Palermaa Added To World Series of Bowling

After a fourth-place finish in the Brunswick Aalborg International (tournament) in Aalborg, Denmark, on Sunday, Finland’s Osku Palermaa has been awarded the first of three international exempt berths to compete in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s World Series of Bowling Aug. 2 through Sept. 7 in suburban Detroit, MI.

Palermaa, who introduced the two-handed bowling technique to American bowling
fans when he finished fifth in the 2004 U.S. Open, earned the World Series of
Bowling exemption as the European Bowling Tour (EBT) points leader, securing his lead with his finish in the Aalborg International , the seventh event on the EBT’s 2009 schedule. He will join Australia’s Jason Belmonte as the second two-handed player in the World Series field. Belmonte earned his spot in the World Series and on the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour by winning the PBA’s Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic title in March.

Two additional international players will be selected to compete in the World
Series of Bowling based upon applications submitted to the PBA. Application
forms, which are due by June 1, are posted on the pbaworldseriesofbowling.com web site.

2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

Reminder - CBS College Sports Network has announced plans to broadcast the tape-delayed finals of the 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships next week. The women’s final will air June 2 at 8 p.m. Eastern, and the men’s final will follow June 3, also at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Hammer Releases New Ball News

Starting off is the Black Widow Sting. The Black Widow series has been the most successful series in Hammer’s history at Ebonite International, and it is still the best selling franchise in the bowling industry. The Sting pairs up proven “High Mass Bias Gas Mask Core” with a new Black/Blue “Violent Flip Reactive” coverstock. Bowlers will look to the Sting on heavier to medium-heavy oil, as the Violent Flip Reactive cover is extremely aggressive, and comes sanded at 2000 Grit Abralon. The Sting gives bowlers that signature Black Widow series backend with even more power and aggressiveness. Black Widow Sting has a Worldwide Release Date of July 14^th, 2009.

Raw Hammer Burn brings a new coverstock to the lanes for Hammer. “Our new “Shredder Reactive Pearl” coverstock is the most responsive coverstock ever wrapped around a Hammer mid-price ball” reports Hammer. Bowlers are going to see extremely good length with our 4000 (Abralon) and Polished finish. The new Yellow/Silver combination is different; Raw Hammer Burn has a Worldwide Release Date of June 16^th, 2009.

Onyx Vibe pairs up the reliable Vibe symmetric core with a new “CT Reactive Plus” coverstock. It comes in a very sharp Onyx Sparkle color with Gold Flake engraving. The Onyx Vibe is available in 10-16#, and is available for ordering immediately.

Finally, Hammer is pleased to announce the extension of the very successful Razyr performance line – the Razyr Black/Red. Razyr Black/Red is a new color with a familiar design. With our proven “Recoil Reactive” coverstock, we’re retaining good performance ball motion. We’re also continuing the use of our high-density 3-piece construction in the Hammer Razyr. Our new color now gives the consumer two options when they’re looking for great Hammer performance on drier lane conditions. Both colors will enter the new season in our 2009-2010 catalog. Razyr Black/Red is available in 10-16 pounds as well, and is not restricted by our Worldwide Release Date program.

Pepsi Renews "Official Soft Drink of Bowling" Deal

The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) and Strike Ten Entertainment have announced the renewal of a multi-year proprietor agreement with PepsiCo Foodservice. The terms of the multi-year agreement will begin on January 1, 2010 after the current contract ends on December 31, 2009.

Under the agreement, Pepsi will continue as the "Official Soft Drink of Bowling." PepsiCo Foodservice will provide BPAA-Pepsi centers with Pepsi beverages, such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist and Aquafina as well as Tropicana juices and juice drinks, Lipton iced teas and Gatorade sports drinks in fountain, bottles and cans.

King Malott Runs The Table with Another 300

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, became the first bowler in PBA history to bowl two nationally-televised 300 games, defeating Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 300-223, in the King of Bowling by Amp Energy series finale at Kegel Training Center.

