Lane conditions challenge players at Teen Masters
08/05/06
The skills of the players at the 2006 Teen Masters National Finals were put to the test Friday as a cutting-edge lane conditioning procedure was used at Boardwalk Entertainment Center.
In a format not seen by nearly all of the players at the event, the odd-numbered lanes were conditioned with a short-oil pattern while the even-numbered lanes had a long-oil pattern.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that both patterns were USBC Sport Bowling certified. Sport Bowling conditions put an emphasis on shot-making and spare-shooting ability and are more challenging than conditions used in most recreational leagues.
"I think the biggest thing I've noticed with two patterns is you really have to maintain your focus," said John Janawicz (left), a lane maintenance technician from Kegel, which developed and maintained the lane conditions used this week. "Now you have two transitions that you are dealing with because each pattern breaks down differently. In my experience, having bowled on it in the past, I actually like it."
Janawicz said the only other tournament held in the United States to use a similar procedure for conditioning the lanes was at the 2005 World Ranking Masters, held at the Kegel Training Center in Winter Haven, Fla.
For most players at the Teen Masters, each pattern played differently. On the 42-foot long pattern, players used more aggressive equipment to help the ball react on the lane, while the opposite was needed on the 35-foot short pattern.
"On the short condition, you have to make sure that you keep your tempo up so that you can throw the ball a little faster," said 18-game girls qualifying leader Ashly Galante of Palm Harbor, Fla., who used a different ball for each pattern. "Then, on the long oil, you have to calm yourself down a little bit and just sort of roll it. There's definitely a different mind set."
Players had a chance to get a feel for each pattern leading up to Friday's action. On Wednesday, all players bowled six games on the long pattern and Thursday tossed six additional qualifying games on the short pattern.
"On one pattern, you can just keep one line, go out there and focus on that line," Galante said. "When you have two different shots, you have to reinforce each shot and different lines. And sometimes the lanes break down differently, so on one lane you might have to move right and the other you'd move left. It's double the work with choices you have to make."
The Teen Masters National Finals features more than 300 of the best high-school aged bowlers in the country. Players advanced through local qualifying events and are competing for $50,000 in scholarships this week.
The final rounds of the event will be conducted in an arena setting at Universal Studios Orlando with the championship matches being televised nationally by ESPN2 on a tape-delayed basis (scheduled for Oct. 16 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern). The boys and girls champion will each receive a $7,500 scholarship.
United States
Boardwalk Family Entertainment Center, Orlando, Fla., (Aug. 1-5, 2006)
The skills of the players at the 2006 Teen Masters National Finals were put to the test Friday as a cutting-edge lane conditioning procedure was used at Boardwalk Entertainment Center. In a format not seen by nearly all of the players at the event, the odd-numbered lanes were conditioned with a short-oil pattern while the even-numbered lanes had a long-oil pattern.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that both patterns were USBC Sport Bowling certified. Sport Bowling conditions put an emphasis on shot-making and spare-shooting ability and are more challenging than conditions used in most recreational leagues.
"I think the biggest thing I've noticed with two patterns is you really have to maintain your focus," said John Janawicz (left), a lane maintenance technician from Kegel, which developed and maintained the lane conditions used this week. "Now you have two transitions that you are dealing with because each pattern breaks down differently. In my experience, having bowled on it in the past, I actually like it."Janawicz said the only other tournament held in the United States to use a similar procedure for conditioning the lanes was at the 2005 World Ranking Masters, held at the Kegel Training Center in Winter Haven, Fla.
For most players at the Teen Masters, each pattern played differently. On the 42-foot long pattern, players used more aggressive equipment to help the ball react on the lane, while the opposite was needed on the 35-foot short pattern.
"On the short condition, you have to make sure that you keep your tempo up so that you can throw the ball a little faster," said 18-game girls qualifying leader Ashly Galante of Palm Harbor, Fla., who used a different ball for each pattern. "Then, on the long oil, you have to calm yourself down a little bit and just sort of roll it. There's definitely a different mind set."
Players had a chance to get a feel for each pattern leading up to Friday's action. On Wednesday, all players bowled six games on the long pattern and Thursday tossed six additional qualifying games on the short pattern.
"On one pattern, you can just keep one line, go out there and focus on that line," Galante said. "When you have two different shots, you have to reinforce each shot and different lines. And sometimes the lanes break down differently, so on one lane you might have to move right and the other you'd move left. It's double the work with choices you have to make."
The Teen Masters National Finals features more than 300 of the best high-school aged bowlers in the country. Players advanced through local qualifying events and are competing for $50,000 in scholarships this week.
The final rounds of the event will be conducted in an arena setting at Universal Studios Orlando with the championship matches being televised nationally by ESPN2 on a tape-delayed basis (scheduled for Oct. 16 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern). The boys and girls champion will each receive a $7,500 scholarship.