THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510200225
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Interested in improving your bowling average by 20 pins?
Maybe you need a new bowling ball. Maybe you need a tip or two from a master instructor. Or maybe you just need a bowling towel.
A bowling towel?
Clean Strike Bowling Products advertises the sale of its towels with just such a teaser. This towel is made of non-woven fibers and the manufacturer contends it's a must for reactive resin bowling balls.
Says a company spokesman: ``Professionals know that to win on oily lanes your bowling ball needs added traction for more roll and more momentum. Your ball needs to be as clean and oil-free as possible. Traditional terry cloth bowling towels are nothing more than dish towels. They move more oil around than they remove.''
There are numerous instruction books and video tapes on how to raise your scores. One of the newest programs is called Coach's Eye and features PBA bowler Palmer Fallgren and Team USA coach Fred Borden, who has coached many of the men and women pro stars.
The program calls for you to have a friend video tape you in action on the lanes from the front, back and side. Borden promises to show you what your problems are and how to correct them.
He doesn't guarantee the 20-pin improvement but he promises ``a step-by-step guide to a better average.''
And what about the new ball?
Most pros take several balls to tournaments because of the different lane conditions. The proper ball can determine whether you get the necessary amount of skid or hook.
The most important thing is a proper fit. If the ball doesn't fit, your scoring will never go up - regardless of coaching instructions or what kind of towel you use.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Fran Sansone, who fittingly came up with the season's first 700 series by a woman tenpinner.
Sansone, No. 1 ranked female bowler in the area the past three years and six of the last six, socked a 711 in the PA Keglers League at Pinboy's Military.
Sansone's series was triggered by a 257 single.
Tenpin topics: Anne Yohe notched a 125 triplicate in the Untouchables League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Youth bowler Conrad Stock registered a 235 game and 626 series in the Saturday YABA League at Indian River. . . . In the Big/Little League at the same center Jeremy Spires put together games of 242, 233 and 168 for a 643 series. . . . Ed Pitcavage made threatening gestures at 300 in two different leagues at two different centers. He fired 289 in a 712 series in the Tuesday Commercial/Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk and posted a 287 in the Masters League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. . . . Patricia Moore tossed the women's game-of-the-week 266 in her 593 series in the NARDAC League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Two bowlers joined the Century Club in the Saturday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. Arthur Copeland, who averages 153, soared 106 pins over with 259. Bill Lucas, a 141-average shooter, had 243. . . . Bryan Kjar, who carried averages of 194 and 189 last season, boosted his bid for a higher mark this year with his 785 series in the Masters League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Other single gems of the week included 279 by Tee Bunch in the Tuesday Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch and Roger Dunaway's 279 in the Monday Scratch Doubles League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake.
Duckpin data: Charlie Wilkinson won the $1,000 top prize in the Herman Gaines Open at Victory Lanes with a five-game handicap series of 882. Runner-up was Alan Angevine with 859, winning $500. Third prize of $250 went to Jim McNaney with 831 and David Leffler was fourth with 827, winning $50. . Most seem to take up golf when the bowling scores start falling off. . . . Alan Angevine whacked a 465 series in the Tuesday Major Trio League. . . . Mike Price walloped a 457 to raise his average to 136 in the Industrial League. . . . In the Victory Youth League Jason Culpepper rolled a 169 game, Lee Hoggard slammed a 166 and April Simpson racked up a 157. . . . Jane Atwood fired a 154 single in the Wednesday Brunch League. . . . The second annual Portsmouth Elimination Tournament will begin next month at Victory Lanes. It's a double-elimination tournament with the field limited to 64 bowlers. Defending champion is Paul Wetherbee Jr. by CNB