Dean Shattuck Scores 813 Series

Monticello right-handed power bowler Dean Shattuck was nursing a sore elbow when he went bowling March 25 in the Wednesday Men's league at Kiamesha and so he slowed down his approach and changed to a less aggressive bowling ball........all of which resulted in him scoring his first ever 800 plus series.

Bowling on lanes 11 & 12 and using an AMF Ultra-C bowling ball Dean banged out scores of 269, 278, 266, 813. His team mates on his Lawn Doctors team include George Battle Jr., Frank Muller Jr., Allan Jones and Larry Berens.

Dean several years ago was a strong proponent of a shot change for the Wednesday Men's league at Kiamesha Lanes and the change did result in some bowlers seeing their averages drop because of a more difficult lane pattern. Those advocating the change in the oil pattern (or lane shot) said the former easy house pattern produced averages that were not real.

The lane pattern change also resulted in Shattuck changing balls and his style of bowling which on Janaury 30 , 2008 resulted in his third career 300 game.

Dean noted at the time that there was a need to change the oil pattern (or lane shot) because of the fact that the former easy house pattern produced averages that were not real. "We needed a truer shot pattern", Shattuck noted, and this now has resulted in fewer 200 plus averages.

As a result of the new Wednesday Men's "truer" shot pattern this forced Dean to change balls and his style of bowling. Previously he was a down and in shot maker and now he uses an out and in pattern.

His previous high series was a 792. He scored his second career 300 game on February 21, 2007 in the Wednesday Men's league at Kiamesha Lanes.

Dean is a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County NY USBC and this is the only league he bowls in.
Dean is married to Kelly and they have one daughter, Karla.

Employed as an electrician in Rockland County Dean also owns and operates his own electrical contracting business.

The Bowling Tip
; By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This weeks tip will help you execute and repeat good shots by having your body set properly so that you can use the laws of physics to roll the ball and eliminate tension in your swing.

As I've mentioned in previous columns, too much upper body and head movement make it very difficult to repeat shots.
The purpose of the stance is to place the body in an athletic position, eliminate all unnecessary movements during the approach and reduce TENSION.

Resting forearms against the body, in the stance, will help reduce tension in the upper body.
How do we do this?

Here are the four steps in the proper order for setting posture.
1. Set the feet (toward your break-point).
2. Set your head (tilted over the ball).
3. Set your posterior (this is your balance point as you are swinging a heavy object).
4. Set the ball position close as noted above.

You are now in position to start a smooth approach. Maintain your body position and let the ball swing under your shoulder. You will find this easy to repeat shot after shot.

Note: Watch the PBA and note the body positions but keep in mind that your exact body position may vary to accommodate different physiology's. Also, if your Ball does not fit, it will be difficult to eliminate tension from your swing.

Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Teacher. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is also the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 341-1694 or via e-mail at mikespro@warwick.net .

Hoffmann Rolls 23rd Career 300

The "Little Lefty" was beginning to wonder when and if he would bowl another 300 game.

Did the 68-year-old (will reach that age on April 23) still have what it takes to bowl another perfect 300 game?

That question was answered on March 10 in the Tuesday Mixed Firemen't league at Kiamesha Lanes when John Hoffmann recorded his 23ed career 300.

His last 300 game came on March 16, 2008 in the doubles event of the Tri-County NY United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Association tournament at Pin Street Lanes in Warwick.

The March 10 perfect game at Kiamesha Lanes was scored on lanes 5 and 6 using a Roto Grip Quest bowling ball. The total for the night was 217, 300, 248, 765 with all 12 strikes in the 1-2 pocket. He bowls in this league with the IAPOTH team and team members Kevin Stackhouse, Roberta Yakin, John Fischer and Robert Yakin Sr.

Hoffmann recorded his first 300 game on July 23, 1991 in the Essex County New Jersey Association in the 420 DBLS. SMT league at Eagle Rock Lanes.

