"The United States Bowling Congress 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 lane conditioner viscosity.
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 difficulty level of the sport by applying the oil in a specific pattern on the lane.
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 (left).
"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."
Don't know if I missed this or not, but what sort of impact does everyone think this will have?
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Reality Is.......Working out how to carry the 10, only to start leaving the 7.
