PBA expands animal pattern program
March 14, 2012
PBA Communications
SEATTLE – The Professional Bowlers Association is expanding its “animal pattern” lane conditioning program into a series of PBA Regional “animal pattern” championship tournaments, giving bowlers across the nation an opportunity to experience lane conditions that are the heart of the PBA World Series of Bowling.
Under the new program, the PBA’s East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest, West and Northwest Regional programs will each run a Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion and Chameleon championship tournament, incorporating the same lane conditioning patterns that are used in the respective “animal pattern” championship tournaments that will be part of the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling, Nov. 2-11, at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The same “animal patterns” are the core lane conditions used in United States Bowling Congress PBA Experience Sport Bowling leagues, an optional program that offers USBC league bowlers an opportunity to take on new challenges if they elect to do so.
“The PBA created the ‘animal pattern’ concept to give the lane conditions PBA players bowl on specific identities the general public could better understand,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “Each of the various lanes conditions has been meticulously designed by highly-qualified experts to challenge a variety of bowling skills, and they are re-assessed annually and refined as needed to ensure they remain current. That is the true test of greatness in bowling.”
While there are several other lane conditioning patterns used in PBA competition, the “animal patterns” include a variety of challenges based upon the distance oil is applied down the lane to the amount of oil applied across the lane. The PBA Tour has conducted Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion, Chameleon and Shark championship events each of the past four years, and the patterns have been used in regional and Senior Tour events as well.
(While the Shark pattern will not be part of the 2012 WSOB lineup, it will continue to be used in PBA Tour competition during the coming season).
“Giving the ‘animal pattern’ program specific events within our regional program is a natural extension of our education process,” Clark said. “The Teen Masters is using PBA patterns as part of a cooperative qualifying program with the PBA. We hope additional youth, collegiate and international bowling tournaments will also embrace the ‘animal pattern’ program in the future. By using these specific lane conditioning patterns in tournament competition as well as league play, it will make it much easier for everyone involved in the sport to understand the many variables that make bowling at a high level so challenging.”
The new regional “animal pattern” series will also provide players an opportunity to win paid entries into the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling. At each designated PBA Regional Animal Pattern Championship, players can pay an optional $50 entry fee to compete for a paid entry into the World Series. Additional entries may be awarded based upon the number of entries in each regional “animal pattern” event.
In addition, the bowler in each of the PBA’s seven regions who compiles the highest competition points total for the four “animal pattern” events will earn a paid entry into the WSOB. No additional entry fee is required to become eligible for the entries based on the four-event qualifying program.
“The PBA’s Regional Tournament Directors are excited about this new program, and we think regional competitors are going to like them as well,” said John Weber, PBA Director of Regional and Senior Tours. “Bowling in PBA competition is all about testing your skills, learning more about the game and improving under a variety of situations.
“Our regional players have been bowling on the animal patterns over the past three years, but now they will be rewarded with special championships and opportunities to advance to the PBA World Series of Bowling. Players will have the option to pick and choose, if that’s what they want to do, or bowl all of them,” Weber added. “Players are going to know in advance exactly what lane condition they’ll face, which should help them prepare, and the event will also give PBA fans a better idea of what professional bowling is all about.”
For a detailed explanation of each of the PBA “animal patterns,” visit pba.com and click on “oil patterns” under the Resources drop-down tab.
Below is a schedule of 2012 PBA Regional animal pattern championships. For entry information for any regional event, click on “Regional Tour” under the Schedules drop-down tab, click on the appropriate regional link and then click on the specific event:
PBA EAST REGION
April 27-29 - PBA East Rockaway Lanes Chameleon Open, Rockaway Lanes, Rockaway, N.J.
July 6-8 - PBA East Homefield Bowl Viper Open, Homefield Bowl, Yonkers, N.Y.
July 20-22 - PBA East Cap Card Scorpion Open, Cedar Lanes, Lebanon, Pa.
