Funny Story from Last Night

[jab5325]

So, last night was the first night of my (first) scratch league. Things start out fairly well for me, sans a barely missed 7-pin. We're in the first game for this story.

One guy on the other team (let's call him Bob) throws the Greek Church on the first ball, follows up with a turkey. A guy on my team (let's call him Jim) throws the front 4.

Then, the machine breaks down. We had a delay of at least 15 minutes.

Bob gets up, throws 2 more strikes. Jim throws 2 more--he now has the front 6.

Several very loud claps of thunder are heard, over all the noise. We all saw the storm coming on the way in.

Jim gets up for ball 7, and just as he's about to release the ball, the lights go out--we lost power. Amazingly, Jim threw a perfect ball and got his 7th. The house waits around for about 30 minutes, when it's heard over the scanner that a transformer blew nearby and they were paging the fire department. Thus, we all decided to leave (in near total darkness) because it's going to be a while.

So, I guess next week we're going to start with what's left of the 7th frame. Each team took photos of their monitors, because somehow, they were still on--the only thing in the building, besides a couple of emergency lights. That's the first time in all my years of bowling that I've seen the power totally go out. I've seen a machine catch fire and fill the alley with smoke, but never a total power outage.

[vdubtx]

Wow, wonder what the rules state as what to do in that instance. Should the frames put up be thrown out and you start over? Or, as you said, start from the 7th frame and finish out the game?

[Mike White]

Wow, wonder what the rules state as what to do in that instance. Should the frames put up be thrown out and you start over? Or, as you said, start from the 7th frame and finish out the game?

It's happened before, and the game was continued.

I've had the electricity go out 2 times while at the bowling alley.

1st time we were in the meeting room, which was down a hallway next to the control desk, then turn left, go past the league coordinators office, then into thru the last door.

The room didn't share any walls with the outside, so there were no windows.

When the lights went out, it was so dark, you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

2nd time was during an 8 gamer. I had just release the ball when the power went out. Fortunately it was during the day, so plenty of light came through the glass doors on each end.

It was about game #6, and I wasn't doing very well. I told one of the other bowlers, I would leave..... but they've got me by the ball..

No power, no ball return.

I have no memory of that tournament continuing, so it was either postponed, or once my ball did come back I left, or the more likely possibility is my memory is getting that bad.

[bowl1820]

So, I guess next week we're going to start with what's left of the 7th frame. Each team took photos of their monitors, because somehow, they were still on--the only thing in the building, besides a couple of emergency lights.

While taking photos of the monitors was a good idea.

Depending on the system they use and how it backs up the games, they should be able to put them back up from where you left off.

We've had power failures here and they were able to reload the load games from the server later that evening. It would just depend on how their system backs up the info and if it would do it another day.


Wow, wonder what the rules state as what to do in that instance. Should the frames put up be thrown out and you start over? Or, as you said, start from the 7th frame and finish out the game?

This is covered under Rule 106 – League Game/Series.

106c. Interrupted Game/Series
If equipment failure on a pair of lanes would delay the progress of a series, league officers can:
1. Authorize the game and series to be completed on another pair of certified lanes; or
2. Authorize the game and/or series to be bowled on one lane when another pair of certified lanes is
not available. However, when the original pair or another pair of certified lanes becomes available,
the team(s) may resume play on a pair of lanes.

An interrupted game and series shall be resumed from the point of interruption.

When authorized, the requirements of Rule 106a and Rule 106b do not apply.
NOTE: Scores bowled while using one lane shall qualify for USBC award recognition.

[vdubtx]

I knew Bowl1820 would come through with the rule. Thanks for that. :cool:

[Mike White]

I knew Bowl1820 would come through with the rule. Thanks for that. :cool:

There is also this one.

116b. Scores Lost
When game(s) or frame(s) within a game are irretrievably lost in the scoring process, the following procedures shall apply:
1. Scores that can be documented or agreed upon by the opposing team captains stand and the game shall resume from the point of interruption in regular order.
2. Scores that cannot be documented or agreed upon by the opposing team captains shall be rebowled, unless the board of directors rules them null and void.

[jlwonderley]

I told one of the other bowlers, I would leave..... but they've got me by the ball..

No power, no ball return.


Lol. It's funny, I've never had the power go out on me. I have had my ball stuck sitting in the pit before though. One center has a 2 hour flat rate deal, pre-paid, and the the lane shuts down exactly as soon as 2 hours is up, regardless if your ball is traveling down the lane at the time!
Desk clerk just has to power it back on long enough for ball to return of course.

[NewToBowling]

Lol. It's funny, I've never had the power go out on me. I have had my ball stuck sitting in the pit before though. One center has a 2 hour flat rate deal, pre-paid, and the the lane shuts down exactly as soon as 2 hours is up, regardless if your ball is traveling down the lane at the time!
Desk clerk just has to power it back on long enough for ball to return of course.

