String Machines And Sport Bowling - QubicaAMF Site

The String MachineGame-Changer SeriesInstallment 3 of 3Brought to you by QubicaAMFString Machinesand Sport BowlingExecutive Summary:The use of string machines is stretchingbeyond recreational bowling applicationsand into the competitive side of thesport, as seen by certifications frommany highly respected governing bodies.Yet, despite qualitative and quantitativeresearch showing the many benefits ofstring machines, some skepticism lingers.Nevertheless, a groundswell of stringbowling acceptance bodes well for thefuture of the sport in general.In this installment we will: Discuss the progressionof global string machinecertification for sport bowling Reveal quantitative andqualitative studies on thepractical differences betweenstring and free-fall pinspotters Expound on what the futuremight hold for universal stringmachine adoption, and itsimpact on bowling in general

Beyond Recreational BowlingSince their invention in the early1960s, string pinspotting machineshave been primarily used innicheentertainmentbowlingapplications such as five-pin, ninepin, duckpin and mini-bowlinggames. In recent years, however,their use in tenpin has grownsignificantly as existing and newinvestors realize their operationaladvantages.Canadian Tenpin FederationWhile the use of string machines fortenpin has been mainly confined toentertainment bowling, we are nowseeing their growing acceptancefor sport bowling. Why? The reasonis simple:String Pinspotter Benefits: Reduced maintenance Lower operating costs Decreased energyconsumptionCenters that offer sport bowling Less stress for ownersstruggle with the same pinspottingand staffoperational costs and issues A better bowlingas recreational centers, whileexperience for playersadvancements in string machinetechnology have made them betterthan ever for sport bowling.British Tenpin Bowling AssociationTenpin Bowling AustraliaFédération Française deBowling et de Sports de QuillesAustrian Bowling andSkittles AssociationEarly Approval of String Machinesfor Sport BowlingBowling has always been immensely popular, both asa recreational activity and a sport. Today 114 countrieshave a bowling federation responsible for establishingand enforcing the rules of play.Canada was the first country to allow string machinesfor sport bowling. After completing a year-long pilotprogram, the Canadian Tenpin Federation (CTF)approved string machines for sport bowling in Juneof 2017. “It was not a question of if string machinesshould be allowed for sport bowling, but when?” DaveKist, president of the Canadian Tenpin Federation wasquoted as saying1.In June of 2017, Canada was the first countryin the world to allow string machines forsport bowling.A year later, in 2018, the British Tenpin BowlingAssociation (BTBA) approved string machines forcompetitive use. “In the UK, bowling centers arestruggling to remain open with their current overheads,”said BTBA chairperson Lisa John. “If switching to stringmachines allows them to keep their doors open, wehave to embrace it1.”Soon after the BTBA decision, Tenpin Bowling Australia(TBA) announced approval of string machines for sport1 “Bowling on a String”, International Bowling Industry, January 2021bowling. “It was fairly clear a number of years ago thatstring machines were going to be the way of the future.They are safer, more economical to run, and requiresignificantly less maintenance. In Australia there areincreasing challenges in finding mechanics that canmaintain free-fall machines.” Cara Honeychurch, TBA’sformer CEO1.Pivotal IBF CertificationHearing of the positive experiences the CTF, BTBAand TBA had with string machine adoption, theInternational Bowling Federation (IBF)—the governingbody for 114 federations and the sport of bowling—went a step further:In November of 2020, they approved string machinesfor sport leagues and tournament play, including allIBF- sanctioned events. The IBF also extended supportto all its member federations to do the same in theirrespective countries.“Now, operators and investors whochoose string machines as a wayto make their businesses moreefficient, profitable and sustainablecan continue to offer sportbowling.” – Andrew Oram, IBF CEO

Andrew Oram, IBF’s CEO said, “Our approval of stringmachines for sport bowling ensures bowling operatorsand investors have real choices in new technology. Now,operators and investors who choose string machines asa way to make their businesses more efficient, profitableand sustainable can continue to offer sport bowling.” Federations in France (the Fédération Française deBowling et de Sports de Quilles) and Austria (theAustrian Bowling and Skittles Association) approvedstring machines for sport bowlingA Ripple Effect Felt Around the WorldSince the IBF’s announcement, bowling federationsworldwide are following their lead:Given the IBF decision, it seems string machines maybecome mainstream over the coming years. As withprevious bowling innovations—such as syntheticlanes and reactive balls, the benefits of string machinetechnology are too significant not to be accepted forthe sport. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC)announced it is researching string machines withplans to publish a complete report in 2022 or earlier String machine approval is a hot topic in many otherbowling federations around the worldResearch Studies:String Machine Play Versus Free-fallDespite growing acceptance ofstring machines for sport bowling,many in the industry may beskeptical. To address this, in Julyof 2020 QubicaAMF conducted aresearch study on the scoring andpinfall behavior of its EDGE Stringpinspotter compared to free-fallmachines.COMBINED AVERAGE SCORE204.7203.4EDGE StringFree-fallOVERALL SCORABILITY - EDGE STRING1.3 pins higherSTRIKE CONVERSION RATE - EDGE STRING1.4% lowerSPARE CONVERSION RATE - EDGE STRING4.6% higherSPLIT LEAVES - EDGE STRING2.3% lowerWe recruited a total of 65 PBA,league, and avid bowlers toparticipate to the study, with acombined average of 222 and20-years competitive experience.Each participant bowled anequal number of games on freefall machines and EDGE Stringpinspotters, respectively.After over 600 games, ourstudy showed that, while somedifferences in pinfall and pin actionexist between the two systems,overall scoring performance onEDGE String was very close to thatof free-fall machines.QubicaAMF Research Study: FindingsThe combined average score on EDGE Stringwas 204.7 versus 203.4 for free-fallOverall score-ability between EDGE String and free-fall wasvery close: just 1.3 pins higherThe strike conversion rate on EDGE String was1.4% lower than free-fallThe spare conversion rate on EDGE String was4.6% higher than free-fallThere were 2.3% fewer split leave situationson EDGE StringThe split conversion rate on EDGE String was8% higher than on free-fall

