EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS &
CERTIFICATION
Canadian 5 Pin Bowling
Investigative Testing
Conducted for:
Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Canada
By:
United States Bowling Congress
Research Engineering Team
Paul Ridenour – Senior Research Engineer
Donald Benner – Test Engineer
Nicki Mours – Test Engineer
Abstract
The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Canada (BPAC) brought the engineering team from the
United States Bowling Congress Equipment Specifications and Certifications team to Windsor,
Ontario, Canada to conduct research at the 5 Pin bowling center, Playdium. It is the desire of the
BPAC to use the technical experience that USBC engineers have in testing and researching
tenpin bowling to better understand the equipment and effects on scoring in Canadian 5 Pin
Bowling. The engineers from USBC conducted testing that focused on understanding and
evaluating the current state of equipment in order to determin the needs of the BPAC.
Table of Contents
2
1
2
3
4
5
6
Introduction............................................................................................................................. 4
Summary of Testing................................................................................................................ 5
2.1
Hardness Measurements ................................................................................................. 5
2.2
Coefficient of Restitution................................................................................................ 6
2.3
Backend Contacts and Pin Carry .................................................................................... 8
Results................................................................................................................................... 10
3.1
Hardness Test Results ................................................................................................... 10
3.2
Coefficient of Restitution Test Results ......................................................................... 12
Testing Devices..................................................................................................................... 18
4.1
Coefficient of Restitution Apparatus .............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Conclusions........................................................................................................................... 20
Appendix................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
List of Figures and Tables
Table 1 - Hardness of two common 5 Pin bowling balls.............................................................. 10
Table 2 - Hardness of three different bowling pins ...................................................................... 11
Table 3 - Hardness of different 5 Pin bands ................................................................................. 11
Table 4 - Coefficient of Restitution (COR) for pin/5 Pin band combinations.............................. 13
Table 5 - Coefficient of Restitution (COR) for different balls ..................................................... 13
Table 6 - Backend Contacts for a Used Plastic Pin ...................................................................... 14
Table 7 - Backend Contacts for Wood Pins.................................................................................. 14
Table 8 - Total Backend Contacts................................................................................................. 14
Table 9 - Sample of Tabulated Ball Entry Location ..................................................................... 15
3
1 Introduction
The United States Bowling Congress (USBC), as the National Governing Body of the sport of
tenpin bowling, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and
services and enhances the bowling experience. As part of this organization, the Equipment
Specifications and Certifications team holds the responsibility of being the number one source of
technical information in the bowling industry. Through the years, this team of talented
individuals has produced studies that have made science, statistics and testing the root of any and
all new specifications and research used to understand the bowling environment and the bowlers
in it. The most influential study completed by the Equipment Specifications and Certifications
team was the Ball Motion Study, which was conducted in 2007 with cooperation from bowling
ball manufacturers. Because of this study, other studies and the longstanding specifications,
testing and product approval process used by USBC , the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of
Canada (BPAC) sought the assistance of USBC to gain a better understanding of technical
aspects of Canadian 5 Pin Bowling. USBC’s team of research engineers spent time on three
consecutive days observing, testing and getting a feel for Canadian 5 Pin Bowling. Engineers
recorded data on pins and balls and shot video to gain a better understand of the game. The goal
of this process was to obtain enough data to be able to provide BPAC with suggestions for future
equipment tests.
First, it was important for the USBC engineers to develop a basic understanding of Canadian 5
Pin bowling. Basic testing and data collection were the goals of the research. The initial data
that was gathered included the hardness of 5 Pin bowling balls and pins, the coefficient of
restitution for 5 Pin bowling balls and the calculations related to different bowling pin/band
combinations. Lastly, video data was obtained to examine pin contacts on backend components
of the lane.
4
2 Summary of Testing
To evaluate the current state of equipment in Canadian 5 Pin Bowling, it was necessary for the
research engineers from USBC to examine the main components of the bowling environment.
Canadian 5 Pin bowling balls, bowling pins, the 5 pin bands and the interactions between these
components are the basic pieces of the bowling environment. Each of these pieces was
examined by the engineers. The hardness of available bowling pins, 5 Pin balls and 5 Pin bands
was measured. The coefficient of restitution was calculated on available bowling pins, 5 Pin
balls and bowling pin/5 Pin band combinations. Lastly, using a high speed video camera,
throughout a typical game, each shot’s pin action was recorded so that pin carry and the amount
of times bowling pins would contact different parts of the back end (the pit area) of the lane
could be analyzed. This was done using 5 Pin league bowlers using their own bowling balls.