Hep that happens to me all the time. They should have at least a 30 second delay from when the lanes shut down to when the ball return does. Heck it even happens when I'm playing by the game. Usually occurs if I end up marking and throw a third ball in the 10th frame

[Blacksox1]

The Andy Griffith Show
Season 8 Episode 2: Howard the Bowler
Aired Monday 9:30 PM Sep 18, 1967 on CBS

Same scenario almost 50 years ago. Does Mayberry defeat Mount Pilot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic)

[Stormed1]

I had it happen to me once. About a minute after I threw my ball and left a solid 9 for 299 the power went out. I wish it would have happened as I threw my ball as i would have crawled down the lane and made sure there were no pins standing LOL

[Jessiewoodard57]

The Andy Griffith Show
Season 8 Episode 2: Howard the Bowler
Aired Monday 9:30 PM Sep 18, 1967 on CBS

Same scenario almost 50 years ago. Does Mayberry defeat Mount Pilot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic)

Also happened on Fantasy Island Season 2 Episode 24 Guest stars where Marshall Holman, Dick Weber, and Mark Roth

[jab5325]

It's happened before, and the game was continued.

I've had the electricity go out 2 times while at the bowling alley.

1st time we were in the meeting room, which was down a hallway next to the control desk, then turn left, go past the league coordinators office, then into thru the last door.

The room didn't share any walls with the outside, so there were no windows.

When the lights went out, it was so dark, you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

2nd time was during an 8 gamer. I had just release the ball when the power went out. Fortunately it was during the day, so plenty of light came through the glass doors on each end.

It was about game #6, and I wasn't doing very well. I told one of the other bowlers, I would leave..... but they've got me by the ball..

No power, no ball return.

I have no memory of that tournament continuing, so it was either postponed, or once my ball did come back I left, or the more likely possibility is my memory is getting that bad.

All balls are luckily accounted before.

I'll be interested to see if "Jim's" 7th strike will count. We all saw it, but it was never scored because the power went out as he released the ball.

This center has a glass front door that illuminates a large area, and it wasn't dark yet outside.....so we also luckily weren't tripping each other trying to get out.

[jlwonderley]

All balls are luckily accounted before.

I'll be interested to see if "Jim's" 7th strike will count. We all saw it, but it was never scored because the power went out as he released the ball.

This center has a glass front door that illuminates a large area, and it wasn't dark yet outside.....so we also luckily weren't tripping each other trying to get out.

As long as he had started his approach before the power went out and everyone could see the strike, I can't see why not. Like throwing the ball in basketball and the buzzer sounding mid-flight. Is there an official rule for that?

[Aslan]

I was in a bowling alley during an Earthquake. I wasn't up at the time and was just sitting at the table. But shook the TVs around and knocked over most of the pins that were standing. But the power didn't go out so we just finished bowling...after we coaxed our elderly, asian, female teammate out from under the table she had dove under. :eek:

[TonyInPortland]

The Andy Griffith Show
Season 8 Episode 2: Howard the Bowler
Aired Monday 9:30 PM Sep 18, 1967 on CBS

Same scenario almost 50 years ago. Does Mayberry defeat Mount Pilot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mLsJf7hdic)

Wow that was the most realistic portrayal of bowling I have ever seen on TV or in a movie. Usually they totally mess it up.

[jlwonderley]

I was in a bowling alley during an Earthquake. I wasn't up at the time and was just sitting at the table. But shook the TVs around and knocked over most of the pins that were standing. But the power didn't go out so we just finished bowling...after we coaxed our elderly, asian, female teammate out from under the table she had dove under. :eek:

:D Lol! That's a funny picture, poor lady. I imagine someone leaving a bad split just before the earthquake starts which then knocks the remaining pins over. If it was me, I'd argue that God obviously wanted me to have gotten a strike.

[Aslan]

Wow that was the most realistic portrayal of bowling I have ever seen on TV or in a movie. Usually they totally mess it up.

It reminds me of an episode of King of Queens where they were playing paintball. And I was all excited because that used to be my passion. Then I watch as they are breaking just about every single rule that a paintball field is going to have. They were climbing trees, making physical contact, only wearing goggles (vs full face protection), and they kept taking their goggles on and off from scene to scene...which will usually get you ejected from the paintball field after 1-2 times doing that.

I just thought to myself...do they even KNOW that now there are gonna be kids and adults that see that and go play paintball with a horrible sense of safety and either get ejected from the field or lose an eye?

Even n The Big Lebowski...the one scene that is just kinda crazy is where he pulls a gun out and makes the guy change the score. I hate to tell ya...but a dude pulls a piece out during league play...in California no less...you don't just get an uncomfortable call from the league president...you're 99.9999999% sure to be arrested.