Week of October 13
Some good scores this past week from the Barbecue to report. Walt Callahan, bowling in the Monday United league rolled the first 11 strikes of his last game and was hoping for a perfect 300. However, a stubborn 4 pin cost him as he had to settle for a 299 game. He bowled on lanes 5-6. Wednesday night, bowling on lanes 9-10, Jim Hurlburt threw a perfect 300 game. It might be Jim's first perfecto. Congratulations Jim on a great game.
On Thursday in the American League, Matt Longtin was asked to sub and proceeded to roll games of 27, 278, 257 for a huge 813 triple. I think that may be Matt's first 800 series which qualifies him to bowl in the 800 Tournament this coming Saturday at Kingpin's Alley Latham. Congratulations to all of you for a great night of bowling.
I will be at the 800 Tournament this coming Saturday and hope to see many Barbecue bowlers. As I have said before, this is the most prestigious tournament in the region. The Troy Association is the only association in the region that conducts this particular type of tournament. I also believe the Troy Association was the first to have a 700 tournament as well. Our association conducts numerous tournaments throughout the year, for men, women, youth as well as mixed tournaments. I am very proud to be associated with this association now for 34 years.
I see where there was a Regional Pro Bowlers Tournament conducted on string machines. I didn't see the live competition, only some highlights. The pin carry didn't look that different from the regular pins. EJ Tackett won the event and said he likes the carry with the string pins. The commentator stated how quiet it seemed in the center without the pins being put into the machines and the multiple motors running to run the sweeps, the pin inserter etc. The few shots I saw in a qualifying round didn't look too different than the carry of regular pins. There have been so many bowlers who have said they will
quit bowling because they do not believe it is real bowling. As I have written in the past, the equipment manufacturers are simply not making replacement parts for the traditional machines. Machines will break down regardless of how well they are maintained, so centers have to plan for the future without the traditional AMF or Brunswick machines. There are fewer and fewer mechanics out there who can diagnose and repair the existing machines. As the employees become older, there will be fewer and fewer mechanics out there, so what can a proprietor do? He or she has to change with the flow or face extinction. I had the occasion to chat with a top bowler in the capital region this past Saturday and he brought up the subject. He said he had not yet bowled on the string machines but was hoping to go to East Greenbush Lanes which have reportedly switched over to string machines in half of the house. He said he is going to go with an open mind and see just how the strings affect his pin carry, whether it helps or hinders it. He said that there seems to be much reluctance on bowlers' parts to accept change. He brought up the way the lanes used to be oiled to now the computerized lane dressing machines. Going from rubber and plastic balls to urethane and reactive resin balls. There are a huge number of bowlers today who were not yet born when rubber and plastic balls dominated the sport as they have only seen urethane or reactive resin balls. He asked me if I had bowled on the string pins, I said I had not. Maybe one of these days I will hook up with him and give it a try. If the pros can use the string pins in some of their tournaments, what would preclude the regular bowler from using them?
I will have the results of the 800 Tournament next week. I really hope the winner can be a Barbecue bowler this year.
Local bowling lost a good friend this past week as Ed Heineman passed away. I have known Ed for over 40 years. He moved to this area and began bowling at the old Roe's Bowl. He also participated in leagues at Olde Saratoga Bowl, Saratoga Strike Zone as well as the defunct Ballston Spa Lanes. Ed was a fierce competitor on the lanes. My condolences to his family