ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress will implement new requirements for lane inspections and will adjust specifications for new installations for the 2019-2020 season based on recent research conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team.
The research included analysis of the lane certification paperwork submitted by 323 centers, an examination of more than 1,000 lanes throughout the country, in which lanes were checked to determine compliance with current specifications, a study of the pin deck, and an examination of lane topography.
The studies were undertaken to determine the extent of lanes that were out of specification, which pin deck measurements have the most effect on scoring, how lane topography shifts over time, and how lane topography affects the ball path.
“The USBC team did a tremendous job in its research, looking at how lanes are inspected and how the lanes perform under current specifications,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “The results helped us to make decisions on ways to improve the lane certification process and how installations are done. The studies and subsequent changes are important to ensuring the lanes USBC members compete on in leagues and competitions meet required standards.”
The key changes to lane certification will be the specification change for new installations, including overlays on existing lanes, the number of measurements required for each lane, and how kickbacks, the side panels of each lane in the pit area, are measured.
For new installations, including overlays on existing lanes, the specification for crowns/depressions and crosswise tilts now will be plus/minus thirty-thousandths of an inch starting Aug. 1, 2019. USBC also will require an inspection within 14 days following the completion of a new installation.
The specification change only is at the time of installation, and will minimize maintenance costs. The specification returns to plus/minus forty-thousandths for the next annual inspection.
Lane topography, which looks at contours, crowns and depressions, showed lane surfaces can change throughout the year because of environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. If lanes start flatter, they will stay within the current specification of forty-thousandths of an inch for a longer time, prompting the specification change.
Starting with certifications for the 2018-2019 season, a new application for center certification will be available on BOWL.com that will address the number of measurements required for each lane and how kickbacks are measured.
Lane inspectors will be required to measure the lanes at five locations for crowns/depressions and crosswise title, instead of the current three locations. With many lanes using synthetic panels, and the fact it takes five synthetic panels to construct a lane, there is a need to have at least one measurement for each panel.
A pin deck area scoring study determined the most important measurement affecting percentage of strikes is the distance between the kickbacks at the back of the pin deck. Measurements now will be taken from kickback plate to kickback plate starting with the 2018-2019 season, as it simplifies the measuring process and is not a change in the specification.
Lane inspectors also will be required to submit inspection applications signed by the inspector, association manager, and center representative to USBC national headquarters.
To ensure the accuracy of the data, USBC will allow a one-year grace period for center certification. Simply having a proper inspection of the bowling center and supplying the data to USBC Headquarters will allow the center to be certified for the 2018-2019 season. The data collected during these inspections will be analyzed to determine if additional improvements to the process will be needed for the 2019-2020 season. Of course, proprietors always will be encouraged to make needed repairs to their lanes.
Go to BOWL.com/EquipAndSpecs and click on Lane-Center Certifications to view the complete Lane Certification Study.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USBC conducts championship events nationwide including the largest participation sporting events in the world – the USBC Open and Women’s Championships – and professional events such as the USBC Masters and USBC Queens.
Founded in 1895, today USBC and its 2,500 state and local associations proudly serve more than a million members. USBC is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, working toward a future for the sport. The online home for USBC is BOWL.com.
