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  • Construction projects moving forward at International Bowling Campus While business as usual happens daily in the offices of the United States Bowling Congress, Bowling Proprietors' Association of America and other organizations, at opposite ends of the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, construction crews are hard at work.

    On the ground floor of the north side of 621 Six Flags Drive, work on the new International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is underway. Already complete are two replica manual pinsetter lanes that will also serve as the theatre.

    Attendees at the USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., learned of the progress and vision of the IBM/HF during a May 1 presentation by Keith Hamilton, vice president of the IBM/HF Board of Trustees. The slideshow first showed a rendering of the entrance to the IBM/HF, bowling gift shop and International Bowling Campus. Later slides gave a glimpse into what the history and modern-era exhibits along with the combined, interactive Hall of Fame section and bowling gift shop will look like.

    "Approximately one-third of the exhibits have been approved and are in the process of fabrication, and we are on target for an opening in early 2010," IBM/HF Executive Director Jerry Baltz said. "The new IBM/HF will put more emphasis on the 'contemporary era' such as organized youth programs, international competition and Team USA. Our design work already is benefiting greatly from the International Bowling Campus experts in these areas."

    "I am confident that everyone will be very pleased with bowling's new 21st-century museum," Museum President and Chairman of the Board Pat Ciniello said.

    On the south part of the campus, plenty of dirt has been moved for the International Training and Research Center. The site has been cleared and graded with water injection, drilling and pouring of piers for the structural slab under the lanes coming next. After that will come the footings for the foundation. Simultaneous to that work will be concrete work on the dock and the front entrance as well as some landscaping.

    "We have been working closely with the architect, engineers and the city to finalize the design and include value engineering cost savings," USBC Vice President-National Governing Body Neil Stremmel said.

    The goal is to have the Testing and Research Center open in late October. Anyone wanting to watch the progress being made on the Training and Research Center can check out the live Web cam on the right side of bowl.com.      Permalink to Construction projects moving forward at International Bowling Campus
    USBC NEWS
    2010-11 Lane Certification Guidelines and References

    The winter season is coming to a close. This is a fine time for all to start preparing for the 2010-11 season certifications.

    1) Equipment – (Local Association)
            A)    Dial indicators – Your equipment is sensitive to slight drops; a dial indicator may get bent from any drop whether from 6 inches or 3 feet.
            B)    Levels – if you think that it is not correct, USBC suggests having a mechanical shop take a look at it. (Level bubbles may be ordered through USBC.)
            C)    Pit End Gauge – Make sure it is clean and in good working order
            D)    Gutter Gauge – Make sure it is clean and in good working order

    Although you do not need all of these tools to do a lane certification, they will make it easier to perform the inspection.

    If you should need anything replaced, you can purchase these items on Bowl.com. Click on the Sportstore tab and then click on the Equipment Specs to place an order.

    Dial indicators may also be repaired by:

    The Calibration Solution
    9865 N. Alpine Road
    Machesney Park, IL 61115
    815-877-0880 – phone
    www.thecalibrationsoultion.com

    2) Paperwork – (Local Association, Proprietors, Managers, & Mechanics): To find and print the updated form, follow these steps: on the Bowl.com homepage, click on the USBC tab. A dropdown menu will appear. Click on Equipment Specs. This is the home page for Equipment Specs which should give you a lane panel with arrows on it. From here the third module has Forms/Manuals/Bulletins. The second line is the Application for Certification.

    3) Crew(s) – (Local Associations, Proprietors, Managers, & Bowlers): The USBC has two hands-on workshops during the year; one of these is at convention and one is at Bowl Expo. Each session’s participation is limited. Computerized Lane Inspection Program (CLIP) is the on-line program. Once passed (20 - 25 questions), the USBC will send a letter of completion, a certificate and a wallet card. Anyone interested in helping out should take one of these programs.

    The USBC suggests getting your youth involved. They can help by writing the figures down for the inspector that is in the pit. (Must be 18 yrs or older to be in the pit – liability issues.)

    A single lane inspection done by a single lane inspector takes roughly 15 – 20 minutes.

