Mythbusters

The USBC Rules department busts some of the most common myths about rules and their interpretations.

Have a doubt about bowling rules? Submit questions to: Rules@bowl.com, Subject: Mythbusters.

MYTH: If my summer average is higher than my winter average, I must report it for tournaments.

PLAUSIBLE: Average rules vary from tournament to tournament. It is possible that a bowler may have to use a higher summer average to enter a tournament. Tournament rules that state highest previous season book average are requesting the highest winter season average. However, a tournament can state the highest book average summer or winter. If there is any uncertainty about what average you must enter with, contact tournament management.

For more information regarding tournament averages, click here.

MYTH: I can use a Scotch Brite pad to clean by ball during league play.
BUSTED: Scotch Brite pads and other abrasive pads can be used before and after USBC competition. Once competition begins, these products cannot be used on bowling balls in competition or to be added to competition. Click here for a current USBC approved and non-approved product list

MYTH: I can put league funds into my personal account.
BUSTED: League funds can only be deposited in an account in the name of the league or with the center in a trust account in the name of the league. League funds held in a savings account cannot be transferred to an officer’s personal account to write checks for the pay out. If the league does not have a checking account the league should payout in cash following the Bonding Procedures in Chapter 8 of the USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions.

MYTH: When there are three candidates on the ballot for an office, the candidate with the most votes wins.
PLAUSIBLE: If the candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the candidate wins the election. A majority vote is one more than half the total votes cast. As with any meeting, a quorum must be present. For example, if 27 total votes are cast, one candidate must receive at least 14 votes to win the election. The vote count is 10 for candidate one, 9 for two and 8 for candidate three. Since none of the candidates received 14 votes, the candidate that received the lowest number of votes (candidate three) is dropped from the ballot. Balloting continues for the remaining two candidates, until one receives a majority of the votes cast. It is possible for the vote to be tied (9-9-9). In this case, balloting continues until the tie is broken. Remember, it is the majority of the votes cast, not the number of people eligible to vote. Click here for more election information.

MYTH: The final prize list is the league financial statement.

BUSTED: A financial statement shows all income and expenses, it is not just a report of who won the prize money.

A financial statement must show all the funds received and all the expenses of the league. A financial statement should be detailed and the bottom line is the money that is left in the bank. The following applies to financial statements:

Must be completed annually - Rule 102f-5.
Each team captain receives a copy when prizes are paid.
League fees and all other income including but not limited to sponsor fees, fundraisers, banquet fees, membership fees, interest collected must be listed.
Total income less normal expenses determine the amount available for the prize fund.
The prize fund is part of the financial statement and should detail what was paid.
The financial statement should be kept on file with the league records.

Click here for a sample financial statement.

MYTH: I can clean my ball with nail polish remover.
BUSTED: Acetone and non-acetone nail polish removers can never be used on a bowling ball. Both products are abrasives that alter the surface of the ball. For a list of products that are acceptable and unacceptable in USBC competition click here.

MYTH: When a league requires bowlers to prepay the last two weeks of bowling, a player who must withdraw from a league is credited the prepaid amount against the required two weeks withdrawal fees.
CONFIRMED: USBC holds all prepaid fees are applied to any indebtedness when a bowler withdraws from a league, including the two-weeks fees required when not replaced during the time period. The bowler would not owe any additional fees upon withdrawal.

MYTH: The two-week notice required for withdrawing from a league is based on the calendar.

CONFIRMED: The countdown for paying withdrawal fees (Rule 114a) starts on the day the bowler gives notice. Two weeks are calendar weeks not two league sessions.

Any league sessions held within the two calendar weeks from the day of notice must be paid for unless the bowler is replaced in that time period. A bowler cannot be charged if no league sessions are scheduled during the withdrawal period.

Example 1, a bowler gives notice after bowling on February 7.

In a league that bowls every other week, the bowler owes for February 14 only.
In a monthly league, the bowler would not owe anything; the nest session would be in a month.
In a league that bowls weekly the bowler would owe for February 14 and February 21.

