Bowling Highlights Column 9-14-12

Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo 

  

    Welcome back bowlers.

    This week's tip was suggested by a league bowler and applies mostly to those bowlers who are using modern bowling balls. 

    You may not know that the modern bowling ball is porous with several different densities and has numerous chemicals in the cover stocks. 

    As these balls change temperature, the cover and core will expand and contract. Due to the different materials used for the core, inner core and cover, this fluctuation occurs at different rates.

     Leaving the ball in a car when temperatures are severe, very hot or very cold, the expansion and contraction causes severe stress on the cover. This stress is even greater when a cold ball is used to bowl while it is still cold.....this may indeed cause the ball to crack.

     So the tip is not only educational but let it serve as a reminder to take care of your bowling ball investment--and if you carry your balls to and from the center, don't leave them in your car.

     Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is an Advisor along with being involved with Special Events with the Storm and Roto Brip Bowling Ball Company. If you have any questions or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 435-720-7939 or via email at mikel@stormbowling.com 

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 Ed's Outlook

     Local bowling leagues are just starting and league scores will soon become a part of our bowling column. Once again scores will be reported from Callicoon Kristal Bowl, Beechwood Lanes, Fox Bowling Center and Kiamesha Lanes. 

     Sadly league scores will no longer be coming from Liberty Lanes who recently announced that after 42 in business there would be no league season and that they will soon start putting their fixtures and machinery on the market.

     The property was sold some nine months ago to Ideal Snacks.

     It's truly sad to see a family run bowling center close as Liberty Lanes gave bowlers a bowling shot where they could maintain a true average.......not an inflated average as some bowling centers produce. 

     The Fix family had an oustanding reputation for always making sure that their bowling center was clean and well maintained and they seldom had machinery breakdown. Their food preparatrion was some of the finest we have ever tasted and the burgers and hot dogs were from the best meats they could buy.

     With the closing of Liberty Lanes the Sullivan County bowling industry takes a big loss. 

     Although we had some issues over the years with members of the family we are sad to see the demise of Liberty Lanes and truly wish the family the best.

     Following the close of the 2010-2011 bowling season this past spring the bowling community lost a man who dedicated himself to the sport of bowling and had friends in many places. 

     George Edward "Spoon" Battle Jr. of Pine Bush passed away on May 1 at the age of 72. An avid bowler "Spoon" bowled in leagues in Ulster, Sullivan and Orange Counties. A member of the United States Bowling Congress he was a member of the Middletown Bowlng Hall of Fame.

  While a Little League coach in Brooklyn he coached future Mets pitcher John Franco. 

     "Spoon" was indeed well loved by everyone and was a friend to all. RIP George. 

     Ed Townsend is a PR consultant to the professional and amateur sport of bowling. If you have league scores, tournaments, score a 300 game or bowl your age let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or by fax at 845-205-4474. View this column at http://bght.blogspot.com  We are also on Facebook.