Category Archives: 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.
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.
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.
Information for 2021 Virginia State Women’s USBC Tournament Bowlers
ATTENTION WOMEN’S HANDICAP TOURNAMENT BOWLERS!!!
PLEASE REVIEW THE CURRENT COVID-19 GUIDELINES THAT MUST BE ADHERED TO IN ORDER TO HOLD THE TOURNAMENT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
TOURNAMENT ENTRY FORMS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BOWLING CENTERS OR ONLINE AT WWW.VASTATEUSBC.COM UNDER THE TOURNAMENTS TAB.
THE TEAM EVENT WILL BE HELD AT NRV SUPERBOWL IN CHRISTIANSBURG AND THE DOUBLES/SINGLES EVENT WILL BE HELD AT LEE-HI LANES IN SALEM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MASKS WILL RE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES (INCLUDING ON THE APPROACH WHILE BOWLING) EXCEPT WHEN ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.
QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: ANNE RAY (757-846-1111), VIRGINIA STATE WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT MANAGER, ANNERAY@COX.NET OR JOHNNY HARRIS (434-660-1780), VIRGINIA STATE USBC ASSOCIATION MANAGER, VASTATEUSBC@AOL.COM.
Entry Deadline for 2021 Mixed State Extended
The entry deadline for the Virginia State USBC Annual Mixed Handicap Tournament has been extended from January 20, 2021, until January 31, 2021. Entries must be postmarked by midnight Sunday, January 31, 2021.
Greater Roanoke Area USBC 