Participant Feedback:Here are some of the most common observationsfrom bowlers in the study: Solid-pocket hits on EDGE String yield strikesmuch as they do on free-fall machines, light andhalf-pocket hits less so Spares and splits appear a bit easier to pick up onEDGE String EDGE String pins are consistently on-spot; thereare no “bad racks” With EDGE String there is no deadwood to slow thepace of playRead the full QubicaAMF research studyon scoring and pinfall behavior of EDGEString compared to free-fall.As part of the study, pinfall on EDGE String wasrecorded under different pin-leave situations.Watch the EDGE String Pin Action VideoAnother study on free-fall play and scoring comparedto string was conducted in the fall of 2018 by theMiddlesex County Association of the British TenpinBowling Association (BTBA). It was conducted atAirport Bowl in London, England. Airport Bowl, one ofthe busiest sport league bowling centers in England,replaced their fee-fall machines with string machinesin 2018. The study consisted of 108 league bowlerswith a combined average on free-fall of just under166. After bowling a total of 432 games on string, thecombined averages were a fraction over 169 – about3 pins difference with free-fall.As mentioned, the USBC is in the process ofconducting research on string machines and havepromised a complete report in 2022. However,in January 2021 they released some preliminaryfindings. These findings represent the combinedperformance of multiple manufacturer’s stringmachines tested in a lab environment using a ballthrower. USBC reported average strike percentagesdown a combined 6.9% across all ball entry anglestested, with the largest decrease occurring on lightpocket hits. A lower strike conversion rate driven bylight pocket hits is consistent with the findings ofthe QubicaAMF study. For more information and thepreliminary USBC report visit www.bowl.com.

Proprietor and Sport LeagueBowler ExperiencesWe are seeing more proprietors with competitivesport bowling and leagues making the switch tostring machines.Mark Bowen,Proprietor Dover Bowl, NHConsider Dover Bowl, a 22-lane center in Dover, NewHampshire. Owner Mark Bowen made the decisionto replace his free-fall pinspotters with strings afteryears of struggling to keep his machines runningreliably. League bowling was suffering.“We don’t have breakdowns anymore,” Bowen says.“People are not at the front desk complaining. Mystaff is much happier. My leagues are much happier,and they finish earlier now. Plus, my life is much lessstressful.” Mark expects the changeover will grow hisleague business because the bowling experience isso much better.Doug and Becky Bowersox,ProprietorsLewistown Lanes, PAThis 12-lane center constantly fought to keeptheir old free-fall machines running reliably. Threemonths after switching to string pinspotters, BeckyBowersox, reported the majority of their leaguebowlers were very happy with the string machines.“We had some bowlers that were concerned andskeptical. But after bowling on the string machinesmost have realized it is not so different. They are sohappy with the reliability.”“I was a little leery at first,but.I have been impressed[with string machines] so far.”Raymond “Skip” Bryner Jr.USBC Association Mgr.for Central PennsylvaniaRaymond “Skip” Bryner Jr.USBC Association Managerand 221-Average League BowlerThis USBC Association Manager for CentralPennsylvania bowls in USBC leagues at severalcenters, including Lewistown Lanes. Of the stringmachines he remarks, “I was a little leery at first, but Isaid I would be open minded about them and I havebeen impressed so far.”Raymond believes everyone should try stringpinspotters before rendering an opinion; and he alsothinks the USBC should sanction them.Lew Varner, League BowlerLew rolled a 300 game shortly after the stringmachines were installed at Lewistown Lanes. “Myaverage so far on the string machines is very closeto what I bowl on free-fall,” he insists. “Just about twopins lower.” He simply doesn’t see much differencebetween the two systems, saying, “Just like withfree-fall it boils down to how well you throw the ball.”Richard Finkenbiner,156-Average League BowlerRichard states that most of the league bowlersat Lewistown Lanes are thrilled with the stringmachines. As for himself: “My scores have gone upa little maybe two or three pins. Occasionally youget a break with the string, but it is not as differentas people may think.”

The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) announced it is researching string machines with plans to publish a complete report in 2022 or earlier Federations in France (the Fédération Française de Bowling et de Sports de Quilles) and Austria (the Austrian Bowling and Skittles Association) approved st