | Bowl.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - In a move to add greater clarity and fairness to ball specifications related to bowlers not using their thumb while delivering the ball, the United States Bowling Congress has modified the specifications on bowling ball gripping holes.

Under the new rule, any thumb hole that is not used for gripping purposes during the delivery would be classified as a balance hole. Bowling balls are only permitted one balance hole.

"A no-thumb bowler using a balance hole along with an unused thumb hole could effectively create two balance holes and change ball dynamics through layout choices in ways that are not available to a bowler who does use their thumb," USBC Interim Executive Director Chad Murphy said. "This rule change aims to create greater fairness by removing the potential advantage of two balance holes. If the bowler doesn't use the thumb hole for gripping, it's not really a gripping hole."

The rule change strictly addresses the use of the thumb hole and only affects bowlers who do not use their thumb for gripping the ball during a delivery. The change will go into effect at the beginning of the winter bowling season, Aug. 1, allowing bowlers affected by the change the time to make necessary repairs to their equipment.

"The change is intended to simplify the specification, make it easier to enforce and reduce confusion," USBC Managing Director of National Governing Body Neil Stremmel said. "It is not necessary to have a thumb hole if the bowler isn't going to use it for gripping purposes and the ball has to be within our static balance requirements to be used during USBC certified competition."

Here is how the new specification will read in the USBC Playing Rules starting Aug. 1:

Holes or indentations for gripping purposes shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand. The player is not required to use all finger holes in any specific delivery, but they must be able to demonstrate, with the same hand, that each gripping hole can be simultaneously used for gripping purposes. Any thumb hole that is not used for gripping purposes during the delivery would be classified as a balance hole.

[circlecity]

That's kinda a big deal. I never really thought about it like that.

[Aslan]

http://www.hdwallpapers.efreez.com/view-clapping-baby--1280x800.html

Good. Keep Belmo from cheating.

[mike_thomas93]

So basically the two-handers are only going to have two holes drilled in their balls for their fingers, right?

[tccstudent]

So basically the two-handers are only going to have two holes drilled in their balls for their fingers, right?

they can still have one balance hole they get to choose if it will be where the thumb would have been or elsewhere

[mc_runner]

Interesting. Too bad for 2 handed/thumbless bowlers who now have to plug all their balls to be legal though.

Here's a question that just popped into my head - are balls required to have a third hole at all, or can bowlers go with only finger holes? That 's not affected by this rule change, but curious.

[ALazySavage]

http://www.pba.com/Resources/Bowling101/

"The regulation ball is of solid composition, has a circumference of no more than 27 inches, and weighs 10 to 16 pounds. A ball may have two or three finger holes; most bowlers use the three-holed ball, inserting the two middle fingers and the thumb into the holes."

[vdubtx]

Good. Keep Belmo from cheating.

No need for him to cheat, he hasn't cheated and won't in future either.

[Aslan]

http://www.pba.com/Resources/Bowling101/

"The regulation ball is of solid composition, has a circumference of no more than 27 inches, and weighs 10 to 16 pounds. A ball may have two or three finger holes; most bowlers use the three-holed ball, inserting the two middle fingers and the thumb into the holes."

I thought a person could actually drill 4 finger holes and a thumb hole if they wanted? I know a lot of older players that use 3 finger holes plus the thumb hole. Is that the PBA rule or USBC?

[bowl1820]

A ball can have a max of 12 holes:

4 finger holes & 1 Thumb hole
one vent hole for each finger and/or thumb hole

One balance hole & one inspection hole (aka Mill mark/hole)


Current Rule: (part 1 is what is being updated)
Drilling Specifications
Holes
The following limitations shall govern the drilling of holes in the ball:
1. Holes or indentations for gripping purposes shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one
for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand. The player is not required to
use all the holes in any specific delivery, but they must be able to demonstrate, with the
same hand, that each hole can be used simultaneously for gripping purposes. Any hole that
cannot be reasonably shown to be used with a single hand would be classified as a balance
hole.

