USBC revokes certification of Storm Spectre...

[Ryster]

Here we go...round two of the recent round of ball certification issues. The USBC has determined that the recently released Storm Spectre bowling ball is out of compliance for hardness. The defect rate is projected to be 98.6%. They revoked certification of the ball and it is no longer acceptable for use in any USBC sanctioned tournament or league.

https://www.bowl.com/News/NewsDetail...id=23622337387


Rumor on the street is that there are other Storm Company balls under the microscope at the USBC and the Spectre may not be the only ball with problems.

One would think these manufacturers would be a little better QC'ing products as they come off the line.

[boomer]

As I understand it, Storm is under higher scrutiny because they are more outspoken against specific products being sold (been sold) by another company who used to employ Chad, who seemingly has turned a blind eye toward that specific product over and over. . .


C'mon - let's get a non-industry person at the top who can at least LOOK impartial.

[Ryster]

Well, the Kentucky PHs with 6 and 7 serial numbers are banned from USBC national competitions. They should have probably been banned outright. However, the USBC doesn't have an available sample of brand new, in the box 6 and 7 Kentucky PHs to test. They can only test the Mexico PHs that are still current. If they fall under the acceptable defect rate they have no grounds for a ban. Unlike the Spectre, which was just recently released and easily found in the distribution channel for random testing and demonstrated a 98.6% defect rate.

You also have the Idol Helios, with which 2 sanctioned 900's have now been bowled. I am sure that ball is now on the USBC's radar as a result.

All of the ball companies are probably now more closely sampling their products to ensure compliance.

[ALazySavage]

The challenge with getting a non-industry member at the top is that you would think one would need to come up the ranks to get that position and there are not really many avenues other than working through the ball companies to get there.

Since the Helios was released before the Spectre I would guess that it had already gone through the amount of testing that the Spectre has gone through (and it was a new cover so hopefully it went through some more testing, the Spectre has the same cover as the Intense/Snap Lock so they may have tweaked and not tested as strongly thinking it was in the clear - candy cane cookie scent must make it softer haha)

Would be curious to know what the probationary status with the USBC entails that Storm is being put on - the fine doesn't really matter ($8,000). If the probation is significant enough, either in additional testing to slow down releases or some other annoyance, this may help get this under control.

[Ryster]

What these issues boil down to are issues in manufacturing occurring after a ball is approved by the USBC. I recently watched a video on how Storm balls are made, and there was no testing of the finished product. They pulled a core out of the hopper, put it in a mold, filled it with resin, waited for it to cure, trimmed it, polished it, engraved it, and stuck it in a box. If the coverstock wasn't properly mixed or not curing as hard as it should have, they would have never known.

I also watched a video of the Lord Field factory overseas, and their balls are mostly made by robots. No checking the balls. Just pour, engrave, finish, package, ship.

The Motiv Jackal issue was also a case of worn out core molds causing cores to go out of compliance. Again, manufacturing issues after initial approval.

It is almost like these manufacturers have become too complacent in their own QC, and simply figure that if the ball passed USBC approval then they are good-to-go.

[boomer]

The challenge with getting a non-industry member at the top is that you would think one would need to come up the ranks to get that position and there are not really many avenues other than working through the ball companies to get there.

The people we've had in charge of various things - I don't agree that it needs to be from one of the ball companies.

Could be anyone with business background, love of bowling, understanding of media and high profile media.

[boomer]

What these issues boil down to are issues in manufacturing occurring after a ball is approved by the USBC. I recently watched a video on how Storm balls are made, and there was no testing of the finished product. They pulled a core out of the hopper, put it in a mold, filled it with resin, waited for it to cure, trimmed it, polished it, engraved it, and stuck it in a box. If the coverstock wasn't properly mixed or not curing as hard as it should have, they would have never known.

I also watched a video of the Lord Field factory overseas, and their balls are mostly made by robots. No checking the balls. Just pour, engrave, finish, package, ship.

The Motiv Jackal issue was also a case of worn out core molds causing cores to go out of compliance. Again, manufacturing issues after initial approval.

It is almost like these manufacturers have become too complacent in their own QC, and simply figure that if the ball passed USBC approval then they are good-to-go.

True - QC should be done. Doesn't have to be each and every ball (although it wouldn't take much - run through a durometer "press" on the way out. . . an automated system would take seconds) but at LEAST pull 10% and test. That's what pretty much every industry does - they pull a sample on a regular basis and test it.

[Ryster]

Storm is now saying they have fully tested the Spectre and determined it to be fully compliant. Now they are trying to sort it all out with the USBC. Also hearing that the USBC's testing was faulty and there was no issue at all with the balls. This will be interesting to see how it all plays out.