Note: This story originally posted Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 and has been updated. When Brunswick announced that the PURPLE HAMMER had gained re-approval from USBC for the 73D hardness rule, it caught numerous bowling industry insiders I was in contact with Monday by surprise, as they had no knowledge a re-approval was in the works or required for the ball that has been at the center of so much controversy in the top levels of the sport in recent years. As it turns out, the process was not specific...