2.1 Hardness Measurements
To measure hardness, the use of a Shore D-scale durometer was employed. This hand-held
device displays a digital output. The D-type durometer is best suited for hard rubber and harder
grades of plastic. The following pins were available for testing: a brand new Super 5 plastic pin,
a Mendez pin that had been through at least one season, and a wood pin. Research engineers
were informed that the Super 5 plastic bowling pin is the only bowling pin currently being
manufactured for 5 Pin Bowling, leaving little or no options as to what approved bowling pin
centers use. To measure the hardness of bowling pins, two locations were chosen. The first area
the test was conducted on was the top or head portion of the pin, above the neck. Within a 0.5
inch by 0.5 inch area on the head of the bowling pin, three measurements were recorded. An
average of those three measurements was calculated. The average allows any defects or
inconsistencies to be considered. The second area to be tested on bowling pins was just above
the band. Again, within a 0.5 inch by 0.5 inch area just above the band of the bowling pin, three
hardness measurements were recorded. The average of those three readings was also calculated
to allow for consideration of defects or inconsistencies. All three of the bowling pin samples that
5
were present had these measurements recorded. The results of this test can be viewed in
Appendix A2.
It was then desired to measure the hardness of the two different types of 5 Pin balls that were
present in the center. To do so , the D-type hand-held durometer was used to take three readings
at different locations around the ball. An average of those three measurements was calculated to
give an approximate overall hardness of the surface of the ball. The bowling center had a
phenolic resin ball and a hard rubber ball available for the engineers to test. Measurements were
recorded and can be seen in Appendix A3
The final object hardness testing was conducted on different types of 5 Pin bands. A D-type
durometer was used for this test because it was present from the bowling pin testing. Often, an
A-type durometer would be used because that type covers the end of the scale that includes softer
rubbers. For reference, please see Appendix A1. Using that figure, the hardness values of the 5
Pin bands can be approximated on the A side of the scale. Four different 5 Pin bands were
available for testing: Bowling Sales of Canada 5 Pin band, Gignac 5 Pin band, Sanders 5 Pin
band and a red 5 Pin band that is an experimental band (referred to throughout as the “Red Test
Band”). A hardness measurement was recorded at 10 different locations evenly spaced around
the ball-contact edge of the 5 Pin band. The average of all 10 measurements was calculated.
Taking the average of the 10 readings around the ball contact area of the 5 Pin band gives the
true hardness of the band.
2.2 Coefficient of Restitution
The coefficient of restitution is the ratio of the energy of two objects after impact to the energy
before impact. In the case of a ball striking a pin, this is the percentage of energy transferred
from the ball to the pin. As the coefficient of restitution of an object approaches 1.0, the
collision is more of an elastic collision. Elastic collisions happen when the total kinetic energy
of the colliding objects after collision is equal to their total kinetic energy before impact. Often,
coefficient of restitution is thought of as how much objects can “bounce” off each other. This
value gives a picture of the interactions between balls and pins. To calculate the coefficient of
restitution, the following equation is used.
ε=
6
V1 − V2
v2 − v1
Equation 1
Where:
ε ≡ coefficient of restitution
V1 ≡ velocity of the pin after impact
V2 ≡ velocity of the ball after impact
v1 ≡ velocity of the pin before impact
v2 ≡ velocity of the ball before impact
To obtain the coefficient of restitution of available 5 Pin balls, bowling pin and Pin band
combinations, a standard procedure was used. The basic set up included a ramp that would allow
a 5 Pin ball to be rolled down from a consistent height, a tape measure attached to the kickback
plate at approximately the height of the 4 Pin band and a high-speed camera set on the pin deck
to capture the pin and ball with the tape-measure scale in the background. The use of a tape
measure on the kickback plate serves as a measurement scale for gathering data from the video
analysis software. Figure 1 below shows an example of the basic set up that was used for video
capture to calculate coefficient of restitution.
Figure 1 - Frame from video to measure coefficient of
restitution showing the set up.
To find the coefficient of restitution of a phenolic 5’’ diameter 5 Pin ball, a 4 7/8’’ diameter
phenolic ball and a 5’’ diameter rubber ball, a Super 5 plastic pin was set on the pin deck as the
7
control pin. The 5 pin band was the Bowling Sales of Canada band. Using the ramp aligned
straight in front of the pin, the ball to be tested was rolled from a specified height down the ramp.
