Got a surprise this morning. I was bowling with friends and he showed me his new ball. It had four holes. The odd hole was "for balance" he said. While I was trying to get WTF out of my mouth another friend showed me his new ball with four holes. I asked him if that extra hole was for "balance". He said, "no, that was to make it legal". "WTF" came to mind again.

Seems they are both right. It is called a balance hole, and it may be needed to make a ball "legal". (Just about the time I think I've got it all learned-up.)

https://www.bowlingthismonth.c...e-hole-fundamentals/

The link explaining the balance hole position makes my head hurt.
I have my father in law's bowling ball and it has only two holes.

M

I did not realize bowling was so complicated.

Well, now all the innocent fun is out of it ...

You can shoot them along with potatoes and pumpkins !
Those holes make a strange whistling sound and one shooter found the deer near his target got confused by the sound and ran right into the path of the incoming ball !! Big Bore !

I met a guy several years back that used bowling balls as bullets for his mortar- which looked like a lengthened gallon paint can (with thicker sides). He'd pour 1/4 pound black powder in, seat the ball. When fired the ball went completely out of sight so I'm not sure where it came down. In the second ball he had drilled out a spot for a charge of powder, packed a charge in it then covered it with (I guess) some sort of epoxy with a fuse attached. He fired it and at about 100 feet up it had a fairly spectacular air burst. It was interesting and fun to watch, but I'm not sure how well it would go with the ATF.

My model rocket club launch bowling balls as payloads in a contest.
http://www.ahpra.org/bbl01.htm

M