Teen Masters and PBA announce licensing agreement for standardized bowling balls
09/23/12
Killer 'B' Promotions (KBP) and the Professional Bowlers
Association (PBA) have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement
under which KBP will create and market a line of PBA-branded bowling balls for use in
the Teen Masters. The licensing agreement is part of a joint effort by the PBA and KBP
to spur the growth of competitive youth bowling.
The announcement comes five years after the Teen Masters staged its first competition in which the bowlers all used the same ball. "This journey began during a meeting in the Dexter Den at the 2007 Teen Masters when the top teen bowlers were offered a special tournament in which they could each choose one ball to use," explained KBP President and Teen Masters founder Gary Beck.
"Their collective and emphatic response was, 'Make us all throw the same ball. That way we will know who bowled the best.' The following year we introduced our first Ebonite Bowl To Win Showdown in which all competitors were given identical balls to compete with. The overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response from the kids who participated has kept us moving diligently toward this day."
Using modern design technology, two low differential balls with non-flaring, symmetrical cores will be produced. One will have a polyester cover and the other a urethane performance cover. The balls will be manufactured by Ebonite, the Official Bowling Ball partner of the Teen Masters since 2008, and available for purchase on TeenMastersBowling.com.
Lane conditions are also a critical component of the initiative. Kegel, the Official Lane Maintenance Partner of the Teen Masters since 2003, will design two low-volume oil patterns, one long and one short, for use with the PBA balls.
The patterns will use 65 to 80% less oil than current oil patterns. The combination of the new PBA bowling balls and Kegel patterns will stabilize the scoring environment by significantly reducing oil transition.
The PBA balls and low-volume Kegel patterns will initially be used in the 2013 Teen Masters National Championships scheduled for June 29 - July 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plus a select number of Teen Masters leagues and qualifying events held in the spring.
The same balls will continue to be used in subsequent years, reducing equipment costs and allowing bowlers to focus their financial resources on practice and lessons.
"Kids are the future of the sport and the PBA is excited to play a role in this initiative," said Tom Clark, PBA Commissioner. "It will make the sport easier to coach and easier to learn, and both are key ingredients in the retention of youth participants at the competitive level."
It was Clark who introduced a limited equipment event at the sport's highest level when he conducted the PBA's Plastic Ball Championship from 2009-2011. "The PBA balls and low-volume Kegel patterns will allow us to create a playing environment in which the skill of the participants will be the dominant factor influencing the outcome of our competition, continued Beck. Shot making will be critical. We intend to put the credit for good shots and responsibility for poor ones back in the hands of our bowlers."
Interested bowling centers, coaches and pro shops are invited to learn about the opportunity to implement the new competitive environment in their youth programs by contacting Gary Beck at garyb@killerbpromotions.com or visiting the Teen Masters website.
PBA News
Killer 'B' Promotions (KBP) and the Professional Bowlers
Association (PBA) have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement
under which KBP will create and market a line of PBA-branded bowling balls for use in
the Teen Masters. The licensing agreement is part of a joint effort by the PBA and KBP
to spur the growth of competitive youth bowling.The announcement comes five years after the Teen Masters staged its first competition in which the bowlers all used the same ball. "This journey began during a meeting in the Dexter Den at the 2007 Teen Masters when the top teen bowlers were offered a special tournament in which they could each choose one ball to use," explained KBP President and Teen Masters founder Gary Beck.
"Their collective and emphatic response was, 'Make us all throw the same ball. That way we will know who bowled the best.' The following year we introduced our first Ebonite Bowl To Win Showdown in which all competitors were given identical balls to compete with. The overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response from the kids who participated has kept us moving diligently toward this day."
Using modern design technology, two low differential balls with non-flaring, symmetrical cores will be produced. One will have a polyester cover and the other a urethane performance cover. The balls will be manufactured by Ebonite, the Official Bowling Ball partner of the Teen Masters since 2008, and available for purchase on TeenMastersBowling.com.
Lane conditions are also a critical component of the initiative. Kegel, the Official Lane Maintenance Partner of the Teen Masters since 2003, will design two low-volume oil patterns, one long and one short, for use with the PBA balls.
The patterns will use 65 to 80% less oil than current oil patterns. The combination of the new PBA bowling balls and Kegel patterns will stabilize the scoring environment by significantly reducing oil transition.
The PBA balls and low-volume Kegel patterns will initially be used in the 2013 Teen Masters National Championships scheduled for June 29 - July 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plus a select number of Teen Masters leagues and qualifying events held in the spring.
The same balls will continue to be used in subsequent years, reducing equipment costs and allowing bowlers to focus their financial resources on practice and lessons.
"Kids are the future of the sport and the PBA is excited to play a role in this initiative," said Tom Clark, PBA Commissioner. "It will make the sport easier to coach and easier to learn, and both are key ingredients in the retention of youth participants at the competitive level."
It was Clark who introduced a limited equipment event at the sport's highest level when he conducted the PBA's Plastic Ball Championship from 2009-2011. "The PBA balls and low-volume Kegel patterns will allow us to create a playing environment in which the skill of the participants will be the dominant factor influencing the outcome of our competition, continued Beck. Shot making will be critical. We intend to put the credit for good shots and responsibility for poor ones back in the hands of our bowlers."
Interested bowling centers, coaches and pro shops are invited to learn about the opportunity to implement the new competitive environment in their youth programs by contacting Gary Beck at garyb@killerbpromotions.com or visiting the Teen Masters website.
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