Aug. 3-5 - PBA East Bowlers Supply/Storm Products Cheetah Open, Colony Park Lanes North, York, Pa.
PBA SOUTH REGION
June 1-3 - PBA South Rocky Mount Viper Open, The Bowling Center, Rocky Mount, N.C.
June 29-July 1 - PBA South Canton Scorpion Open presented by Columbia 300, Cherokee Lanes, Canton, Ga.
July 6-8 - PBA South Gastonia Chameleon Open presented by Columbia 300, George Pappas Liberty Lanes, Gastonia, N.C.
July 20-22 - PBA South Spring Hill Cheetah Open, Spring Hill Lanes, Spring Hill, Fla.
PBA CENTRAL REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Central Baldo Campana Viper Open benefiting Lorain County Kids Fund, Rebman Recreation, Lorain, Ohio.
June 15-17 - PBA Central 4th annual J.D. Producing, Inc./Triway Lanes Cheetah Open presented by Hammer, Triway Lanes, Wooster, Ohio.
June 29-July 1 - PBA Central Storm Products/Beechmont Toyota Chameleon Open, Cherry Grove Lanes, Cincinnati, Ohio.
July 20-22 - PBA Central Dan Kondas Memorial Scorpion Open presented by DV8, Legend Lanes, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
PBA SOUTHWEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Southwest Fort Sill Viper Open, Twin Oaks Lanes, Fort Sill, Okla.
July 13-15 - PBA Southwest Lubbock Cheetah Open, South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas.
Aug. 10-12 - PBA Southwest Killeen Chameleon Open, Hallmark Lanes, Killeen, Texas.
Aug. 24-26 - PBA Southwest Greenville Scorpion Open presented by DV8, DB’s Sports Grill and Bowling, Greenville, Texas.
PBA MIDWEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Midwest Stars & Strikes Scorpion Open presented by Ebonite, Stars & Strikes Bowling Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
June 22-24 - PBA Midwest Oak Forest Bowl Chameleon Open sponsored by American Family Insurance, Oak Forest Bowl, Oak Forest, Ill.
July 20-22 - PBA Midwest Illinois Valley Viper Classic presented by Storm, Illinois Valley Super Bowl, Peru, Ill.
Aug. 24-26 - PBA Midwest Premiere Bowling and Entertainment Center Cheetah Open presented by Brunswick, Premiere Bowling and Entertainment Center, Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
PBA WEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA West Battle at Black Oak Casino Cheetah Open, Black Oak Lanes, Tuolumne, Calif.
June 15-17 - PBA West/Northwest Wine Country Scorpion Open presented by Columbia 300, Double Decker Lanes, Rohnert Park, Calif.
July 6-8 - PBA West Vanessa Brown Homes Viper Open, Yosemite Lanes, Modesto, Calif.
Aug. 17-19 - PBA West/Northwest Chameleon Don Johnson Memorial, Fourth Street Bowl, San Jose, Calif.
PBA NORTHWEST REGION
March 16-18 - PBA Northwest/West DV8 Chameleon Open, Caveman Bowl, Grants Pass, Ore.
March 30-April 1 - PBA Northwest Pawn Brokers Cheetah Open, Bowl Arena, Ft. Lewis, Wash.
June 22-24 - PBA Northwest/West Secoma Lanes Scorpion Open, Secoma Lanes, Federal Way, Wash.
Aug. 17-19 - PBA Northwest Dave Husted Viper Open presented by Etonic, Milwaukie Bowl, Milwaukie, Ore.
SEATTLE – The Professional Bowlers Association is expanding its “animal pattern” lane conditioning program into a series of PBA Regional “animal pattern” championship tournaments, giving bowlers across the nation an opportunity to experience lane conditions that are the heart of the PBA World Series of Bowling.
Under the new program, the PBA’s East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest, West and Northwest Regional programs will each run a Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion and