GRAUSBC Information Letter, September 2022
On behalf of the Greater Roanoke Area Bowling Association, we would like to announce the revamp of the local association Hall of Fame. You can find the new nomination form on our website at grausbc.org. It can be found under the forms tab and it’s a fillable PDF form.
The hall of fame is for any man, woman, or youth that has bowled in the Greater Roanoke Area Bowling Association for a minimum of 5 years. There are 3 categories to choose from, Meritorious service, Skill and Ability, and newly added is the Legacy category. The Legacy category is for all bowlers that are 55 years old and up. Nominations are now open, and they are due by November 1st. You can mail, email, or hand deliver your nomination. The information needed is on the form. We will be hosting our Hall of Fame banquet in March.
New to the association, we will be hosting a Hall of Fame mixed tournament the last two weekends of February and will consist of a team, singles, and doubles. More information to come.
On another note, the GRA will be having an association doubles and singles tournament on December 10th & 11th. More details will be coming soon.
If you have any questions, please let me or any board member know. Also, if you haven’t done so, please like the Greater Roanoke Area Bowling Association on Facebook. You will be able to find tournament information here as well.
Again, if you know someone that is deserving of the Hall of Fame, please get your nominations in.
Thank you!
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The USBC Board has rescinded the changes made to USBC rules in 2019-2020, which were instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.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.
Les Dames de 700 Bowling Club 2022 Mail-O-Graphic Tournament
The Les Dames de 700 Club is conducting their 2022 mail-o-graphic singles tournament. League scores from October 16 through November 12, 2022 will be used. If your league bowls weekly, you may enter that league one, two, three or all four weeks. The entry fee is $7 per week for each sanctioned league you enter. This tournament will be handicapped at 90% from 230 and will be USBC certified. More information is available by clicking HERE for the Tournament Announcement, Entry Form and Rules. If you are not already a Les Dames de 700 Club member, you may print a copy of the Application Form by clicking HERE. Entries must be mailed no later than October 14, 2022.
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.
Greater Roanoke Area USBC 