"Little Lefty" Scores 300 & 817
Seventy year-old Monticello bowler John Hoffmann might have been questioning himself during the past two years if he had lost his ability to master another 300 game but his true professionalism was evident February 15 when he recorded his 28th career perfect game during league play in the Wednesday Men's league at Kiamesha Lanes.
And to top off the 300 game two nights later on February 17 in the Friday Mixed league he smashed the maples for an 817 series off single games of 289, 269, 259.
The 300 game was rolled on lanes 9 & 10 using a Storm Marvel bowling ball. The same ball scored the 817 on lanes 5 & 6. In the 817 series Hoffmann had the first 10 strikes in the first game before leaving the 7 pin. With the February 15 perfect game Hoffman added a 258 and a 233 for a 791 series.
Prior to the 300 game John rolled a 299 several weeks ago when he left the 4 pin on the 12th ball.
His Wednesday night team is Dutch's and his team mates include Jim VanAken, Steven Belgiovene and Tom Belgiovene. Hoffmann noted he'll turn 71 in a couple of months and that he presently bowls in the Monday and Wednesday Men's leagues and the Friday Mixed league all at Kiamesha Lanes.
Hoffmann's last 300 game ( No. 27) and his third 300 game during the 2009-2010 league season was bowled on February 15, 2010 in the Monday Men's league at Kiamesha Lanes.
Hoffmann also recorded three 300 games in 2009 on March 17, March 30 and November 11.
His present Monday league average is 223.
Hoffmann recorded his first 300 game on July 23, 1991 in the Essex County New Jersey Association in the 420 DBLS. SMT league at Eagle Rock Lanes.
Hoffmann is a well-known technical bowler and Mike Luongo, now a Sales Advisor and Special Events Assistant for the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company, noted several years ago to this columnist that "John has a real nice game."
John won the high average bowler honors with a 229 in the Tri-County NY USBC Association for the 2006-07 season. He bowled professionally from 1990 to 1993 in the Northeast Regional Professional Bowlers Association where he got his "Little Lefty" nickname from former PBA Tour Bowler Tommy Delutz Jr.
Hoffmann was also the 2007 Tri-County NY USBC Champion and is also a New Jersey State Senior Champion.
USBC and former ABC records have Hoffmann with one 298, four 299 games and ten 800 plus series.
Six years ago he became a certified USBC coach and is considered an excellent teacher of the game.
Hoffmann has been bowling for some 55 years, is single, retired and lives in the South Woods Road area of the Town of Thompson.
The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo
Bowlers: This week's tip will focus on Bowling Ball Maintenance for all types of bowling balls used in the modern era......but we must point out that all balls should be cleaned and maintained after each use.
We will start with the plastic balls, used by new and recreational bowlers and also by experienced bowlers to make certain spares. These balls are not porous but due to the high viscosity oils used today, the oil will build up on the balls and eliminate any contact with the lane. You can use any car care product or household cleaner to clean this type of ball very easily.
Urethane balls with no additives are porous and will not absorb oil and dirt. Also use any car care products or household cleaner on these balls. If you want to keep the ball dull use an abrasive pad.
Urethane balls with additives are known as reactive or particle balls. The high performance balls are very porous and will absorb oil and dirt fast and this will diminish the performance of the ball as soon as thirty games if not maintained. You should towel the ball off each shot during use and clean the ball as soon as possible at the end of each bowling session.
There are several ways to clean a high performance ball. If your ball is dull and you would like to keep it that way, you can use warm water, dish detergent and a gray or burgundy pad.
If you find that your ball works best when polished, many products are available in many different degrees of polish to give the desired finish on the ball. Several companies sell products to match the out-of-box finish if desired.
As far as long range maintenance, if you have your ball resurfaced and the oil extracted occasionally , your ball will perform for a much longer period of time than if neglected.
Remember, you ball will treat you as well as you treat it and it will continue to perform for many games if properly maintained.
Mike Luongo is a certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, call him at 435-720-7939 or email at mikel@stormbowling.com
Occasionally tight space requirements results in items being edited out of columns and stories. For full coverage of this column go to http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations consultant to the amateur-professional sport of bowling. League and tournament information can be sent to 845-439-8177, email to edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or faxed to 845-205-4474. We are also on Facebook.
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