"i pried a Yellow Dot Bleeder out of a ball cup yesterday so I guess a LONG LONG time."

For those that don't know about these balls, or for those of us whose memory is fuzzy about the circumstances which led to banning? these balls, could somebody fill in the history? thanks for any info....
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r.k.wolfe

... or was this the ball that led to the ban of using acetone?
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r.k.wolfe

The bleeders were neither banned nor did they contribute to the prohibition on the use of acetone or MEK.

If anything, they were the precursor to the modern resin effects...

Both the Columbia Yellow Dot bleeders and the RotoGrip RH bleeder were produced in San Antonio.  The precise combination of variables is the subject of much conjecture, but some believe that it was the seasonal variables that were present during the curing process.  As a result, some of those balls were "bleeders" and certain serial numbers were more desirable than others...it is also possible to have purchased a Yellow Dot that was simply a plain old plastic ball.

I believe the soaking with MEK and other chemicals was before the bleeders.

Plastic balls (primarily Col 300 white dots and Crown Jewels) would be soaked in the chemical softening the core several points. Primarily Don McCune in 1973-74 time frame had good years with them.

Variable quality control of timing and coverstocks meant every batch came out with different hardness. Some were so soft you could cut them with your fingernail.

Around 1974 the PBA and ABC instituted a hardness rule for coverstocks. That is why the mill hole is drilled on tour balls to check the inside hardness versus the outside hardness of the coverstock.

The Yellow Dots while a softer plastic ball than the white dots still complied with the hardness rule. Like Michelle said some were just a little better than others.

I believe any plastic ball could be soaked in acetone or MEK and the surface would become incredibly soft.  This was done by some pros (and amateurs).  The process of soaking a ball in these chemicals is what was actually banned and that led to the Durometer standards and checks of hardness that we have in place now.


Edited to add:  I see that while I was typing my reply, two good posts were made before mine.  


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I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
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I just want 2C was'zzub.

Edited on 10/9/2006 1:51 PM

All of the above is accurate except the soaking and being banned.

The most sought after balls had a serial number beginning with O or P.
(It was a P that I pried out of the ball cup)
This may corolate to a particular time of year as Michelle stated but we assumed thats when the softest formulation was used.

After a period of time the surface would become very soft then turn brittle.
In the brittle stage chunks of the ball would break off and owners would expect a replacement.Columbia changed the formula and the bleeder became another plastic ball.Those who came late to the party overpaid thinking they were getting a true bleeder.To try to cash in some pro shops did 'soak' some of the newer balls and pass them off as bleeders but a true bleeder went from a pearl to a deep solid scarlet in color so that ended quickly.

It was the Shur D that was banned.
That ball literally grew "hair" if it allowed to sit.

The O and P series had to be cold to pass the durameter test so they often would be chilled before play.
The PBA began to drill a small,shallow hole in the surface and  do the durameter test there to get a true reading to combat such strategy.
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It's all about the X