Category: Bowling News

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Bowling News Events

National 600 Club 2024 Mail-O-Graphic Tournament

The National 600 Bowling Club, Inc. is conducting their annual mail-o-graphic singles tournament for its members. This tournament will be held beginning January 21 through February 10, 2024. Copies of the entry form, score verification form and tournament rules are available on the National 600 Bowling Club website.

There are two parts to the form to be used. The entry form with entry fee(s) must be returned postmarked no later than January 18, 2024.

League scores for the dates of January 21 through February 10, 2024 will be used. You may enter in each league that you are a member, however, you may cash only once in each division entered. The score verification form must be returned postmarked no later than February 17, 2024. Please remember to include a copy of your league recap sheet with current average and signed verification form. The scratch division is open to all members regardless of average.

The entry fee is $10.00 PER ENTRY PER DIVISION: Prize fund $7.00 and $3.00 for expenses.  The prize fund will be returned 100%.  Checks should be made payable to National 600 Bowling Club, Inc. Results will be posted on the website: www.national600.com  If you would like a copy please send a stamped self addressed envelope along with your scores.

For more information, please see the National 600 Club Mail-O-Graphic Tournament web page.

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Bowling News

Reminder of USBC Rule Changes for 2022-2023 Season

The USBC Board has rescinded the changes made to USBC rules in 2019-2020, which were instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Aug. 1, 2022, the following rule changes will be in effect:

  • Rule 18 – Bowlers will no longer be allowed to use isopropyl alcohol to clean a bowling ball once competition has started.
  • Rules 113a and 113b – The use of two lanes immediately adjoining each other will again be required to be used for league competition.
  • Rules 320a and 320b – The use of two lanes immediately adjoining each other will again be required to be used for tournament competition.

Read MORE HERE about the changes starting Aug. 1, 2022.

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Bowling News

USBC Revokes Certification Approval of Storm Spectre Ball

The United States Bowling Congress has revoked approval of the Storm Spectre bowling ball and removed it from the list of balls approved for USBC competition effective March 14, 2022. The revocation comes after USBC determined through its spot-checking procedures that a significant percentage of the balls produced do not comply with specifications and requirements outlined in the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual.

USBC testing showed a significant percentage of the Storm Spectre do not meet the minimum 73D hardness specification during spot checks of bowling balls in the field. The ball originally was approved based on samples submitted by Storm. The Spectre had been approved for competition in December 2021.

The statistical analysis of the Storm Spectre indicated a defect rate of 98.6%, meaning that 98.6% of Spectre balls are projected to be outside USBC’s hardness specification limit. USBC tested balls from multiple batches, and the non-conformance was not limited to a specific batch.

Bowlers who used the Spectre in competition before March 14, 2022, with no prior knowledge of their balls being out of specification would not be subject to forfeiture under USBC rules.

The official announcement from USBC can be found here.

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Bowling News

USBC Updates National Tournament Rules regarding use of Purple Hammers

Effective immediately, USBC is instituting a tournament rule at all USBC national tournaments prohibiting Purple Hammers manufactured in 2016 and 2017 from being used in these competitions. The tournament rule reads:

Purple Hammer bowling balls manufactured during 2016 or 2017 (identified by serial numbers that start with either a “6” or “7”) are prohibited for use.

USBC has shared this national tournament rule with Hammer’s current owner, Brunswick, and has Brunswick’s support. Brunswick will offer owners of 2016 or 2017 Purple Hammers the option to exchange their balls for a new Purple Hammer that can be used in all tournaments or a product of their choice. This can be done on-site at the 2022 USBC Open Championships or USBC Women’s Championships, or by contacting Brunswick at: consumerproducts@brunswickbowling.com or 800-937-2695.

The Purple Hammer, including the 2016 and 2017 models, remain USBC approved. USBC’s equipment specification manual allows for revocation of ball approval when balls at the time of manufacture demonstrate non-compliance to specification. USBC has no such evidence and is unable to locate enough blank balls from 2016 and 2017 to conduct conclusive testing.

Each USBC competition, whether tournament or league, has the option to adopt USBC’s national tournament rule on the Purple Hammer or other rules related to equipment restrictions.

The official USBC announcement can be found here.

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Bowling News Notice

USBC COVID-19 Rule Updates

Changes to Rule 18, which allows for the use of isopropyl alcohol to clean a ball during competition, and Rule 113a, which allows for the use of a single lane during competition, have been extended for the 2021-2022 season. Click here to view the USBC press release on this.