Field set for the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships
By Kevin Hazaert
USBC Communications
The field is set for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, presented by Storm, following the completion of Sectional Qualifier competition March 15-16, with the Saginaw Valley State University men’s team and Wichita State University women’s team ready to defend their titles.
Four Sectional Qualifiers, comprising of 64 Baker System games, were held at AMF Parkway in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill.; and Southpoint Hotel & Casino Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The top four in the men’s and women’s divisions at each sectional advanced to the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, presented by Storm, scheduled for April 16-19 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan. Continue reading
USBC develops biomechanics technology
Grip and foot pressure systems expected to have big impact on coaching, pro shops
By Patrick Brettingen
USBC Communications
Measuring pressure on specific points of the human body is becoming a new and growing focus for bowling coaching and training. The United States Bowling Congress has now developed advanced technology that can measure grip and foot pressure to improve the collection of motion data throughout a bowler’s approach.
These patent-pending biomechanics systems, which transmit body movement data to a computer via a series of pressure sensors connected to a bowler’s throwing hand and feet, are examples of new technology that USBC believes will usher in the future of coaching in the sport of bowling.
“This is the kind of technology we need in the sport of bowling,” said USBC Research Engineer Paul Ridenour, who was instrumental in developing the grip and foot pressure systems. Continue reading
Ebonite Brand Manager Takes Lead
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - As the brand manager for Ebonite, Edward Gallagher of Clarksville, Tenn., spends a lot of time behind the scenes enjoying the successes of his many professional and amateur staff members, but he had his own turn in the spotlight at the USBC Open Championships this weekend.After a tournament-high 771 series in team Saturday night, the 40-year-old right-hander returned to the Albuquerque Convention Center and added 701 in singles and 669 in doubles Sunday to catapult himself into the Regular All-Events lead with 2,141. John Gaines of Orlando, Fla., who works for Gallagher, previously held the lead with 2,092.
“There was a time when I used to compete a lot, but I would venture to say that now, most of my staff members don’t even know I bowl,” said Gallagher, who made his 13th Open Championships appearance. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet, and right now I’m just overwhelmed. I know the history of the sport and this event, so to take the lead here is very humbling.” Continue reading
Meet “Harry” the Bowling Robot
By Patrick Brettingen
USBC Communications
One of the most important members of the USBC Specifications and Certification team is not a human being.
He’s a robot, and his name is “Harry.” Click on the image to watch a video of Harry.
Harry (named in honor of former testing facility employee Harry Lawrence) is an approximately seven-foot tall robotic bowling ball thrower who is an integral part of the equipment testing and research effort at the USBC Specifications and Certification test facility in Greendale, Wis.
Developed by USBC and in use since 1999, Harry is a unique computer controlled hybrid machine partly encased in safety glass that combines hydraulics, air pressure and electronics that power a mechanical arm that delivers bowling balls to help test balls, lanes, pins and oil patterns. Harry is similar to the United States Golf Association’s robotic golfer “Iron Byron” whose mechanical arm swings golf clubs for research purposes in that sport.
Harry has two “hands,” a device with two clamps that grabs bowling balls. A piston and cylinder assembly makes the machine’s hand open and close to pick up and release a ball. Springs and gravity provide forward momentum to propel a ball down the lane.
