Well, this is hearsay, but I thought I'd throw it out here and see how many comments it gets...

An old friend of mine told me that the ABC/WIBC is considering banning particle equipment, and that this might happen as soon as a year or so from now. This friend is on the certification committee for the stadium, and I guess this subject comes up for discussion every now and then.

Anyway - the rationale is that the microscopic particles are, over time, too abrasive on the lanes. On one hand, it makes sense. On the other - you've got to be kidding...

Comments???
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.

There are Bowlers like myself out there that have low revs and don't have "a lot of hand" so partical balls are needed in "some" cases. On Dry to Medium and a little oiler than Medium lanes, we can survive on Reactive Equipment up to a certain point. However, on Oily and heavy Oiled Lanes we need Particle Equipment as we don't have enough hand and revs to make the reactive equipment turn the corner with any authority at all. Without some Particle equipment to help the "weak handers", some of these people that might bowl in heavy oil all the time, might be forced to quit bowling as they wouldn't be able to bowl decent scores. I own 4 Reactive and one Particle Ball (AMF Angle Evolution Extra) and I need the Evolution Extra ball in heavier oil.

Can the ABC ban particle balls? – Of course they can, from their sanctioned events. They can make any rule they like concerning the game. They already ban using metal in the construction of balls, they could ban other materials as well. They could make the lane longer/shorter, the pins heavier/lighter, set oiling patterns, anything to do with the game.  They would have to put in some grandfather clause and phase them out. AMF had a Micheal Jordan basketball bowling ball that had grooves cut in it. The ABC didn’t approve it and many proprietors wouldn’t allow it on their lane beds and the ball quickly went out of sight.

Do particle balls hurt lane beds? – Because they are resurfaced I don’t believe that wood lanes are effected too much by particles. I have heard of the synthetics but I don’t know if that is simply the learning curve of how long synthetic lanes last or the particle balls actually doing damage. Logic would dictate that because of the increased amount of friction that they would cause some additional wear.

What came first particle balls or more lane conditioner? - The big hooking balls came out first. Then the proprietors put more lane conditioner down to protect the lane and to quell the complaints (by the buyers of the hook monsters) that the lanes hooked too much. It gets to be a vicious circle.

The ABC could make all this a mute point by dictating a set of lane patterns and a maximum amount of lane conditioner on the lanes. These patterns could be set up where the hook monster balls are rendered useless and everyone would go to balls made of material with lower friction properties.  

I believe Brenton Davy is correct. Manufacturers will not allow a ban on particle balls to happen. If any kind of changes are made, it will be the percentage amount of particle load in a ball. They did it once before when the Storm La Nina came out.  That ball has the highest particle load of any ball made.  That ball was allowed by ABC, and after testing ABC said the rest of the balls that came out has to have a lower loading.



Edited on 6/27/2003 2:20 PM