    The certification process is to help the proprietors find possible deterioration or problems within the lanes that would in the long run cost more to fix later than now.

    The certification of the center is good from Aug 1, to Aug 31 of the following year. Center certification can start as early as April 1 and can be processed as early as May 1, when the transformation has been completed by USBC.

    4) Cooperation: Cooperation is needed by all.

    Direct all questions to:
    Steve Boyle
    Certified Inspection Coordinator
    817.385.8407
    Steve.boyle@bowl.com

     Permalink to 2010-11 Lane Certification Guidelines and References
    USBC NEWS
    Understanding the Effects of Surface Adjustments

    Understanding the Effects of Surface Adjustments

    The Ball Motion Study, completed by the United States Bowling Congress’ Equipment Specifications team in 2008 with cooperation from ball manufacturers proved that the coverstock of a bowling ball is the predominant factor in ball motion. This study showed that surface roughness and oil absorption were the 1st (Surface Roughness -Ra), 3rd (Surface Roughness – RS), and 5th (Oil Absorption) most important variables in the 18 variables set by USBC researchers during the study. (See the full study here) While the actual specification set for Surface Roughness –Ra effects only the manufacturers of bowling balls, bowlers can manipulate their bowling balls to change these values and accordingly change their ball motion.

    Surface adjustments are imperative for a bowler bowling on multiple Sport Bowling conditions and tournaments , such as the USBC Open Championships. Most bowlers understand that the lower grit Abralon® pad or sandpaper sheet you use, the stronger and earlier your ball motion becomes. Let’s take a look at how much an Abralon® pad really affects the surface roughness of the ball.

    Figure 1

    Figure 1: Average surface roughness Ra and 99% confidence interval error bars of bowling balls measured at various Abralon® surfaces.

    Figure 1 shows the average surface roughness Ra (Peak to Valley measurement) of a bowling ball tested at a variety of Abralon® surfaces and then polished at each of those surfaces. The average Ra for a ball at 180 grit is over 100 microinches, while the average of a ball at 4000 grit is below 10 microinches, a drastic difference. The black lines in Figure 1 show a 99% confidence interval for each surface, which is 3 times plus or minus the standard deviation. (See table below)

    180 grit

    RA - Average

    102.514

    RA - Standard Deviation

    10.59489

    3 times Standard Deviation

    31.78468

    Upper Confidence Limit



    134.2987

    Lower Confidence Limit



    70.72932

    Figure 2: Explanation of 99% Confidence Limit

    What the 99% confidence intervals demonstrate is that only 1% of the time will a bowling ball fall above or below the confidence limits. Aside from the statistical jargon, the important thing to see in the graph is the larger the black error bars, the more inconsistent the surface is at that preparation. Sanding a bowling ball with a 180 grit pad produces a Ra number anywhere between 70 and 135 microinches, based on the current data, while a 500 grit pad produces a Ra only between 30 and 50 microinches. The overall Ra number of a ball, especially at the lower surface finishes depends more on the chemical composition of the coverstock than a ball prepped at higher surface finishes.

    Figure 1 agrees with the commonly known fact throughout the bowling industry that higher grit finishes on a bowling ball reduce the amount of overall ball motion (due to reduction in surface roughness). The important aspect from this is not that lower grit Abralon® pads make a ball have stronger ball motion, but that the consistency greatly decreases as you lower the grit value. With a 2000 Abralon® pad the entire surface of the bowling ball will be very similar, where at 180 grit you will have a wide range around the surface of the ball, resulting in the possibility of inconsistent ball reaction while bowling.

    Speaking of reducing ball motion, one of the most common things heard in a pro shop if someone has a ball that "hooks too much" or "too early" is to polish the bowling ball using a USBC approved polish. Figure 1 above shows a typical polish used on a ball and applied at various surface preparations. Below you will find a similar graph, but showing the average and 99% confidence interval bars for RS, the surface roughness measurement from peak to peak. From the graph you can see that as you apply polishes to balls with lower and lower surface finishes, the inconsistency of the surface roughness after polish is applied increases dramatically. This can be seen as well in the Ra graph, but is more apparent in the RS graph shown below. (Note: Although the statistics may show it, it is not possible to have a negative surface roughness on a ball as shown in the 1000 + polish bar.)