This allowed the ball to be rolling at a fairly consistent speed before it impacted the pin. The ball
was then allowed to impact the bowling pin. Each test run was recorded by the high-speed
camera from the ball rolling towards the pin to impact of the ball and pin stopping recording
once the pin is knocked into the pit. Five test runs for each ball were recorded. Each video was
saved to be later analyzed so that appropriate velocities of the ball and pin before and after
impact could be obtained. When the videos where analyzed, velocities were collected, and the
coefficient of restitution of each ball was calculated using Equation 1 for all five test runs on
each ball. An average was taken of the five test runs to give each ball a coefficient of restitution.
A similar process was repeated to obtain video data for different pin/5 Pin band combinations.
This again was to calculate the coefficient of restitution of the pins. The control ball used to
impact the pin for each test was the 5’’ diameter rubber ball. Each pin/band combination was set
in the same location on the pin deck as the control pin was during the 5 Pin ball COR test runs.
The rubber control ball was started rolling from a consistent location on the ramp. Video was
recorded for five test runs on each pin of the ball rolling towards the pin, impacting the pin and
rolling after impact. All of the video data was saved for analysis. The pin/ band combinations
that were tested included a wood pin, a Super 5 plastic pin with Gignac band, a Super 5 plastic
pin with a Sanders band, a Super 5 plastic pin that had been through a season of bowling with a
Bowling Sales of Canada band and a brand new Super 5 pin with brand new Bowling Sales of
Canada Band. From video analysis, the velocities needed to calculate the coefficient of
restitution of the pins were obtained and used in Equation 1.
2.3 Backend Contacts and Pin Carry
To observe how pins interact with components of the back end of the lane and to see if any
trends in pin carry could be seen, high-speed video was taken of the pin action of every shot
during a typical game. A game was bowled on each of the available pin/ 5 Pin band
combinations. Those combinations included Super 5 plastic pins with Bowling Sales of Canada
Bands that had been bowled on for a season, new Super 5 plastic pins with a brand new Bowling
Sales of Canada Band, wood pins, Super 5 plastic pins with Sanders bands, Super 5 plastic pins
8
with Gignac bands and Super 5 plastic pins with red test bands (the experimental band
mentioned in section 2.1).
The three main components of the back end of the lane that were observed included the kickback
plate, the flat gutter and the pin deck. Including all shots thrown during a game, any time a
single pin struck one of the components, it would count as a contact for that part of the backend.
Should a pin be “skipping” across the pin deck, for example, multiple contacts on the pin deck in
a row, that was only counted as one contact unless the pin contacted a different component.
Once the contacts on each pin in each shot for the typical games had been tallied, a percentage of
contacts on each component could be obtained. The ultimate focus was to determine how much
potential influence each of the backend components could have on pin carry. 5 Pin league
bowlers volunteered to assist the research engineers with this test. Having talented bowlers gave
the test the best chance of achieving quality results.
Also from these videos, strikes and particular leaves were observed. Based on the way and
where the ball entered the pins, research engineers looked for noticeable trends in how pins
would carry. This became an extensive task of documenting the location that the ball contacted
the pin during a typical game and comparing that location to the leave. Strikes could be
examined separately based on where the ball contacted the pin (the board number) and how the
pins interacted with each other as they fell.
9
3 Results and Analysis
Over the three days of testing, research engineers were able to record and document a variety of
variables to study. The results of coefficient of restitution, hardness, backend contacts and pin
carry testing are explained in the following sections. It is important to note that only the data
that was gathered over the three days of testing was analyzed; there is no historical data to
compare this to other than the researchers’ knowledge of the sport of tenpin bowling. Lastly,
since testing spanned only three days, the data sets are small. To truly draw more significant
conclusions, a larger data set would be needed; nevertheless, initial results are promising.
3.1 Hardness Test Results
An indentation hardness test can be conducted very quickly using limited resources. The only
device that is needed is a durometer. All listed results were taken and recorded from a type-D
durometer. This means that the hardness values are measured on the “D” portion of the Shore
hardness scale. Table 1 below shows the results of the hardness tests on two available 5 Pin
balls.
Ball
5'' diameter Blue Phenolic
5 Pin Ball
5'' diameter Rubber 5 Pin Ball
Hardness "D"
89.3
84.7
Table 1 - Hardness of two common 5 Pin bowling balls
Examining the results of the hardness tests, we see that the rubber bowling ball is 5.3% softer
than the phenolic ball.
Table 2 below shows the hardness test results of different bowling pins. The hardness of the
bowling pins was measured on the head of the pin (towards the top, above the neck) and just
above the band of the pin.
10
Pin
New Super 5 Plastic Pin
Mendez Pin
Wood Pin
Hardness of Head "D"
52.8
53.9
72.3
Hardness Above Band "D"
52.5
54.9
75.5
Table 2 - Hardness of three different bowling pins
From the data set in Table 2, it can be seen that the wood pin is significantly harder than the
other two pins. The wood pin is approximately 30% harder than either the Mendez pin or the
brand new Super 5 Plastic pin. Also, the difference in the hardness on any of the individual pins
between the two areas tested is very small, especially on the brand new Super 5 Plastic pin. Both
the wood pin and the Mendez pin have been bowled on.
The last hardness measurements were taken on several different 5 Pin bands. Table 3 shows the
results of that testing.
Band
New Bowling Sales of Canada Band
New Gignace Band
New Sanders Band
New Red Test Band
Hardness "D"
14.5
18.3
13
10.8
Table 3 - Hardness of different 5 Pin bands
The C5PA specifies the hardness of the 5 Pin bands using the Shore A scale because that is
where softer rubbers appropriately fall in the scale. Figure 2 shows the Shore scale, so the
results that are in Table 3 can be compared to those in the A scale if desired. It also shows some
common material types and where they fall within the scale. The Red Test Band was an
experimental band that has not yet been approved for competition, but it was interesting to see
where it fell within the approved products.
11
Figure 2 - Shore hardness scale comparison. Includes some common materials and
where they fall within the different scales.
3.2 Coefficient of Restitution Test Results
USBC researchers also took video data of pin-ball interactions in order to calculate coefficient of
restitution. Videos were taken to calculate the coefficient of restitution of 5 Pin balls and
bowling pin/5 Pin band combinations. The calculated coefficient of restitution results are
displayed below in Table 4 and Table 5. Table 4 displays the results for different pin/5 Pin band
combinations, and Table 5 shows the results for the available balls.
12
Pin
COR
Super 5 Pin with Gignac Band
0.611
New Super 5 Pin with new Bowling Sales of Canada Band
0.768
Season used Super 5 Pin with Bowling Sales of Canada Band
0.694
Wood Pin
0.646
Super 5 Pin with Sanders Band
0.651
Table 4 - Coefficient of Restitution (COR) for pin/5 Pin band combinations
Ball
COR
5" diameter Blue Phenolic 5 Pin Ball
0.691
4 7/8" diameter Orange Phenolic 5 Pin Ball
0.657
5’’ diameterRubber Ball 5 Pin Ball
0.689
Table 5 - Coefficient of Restitution (COR) for different balls
.
It is interesting to note the results on the wood pin because of the nostalgic feel researchers
received from the young and older bowlers researchers spoke with. The wood pin had the
second lowest coefficient of restitution of the five pins tested. The new Super 5 pins with
Bowling Sales of Canada bands are 15% more dynamic with respect to coefficient of restitution
than the wood pin from the data displayed in Table 2.
The data in Table 3 shows only slight differences in coefficient of restitution from ball to ball.
The slightly smaller phenolic ball was around 4.5% less dynamic based off coefficient of
restitution. Interestingly, the 5 inch diameter blue phenolic and the 5 inch diameter rubber 5 Pin
balls have similar coefficients of restitution but different hardness values. The hardness data for
5 Pin balls can be viewed in Table 1.
13
3.3 Backend Contact Results
USBC researchers documented contact points of bowling pins within the backend. The bowling
backend, or the area of the lane where the pindeck sits, consists of three major components
where the pins actually interact: the pindeck, the kickback plates and the flat gutters. A bowling
pin can contact one of these surfaces and possibly knock another down afterwards; thus, these
components can play a role in the scoreability of a particular game. A typical game was bowled
on each type of pin. Examples of the data set can be viewed below in Tables 6 and 7. Table 8
displays the total contacts for all test games. In the tables below, total backend contacts refers to
the number of times any part of the pin or band contacted the given surface during the course of
one game. The final “total” contacts chart takes all pins tested (for a complete list see Appendix
C) and shows the overall contact numbers and percentages across all tests.
Used Plastic Pin Backend Contacts
Backend Material
Pin Deck
Kickback
Flatgutter
Total
Total # of Contacts
31
25
10
66
% of Total Contacts
47.0%
37.9%
15.2%
Table 6 - Backend Contacts for Used Plastic Pin
Wood Pins
Backend Material
Pin Deck
Kickback
Flatgutter
Total
Total # of Contacts
8
22
12
42
% of Total Contacts
19.0%
52.4%
28.6%
Table 7 - Backend Contacts for Wood Pins
All Pin and Band Combinations
Backend Material
Total # of Contacts
% of Total Contacts
Pin Deck
Kickback
Flatgutter
Total
229
214
99
42.25%
39.48%
18.27%
542
Table 8 - Total Backend Contacts
The most interesting thing to note from the data is the lack of contact the wood pins make with
the pin deck. The wood pins contacted the pin deck 28% less than the used plastic pins and about
23% less than the overall summed total. There is a possibility this shows wood pins spend more
time in the air than synthetics; however, additional testing is required to validate this possibility.
14
The flat gutter percentage is also higher for wood pins as compared to the rest of the sampled
pins.
3.4 Pin Carry Analysis
Using a high-speed camera, USBC researchers were hoping to better understand what factors are
involved in a five pin ball delivery resulting or not resulting in a strike. For the test, USBC used
three different bowlers bowling across 5 different lanes with 6 different pin/band combinations
(Thank you to Mariano for arranging for both the bowlers to be available and for the multiple
pin/band combinations available). All bowlers completed a game on the standard generic plastic
pins that are used at Playdium lanes on a regular basis. After that game was completed, Mariano
assisted the USBC researchers in providing different pin/band combinations for us to record the
bowler(s) bowling on. USBC recorded video of all shots thrown, not just first ball/ full rack
attempts. Shots that did not hit any pins were discarded. After all footage was recorded, USBC
began qualitative video analysis in the hope of finding trends across the data that would show an
impact (either positively or negatively) on scoring. Researchers then documented where the ball
struck the initial pin (referenced using board numbers) and what was left after this initial hit.
Table 9 shows a sample of the tabulated data for the ball-entry location. For the entire set of data,
please see Appendix D.
Pin
Bowler
Frame
Results
Location
Red Band
Kevin
2-1
strike
16.5R
Wood Pin
Dave
3-1
strike
17L
Notes
Head pin flips after hitting 2 pin, hits left
kick back and then hits L pin with its head
Used Plastic Pin
Dave
9-1
strike
17R
at bottom of L
Gignac Band
Dave
1-1
strike
17R
head pin off kickback takes out L
Gignac Band
Dave
6-1
strike
17R
head pin off kickback takes out L
Gignac Band
Dave
4-1
strike
17R
Table 9 - Sample of Tabulated Ball Entry Location
15
Any notes added to the data were completely subjective as they were added when whenever
researchers felt they viewed something out of the ordinary. One of the intents of this study was to
gain a better understanding for what variables truly affect scoring, so that in the future that
scoring pace could be manipulated. A summary of the test can be seen below in Figure 3.
Strikes & Corner Leaves Based on Entry Location
120
100
Percentage (%)
80
Strike %
Corner Pin %
60
40
20
0
15.5
16
16.5
17
17.5
18
18.5
19
19.5
Entry Board
Figure 3 - Graph of Strike and Corner Pin Percentages Based on Entry Location
Figure 3 shows the percentage of strikes and corner pins left for all recorded first shots based on
the board location of the ball at the time of striking the headpin. Shots that did not contact the
head pin and shots that struck only the headpin and did not knock any other pins down (referred
to a headpin “punch) were not included as they had a zero-percent chance of striking or leaving
only a corner pin.
However, some may argue that the opposite happens – a player delivers what should be
considered a “quality” shot only to be left with one or more pins still standing. From the data, a
high risk/reward situation exists within the game of Five pin. The further away the ball strikes
the head pin from the center location, the higher your possibility for strikes. In fact, all shots
recorded and striking the head pin at either the sixteen and one half board or seventeen board
16
knocked all five pins down and were strikes; however, shots left of the sixteen and one half
board struck zero times during the course of our three-day study. The ability to repeatedly roll a
ball over a one half inch spot that is 60 feet away is very difficult as most humans cannot
visually distinguish a one half inch difference 60 feet away. Also, all three bowlers participating
in the test recorded a strike with their ball striking the head pin at the 16 and one half board,
eliminating the possibility that a particular bowler type aids in this type of strike. An interesting
note is that four out the five wood-pin strikes occurred inside of the 18th board. Although our
limited data is inconclusive, further testing could prove wood pins are easier to strike with on
these “inside” boards.
As the contact point of the ball-pin interaction becomes closer to the center of the headpin (board
20), the percentage of strikes decreases while the percentage of corner pins left increases. These
steadily grow/decay equal to each other until the 19 board, at which time other non corner pin
combinations are possible, depending on the entry angle (the angle relative to the
longitudinal/lengthwise axis of the lane). As shown below in Figure 4, the entry angle of the ball
striking the head pin is very important. Both of these shots make contact with the head pin at the
19th board; however, one results in a strike while the other results in a multi-pin split.
17
Figure 4 - Two shots contacting the head pin at the nineteen board. The bottom shot strikes, while the top
shot leaves the middle right pin and both corner pins.
Figure 4:
Unfortunately, our data set isn’t large enough to use this data to do a pin comparison study. .
4 Conclusions and Future Testing
4.1 Conclusions Drawn from Testing
18
In conducting these tests, USBC researchers used the science and methodologies they have
developed for the ten pin sport of bowling and applied them to Canadian 5 pin. A joint effort
between the BPAC and the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications department
allowed for both companies to gain from the knowledge obtained during testing at Playdium
Lanes. Testing proved to be informative and beneficial in the eyes of USBC researchers.
Through high-speed video analysis, the optimal entry location for a ball to strike was discovered.
The similarities in materials and dimensions of the backend area show that pin interaction with
kickback plates, pin decks, and flat gutters is very similar between both the five pin and ten pin
games. A similarity also exists in the fact that pin types play a crucial role in carry and
scoreability. Despite the anecdotal evidence and bowler experience suggesting the wood pin to
be a higher-scoring pin, our COR and video analysis data did not point to anything conclusive.
The durometer hardness of the wood pins is approximately 30% greater than that of plastic pins,
and their scoreability from inside the 18th board is much higher than that of plastic pins.
4.2 Future Testing Appartuses
One of the most crucial scientific measurements that USBC researchers were not able to measure
while at Playdium was the coefficient of friction of the pin bands. We noticed on multiple
occasions where a pin struck with a large amount of force stopped suddenly after the band made
contact with the pin deck. Our theory suggests that a lower friction band on the pin would
increase the number of pins bouncing on the pin deck. A device to measure this frictional value
of the bands would be greatly beneficial. There are many devices currently on the market which
are more than capable of performing this task, including one currently at USBC headquarters.
The ability to vastly increase the amount of ball contact entry location would also allow for a
much greater understanding of a pin’s scoreability. USBC uses an automated device known as
BowlScore, which simulates thousands of games on a set of pins. An automated ramp controlled
by actuators adjusts the offset from the headpin and the entry angle at which the ball strikes the
19
pins. All of these values are tabulated in a computer for later analysis. An example of this is
shown below in Figure 5.
Figure X: An example of the capabilities of a BowlScore like device.
USBC proposes the use of a device similar in function (not necessarily size or additional
features) to BowlScore, in which automated games could be rolled with the entry angle, and
more importantly, headpin offset can be documented and varied. A device like this would easily
allow one to compare how well a certain type of pin scores, further quantifying many of the
results featured during the pin entry location study of this research test.
If desired, a mechanical or other external Coefficient of Restitution device could be developed
for not only measuring the COR of pins and balls but also of the pin deck, kick back plates and
flat gutters. This would allow researchers to quantify the influence of these variables on scoring
within the game.
20
Appendix A
Hardness Data
A.1 Pin Bands
Used Mendez
Pin Band (No
Longer
Manufactured)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
21
15.4
15.4
15.3
15.6
15.0
16.3
16.4
15.2
15.4
15.6
15.6
New Bowling
Sales of Canada
Band (On New
Plastic pin)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
14.8
15.4
14.2
14.9
14.0
13.4
15.2
13.9
14.8
14.4
14.5
Wood Pin
Band
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
13.1
12.5
12.6
13.1
13.2
13.2
12.7
13.2
13.1
13.0
13.0
New Gignac
Band
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
19.1
19.3
18.2
17.3
19.8
18.0
18.1
18.2
17.1
18.1
18.3
New Sanders
Band
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
13.5
13.3
12.1
12.2
13 .1
13.2
11.5
11.8
14.4
15.0
13.0
New Red Test
Band
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average:
A.2 Pins
Brand New Super Five Plastic Pin
1
2
3
Average:
Head (Top)
54.4
49.6
54.5
52.8
Above Band
45.1
59
53.3
52.5
Band
14.7
14.2
15.4
14.8
Used Mendez Pin (No longer
manufactured)
1
2
3
Average:
Head (Top)
55.5
54.7
51.5
53.9
Above Band
55
52.8
56.8
54.9
Band
6.4
15.3
15.6
12.4
Wood Pin
1
2
3
Average:
Head (Top)
72.9
70.8
73.3
72.3
A.3 Balls
Phenolic Resin
(house ball)
1 88.6
2 89.3
3 90.0
22
Above Band
74.7
75.4
76.5
75.5
Band
13.3
13.2
13.4
13.3
11.0
10.7
10.7
10.8
10.3
10.9
10.3
11.3
10.6
10.9
10.8
average:
89.3
Rubber
(house ball)
1 84.2
2 83.7
3 86.1
average:
84.7
Appendix C
Pin Backend Contact Data
Used Plastic Pin Backend Contacts
Pin
Backend Material
Deck
Kickback Flatgutter
Total # of
Contacts
31
25
10
% of Total
47.0%
37.9%
15.2%
Contacts
Backend Material
Total # of
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
Wood Pins
Pin
Deck
Kickback
Total
42
22
12
19.0%
52.4%
28.6%
Used Plastic Pins w/ Sanders Bands
Pin
Backend Material
Deck
Kickback Flatgutter
Total # of
Contacts
35
27
13
% of Total
46.7%
36.0%
17.3%
Contacts
Backend Material
Total # of
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
23
Total
75
Flatgutter
Total
67
30
28
9
44.8%
41.8%
13.4%
Blue - Ball Comparison
66
Flatgutter
8
Kevin - Own Ball
Pin
Deck
Kickback
Total
Backend Material
Total # of
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
Backend Material
Total # of
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
Pin
Deck
Kickback
Flatgutter
Total
11
13
5
29
37.9%
44.8%
17.2%
New Plastic Pins
Pin
Deck
Kickback
Flatgutter
Total
54
24
18
12
44.4%
33.3%
22.2%
Old Plastic Pins w/ Gignac Bands
Pin
Deck
Backend Material
Kickback Flatgutter
Total # of
33
26
8
Contacts
% of Total
49.3%
38.8%
11.9%
Contacts
Backend Material
Total # of
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
Erica - Own Ball
Pin
Deck
Kickback
67
Flatgutter
Total
73
29
28
16
39.7%
38.4%
21.9%
Kevin - Own Ball - Red Test Bands
Pin
Deck
Backend Material
Kickback Flatgutter
Total # of
20
19
10
Contacts
% of Total
40.8%
38.8%
20.4%
Contacts
Orange - Ball Comparison
Pin
Backend Material
Deck
Kickback Flatgutter
Total # of
8
8
4
Contacts
% of Total
Contacts
40.0%
40.0%
20.0%
24
Total
Total
49
Total
20
Appendix D
Ball Contact Location
Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Bowler
Kevin
Frame
1
Ball
1
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Kevin
Erica
Kevin
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
25
Results
H3L
R
Aces
H punch
spare
R
Location
11.50
Notes
R
16.00
19.00
20.00
19.00
5.00
L
L
4.00
R
strike
18.00
R
H3LR
Strike
H punch
12.50
18.00
19.00
L
L
R
HLR
2L
12.50
13.00
R
R
23L
R
Head pin rotates when
struck, making 90 degree
turn on hor. Plane and
vertical plane before striking
3 pin
L
L
12.5 at headpin, slowly
fading left
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
26
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Erica
Kevin
Dave
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
spare 3
L
9.50
16.50
L
L
L
strike
