USBC task force to study lane surface issues
The USBC and Manufacturer Lane Surface Task Force will consist of USBC research technicians and representatives from synthetic bowling lane manufacturers. The group's first meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17 at USBC Headquarters in Greendale, Wis.
Discussion topics for the meeting are expected to include lane surface friction, lane hardness specifications, surface roughness, use of an optical testing device and submission of lane surface samples for annual renewal by USBC.
"USBC is creating this task force to get the key people involved in the process for future testing and research we have planned in this area. Those studies may lead to new specifications or other changes in synthetic bowling lane surfaces," said USBC Technical Director Neil Stremmel.
"Research and testing of bowling lanes is one essential function of maintaining the credibility of the sport," Stremmel continued. "A lane is the playing surface for our sport just as tees, fairways and greens are in golf. Like bowling balls and pins, lanes must meet strict guidelines so the sport is fair for all bowlers."
USBC recently added a new specification relating to the hardness of a synthetic lane surface. All new synthetic surfaces submitted to USBC for testing and approval must meet a minimum Sward Hardness reading of 35. That specification is a result of a new test procedure developed by the USBC Specifications and Certifications team, 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 of a lane surface.
USBC seeks manufacturer volunteers for task force USBC is inviting manufacturers of synthetic bowling lanes to join the USBC and Manufacturer Lane Surface Task Force. Interested parties should contact USBC Senior Technician Dave Sprager at dave.sprager@bowl.com or (800) 514-2695, ext. 3410 no later than Wednesday, Oct. 3. As with the ball task force, manufacturers agreeing to join the task force are responsible for making all arrangements and costs for attending meetings.
Bowling ball task force a working model One reason USBC is forming the bowling lane task force is because a similar study group created to address bowling ball research has been valuable and successful.
The USBC Bowling Ball Specifications Task Force - comprised of representatives from 13 bowling ball manufacturing companies and USBC staff - was formed in 2005. Since that time, the task force has worked cooperatively to address bowling ball performance issues and their impact on the credibility and integrity of the sport.
One major successful outcome of the bowling ball task force is the USBC Ball Motion Study that began in 2005. USBC and major bowling ball companies have teamed up to test the impact modern, high-tech bowling balls have on the credibility of the sport of bowling. USBC has been working closely with the major bowling ball manufacturers in the high-level testing being performed on the lanes at the USBC research facility with the robotic ball thrower nicknamed "Harry" and the Computer Aided Tracking System (C.A.T.S.) technology.
The goal of this research is to better understand the motion of bowling balls using science and data analysis.
By Patrick Brettingen USBC Communications