    Figure 1

    Figure 4: 1: Average surface roughness RS and 99% confidence interval error bars of bowling balls measured at various Abralon® surfaces

    Inconsistent surface roughness can lead to inconsistent ball reaction, and with this it is not recommended to apply a polish product to a bowling ball surface prepped below 2000 Abralon®.

    What effect does polish have on ball motion?

    Many bowlers have varying theories and ideas on why and when to use or not use polishes. Despite there differences, most high level bowlers felt that polished coverstocks create a more angular breakpoint. Former Team USA Bowler and current Sport Bowling Erik Vermilyea states that polishes " will give me the increased length, and also increased backend, but does tend to be less predictable and more ‘squirty." USBC’s Director of International Development and 6-time World Champion Bill Hoffman feels that polishes tend to make his equipment "super clean and flippy." USBC recently performed a test using the same ball at varying surfaces to validate this theory.

    For the test the same ball was used at 4 different surfaces – 2000 Abralon®, 4000 Abralon®, 2000 Abralon® + a common polish, and 4000 Abralon® + a common polish. 5 shots were thrown at each surface on a freshly oiled typical house condition, and the average was taken for each set of shots. Using the same methodology used during the ball motion study, the linear skid and roll phases will be separated from the hook phase. In the hook phase, quadratic regression will be fitted to the data for each surface modeling the equation ax2+bx+c. In this equation, the ‘a’ coefficient defines the concavity of the quadratic – the larger the number, the more concave or "angular" the path. Thus a larger a coefficient or ‘A score’ will correlate to a bowling ball being more angular at the breakpoint.

    Figure 1

    Figure 4: Cats Data showing ball path for ball at various surfaces.

    Surface

    A Score

    2000

    0.0289

    4000

    0.0311

    2000 + Polish

    0.0358

    4000 + Polish

    0.0411

    Figure 5: Table showing "a score" for each surface.

    From the data we can clearly see that as the surface finish of the ball increases in grit, the 'A score' of the hook phase increases. This proves the theory that polishes will increase the angularity of a ball. Although at face value these numbers might not mean much to the average bowler, they show that between 2000 Abralon® and 4000 Abralon® with polish there is a 30% increase in angularity. This more concave or angular ball path however is often more difficult for a bowler to line up to the pocket. In order to maximize your arsenal potential, it is recommended to see a USBC certified coach or IBPSIA certified pro shop operator to assist you with ball selection and surface preparation for bowling on a particular lane surface and pattern.

    Despite this data proving our hypothesis, it is important to realize that this one test – additional testing is required to fully prove this theory. Look for a continuation of this study and more exciting ventures into the technical side of bowling including oil absorption, progress on the International Training and Research Center, "Harry II", and much more in the future.

    Remember to Bowl with US!

    Permalink to Understanding the Effects of Surface Adjustments
    USBC NEWS
    USBC sets specification for lane oil viscosity

    By  Patrick Brettingen
    USBC Communications

    The USBC has implemented a new specification for the viscosity of lane conditioners.

    The new specification requires that lane conditioners - commonly referred to as lane oil - used during USBC competition read between 12 and 81 centipoises (the standard unit of measurement for fluids) at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

    The specification, recently approved by the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee, goes into effect immediately. This is the first time USBC or its predecessor organizations have created and implemented a specification for the viscosity (thickness) of lane conditioners.

    Lane conditioner is the liquid substance applied with a machine to bowling lane surfaces. Conditioner has two purposes: to protect the wood or synthetic surface and to affect the level of difficulty of the sport by applying the oil in a specific pattern.

    In the first step of cooperative testing, members of the newly-formed USBC and Manufacturer Lane Conditioner/Cleaner Task Force provided samples for this practical specification on lane conditioner viscosity, according to USBC Technical Director Neil Stremmel.  

    "Lane conditioners on the market today have a fairly wide range of viscosities and all work well in the various styles of lane conditioning machines (spray, pad and brush-type technologies),"  Stremmel said. "This specification allows USBC to proactively keep that range the same and limit any future possibilities to deviate from that range. Currently no lane conditioner being manufactured falls outside of this specification range."  

