Expert: - 1/1/2012

Question
if, while you are releasing the ball, your ring comes off your finger and lands on the lane or in the gutter beyond the foul line, is that a foul?

Answer
Joe,
The USBC rule details a part of the players body must cross the foul line and touch beyond the foul line. Losing a piece of jewelry isn't by definition a foul. If you point out to your opponeant that the ring came off, and you retrieve it or have a member of the center staff retrieve it, no problem. But if you proceed to cross the line after a delivery, to retrieve the ring, it might be interpeted as a foul.

Thanks for the question. Happy new Year.