For those who are confused about the use of certain Storm bowling balls following the recent United States Bowling Congress declaration, here is a statement from the Ohio USBC concerning the use of this equipment during the current state tournament:
After discussion concerning the recent announcement made by USBC dealing with specific Storm products used during National Tournament Events along with taking into account the specific wording stating –
“These ball models remain USBC approved. Each USBC competition, whether tournament or league, has the option to adopt USBC’s national tournament rule prohibiting use of these balls or to continue to allow their use.”
therefore – the decision is up to our organization and taking into account what is best for our entire membership at this time – the Ohio State USBC will allow these stated bowling balls to be used during all Ohio State USBC certified tournaments for the remainder of this bowling season (2021-2022). Upon the completion of this bowling season – the Ohio State USBC will review this situation and make a decision at that time for the new bowling season (2022-2023).
However, there are two bowling balls that have been recently added to the USBC “Non-Approved” list that are completely banned from being used in any USBC certified event.
These banned bowling balls are:
1.) Storm Spectre
2.) Purple Hammer (made in the year 2016 & 2017)
Our organization will continue to monitor the ever changing environment and make adjustments as quickly as we can.
MURPHY’S RESPONSE
In addition, USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy issued this open letter to USBC members concerning the ball certification questions:
Hello USBC Members,
I hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to touch base on some of the events of the last several weeks. Along with this letter, we are publishing an FAQ for those who want more details. Here is a link to that document.
The last few weeks and months have been a rough ride for bowling in the area of ball specifications. When these situations happen, it’s unexpected and disruptive. The timing is never good. The speculation and rumors are challenging. Understandably, everyone feels impatience with the process and wants more information immediately. Bowlers, competition officials and all stakeholders are justifiably concerned.
As you know, enforcing rules and policies for a national sport isn’t simple. Effective governance is not a popularity contest. USBC is a membership organization, and we celebrate our members right to be critical. We would ask those being so vocal with concerns to always remember that governance is very necessary. USBC members demand governance of the sport. Without quality governance for the sport, chaos would ensue.
I want to start by thanking all the people that have been involved in shaping the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual. For more than 30 years, USBC volunteers, staff and bowling’s manufacturers have worked together to create a governance structure for the equipment in our sport. All these leaders gave us the baseline for what we have today.
USBC governance of bowling balls is built on trust. We depend on our partners to make products within the agreed upon specifications, and then verify with a series of checks to confirm. That trust comes with asking for only two sample balls for USBC approval. Only two seems small. You may ask why? A big reason is that it keeps the cost down and makes the process efficient for the manufacturer, and also USBC. This lower cost keeps the research and development costs lower and fosters innovation. This also keeps cost down for the bowler.
There are about 300 new ball releases a year. USBC’s Equipment Specifications department has five people. If we did as some have suggested and had a deeper approval process, we would need two or three times as many staff members. Similarly, the manufacturers would need additional staffing at more costs.
These calls for more testing and more regulation would lead to more expense, which is eventually paid by you, the bowler. Instead, we trust our manufacturing partners to do their best, and they trust USBC. We trust them for ball approval, and they trust we will verify in the field. When an issue occurs, it’s easy to see that imperfection and attack it. We all agree the process is not perfect.
Some argue it would be OK if balls that were built below USBC specifications to continue to be used in our highest competitions. Some say that because a tournament started with an out-of-specification product in use, it needs to be completed that way.
As a direct answer: Approved bowling balls may be used for competition until the data demonstrates otherwise. Once identified as outside specification, they are removed. The timing will never be good. However, allowing balls the national governing body knows to be outside of specification to continue to be used at our national events would simply be wrong.
Furthermore, I want to add, USBC has no information that balls were intentionally shipped to market outside of specification. USBC has no information anyone knowingly used an illegal ball. Those pointing fingers at this type of an intentional act are misinformed. The conspiracies are unfounded.
While a difficult process, USBC members can be proud. Some folks say, “I don’t get anything for my USBC membership.” Well, here USBC is delivering the purest of value to our members by enforcing equipment specifications as stated in our manuals. USBC is acting with a balance of protecting the integrity of USBC national tournaments, while giving members a choice to do what is best for them locally.
Some are attacking saying we should do something different. It’s a complicated governance impacting a nation of bowlers and our manufacturing partners. We can only offer that we will continue to do our best to act consistently within USBC rules and in the best interest of our members and bowling.
USBC’s mission is not to be popular. Our mission is to provide services, resources and standards for the sport. In short, we do what is best for bowling – all of bowling.
We come out of these events with a lot to reflect upon. I ask this of everyone: It’s time to be brave, time to have the courage to heal. We need to put these events behind us and respect each other as one bowling community. Let’s get back to competing with all the joy our sport brings. Please support all manufacturers as they focus on serving bowling.
At USBC, we will head to convention in a few weeks with our heads held high. We will crown new champions all over the country throughout our 1,400 associations. It will be a spring and summer full of smiles.
While all that is happening, USBC will look for ways to improve and learn from recent events.
I hope to see many of you soon at a future event. Thanks for your continued support, your membership and continued participation in this great sport.
PBA COMMISSIONER CHIMES IN
PBA Commissioner Tom Clark also sent a response to his membership about the use of the banned bowling equipment. Here is his letter:
“With regards to the USBC decision to ban select bowling balls from different levels of its certified competition, there may be some confusion over what equipment is allowed in the PBA. The following is intended to clarify the situation relative to the PBA.
To review Tuesday’s United States Bowling Congress announcement, the USBC prohibited the following six previously-certified bowling balls from use in USBC national events (including this week’s USBC Masters), but they remain allowed in other USBC competition (including league play): Storm Phaze 4, Storm Electrify Solid, Storm Trend 2, 900 Global Altered Reality, 900 Global Wolverine and Roto Grip UFO Alert.
All six of those bowling balls remain allowed in all PBA competition through the remainder of the 2022 PBA season. The PBA has no data or indication that those USBC certified bowling balls would fail field tests. Again, the six aforementioned bowling balls are allowed in all PBA-conducted competition, including the upcoming PBA Playoffs, PBA Tour Finals, PBA50 National Tour and PBA Regional Tour events.
The timing of Tuesday’s USBC ruling, during the USBC Masters, prompted the PBA to grant its members complimentary drillings on the player services trailer for bowling balls replacing the newly prohibited equipment. While the USBC Masters is a PBA Tour major championship, the event is conducted by the USBC under USBC rules.
Related:
- The Storm Spectre bowling ball, which the USBC banned from all USBC certified competition, is not allowed in any level of PBA competition.
- Purple Hammer bowling balls manufactured in 2016 and 2017 were banned from USBC certified competition, and are not allowed in any level of PBA competition.
- Previously, for PBA National Tour competition only, the PBA placed a 2-year shelf-life rule on all “traditional urethane” bowling balls. Balls in that category manufactured prior to 2020 are not allowed in 2022 National Tour events
STARK COUNTY WILL ALLOW EQUIPMENT
In addition, the Stark County USBC released a statement concerning the use of the banned equipment in upcoming tournaments. Here is that letter:
