USBC UPDATES NATIONAL TOURNAMENT RULES IN RELATION TO PURPLE HAMMER BOWLING BALL
ARLINGTON, Texas - The United States Bowling Congress is aware of a claim that a portion of the Purple Hammer bowling balls manufactured at the Ebonite International plant in 2016 and 2017 may have been produced below USBC's minimum 72D hardness specification. The Hammer brand was purchased by Brunswick Bowling Products in 2019, and the Ebonite plant subsequently closed.
USBC conducted an investigation, interviewing more than a dozen individuals, including former Ebonite employees, in an attempt to validate the claim. Brunswick fully cooperated with the investigation.
USBC has confirmed a production change with the Purple Hammer took place in 2017 that resulted in the raising of the hardness of the ball from its original 2016 approval level just over 72D to about 74D. This production change was fully compliant with USBC equipment specification requirements.
During USBC's investigation, multiple former Ebonite employees, including ones with first-hand knowledge, told USBC they believe the production process in 2016 and 2017, prior to the production change, led to some Purple Hammers being unintentionally produced below 72D. No one interviewed by USBC provided evidence Purple Hammers were produced under 72D. No one interviewed by USBC provided evidence Ebonite knowingly distributed balls outside of specification.
The findings of USBC's investigation are inconclusive. However, the credible first-hand accounts describing the potential for an unknown number of Purple Hammer balls to be produced out of specification in 2016 and 2017 is concerning.
Therefore, 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.
BOWL.com | USBC updates national tournament rules in relation to Purple Hammer bowling ball
ということで2016年から2017年に旧Ebonite社で作った
はすべて使用禁止になりました。
なんだそりゃ。
Purple Hammarだけの問題じゃないって言ったよな？
USBC Statement on Purple Hammer Hardness (March 1, 2022)
USBC is aware of a claim that some Purple Hammers produced years ago were manufactured with hardness below approved specifications and intentionally distributed.
USBC has no evidence this is true. USBC has never received a report alleging this conduct nor any evidence supporting such a claim. Nor would or has USBC approved a ball outside specifications.
Since ball hardness continues to be a topic of misinformation, we want to repeat our research findings:
Urethane balls get softer with use over time compared to when approved. This is true for virtually all urethane balls tested regardless of brand. The data clearly shows urethane balls from multiple companies and manufacturing facilities all get softer. This is not unique to Purple Hammers.
We generally expect older urethane balls to measure the furthest below their original manufactured hardness. A used 5-year-old urethane ball manufactured at 72D can be expected to measure under 70D today. The effect of becoming softer with use over time eventually levels out and the ball’s hardness stabilizes.
Please see the data published HERE detailing this science.
でわざわざ「USBC has no evidence this is true.」ってリリース出したよな。
一週間前にそういうリリースを出したあとにこういうリリースを出されたのではさすがに、
「おい、ちょっとまて！ 話が違うだろ？ ちーがーうーだーろ」
ってなる。
じゃあ、どうせいと
そもそも「Purple Hammarだけじゃなく、全部のウレタンボールの問題」なのだからすべての硬度を満たさないボールを使用禁止にする……つまり今までどおりでよくわざわざ特定のボールを禁止にする必要はない。
硬度が73Dよりも低いボールはリアクティブだろうがウレタンだろうがラバーだろうが規定違反。ただ、それだけである。今まで通りである。
各大会ごとにすべてのボールをチェックするのは現実的ではないと言われそうだが、そこは上手にやるしかない。ポイント獲得者のみ行うとかやりようはいくらでもある。
仮に「不良品」を出してしまったのであれば、「不良品」のボールは大会で使うべきではないし、メーカーも積極的にリコールすればいいだけの話である。
でも、これUSBCだけの話じゃ……
10ピンボウリングのルールはUSBCがだいたい決めていると言っても過言ではない。
基本的にUSBCのルール=国際ルールと考えて差し支えないので、海の向こうの我々にとっても人ごとではない。
特定のボールがある日突然、確たる証拠もないのに使用禁止になるのはやはりおかしいと言わざる得ず、それはきちんと今後の為にも抗議すべきではないかと思う。
一度認可したものを取り消すにはそれなりのエビデンスが必要だと思うし、十分なエビデンスがないとリリースを出したにも関わらずそういった前例を作ることは今後もよろしくないと考える。
なので、これはきちんと抗議すべき案件だと考えわざわざ抗議したのである。
