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USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specifications

Posted: June 16th, 2018, 8:56 pm
by bowl1820
Okay basically it says you can drill balls to the new spec. starting Aug. 1, 2018

I 'd say you probably can start plugging then too as long as it meets the new statics afterwards.

https://www.bowl.com/News/NewsDetails.a ... 3622331380

Excerpt:
"
The Equipment and Specifications Committee determined the specification allowing increases in static weights for bowling balls without balance holes will begin this fall to allow for a smoother transition for bowlers.

Starting Aug. 1, 2018, bowling balls weighing more than 10 pounds will be allowed to have up to three ounces of static side, thumb or finger weight and up to three ounces of top or bottom weight, provided the ball does not have a balance hole.

Bowlers still can have a bowling ball with a balance hole until Aug. 1, 2020, but any balls with a balance hole must stay within the current static weight specification of one ounce for finger, thumb or side weight, and three ounces for top or bottom weight.

The specification eliminating the use of balance holes still will go into effect Aug. 1, 2020."

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 27th, 2018, 12:48 am
by Nord
bowl1820 wrote:Okay basically it says you can drill balls to the new spec. starting Aug. 1, 2018

I 'd say you probably can start plugging then too as long as it meets the new statics afterwards.

https://www.bowl.com/News/NewsDetails.a ... 3622331380

Excerpt:
"
The Equipment and Specifications Committee determined the specification allowing increases in static weights for bowling balls without balance holes will begin this fall to allow for a smoother transition for bowlers.

Starting Aug. 1, 2018, bowling balls weighing more than 10 pounds will be allowed to have up to three ounces of static side, thumb or finger weight and up to three ounces of top or bottom weight, provided the ball does not have a balance hole.

Bowlers still can have a bowling ball with a balance hole until Aug. 1, 2020, but any balls with a balance hole must stay within the current static weight specification of one ounce for finger, thumb or side weight, and three ounces for top or bottom weight.

The specification eliminating the use of balance holes still will go into effect Aug. 1, 2020."
Good.
Now we have time to figure out new layouts using the higher static weight limits that can restore the performance that balance holes were providing.
Mo will think of something.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 27th, 2018, 4:40 am
by MegaMav
Nord wrote:Mo will think of something.
Its already been mapped out with different core shapes.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 27th, 2018, 3:18 pm
by snick
Since asymms are still legal, I will moving some of my balance hole customers to those balls. I don't see a whole lot of difference in these new rules, except that all bowling balls will become technically "drillable", regardless of top weight and pin distance.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 28th, 2018, 5:29 pm
by trackbowler
snick wrote:Since asymms are still legal, I will moving some of my balance hole customers to those balls. I don't see a whole lot of difference in these new rules, except that all bowling balls will become technically "drillable", regardless of top weight and pin distance.
All balls are still legal, the biggest difference with the new rules is that ball drillers can no longer control the drill angle for symmetrical balls. Which will probably lead to more asymmetrical equipment being produced, like the new Ludicrous from Mo.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 28th, 2018, 6:22 pm
by snick
Exactly. Nothing has changed except the proportion of asym vs sym. The amount of hook/traction that bowlers can achieve within the rules will remain precisely the same as before.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 28th, 2018, 8:42 pm
by Nord
snick wrote:Exactly. Nothing has changed except the proportion of asym vs sym. The amount of hook/traction that bowlers can achieve within the rules will remain precisely the same as before.
But the rate at which resin balls strip oil off the lane is the main thing they wanted to combat.
Correct?
They want a lane pattern to sustain through play so you don't get this ridiculous burn condition requiring carnival side show tricks to get the ball down the lane.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 29th, 2018, 5:39 pm
by trackbowler
Nord wrote:But the rate at which resin balls strip oil off the lane is the main thing they wanted to combat.
Correct?
Correct, but all current balls are within the absorption rate specified in the new rules.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 29th, 2018, 9:33 pm
by snick
It's the crankers and two-handers that are wrecking the shims, and these bowlers do not typically use balance holes. So, in terms of stabilizing the playing environment, nothing will change.

Re: USBC adjusts timeline for new bowling ball specification

Posted: June 30th, 2018, 2:54 am
by guruU2
snick wrote:in terms of stabilizing the playing environment, nothing will change.
In all probability, you are correct. If so, we can ask: What is the REAL reason for these changes?