The victory, televised Wednesday on ESPN2, was Malott’s fifth consecutive as he swept the King of Bowling series, earning a grand total of $50,000. In successive weeks, Malott defeated Chris Barnes of Double Oak, TX, 268-214; Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, FL, 258-234; Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, 300-238, and Rhino Page of Topeka, KS, 257-233, before rolling his second perfect game against Bohn. Bohn advanced to the week five title match with a 260-187 victory over Brad Angelo of Lockport, NY.

“In practice, I moved up on the approach a little, and that slowed everything down a little bit more so I could get the ball to hook in the right part of the lane,” Malott said of his mastery of the Scorpion lane condition pattern he selected for each telecast as reigning “King.”

“Once I did that, I had an unbelievable look. It actually got in my head that I could shoot another 300.

“I’m usually pretty laid back, not very excitable, but I actually did fall on the floor after the 12th shot. I was wondering what else in the world could happen to me this season? It was an unbelievable way to cap off a great season.”

After his King of Bowling Powered by Amp Energy sweep and a runner-up finish to Allen in the Dydo Japan Cup, Malott and his Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour competitors will head to Jackson, NJ, for the PBA GEICO Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags June 11-14.

“Winning five in a row against the guys I had to bowl?” Malott reflected. “I just worried about my game and made the most of it. I had some luck – good and bad – along the way.

“But that’s behind me. I’ve moved on to the future, and oh my god, to be in the position I’m at now? I’ve had some pretty good success this early in my career. I’m blessed and I hope I can keep it going.”

Columbia300's Newest For 2009-2010

Moving forward with the Swing line, the new Full Swing featuring an new core and cover combination, featuring the first mass bias core in the high performance category (“Mass Bias Full Swing Asymmetric” Core). The core contains a modest .016 mass bias measurement that boasts a very strong .056 differential. Pair up that strong core with the new “Full Tilt 5.0” Black cover finished at 4000 grit Abralon and Columbia offers “you have an amazing combination of hook for medium to heavy patterns.” Full Swing in #15 has a Radius of Gyration of 2.50.

Columbia300 introduces the “biggest backending ball in Columbia history” the Bedlam. Features a new asymmetric (.018) core with a 15# ball RG of 2.50 and RG Differential of .051. A new Purple and Blue shell called “Full Tilt 4.0” finished at 2000 grit Abralon and covered with Powerhouse Factory Finish wraps the new core. Columbia boasts “The combination is a tweener’s dream - the ability to hook it with the big boys!”

Track Introduces New Line

Track is going to use a numbering system this year to designate ball performance. Here is a breakdown of this year’s line-up: 505C, 715A, 930T.

500 series numbers are Mid-price, 700 series are upper mid and 900 series is high performance. The second two numbers 05, 15, 30 are the core strength (intermediate differential). The last letter describes the backend or breakpoint. C is control, A is angular (latest), T is Tracktion (earliest).

Track’s intent is that this all-new 5 series, the 505C, was designed to own the breakpoint for those challenging times when controlling your breakpoint down the lane is the key to success. Color of the new 505C is Blue/Gold Reactive Pearl, utilizing a "Shuttle Asymmetrical Core" (Track Kinetic) with RG of 2.48 and Diff of .040.

The revolutionary 7 series, the 715A, was designed to open up the angle into the pocket. On today’s typical house shots, being able to create more entry angle is a key to success. The 715A cover is a Blue/Silver/Red reactive cover, “Catback Asymmetrical core”, RG 2.52, Diff .052

This first ball in the all-new 9 Series, the 930T, was designed to be extremely aggressive at the breakpoint. The 930T has “Mica” embedded into the coverstock, which gives this ball extra TRACKtion at the breakpoint so you can expect a heavy roll in the backend. Color Black/Purple/Silver, reactive cover, new “Leggo Core”, RG 2.48, diff .056

Each new ball from Track will include a microfiber cleaning sack with instructions on its use. They feel this will be a great addition to help customers maintain their performance products.

Lastly, The Track Spare was designed mainly for the loyal Track customer and Staff players. It is a rather unique looking ball. It is Blue Sparkle with an Orange logo. It is made in our factory here in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.