New USBC rules on pinky finger

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vicsmyth
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New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by vicsmyth »

I understand that a gripping hole is allowed for the pinky finger. But what if I have a pinky finger drilled but don't use it, laying my finger over the top of the hole. Or if I use my ring and pinky finger, leaving the middle finger out and one of the gripping holes unused (as I sometime do to shoot spares on really dry lanes)? Are both these scenarios grounds for being disqualified if I did this at a USBC tournament after Aug 1, 2020?

I take it that having a thumb hole drilled and not using it would also be a violation of the new USBC rules?
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by MegaMav »

Ask USBC:

USBC Rules team is here between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Central), Monday through Friday, at 800-514-BOWL ext. 8955 or by email at rules@bowl.com.
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by JMerrell »

vicsmyth wrote:I understand that a gripping hole is allowed for the pinky finger. But what if I have a pinky finger drilled but don't use it laying my finger over the top of the hole. Or if I use my ring and pinky finger, leaving the middle finger out and one of the gripping holes unused it is then considered a balance hole (as I sometime do to shoot spares on really dry lanes)? Are both these scenarios grounds for being disqualified if I did this at a USBC tournament after Aug 1, 2020?

I take it that having a thumb hole drilled and not using it would also be a violation of the new USBC rules?
During the 2018 /2019 collegiate season one of my female athletes suffered a hand injury we added a pinky finger hole to provide support. (the ball had an existing balance hole)

I contacted Gary Brown (USBC Collegiate) and was told that when the hand healed and the hole was no longer being used it must be plugged. Reason being that the ball already had an existing balance hole and the unused finger hole would also be considered a balance hole. Thus two balance holes would make the ball illegal.

With the upcoming ban of balance holes, I would say that any unused gripping hole would be considered a balance hole and illegal.

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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by EricHartwell »

http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net ... lebook.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

b. Effective 8/1/2018:
1) Holes.
a. 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. All holes must be used on
every delivery
. If a bowler does not use their thumb, there must be a scribed or engraved
cross-hair lines (“+”) near the center of the palm to indicate the grip orientation. The ball
must be delivered in the marked orientation (i.e. palm must cover the “+”).
b. No balance holes are allowed.
c. One vent hole for each finger and/or thumb hole, not to exceed 1/4 inch in diameter is
permitted.
d. One mill hole for inspection purposes not to exceed 5 ⁄8 inch in diameter and 1⁄8 inch in
depth is permitted.
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by star »

I’m wondering what the rule for a two handler/no thumber will be if he has a Vise insert thumb hole drilled into his ball but inserts a solid undrilled Vise IT thumb in his ball for strike shots then takes that out and puts in a normal drilled Vise IT thumb for his spares.

Just a thought as he’s not breaking any law that I can see.

Maybe someone will come out with a solid finger slug like the interchangeable ones and then you can do it to fingers.

Will that be a way around the rules? I don’t know. Should have patented it, darn.
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by gunso »

Won't there be a void in the bottom though? That would make it illegal
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by star »

Ok, didn’t think of that.........

Need to find another way to make my millions. :D
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by vicsmyth »

So in last night's Cheetah finals, the commentator mentioned that Matt McNiel used only his ring finger and thumb on one spare shot. Is that not a violation? Or does the PBA play by different rules?
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by nwohbowler »

vicsmyth wrote:So in last night's Cheetah finals, the commentator mentioned that Matt McNiel used only his ring finger and thumb on one spare shot. Is that not a violation? Or does the PBA play by different rules?
The rules aren't effective yet from what I understand they don't take effect until next year?
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by EricHartwell »

nwohbowler wrote: The rules aren't effective yet from what I understand they don't take effect until next year?
EricHartwell wrote: http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... lebook.pdf

b. Effective 8/1/2018:
1) Holes.
a. 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. All holes must be used on
every delivery.
The PBA is not Governed by the USBC. They play by their own rules.
It will be interesting to see if they follow suit with the no balance hole rule.

This is what you get when you search for the PBA rules...
https://www.pba.com/Content/images/memb ... leBook.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm guessing that they are being revised.
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Re: New USBC rules on pinky finger

Post by nwohbowler »

EricHartwell wrote:

The PBA is not Governed by the USBC. They play by their own rules.
It will be interesting to see if they follow suit with the no balance hole rule.

This is what you get when you search for the PBA rules...
https://www.pba.com/Content/images/memb ... leBook.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm guessing that they are being revised.
This is what I saw when I looked up:
Balance holes will become illegal effective August 1, 2020. If you have any bowling balls with balance holes that you wish to use in USBC-sanctioned competition on or after that date, you must have the balance hole plugged.
Strange... Maybe I'm mixing up different changes.
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