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Gripping holes

Posted: May 31st, 2019, 6:22 am
by crashin12x
From WB Statutes and Rules

4.11.6 A maximum of five gripping holes are allowed in a bowling ball. The athlete must use each
hole. Any hole, which is not used, is considered a balance hole (which are not allowed after
August 1, 2020).



Will this mean that by Aug 2020 Bowlers who delivers the ball not using their thumb should show two gripping holes only on their balls with the thumb holes to be treated as balance holes?

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: May 31st, 2019, 9:06 am
by 44boyd
Yes, if there’s a hole in it there needs to be a finger or thumb in it.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: May 31st, 2019, 11:51 pm
by Adrenaline
AND they have to mark where the palm of their hand will go. They aren't allowed to turn the ball upside down anymore.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 1:54 am
by snick
How does turning the ball upside down change the post-drilling mass distribution of the weightblock?

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 1st, 2019, 2:17 am
by Mongo
Also, who's going to go up and spot check every bowler throwing every ball?

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 3rd, 2019, 8:34 am
by crashin12x
Mongo wrote:Also, who's going to go up and spot check every bowler throwing every ball?
That's the challenge.

Right nowonce in a while I don't use my middle finger especially if the lanes are hooking too much or I am shooting for my 7 pin (I am a lefty). So this means I will be guilty violating this rule comes Aug 1, 2020 :-(

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 5th, 2019, 2:32 pm
by b3y0nd3r
It's an attempt by the WBC to lower scores. Plain as the "soon to be" egg on their faces.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 5th, 2019, 5:16 pm
by kajmk
Are balls with plugged balance holes allowed?
If so, might lead to some creative cheating ?

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 4:12 am
by The Kid
snick wrote:How does turning the ball upside down change the post-drilling mass distribution of the weightblock?
It doesn't. But it does change the pin-to-PAP distance and angle to the pin-to-spin line/distance to PSA. Assuming the PAP doesn't change much, a pin 2" from the PAP would change to nearly 5" from the PAP.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 12:48 pm
by b3y0nd3r
snick wrote:How does turning the ball upside down change the post-drilling mass distribution of the weightblock?
Its also an attempt to make you buy more bowling balls. A tri-grip can give you six bowling balls in one.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 7th, 2019, 3:47 pm
by boomer
b3y0nd3r wrote:
Its also an attempt to make you buy more bowling balls. A tri-grip can give you six bowling balls in one.
so - not really trying to make you buy MORE bowling balls, but rather to buy the same number as that of a conventional style bowler.

If a no-thumb bowler (2-hand or 1-hand) can get three balls (ish) out of one ball, that's a distinct advantage over those of us who cannot do the same. It's not an attempt to make you buy more - it's an attempt to level that playing field.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 11th, 2019, 3:12 pm
by b3y0nd3r
boomer wrote:
so - not really trying to make you buy MORE bowling balls, but rather to buy the same number as that of a conventional style bowler.

If a no-thumb bowler (2-hand or 1-hand) can get three balls (ish) out of one ball, that's a distinct advantage over those of us who cannot do the same. It's not an attempt to make you buy more - it's an attempt to level that playing field.
By that logic, a person that can only afford one ball needs the playing field leveled as well then? I've seen guys come in with two 3 ball rollers. That's six balls vs a person's one. How fair is that? No, it's an attempt to get people to buy more gear because if the ball manufactures stop making balls and dry up, the sport dies even quicker.

Re: Gripping holes

Posted: June 11th, 2019, 4:09 pm
by boomer
No - the analogy doesn't extend that far.

You're attributing a motivation to people with regards to something that was only theoretical and not used in practice (much - I've never seen it, which doesn't mean it isn't in use, but not all over)

I'm attributing a "normal" motivation to those same people.


But to take your analogy extension even further, why not extend it to Norm? He uses one ball for everything - but still only drills the traditional holes.


But I would be FINE with a one-ball tournament. Part of the entry fee is for a brand new White Dot. Drill it up, roll it. I'm FINE with that. I do bring four balls (mostly because our center is NOT consistent with what they lay out - it was flooded last night, typically it's very dry) but am thinking of dropping one to go with two mains and my WD. If I didn't need that, I'd drop to two. Thinking of doing that anyway.