Press Release From Storm HQ on the Storm Spectre

UPDATE MARCH 18, 2022

Dear Pro Shop Operator,

With the USBC’s decision to revoke the prior approval of the Spectre bowling ball we are continuing to explore our options with their findings but understand that taking care of our customers is of the upmost importance.

First and foremost, we ask you to return any undrilled Spectre bowling balls to your distributor. We will be working directly with distribution on all undrilled bowling balls.As for the drilled balls that are in the field, we will be opening an exchange portal on Monday, March 21, 2022. This portal will allow the customer to exchange their Spectre bowling ball for another bowling ball from a drop-down list of seven different balls. They will have to upload a picture of the serial number of the ball and a picture of the drilled holes in the ball. They will then enter all their shipping information for the exchange ball. We will not be asking for the return of the drilled Spectre bowling balls. They can use them in non-certified USBC competition or as a practice ball.

We will ship the exchange ball directly from Storm HQ to the address of their choice within the US. This process will take 3-5 weeks. Along with the exchange ball, we are going to put a drilling certificate in the box. These certificates have a value of $50 to the pro shop for drilling the exchange balls. We ask that you collect these from the customers and then send them into Storm. We will then issue a credit to your distributor of choice based on the number of certificates submitted.

Some customers may have difficulty in completing this process, so you can also go through exchange portal for them and get the exchange ball shipped directly to your shop along with the drilling certificate.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but we want to make sure and take care of our customers. We appreciate your understanding in these unusual times.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact your RSM.

Ernest Goedicke

Inside Sales Manager

MARCH 16, 2022

Dear Pro Shop Professionals – Below is a statement we will be sending out to our data base, as well as on our social media platforms. Once we have further direction, we will reach out once again. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Below is an updated statement

We are disappointed in USBC’s decision on Monday revoking its prior approval of the Storm Spectre bowling ball. Our tests show and confirm that the Spectre ball meets all USBC requirements. Therefore, we disagree with this recent ruling. We pride ourselves in manufacturing the finest high-end balls which are shipped worldwide. When we create a new product, we do extensive testing prior to sending it to the USBC for approval. The USBC then conducts their own studies to determine if the ball is certified for USBC competition. We then get an approval notification and proceed with the manufacturing process. All that occurred with the Spectre.

Our customers are our priority and deserve the utmost service and respect. While we continue to work through this ongoing situation with USBC, we want to do all we can to take care of our customers. We are currently working on a resolution and process to ensure that if you purchased a Spectre, you will have a product that you can use in a USBC Certified competition.

We will have more information for our customers shortly.

earlier press release from USBC on revoking storm spectre

ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress has revoked approval of the Storm Spectre bowling ball and removed it from the list of balls approved for USBC competition effective March 14, 2022. The revocation comes after USBC determined through its spot-checking procedures that a significant percentage of the balls produced do not comply with specifications and requirements outlined in the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual.

USBC testing showed a significant percentage of the Storm Spectre do not meet the minimum 73D hardness specification during spot checks of bowling balls in the field. The ball originally was approved based on samples submitted by Storm. The Spectre had been approved for competition in December 2021.

The USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual details USBC governance in this situation. The manual states that a statistical analysis from spot-checked balls will be used to determine the percentage of non-conformance based on DPMO (defects per million opportunities). The manual further states:

Ball approval can be revoked if the process capability shows the model has greater than 5.0% defects (50,000 out of 1,000,000 DPMO-Defects Per Million Opportunities) outside of any spec limit.

The statistical analysis of the Storm Spectre indicated a defect rate of 98.6%, meaning that 98.6% of Spectre balls are projected to be outside USBC’s hardness specification limit. USBC tested balls from multiple batches, and the non-conformance was not limited to a specific batch.

Pursuant to the penalties outlined in the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certification Manual, Storm is placed on probationary status with USBC for one year, and subject to a fine of $8,000.

USBC publishes a standard operating procedure to determine hardness of a bowling ball using a digital durometer. The USBC Equipment Specifications Manual states that balls must meet technical specifications when tested at USBC headquarters using the official USBC test equipment. USBC provides all manufactures the option of calibrating their durometers against the USBC approval durometer, so manufactures can create consistent quality testing processes.

USBC provided all test data to Storm and gave the company opportunity to comment or provide additional information prior to USBC announcing approval revocation of the Spectre ball.

Unapproved bowling balls may not be used in USBC-certified competition. Bowlers who used the Spectre in competition before March 14, 2022, with no prior knowledge of their balls being out of specification would not be subject to forfeiture under USBC rules.

Go to BOWL.com/EquipAndSpecs to learn more about the equipment specifications.