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Author Topic: Question about blacking out balls  (Read 2146 times)

themachine300

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Question about blacking out balls
« on: June 17, 2010, 02:42:05 PM »
For those who know what I'm talking about, on some of my equipment I black out the pin, cg and logo sometimes.  To me, it can make the ball easier to read.  I have a 2nd dimension that I plan on taking with me, but the entire pin, cg and logos are blacked out with a sharpie.  Would this cause a problem?
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bass

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2010, 07:41:31 AM »
You better hope it doesn't come off on the lane surface.
USBC might not be too happy with you.
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volley_man

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2010, 08:25:41 AM »
I wouldn't be able to point to it in a rulebook, but I've heard (from reputable source at a ball manufacturer) that altering the markings on a ball (whether that be blacking out the pin and cg, changing the colors of the logos, etc) could constitute intentionally modifying a ball from its designed state. (I probably didn't word that correctly there might have been a better way to say it, LOL)

Granted, this sort of "technicality" would be an extreme response I would think, given that it would be hard to prove that it caused a competitor an "unfair advantage", but I suppose you never know what they might say about it.

I would think you could try to contact the USBC and ask what their take on it is before you take it out with you, just to be sure. I wouldn't want to get that far and not be able to use the equipment I brought.
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kidlost2000

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2010, 08:56:07 AM »
I would try USBC since they would know and usually give a quick response.

I would guess it isn't too big of a deal since for years they have marketed and sold products that do that to proshops and other consumers.
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LotsaBalls

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2010, 10:01:00 AM »
My teammate took 2 Hy-Roads with the labels and pins blacked out and nothing was ever said about it. He is also leading singles with one of those balls so its not like he slipped through.

riggs

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2010, 11:39:42 AM »
Dale Traber bowled for years with an old 8 Ball as a spare ball that he had used black magic marker to to turn into an X Ball instead of an 8 Ball cuz he has a phobia about the number 8.

Never saw him have any issue with it.
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Mike Austin

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2010, 12:29:41 AM »
It is only against PBA rules to black out logos.  USBC has no such rules.  I used to black out everything logo wise also, still use black grips and slugs.
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themachine300

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2010, 12:36:41 AM »
yeah its a no no in the pba, but with this being the open i wasn't sure if their would be any problems.
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Pat Patterson

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2010, 12:38:37 AM »
quote:
It is only against PBA rules to black out logos.  USBC has no such rules.  I used to black out everything logo wise also, still use black grips and slugs.
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Mike, I too use all black fingers/slugs.  Not that I'm saying you are wrong, but wasn't Brian Voss blackening-out stuff for awhile when he was exempt?

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batbowler

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2010, 01:00:30 AM »
Brian Voss did on one tv finals when he was with AMF!
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bass

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2010, 08:52:40 AM »
Kind of like PGA pros wearing metal spikes while the rest of us mere mortals had to throw ours away.
LOL
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Tex

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2010, 10:08:37 AM »
Years back I had an old Pirahna that I blacked out the weight hole with a magic marker to make it easier to see the ball rotation. They sanded out the weight hole or I could not bowl with it. This was probably over 10 years ago and they were strict back then on everything. They also drilled the fingers deeper claiming the ball had too much finger weight and the CG on on the mid plane of the grip. Ball was worthless after their adjustment, ended up with thumb weight.

J_Mac

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2010, 01:57:35 PM »
quote:
Years back I had an old Pirahna that I blacked out the weight hole with a magic marker to make it easier to see the ball rotation. They sanded out the weight hole or I could not bowl with it. This was probably over 10 years ago and they were strict back then on everything. They also drilled the fingers deeper claiming the ball had too much finger weight and the CG on on the mid plane of the grip. Ball was worthless after their adjustment, ended up with thumb weight.


Marked CG's are not always correct...
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Tex

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Re: Question about blacking out balls
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2010, 10:49:46 PM »
This was that old bright orange ball. That particular ball would be unstable with the hole rolling everywhere until it turned the corner and the hole would stop in one spot and roll. You knew when you released it correctly even if it had nothing to do with the true PAP, heck  we didn't even know what a PAP was back in those days. Just used the layout off the drill sheet and put holes in it . Of course the flair might have been 3" on those old balls. Only ball I think I have ever had that was so pronounced on the way the weight hole would stabalize at the end of the ball reaction or because of the extreme color was more obvious. I think it is in the closet somewhere, it went from a strong ball to a dry lane ball with the technology advancements and oil volumes. Was fun to watch go down the lane.