    Although this oil viscosity specification may change, Stremmel said, its creation gives USBC specific parameters for future testing and research.  

    The task force is expected to play a key role in future research in this area. The group will jointly discuss long-term research projects relating to lane conditioners and cleaners to better understand the impact those materials have on the sport of bowling.

    The study group includes USBC research technicians and representatives from companies that produce bowling lane conditioners and cleaners. The group's first official meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes during the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Bowling Summit Jan. 20-24, 2008, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

     

     Permalink to USBC sets specification for lane oil viscosity
    USBC NEWS
    Lane surface task force lays foundation for future research

    By Patrick Brettingen
    USBC Communications

    The USBC and Manufacturer Lane Surface Task Force has laid groundwork for future research of synthetic bowling lane surfaces that are used in USBC certified competition. The group's overall goal is to help ensure that league and tournament play is fair for all USBC bowlers.

    The task force, which is comprised of synthetic bowling lane manufacturers and USBC research representatives, recently discussed the research of lane surfaces for roughness and the materials used in their production.

    USBC research engineers would use an instrument called a "profilometer" to research surface roughness variations. A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer - an optical instrument with a computer interface - would be used to analyze the materials used in the production of the top portion of synthetic lanes.

    Any research would be completed on agreed upon 42 X 42-inch lane sample pieces which manufacturers will send to USBC.

    The task force also has defined its purpose, which is to obtain a better understanding of lane surfaces and how they affect bowling ball motion and scoring.

    Dennis Sheirs, task force member and Kegel Vice President Chemical Division, said discussions about those topics at the group's first meeting Nov. 17 at USBC Headquarters in Greendale, Wis., were positive.

    "I thought everyone in attendance at the meeting had good input and did a good job of supporting their opinions and viewpoints," said Sheirs. Other lane manufacturer task force members at the meeting were: Cesare Lancellotti, Switch; Neil Pennington, QubicaAMF Worldwide; and Troy Recknagel, Brunswick.

    "I would like to see some uniformity to the playing surface and a standard to measure and test with," Sheirs said. "I would like to see the USBC set testing standards that can be used by all manufacturers and help the bowling centers when evaluating information on a product."

    The task force will work cooperatively to discuss possible research and testing of synthetic lane surfaces in an effort to standardize the production of lane surfaces, which ultimately benefits bowlers and the sport.

    "I see the objective of the task force as a way for USBC and the bowling equipment manufacturers to work together to understand what testing and regulations need to apply to USBC-approved equipment in order to better preserve the integrity of the sport of bowling rather than USBC just developing regulations in a vacuum," Pennington said.

    "The formation of this task force is another important step in maintaining credibility in the sport of bowling," said USBC Technical Director Neil Stremmel, who along with senior technician Dave Sprager represents USBC on the task force. "USBC is teaming up with key players in the bowling industry to form this task force and make this happen. USBC may add or change specifications if the research concludes that a change or addition is necessary."

    Also at the meeting, Stremmel and Sprager demonstrated USBC's testing process for synthetic lane surface hardness. For the test, USBC research engineers use a Gardner/Sward Hardness Rocker, a metal wheel-shaped device four inches in diameter which is used to test hardness of production materials in various manufacturing industries. In this case the device rolls back and forth on a lane sample. The cycles are electronically determined and registered on a liquid crystal display monitor to obtain a hardness reading.

    Samples submitted and tested in that manner must meet the USBC specification for hardness of a synthetic lane surface, which is a minimum Sward Hardness reading of 35. Sward Hardness testing is a standardized procedure with ASTM International, an organization that develops technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services.

    That specification is a result of a new test procedure which analyzes surface friction and bowling ball footprint size in the readings. A Gauge R & R study, a statistical method recommended by the American Society for Quality, was used to determine the minimum limits.

    It was the first time USBC or its predecessor organizations developed a specification for the hardness, friction or footprint of a lane surface.

     Permalink to Lane surface task force lays foundation for future research