Bette Addington: Bowling ball maintenance a critical factor in knocking down pins
| Monday, Nov 23 2009 11:01 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 23 2009 11:01 PM
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School's in and yes, bowling ball maintenance can be described as a technological window that just keeps opening! And, at record pace as ball manufacturers look for the advantage over one another and new ways to knock down more pins. One thing for sure, as the reactive resins become more refined and ball chemical engineers learn more about keeping oil from sticking to the surface of the ball, scores will continue to soar.
When bowling balls no longer attract oil to their surface, no longer will oil carry -- down to the pin decks be a factor, for ball deflection due to loss of traction or slip going through the pocket. This, in turn, will greatly help the striking percentages as the bowling ball holds traction and pocket, touching the very three or four pins that are so important to carry strings of strikes!
Ball manufacturers agree that ball surface (rough or sanded) or the lack of surface (shiny or polished), is the single most important factor in how the ball reacts. With a lack of surface (polished) on the ball, you may never get enough hook and correct angle at the pocket on oily conditions. With too much surface (sanded too rough) you could get just the opposite reaction in a ball that hooks too early and runs out of energy before ever hitting the pins.
Keeping your own records on what polish or sanded surface works for you on each ball you own is very important in keeping them tuned up and ready. Bowling balls should always be cleaned with a reputable company's cleaner after each use even if only used one game that session! Bowling balls generally need some type of maintenance (sanding, scuffing, polishing, etc.) after as little as three games on dry lanes, and up to nine games on oily conditions, but cleaning is a must after each session regardless of maintenance!!
Resurfacing Needed--and that's the bad news because high performance bowling balls require costly high performance maintenance, and at a rate of about every 25 to 50 games, you can expect to have it resurfaced on a machine to keep it round and take the visible flattening track out. Remember that "like new ball" carry is also because the ball is clean, round and only touching about 1/32" to 1/16" of track on the lane. Some ball manufacturer's talk about directional sanding and some don't....we'll save that for a later date.
BVL CITY ROLL-OFF TOURNAMENT RESULTS
The Golden Empire USBC (United States Bowling Congress) annual BVL (Bowlers to Veteran's Link) City Roll-Off Tournament, which took place the weekend of November 7 & 8, at AMF Southwest Lanes, was again a success.
Local league adult and youth bowlers came out to fill the three squads and try to win their division. BVL Chairmen, Midge Denning and Tony Toone, along with GEUSBC President, DC Williams and GEUSBC Assoc. Manager, Nancy Weber ran the event along with the help of BVL Committee members, Vicki Taylor, Tom Smith, and Chuck Graviss. Many participants left the event with a patriotic raffle gift they won. The most anticipated raffle item, however, was the special flag afghan that was handmade by Lisa Isbell of AMF Southwest Lanes, and was won by Linda Couser.
Here are our BVL Division Winners:
Men's Classic - John Whisler (759); Men's A Division - Brandon Kitchens (632); Men's B Division - Justin Calhoun (672); Men's C Division - Clifton Williamson (474); Men's D Division - Nick Bush (336); Women's Classic - Becky Hardwick (672); Women's A Division - Bette Addington (582); Women's B Division - Marieta Ellis (528); Women's C Division - Chris Hankins (444); Women's D Division - Merlinda Collier (461); Women's E Division - Morgan Anderson (375); Youth Boy's Classic - Gary Smith (633); Youth Boy's A Division - Mark Trudel (651); Youth Boy's B Division - Cody Lewis (598); Youth Boy's C Division - George Brewer (467); Youth Boy's D Division - Phillip Anderson (393); Youth Boy's E Division - Keshaen Lowe (247); Youth Girl's Classic - Gabriella Mayfield (591); Youth Girls B Division - Angelica Aldana (469); Youth Girls C Division - Shontell Stewart (496).
These Division winners will be recognized and receive their awards at the 2010 GEUSBC Awards Banquet that will be taking place on Saturday, May 1, at the Eagles Hall downtown. But, before that, our Division winners will be representing Bakersfield and competing in the CUSBC (California United States Bowling Congress) State BVL Classic, which will take place on Sat., April 10, at Yorba Linda Bowl in Yorba Linda.
THANKGIVING DAY BOWLING OPTIONS
After the hustle and bustle is over, the turkey has been served and you are through with the festivities and wonder what your bowling possibilities might be for the day? Well, here you go:
Regency Lanes - 820 Real Road - (661) 325-6428
Open 5 p.m. through 12:30 a.m.
Family Glow and Bowl is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - cost is $15 per person (shoes included)
Glow & Bowl has three sessions - 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. - cost for the first two is $14 per person (shoes included) and the last long session is $18 per person (shoes included)
AMF Southwest Lanes - 3610 Wible Road - (661) 834-2695
AMF Westchester Bowl - 1819 - 30th Street - (661) 324-4966
Both are open from 2 p.m. through 11:30 p.m.
Open Bowling is available at both locations during these hours. Both centers will also be accepting the 99-cent AMF coupons that have all been distributed and bowlers can use up to (10) of these coupons per person.
CA BOWLING WRITERS PHONE CARD DRIVE
The California Bowling Writers are currently running their 6th annual Phone Card Drive for the Troops. This drive is to gather donations so that they may purchase as many 125-minute AT&T Military Pre-Paid Phone Cards as possible to send overseas to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in time for Valentine's Day, 2010. Deadline for donations is December 31, 2009. Donations may be made in any amount. Make checks payable to "CBW" and send donations to CBW Treasurer Tina Martin, 57 Shields Lane, Novato, CA 94947-3877. For further information, feel free to log on to the CBW website at calbowlingwriters.org" www.calbowlingwriters.org.
RECENT SUPER SCORES
Congratulations to Bill Young on bowling his first ever 300 game bowling in the Recovery league on Sun., November 15 at Regency Bowling Center. Young was so ecstatic to have accomplished this feat that he laid down on the lane and screamed!! Young finished the night with a nice 792 series.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Regency Super Senior "Tournament of Champions"
Thursday, November 19, 1 p.m., Regency Bowling Center
Women:
1st - Sarah Maranto (899)
2nd - Bobbie LeDoux (892)
3rd - Karla Williamson (831)
Men:
1st - Vern Spangler (915)
2nd - Lynn Bender (870)
3rd - Elmo Stewart (856)
December Super Senior Tournament is scheduled for Thurs., Dec. 17, at 1 p.m., and will be a Doubles tournament.
