Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort PBA Summer Swing at a Glance

The PBA Tour returns to Oklahoma for the first time since 2005 when the Grand Casino Resort and Hotel host the Grand Casino Resort PBA Summer Swing at FireLake Bowling Center and the Grand Event Center in Shawnee, OK, May 17-25. Four PBA Tour events conducted in one week: The Summer Swing will include four PBA Tour title events – the Wolf, Bear and Badger Opens, the PBA Oklahoma Open – and the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort Summer King of the Swing special event involving the four tour event winners plus a “wild card” player.
 
Understanding the PBA “animal patterns”:  The Badger, Wolf and Bear Open tournaments are an expansion of events using animal pattern-themed lane conditions which the PBA introduced in 2005. A variety of lane conditioning patterns test the versatility of the players and demonstrate the variety of scoring challenges PBA players face. The use of animal names give PBA members, grassroots league bowlers and fans an easier way to identify specific types of conditions.
           
The Badger is the longest animal pattern ever used in PBA competition (it features an application of oil 52 feet down a 60-foot lane). Conversely, the Wolf is the shortest animal pattern ever (32 feet). The Bear uses a flat pattern of oil applied across the lane to a medium length (40 feet). It is similar to the U.S. Open pattern which is considered the most difficult test in professional bowling.
           
The way lane oil is applied (in shape and volume) to the playing surface of a lane is a strong factor in the scoring pace of a professional bowling tournament, testing the skills necessary for success and the strategic approach the players must employee: angle of attack, ball speed, amount of hook and other considerations.
 
CBS Sports Network telecasts: The finals of all five events will be conducted in a stadium setting on lanes installed in the Grand Events Center. Finals will be conducted on Saturday, May 24, at 11 a.m. (Wolf Open), 2:30 p.m. (Bear Open) and 6 p.m. (Badger Open) and on Sunday at noon (Oklahoma Open) and 3:30 p.m.) Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort King of the Swing. Finals will be recorded for delayed broadcast by CBS Sports Network. 

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