L
strike
spare
spare
16.00
17.50
18.50
18.50
3.00
8.00
R
L
R
L
L
L
strike
L
strike
strike
17.50
15.50
16.50
16.50
R
R
L
R
strike
H2L
strike
H punch
H3R
3R
H
18.00
15.00
18.00
20.00
15.00
9.50
15.00
L
R
R
L
L
L
spare 3
spare 3
18.00
11.00
R
R
H23R
H3R
H punch
7.00
14.50
19.50
L
L
L
spare
3LR
H3R
16.50
11.50
15.00
R
L
L
tips over
Start of Orange Ball
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Dave
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Erica
Kevin
Dave
Kevin
Erica
Kevin
Erica
Dave
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
27
L
H
11.00
14.00
R
R
H23R
2L
strike
strike
spare
5.00
15.00
18.00
18.00
16.50
1.00
L
R
L
L
R
L
spare 3
11.00
L
strike
H3R
L
strike
17.50
15.00
18.50
19.00
L
L
R
L
spare
spare
6.50
16.00
L
R
H3R
H3L
2L
14.00
14.00
15.00
L
R
R
strike
spare
spare
17.00
19.00
15.00
R
L
L
H
13.50
L
H2LR
H3R
H3R
L
13.00
14.50
15.00
18.50
R
L
L
R
spare
R
3.50
15.50
L
L
2
Head pin tips over
Head pin flips after hitting 2
pin, hits left kick back and
then hits L pin with its head
at bottom of L
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Generic Plastic Pin
Kevin
Kevin
Erica
Dave
Kevin
10
10
10
10
10
2
3
3
3
3
spare
16.50
R
R only
19.00
L
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Dave
Dave
Dave
1
1
1
1
2
3
strike
17.00
R
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3LR
3L
L
strike
19.00
2.00
12.00
17.50
R
R
R
L
strike
17.50
R
H punch
3R
20.00
11.00
L
Gignac Band
Dave
5
3
7.00
R
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
Gignac Band
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
strike
17.00
R
strike
18.00
R
H punch
3LR
L
R
R
R
strike
L
L
H2L
2L
spare 3
Strike
20.00
12.50
12.50
18.00
L
R
R
18.50
16.50
R
R
14.00
19.50
7.50
19.00
R
L
L
R
L
spare
18.00
3.00
R
L
New Plastic Pin
Dave
4
1
H punch
19.50
R
28
3
head pin off kickback takes
out L
head pin into 2, goes up and
2 pins fall over
nicks 3 pin 3 pin wobbles
does not fall
head pin off kickback takes
out L
punched
string almost carries R out
2 pin takes out L
barely hits 2 pin
appears to have slight right
to left movement
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
New Plastic Pin
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
29
3R
spare 3
H punch
3LR
10.50
13.50
20.00
11.50
L
R
L
R
spare
19.00
6.00
L
R
R
spare
16.00
4.00
L
R
H3R
3R
spare 3
H3L
spare
13.50
20.00
15.50
14.00
19.00
L
R
R
L
Aces
R
18.00
5.00
R
L
H3R
spare
15.50
16.50
L
R
3LR
3LR
3LR
R
R
R
H3R
spare
19.50
R
18.50
L
4.00
12.00
17.00
R
L
R
strike
17.50
R
L
spare
19.00
5.50
R
L
strike
16.50
R
L
spare
18.00
6.00
R
L
strike
17.50
R
R
18.50
L
slight right to left movement
very light, head pin tips over
spins and hits 3
Original Recipe Band
Original Recipe Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Red Band
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
30
Dave
Dave
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Kevin
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
10
10
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
R
spare 3
strike
5.00
18.50
R
L
strike
16.50
R
strike
18.50
L
L
L
L
H3R
H3R
spare 3
strike
R
R
spare 3
H3R
spare
L
L
L
H2L
H2L
H2L
strike
15.50
R
9.00
L
18.50
18.50
R
L
19.00
L
3.00
15.00
18.50
R
L
R
17.50
L
15.00
R
18.50
R
strike
18.00
L
strike
17.00
L
strike
18.00
L
Head pin hit thin, rotates
and top of head pin hits "2"
pin, slides in front of L pin
anomaly - kevin's extremely
high ball speed prevents the
necessary deflection for 2
pin to hit L pin, ball actually
flys around L
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
Wood Pin
31
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
Dave
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
H punch
3R
3
H3L
spare
20.00
9.00
3.00
15.00
16.00
L
R
R
R
H3R
spare
15.00
16.00
L
R
strike
18.00
L
H3R
spare
14.50
16.50
L
L
L
spare
18.00
5.00
R
L