Hoffmann is a well-known technical bowler and when Mike Luongo, now the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Storm and Roto Grip, drilled out the Roto Grip Quest ball for Hoffmann, Luongo noted to this columnist that "John has a real nice game."

John won the high average bowler honors with a 229 in the Tri-County NY USBC Association for the 2006-2007 season. He bowled professionally from 1990 to 1993 in the Northeast Regional Bowlers Professional Bowlers Association where he got his "Little Lefty" nickname from PBA Tour Bowler Tommy Delutz Jr.

Hoffmann was also the 2007 Tri-County NY USBC Senior's Champion and a New Jersey State Senior champion.
USBC and former ABC records have Hoffmann with eight 11-strikes in a row games, one 298 game, two 299 games and nine 800 plus series.

He presently maintains a 221 average in the Monday Men's league, a 222 in the Tuesday Mixed Fireman's league and a 219 in the Wednesday Men's league, all at Kiamesha Lanes. He also bowls in the Sunday Thunder 102 Mixed Fun league.

Three years ago he became a certified USBC coach and is considered an excellent teacher of the game.

Hoffmann has been bowling for some 52 years, is single and retired and lives in the South Woods Road area of the Town of Thompson.


Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.

When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.

If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point--the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or the pin/pins will be your intended target.

The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at , whether it be the dots or an arrow.

To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.

If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right ( or left) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point. If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin.

Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.

Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip bowling Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-341-1694 or via email at mikespro@warwick.net .



1st Annual Tom Skiff Jr, Memorial Tourney In May

The 1st Annual Tom Skiff Memorial "Bowl For A Cure" doubles tournament will be held at 1 p.m. May 9 at Kiamesha Lanes.

The two-person doubles team (any combination) tournament will celebrate the life ot Tom Skiff Jr. by bowling for a cure for cancer.

As all bowlers who knew Tom we know that he left us early in life and we are now helping fund cancer research in his memory.

The fee per bowler will be $25 each with $10 going to Kiamesha Lanes, $10 to cancer research and $5 to the prize fund.

There will be a 50/50 during each game and the proceeds goes totally to cancer research.

You can register by May 2 at Kiamesha Lanes 794-5561 or contact Gillian Champagne-Kuchar at 845-674-8107 or email gckuchar@gmail.com and put in the subject line "Bowling For A Cure."

Todd Houghtaling Bowls First Career 300

Thirty-five year-old Woodbourne bowler Todd Houghtaling recorded his first career 300 game on January 29 in the Thursday Two-Man Doubles league at Liberty Lanes.

His total for the night included a 234, 300, 214 for a 748 series.

Todd bowls in the league with his father, Carl Houghtaling.

Houghtaling presently maintains a 193 average in this the only league he bowls in. He noted that the bowling ball he uses is a Full Tilt by Circle.

Todd's previous high single game was a 279 and his previous high series was a 746.

He has been bowling for some 15 years.

Todd is married and his family consists of his wife and two children, Samantha and Thomas.

He is employed as the IT Manager at the Frost Valley YMCA.

PBA Tour Introduces PBA World Series of Bowling, Debuts in August

A new era in the Professional Bowlers Association will begin next season with the creation of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour World Series of Bowling.

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, announced the creation of the series today which will offer more than $2 million in prize money and will take place from Aug. 1-Sept. 7, 2009 in Detroit.

The kickoff PBA Motor City Open will take place at longtime PBA host center Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich., from Aug. 1-6. The remainder of the World Series of Bowling, including six exempt PBA Tour events, the return of the PBA Women s Series presented by USBC and a revamped PBA Senior Tour World Championship will be held at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., just outside Detroit. The World Series of Bowling will culminate with the PBA World Championship open field event, the first major championship of the 2009-2010 season.

The PBA World Series of Bowling will mark the first time the PBA Tour will spend an extended period of time in one city. The event figures to be a financial boon for Detroit with hundreds of competitive bowlers from around the world, including the exempt PBA Tour stars such as Walter Ray Williams Jr., Pete Weber and reigning player of the year Chris Barnes expected to participate. Seven PBA Tour bowling telecasts emanating from the World Series will air on ESPN, bringing further exposure to the city of Detroit.