2. One hole for balance purposes not to exceed 1¼ inches in diameter. This hole may not
exceed 1¼ inches at any point through the depth of the hole.

3. No more than one vent hole to each finger and/or thumb hole not to exceed ¼ inch in
diameter. USBC considers a vent hole to be any non-gripping hole that intersects with a
gripping hole at any depth. Any hole intended for use as a balance hole that intersects with
a gripping hole will instantly be considered a vent hole. This hole may not exceed ¼ inch at
any point throughout the depth of the hole.

4. One mill hole for inspection purposes not to exceed 5/8 inch in diameter and 1/8 inch in
depth.

[Mike White]

There is a big problem with this rule.

Lets assume two bowlers, one uses his thumb, the other bowls thumbless.

Each have an identical ball drilled identically. One having a thumb hole, the other having a balance hole.

For the one who uses his thumb, his ball measures out at 7/8 ounce thumb weight relative to the grip center (between the bridge and the thumb hole).

For the thumbless bowler, his ball exceeds 1 ounce thumb weight because his ball is measured relative to the bridge.

Both balls would have the exact same properties, but would be illegal for the thumbless bowler.

Using the same criteria, a thumbless bowler is allowed more finger weight than the thumb bowler.

Symmetrical balls drilled without a thumb hole, tend to have no, or a very weak preferred spin axis.

[bowl1820]

There is a big problem with this rule.

Lets assume two bowlers, one uses his thumb, the other bowls thumbless.

Each have an identical ball drilled identically. One having a thumb hole, the other having a balance hole.

For the one who uses his thumb, his ball measures out at 7/8 ounce thumb weight relative to the grip center (between the bridge and the thumb hole).

For the thumbless bowler, his ball exceeds 1 ounce thumb weight because his ball is measured relative to the bridge.

Both balls would have the exact same properties, but would be illegal for the thumbless bowler.

Using the same criteria, a thumbless bowler is allowed more finger weight than the thumb bowler.

Your example here doesn't really prove anything, other than that both balls are just are not drilled properly to meet the static weight and hole requirements for a thumbless bowler or a ball without a thumb hole.


Symmetrical balls drilled without a thumb hole, tend to have no, or a very weak preferred spin axis.

So what?

The thumbless bowler would just have to have a decent sized weight hole drilled, which in turn would act as the PSA.

This new rule is just trying to placate the majority of bowlers who use their thumb. Who complain about the perceived advantage two handed/thumbless bowler's have over them now and are afraid they are going to be placing the unused thumb hole in exotic locations to manipulate the ball dynamics in ways they can't and gain even more advantage.

[Mike White]

Your example here doesn't really prove anything, other than that both balls are just are not drilled properly to meet the static weight and hole requirements for a thumbless bowler or a ball without a thumb hole.



So what?

The thumbless bowler would just have to have a decent sized weight hole drilled, which in turn would act as the PSA.

This new rule is just trying to placate the majority of bowlers who use their thumb. Who complain about the perceived advantage two handed/thumbless bowler's have over them now and are afraid they are going to be placing the unused thumb hole in exotic locations to manipulate the ball dynamics in ways they can't and gain even more advantage.

I'm sorry you can't see the problem.

By changing the rule of calling the unused thumb hole, a balance hole, it is changing the reference point used for measuring imbalances.

I've drilled a number of balls for thumbless bowlers, and each time I have included a properly fitted thumb hole so the ball can be thrown straight at spares.

The person running the scale at tournaments wouldn't know if the hole is for gripping, or for balance.

If the ball passes, someone would have to monitor the bowler to be sure they are releasing the ball using the same criteria as was used during the weighing process.

Simply requiring the bowler to demonstrate the hole could be used for gripping eliminates the "exotic" locations.

Rules aren't supposed to placate the masses based on perceived advantages. They should stick to realities.

Any advantage no thumb bowlers have comes the larger timing window to achieve high revs, not from the dynamics of the ball.

A bowler using his thumb, with good timing, can achieve similar rev rate.

The more speed you want to put on the ball, the better the timing would have to be.

[bowl1820]

I'm sorry you can't see the problem.

