Inside The USBC Bowling Ball Testing Process | Ten Pin Life

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The most hotly discussed topic in bowling for the last 6 months has been bowling ball testing and approval. Well, we were generously invited down to the headquarters of USBC to see the full process of what it takes to approve a new bowling ball.
This piece is meant to show you the process that you as a sanctioned bowler pay for. One thing I learned during our time in Texas is that even though it gets questioned a lot, the national sanction fee is worth it. This process is so involved and thorough and even though some of us may disagree with the results of the tests, and the way those results are distributed, we have to at least agree that it is exhaustive to ensure, to the best of their ability, integrity and compliance to the rules agreed upon by the representatives of bowling.
This is a first time putting in this disclaimer, so take note. Hateful and unfruitful comments will be deleted. Personally attacking anyone featured in this video will get you blocked from the channel.
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01:52 - Ball & Pin Testing Room
11:36 - String Pin Testing
13:57 - E.A.R.L Demonstration

[@jfabritz]

During the string pin testing, was your cell phone constantly vibrating? There was a low-frequency sound oscillating during the whole discussion.

[@TenPinLife]

That was a machine in the room.

[@jfabritz]

@@TenPinLife Thanks for responding! I bet that drove you crazy while you were editing the footage!

[@kyleb5169]

I've witnessed more durometer tests than probably most have with the nature of my job. Durometers are used extensively to test the hardness of non metallic military parts. As someone who works every day with Critical Safety military spare parts, I see extensive hardness tests done. I can tell you all you need to know about it. :) I will also say, I had my UFO Alert put through a military hardness test using a Durometer... it came out at 75D which is plenty hard. So my UFO Alert is 100% legal but thankfully I don't bowl tournaments and such so it really doesn't matter, I can still throw it in league.

[@ricka.wetselphdbowler3526]

Kyle, were you bothered by them doing the tests with only one durometer? Storm posted a video demonstrating the variations between different durometers. Of course since it was their bowling balls being banned there may have been a conflict of interest in that Storm video. Since hardness appears to be the most controversial issue at the moment, it would be reassuring if USBC had at least 3 different durometers.

[@notonyourlife7939]

@@ricka.wetselphdbowler3526 Nah... just move along, there's nothing to see here. And don't peak behind the black curtain! 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@remoevans7847]

@@notonyourlife7939 King conspiracy theory strikes again!

[@notonyourlife7939]

@@remoevans7847 Sigh... Sooner or later you'll get tired of stalking me across the comment sections of multiple videos when you realize that you won't succeed in provoking the angry response that you're looking for. Fear not though... the internet is lousy with the weak minded, and easily manipulated. You'll find one to troll soon enough, whom you can whip into a frenzy with your passive-aggressive overtures, and you'll get that confrontational dopamine hit that you're craving. Peace.

[@krazekilla224]

This was a very cool behind the scenes video. Would be cool to see some kind of follow up of how the testing is actually done. Some of those tests seem very intriguing

[@TenPinLife]

We talked about that as a possibility but didn’t have the time unfortunately. Maybe one day!

[@notonyourlife7939]

I was with ya until the part about the string pinsetters. There is nothing "super cool" about them. They are a travesty, and will eventually relegate bowling to an activity that's only found at carnivals. Period.

[@thebigeasy8609]

That was very informative, thank you. Way more to it than I thought. I like that decisions are made by committee.

[@TenPinLife]

Glad you liked it!

[@j23p24]

good stuff sir!!!!

[@TenPinLife]

Thank you!

[@rowanian4197]

I like the high tech cardboard behind surface machine! O so they do sand the ball before hardness

[@TenPinLife]

They sand the balls for the coefficient of friction test. This video is in order of events.

[@Kaazkhan1]

They appear to be very meticulous in their bowling ball testing, yet don’t acknowledge the fact that durometer is not as exact of a science as they’d like it to be, and don’t mention all the variables that come along with it, even though they explain variables for other parts of the testing that have not be controversial. Only one durometer tester? Even the manufacturers of those testers know it’s only accurate to an extent, yet USBC is willing to soft-ban balls that are mere decimal places out of spec on a field test.