"The World Series builds on the proud tradition of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour being the standard in professional bowling worldwide, said PBA Tour CEO and Commissioner Fred Schreyer. Detroit will be host to the greatest festival of competitive bowling in history."

Detroit boasts more USBC certified bowlers than any other city in the U.S. Main host Thunderbowl Lanes is a 90-lane bowling center featuring a unique arena setup for the taping of the ESPN telecasts and continuous online coverage on the PBA Tour s live streaming video service Xtra Frame on pba.com.

"We are thrilled to host this revolutionary month in PBA Tour history," said Thunderbowl Lanes owner Tom Strobl. "Detroit s passionate bowling fans are in for a treat."

The seven PBA championship events with dedicated telecasts will be taped at the conclusion of the World Series and air out over what has traditionally been the first half of the PBA Tour season from mid-October to early December 2009, Sunday afternoons on ESPN. The first half of the season on ESPN will conclude with the live finals of the PBA World Championship on Dec. 13, featuring the four finalists decided in early September at the World Series.

The January-April second half of the PBA Tour season will be similar to the current Tour makeup, featuring live Sunday telecasts. The Tour will travel to at least 10 cities across the country for events, including three major championships (USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions and concluding the regular season with the U.S. Open).

Tournament fields for the PBA Tour World Series will be increased from 64 to 72 players. Along with the 58 exempt players, international exemptions will be introduced and at least 10 tournament qualifying round positions will be available to win per event in Detroit.

The PBA Women s Series presented by USBC returns with seven events for the 2009-2010 PBA Tour season. Six will take place at the World Series, including all the PBA animal pattern championships and a newly created open-field PBA Women s Series World Championship. The field size for the Women s Series events will improve from 16 to 20 bowlers for each exempt event, and for the first time two TQR spots will be up for grabs for each women s event at the World Series.

The PBA Senior World Championship makes its return to the PBA schedule during the World Series. The championship match of the Senior World Championship will be televised, once again bringing senior tour bowling to ESPN.

While the PBA World Series of Bowling includes the greatest bowlers in the world and the ESPN shows are the centerpiece events, there will also be something for every competitive bowler in the form of side events with diverse formats. Some of the side events and sweepers, which will all be conducted by the PBA, will not include exempt PBA Tour pros.

"The message for now to all PBA members and competitive bowlers from the Midwestern U.S. to Malaysia is this, Schreyer said. Save August 2009 on your calendar and start practicing."

Further details will be released on the PBA World Series of Bowling and the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season regularly. Stay tuned to pba.com.

Six Flags to Host Bowling Stars for Summer Series III

Fifteen of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s top competitors from the 2008-09 season will test their skills at “outdoor bowling” for the third year in a row when Six Flags in Jackson, N.J., hosts the Six Flags Summer Series III June 11-14.

The annual event will involve three five-player teams in a unique round-robin competition contested on lanes built in Six Flags’ New Jersey Park. ESPN will air the competition on a tape-delayed basis. Dates and times will be announced later.

Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, is the only player qualified thus far, based upon his points victory in the six-tournament Versatility Swing that ended in Medford, Ore., in January. That series included tournaments conducted on six different PBA lane conditions.

Eight more players will be determined at the conclusion of the Extreme Swing, which ends with the GoRVing Match Play Championship in Norwich, Conn., on March 22. The top eight based on points earned in the Ultimate Scoring Championship, GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Etonic Marathon Championship, Buckeye State Eliminator and the GoRVing event will also earn berths.

Four additional spots in the Summer Series will be awarded to the Grand Slam points leaders. Those events are the PBA World Championship, H&R Block Tournament of Champions, USBC Masters and Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.

If a player qualifies in more than one category, the next highest in points from the Grand Slam series will be selected. Malott, who already owns a spot, will not be considered in either pending points race. Any ties will be decided based upon the PBA’s end-of-season points rankings.

The final two berths will be wild card selections.

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