Example 2, a bowler gives notice on December 15. The league is on holiday break until January 2. The bowler does not owe fees, because the league is not bowling during the two calendar weeks after notice was given.

MYTH: Substitutes cannot be used for position round or playoff.

BUSTED: USBC rules allow a team to use substitutes in both instances. Rule 107c states a substitute is a bowler who replaces an absent bowler or bowls in a vacant position. Leagues often adopt rules to qualify substitutes for position rounds and playoffs. Some rules require substitutes to have a specified number of games, while others may require the average of a substitute to be within a specified number of pins of the bowler who is absent. The most stringent league rules disallow substitute participation in playoffs and position rounds. All of these rules are acceptable and can be enforced by leagues.

Team Captains are responsible to ensure all players entered in the line up each week are eligible. Team Captains must be sure all players meet all league qualification rules for position rounds, playoffs and weekly play, including game requirements, cap rules and all players have current membership (Rule 104a).

MYTH: A team cannot be forced to use an absentee score for a position round or playoff.

BUSTED:A team who has an absent bowler must use the absentee score just like any other time in the season. The league does not have to allow the team to add a new player when a bowler is absent, only when a team has a vacancy (Rule 107c-9).

MYTH: Players can be added to a team roster anytime through out the season.

Confirmed: USBC does not have any rules stating when a roster must be completed. Team Captains have the authority to add players anytime during the season, but must do so in compliance with the league rules. Leagues may add restrictions for adding players however; a team must be allowed to add a player when the roster falls below the playing strength of the league (Rule 107c-9).

MYTH: If I write “PROTEST” on the recap sheet the board must act.

Busted: To simply write “PROTEST” on a recap sheet does not give the league officers any idea what is being protested. In order for the league board of directors (officers and team captains) to take action on a protest, the protest must be in writing, signed, detail what occurred and filed within the time lines of Rule 119; an anonymous protest does not require the board to take action. A proper protest should be dated, state why the protest is being filed and what rules were broken. Click here for more information on protests.

MYTH: Any handicap used by a league equalizes competition.

BUSTED: According to a four-year study of handicap leagues (mixed, all-women and all-men) the handicap percentages 75%, 80% and 90% do not fully equalize competition:

Handicap Percent	Championships won by team with average below median in the league	Championships won byteam with average above median in the league
70	0 out of 100	100 out of 100
75	0 out of 100	100 out of 100
80	0 out of 100	100 out of 100
85	6 out of 100	94 out of 100
90	11 out of 100	89 out of 100
95	24 out of 100	76 out of 100
100	30 out of 100	70 out of 100

MYTH: If a bowler shows up too late for league, he or she is not allowed to bowl.

BUSTED: A bowler is never too late to bowl according to USBC Rule 109c. Rule 109c allows the bowler to enter the game in the frame being bowled upon arrival. One-tenth of the league absentee score is used for all frames missed and the game cannot be used to calculate the bowler's average.

The exception is when the league adopts a rule stating a bowler cannot enter the game after a specified frame.

MYTH: At 100% handicap every team has a 50-50 chance of winning.
BUSTED: Even at 100% handicap, as the chart above shows, the higher-average teams or bowlers still have a decided edge. Seventy out of 100 championships still are won by the higher-average team when 100% handicap is used. An exact 50-50 distribution of league championships would result only if a 116% handicap was used.

MYTH: It is harder for a higher-average team to win because the lower-average team gets so many pins handicap.

BUSTED: As shown below, when both teams bowl their exact averages, the higher-average team always wins unless the handicap is 100%; then the teams tie.

You must always look at the difference in averages as well as handicap. In the table the higher-average team total is 73% or 223 pins higher than the lower-average team.

