Have a good Labor Day weekend if you can. But this is a era where everyone knows at least one friend or former colleague out of work. To celebrate the worker this year, think about those folks and try to help with encouragement and job opening tips when you find them.
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Tour TV starts Oct. 25, although the Geico team championship is slated for Sept. 20, on ESPN.
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His story touches hundreds of thousand of people. Now you can help, with the purchase of a Mark Roth ball:
PBA and ontheballbowling.com team up for Roth.
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Get ready. The USBC bowling ball specifications are changing July 1, 2010. From the USBC:
The USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Committee has adopted a new specification for all bowling balls approved for competition on or after July 1, 2010. The new specification will raise the allowable lower-limit radius of gyration (RG) measurement to 2.460 inches up from 2.430 inches.
Raising the lower-limit RG specification will delay and weaken overall ball motion, thereby decreasing the amount of inherent aggressiveness bowling ball manufacturers can infuse into their bowling ball product lines.
This specification change, and others that have been recently adopted, which include Surface Roughness – Ra, lane surface hardness and lane conditioner viscosity, is aimed at reestablishing player skill as an equally if not more important factor than technology in determining bowling ball motion.
“Our sport incorporates a multitude of variables relating from the ball to the bowler to the lane and beyond. This new RG specification should be supported by league and tournament players alike because it is another step that USBC is taking to bring results back in line with player performance,” USBC Technical Director Steve Kloempken said. “We will continue addressing this issue and investigating possible specification changes until we get back to the point where player skill is as important as, if not more important than, technology in determining success on the lanes.”
The realization that a new lower-limit RG specification was needed came about after USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team members conducted exhaustive analysis of the Ball Motion Study, a two-year, joint research venture conducted by USBC in cooperation with bowling ball manufacturers.
The study, which can be read in its entirety on USBC’s bowl.com Web site, examined and ranked how 18 different variables affect bowling ball motion. The study was completed in March 2008. Since that time, the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Committee has evaluated the results and used the findings to establish and/or modify specifications limiting a bowling ball’s Surface Roughness - Ra and, now, lower-limit RG standard.
All bowling balls approved before the deadline will be grandfathered in under the current RG specifications, making them legal for future USBC-certified competition. The specification change will only apply to balls approved on or after July 1, 2010.
“One of the important things to consider is how research and this new specification benefits our members,” Kloempken said. “Between 2005 and 2008, we gathered critical knowledge and data from the Ball Motion Study. Using that data to modify current specifications like this is critical to educate our members and uphold the credibility of the sport. It is all done in an ongoing effort to balance player skill and technology, and you as a USBC member are a part of it.”
Pro Shops - better start educating your customers now , especially the ones that say I want the ball to do this. Because they're going to be in for a shock after the change. And they're going to say it's your fault the ball doesn't hook as much, hit as strong, etc., even when you and I know it's not your fault.
On the other hand, I don't want to hear any pro shops telling customers you have to get new balls because the specs have changed. Current equipment is still legal after the change. But I presume lane dressings will change to accomodate the new specs so current balls on conditions made for the new era might be too strong. Looks like the transition will mean we'll be carrying the new and old into centers for a couple of years.
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Hey, interested in becoming a ball manufacturer staff member? I found this interesting. Visionary Bowling Products will put you on staff - for a price.
Here's VBP President James Wonder's letter to pro shops.
However, if you bowl PBA tournaments, their equipment cannot be used.
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Joe Nolan. Bowled 300 the first week of the Masters at West County Lanes. Video courtesy of www.stlmastersbowling.com
Added another one shortly after at Show Me Lanes. Thursday night, 780. No big deal, right?
He did it using a plastic ball for every strike shot on lane 18 and resin reactive on lane 17.
Think you're talented? Could you shoot 600 for 3 games using a plastic ball on one lane and reactive on the other? Try bowling The Petersen Classic first before trying it.
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While on the subject of "The Pete", Our Town's Rich Orf is tied for 9th with a 1,584, Mike Flanagan 43rd with a 1,526, Ned Hendrixson 52nd with a 1,519, John Brockland tied for 59th with a 1,510, former Lindenwood national champ Brian Valenta (now back in Lockport, Il.) is 71st with a 1,505, Jen Ridilla in 76th with a 1,500, and Tom Partl, Jr. is tied for 86th at 1,495.
Each will win $950.
Hendrixson's squad is in 5th, good for $500 if it holds up, Rich Orf's team is 2nd, and stands to win $1,500, Rich's best 4 games out of 8 is in 8th place for $300, and he's in 5th place all events (team and doubles score) for $225.
Brother Steve Orf's Group A 185+ squad is in 2nd place standing to cash $2.720.
In the Petersen's Lumberjack Challenge, Steve Solovic with a 1,000 on the nose is in 3rd for $1,000. On the women's side, Amy Probst is in 2nd, good for $300 while Ned's daughter Beja is in 5th place for $75.
My arm hurts thinking about this. Tristan Choat leads the 20 game Lumberjack, a $500 winner. Isn't it nice to be young and strong?
Winnings are projected, based on entries. Great showing from the Bi-State. It was weird bowling the Pete on synthetic lanes. Yep, it's the 21st century!
As you can see, it pays to bowl The Petersen, in more ways than one.
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Answer to my question last week about former St. Louis Post Dispatch bowling writer John Archibald. He is home and resting. We wish him well.
And good to see Travis Hendrixson back on the lanes. Hospitalized a couple of weeks ago, back yesterday at DuBowl Lanes for the noon Seniors with a 675.
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This week's BOWLING thank yous: Rich Orf, Chris Jung and Joe Nolan.
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QUESTION for pro shops in the area. Looking for an experienced staffer? I have someone who is looking for work. He's very good, dependable, you will not be disappointed. Email me at SimonSezPBA@gmail.com for info on him.
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Got a story or news for the BOWLING HOOD? Send 'em in, SimonSezPBA@gmail.com.
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Today concludes National Bowling Week. Strike Ten Entertainment is trying to set a Guiness Book of World Records for most games bowled one day in the U.S. The number is about 530,000. It's raining here in the 'Loo. Don't know if that'll keep people at home.
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CHALLENGE TO YOU: I went to West County Lanes last night for their Sport Shot 9-pin no tap. I like a challenging condition. Apparently others either don't, or were tied up with Labor Day weekend vacation. It was cancelled.
BOWLING HOOD thinks this is a terrific extension of the PBA experience league. A great idea from Gary Voss. Step up and challenge your talent.
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Thx for the shout out Scott, and hopefully I'll be seeing you tomm at Oasis!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on winning Sunday. Glad I didn't wreck the shot ahead of you :)
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