By changing the rule of calling the unused thumb hole, a balance hole, it is changing the reference point used for measuring imbalances.
I understand that very well, this new rule means if your going to bowl thumbless. That the balls with thumb holes will have to be plugged and if needed be redrilled to meet the static weight requirements.



I've drilled a number of balls for thumbless bowlers, and each time I have included a properly fitted thumb hole so the ball can be thrown straight at spares.
Well you won't be doing that anymore, they'll have to get a dedicated spare if they want to use their thumb for spares.



The person running the scale at tournaments wouldn't know if the hole is for gripping, or for balance.

If the ball passes, someone would have to monitor the bowler to be sure they are releasing the ball using the same criteria as was used during the weighing process.
Now your talking about enforcing the rule, which is problem. That will be up to the officals to figure out how to monitor and enforce it.


Simply requiring the bowler to demonstrate the hole could be used for gripping eliminates the "exotic" locations.
That was brought in another forum and was pointed out it doesnt really work. Because there are places where you can put a hole and still grip it, but you couldn't really bowl with it.


Rules aren't supposed to placate the masses based on perceived advantages. They should stick to realities.

Any advantage no thumb bowlers have comes the larger timing window to achieve high revs, not from the dynamics of the ball.

A bowler using his thumb, with good timing, can achieve similar rev rate.

The more speed you want to put on the ball, the better the timing would have to be.

I agree with this!

[austin]

Someone mentioned Belmo earlier, with regards to this bloke, from what I have seen all his balls are drilled basically label anyway with no extra hole, so wont change the way he bowls.

[dnhoffman]

I think it's a good change that addresses what was an unfair advantage at the professional level

[Mike White]

Now your talking about enforcing the rule, which is problem. That will be up to the officals to figure out how to monitor and enforce it.

Since the rule effects league bowling as well, enforcement is going to be spotty, and probably used more as a tactic.

There was one person in my friday league who I noticed throwing thumbless last night.
I commented to him about the pending rule, and he showed me his ball.

I didn't have the opportunity to weight the ball, but based on the location of his CG mark (about an 2 inches inch to the right, and a little up from his thumb hole) and no balance hole, he has probably been using an illegally weighted ball (under current rules) the whole season.
The new rule will only make it worse.

There is no real enforcement of ball rules unless it is taken to a tournament.

Even when you shoot an honor score, all they ask is does the ball have a serial #, not what that serial # is.

[TCJ]

Honestly, I think a lot of bowlers probably use illegally weighted balls, but it's nearly impossible to spot. On the flip side, people automatically want to look at the equipment of a two-hander because his style stands out. They are under suspicion immediately.

What I see this rule doing is making the pro shops more money, placating the masses who think (erroneously) that two-handers have such an unfair advantage (if it were so true, why don't they do it?), driving some bowlers away (me included), and ultimately not changing competition that much. In my league (25 teams last year) there were four people who have been known to bowl two-handed: me (bowling left that year, so no two-handed), one person who tried it for awhile and gave up because he wasn't doing well, and two others who chose not to bowl that way aside from perhaps a ball here and there on shots that didn't matter. Why such a focus on such a tiny, tiny, tiny portion of bowlers? Personally, I think a lot of the old school bowlers just automatically view us as cheaters and want to get rid of us or limit how we can bowl.

[vdubtx]

Honestly, I think a lot of bowlers probably use illegally weighted balls, but it's nearly impossible to spot.

Won't be able to use an illegally weighted ball at Usbc open as they check all balls when checking in for Team event. It is responsibility of pro shops to be sure balls are legally set up. My thinking is it would be a code of ethics for pro shop operators to be sure no balls leave their shop that are not legal.

[TCJ]

Won't be able to use an illegally weighted ball at Usbc open as they check all balls when checking in for Team event. It is responsibility of pro shops to be sure balls are legally set up. My thinking is it would be a code of ethics for pro shop operators to be sure no balls leave their shop that are not legal.

I'm referring to leagues. Many, many bowlers don't bother with the USBC Open.