BASE 200

TEAM A

TEAM B

	Average	80%	90%	100%
Linda	120	64	72	80
Dick	115	68	76	85
Kathy	95	84	94	105
Jeff	135	52	58	65
Sandi	142	46	52	58
	607	314	352	393
Average + 80% = 921
Average + 90% = 959
Average + 100% = 1000

	Average	80%	90%	100%
Dave	150	40	45	50
Patti	167	26	29	33
Scott	185	12	13	15
Terri	188	9	10	12
Lisa	140	48	54	60
	830	135	151	170
Average + 80% = 965
Average + 90% = 981
Average + 100% = 1000

MYTH: If the 10 pin is left and the 7 pin slides from position and rests in the 8 pin position, it is not considered a 7-10 split.
BUSTED: Splits are determined by the pin position before delivery, not by where they end up after delivery. If this spare is made, the bowler would be issued the 7-10 Split award.

MYTH: If a team does not bowl at its regularly scheduled league time, its scores do not have to be shared with the team it was supposed to bowl against.
BUSTED: Once scores are bowled, they are a matter of public record and can be seen unless the league rules or policy and procedures prohibit the sharing of scores. Any such policies should be added to the league rules.

MYTH: USBC rules require bowling shoes to be worn during USBC competition.
BUSTED: USBC’s only rule relating to shoes is Rule 12, “Approaches Must Not Be Defaced.” Rule 12 prohibits soft rubber soles and heels that rub off the approach. Today, many bowlers are wearing a tennis shoe on the push-away foot to give more momentum and keep from sliding. Tennis shoes that do not leave a residue on the approach may be worn. Bowling centers, leagues and tournaments may have their own rules regarding the use of bowling shoes.

MYTH: League rules supersede USBC rules
BUSTED: USBC rules are the foundation of the game of American Tenpins. Leagues may adopt rules as long as they do not conflict with USBC rules. Many USBC rules allow leagues to adopt options and in this instance adopted league rules would take precedence; otherwise, USBC rules are the default. The USBC General Playing Rules (Rules 1-18) are examples of rules that relate to the basics of the game and cannot be changed.

MYTH: A foul is committed any time a bowler crosses the foul line.
BUSTED: A delivery takes place when a ball is released into fair territory, according to Rule 4a. Crossing the indefinite line including walls, flooring, posts and ball returns before a bowler is in position for the next delivery constitutes a foul. Conversely, a bowler who never releases the ball does not commit a foul. For example, if during the delivery, the bowler loses balance and steps into the lane but does not release the ball, no foul has been committed.

MYTH: USBC Rules are only guidelines.
BUSTED: USBC Rules define the game. Rules 1 through 18 of the General Playing Rules have no options and cannot be changed by a league or tournament. However, there are many USBC League Rules and Tournament Rules that allow changes. Rule 100a allows leagues to adopt league rules that do not conflict with USBC Rules.

MYTH: A team or individual can prebowl for the first league session.
CONFIRMED: USBC Rules do not prohibit prebowling prior to the first session of the league. When teams or individuals are granted permission to prebowl, the bowlers must pay for membership prior to completion of the first series as stated in Rule 101a. Therefore, arrangements should be made with the league secretary for bowlers to purchase membership prior to completing the prebowl.

MYTH: Youth can compete in tournaments using bowling balls with beer logos.
BUSTED: Beer logo bowling balls are USBC approved; however, legislation was recently passed to eliminate the use of bowling balls depicting alcohol in any USBC Youth tournaments. Other restrictions in USBC Youth tournament play are no equipment or apparel depicting tobacco, illegal substances, or inappropriate language or gestures.

MYTH: USBC provides receipts for payment of membership dues.

CONFIRMED: It is the perforated section on the right side of the membership application card. Complete this section and make sure the league secretary signs the receipt. This is especially important for those members that bowl in multiple USBC leagues and participate in tournaments. Without the receipt, you can expect a league secretary or tournament manager to ask for payment of membership dues.

Anyone that bowls in a USBC league must complete a membership application card for each league and purchase membership or show proof membership. A bowler cannot wait to pay membership dues “next time”; dues must be paid prior to the completion of the first series bowled in a USBC league according to Rule 101.

There are some instances where a league is in another local or state association. Dues must be paid in each state and local association a member participates in. The receipt will verify payment of national dues in this case.

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