[@TenPinLife]

Call them. If you're a sanctioned bowler, it's their job to listen. 1-800-514-2695

[@TheShackGuy]

64 years old and now having painful thumb issues. Would love to learn the one handed thumbless style you employ. Have you done a video on this? I don't see one listed.

[@TenPinLife]

I haven't mostly because I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It is a completely different method of timing and footwork and the learning curve is actually more than it would be to go two handed. Plus the wear on your elbow and shoulder when done incorrectly is pretty substantial. I would press hard to find a pro shop operator that is really good to see if they can help with your thumb issues before switching to a no thumb release.

[@dijigo1587]

Fascinating video. So much more complex then previously imagined. Also watched USBC Tom Frenzel's "Bowling Explained" series some time ago. He's a clever dude.

[@TenPinLife]

There was a whole other area where they invent and build the testing implements but it was too loud to use. Their inventiveness is pretty fun to see.

[@dfwait14]

I hope you absorbed all that info for the written test that followed.

[@TenPinLife]

I graduated years ago. No tests for me.

[@rbd6661]

Can you explain to me why they would approve of some bowling balls, and then change their mind? If you don’t have an answer….

[@TenPinLife]

The process was based on field testing. It’s explained in this video.

[@ricka.wetselphdbowler3526]

Thanks for posting this video. It was very informative.

[@TenPinLife]

You’re welcome Rick

[@aydengianes2515]

Why is the phase 4 and trend 2 banned

[@kyleb5169]

They were determined to be too "soft". It led to Storm completely doing away with any use of polish and they came up with the 4K fast process. Storm is still the leading manufacturer of bowling balls because their ability to change and adapt to situations is second to none.

[@kyleb5169]

Can I call USBC and ask why they blocked me and my friend on Twitter for simply asking a question? I'm the THIRD person USBC has blocked on Twitter for questioning something they did. Whoever is running the USBC twitter account should grow up and stop with the censorship of those who don't blindly follow their every move. I wish youtube allowed screen shots.

[@TenPinLife]

If you walk into the conversation as combative as you are on here, I know I’d hang up on you. If you’re going to be constructive I would bet they’ll listen.

[@LOGICNREALITY]

hahahahahhahahahahahaha cult like drama.... Ive been bowling usbc leagues for more than 20 years and never read or known any rules, I didnt even know there was such thing as being to soft..... hahahaha last years some old man cried because I sanded my ball with sand paper and wiped it off with hand sanitizer, and it didnt help me anyway..... the whole point of any sport is the be the best, unless the ball has a motor and remote control, noone is gonna get a 300 everytime, and again, if the pros are doing better, then good, isnt that the point? obviously other ball companies are like the mafia and so is the usbc..... childish drama crap hahahhahahaha ... lets make it illegal to slide, or wipe off your ball

[@TenPinLife]

Yeah, because governing the specifications of bowling balls is akin to eliminating the allowance of sliding. #Nonsense

[@LOGICNREALITY]

@@TenPinLife sliding lives matter

[@remoevans7847]

So you admit that you’re an uneducated bowler then proceed into nonsensical rantings as if you are a SME on the industry? 🤣🤣

[@DavidDragonhammer]

Ok, why do they choose that hardness? who really made this up? Do balls chatter? or what causes the ball to be bad? cause this sounds so political, am no pro ,but the general public ,may just quit bowling all together . If look now many bowling alley's are failing cause all this ,you really know how to push people away.

[@TenPinLife]

That was the agreed upon specification between the representatives of bowlers, USBC and the manufacturers.

[@internetidiotreloaded9233]

I honestly doubt that "many bowling alleys are failing cause all this". Atleast 75% of people that frequent a bowling alley (your average group of friends or family just looking to do something on an evening) don't even know this is a thing and it doesn't affect them. Then you have the next 20% or so, consisting of league (maybe bowling a local or state tournament occasionally) bowlers, which this most likely doesn't affect. Finally, you have the 5% (and I feel like I'm being pretty generous with that number) that bowl national tournaments that have the balls banned, that there is a good likelihood that they're not even affected by this because they likely wouldn't have the balls affected (considering all of the balls that are on the market). So in the grand scheme of people going to bowling alleys, there is a very, very small number of people actually affected by this. And most likely, those affected will just exchange their ball and keep on moving, I doubt there is a significant amount of people who quit bowling because of this and it being enough to force a bowling alley into closure.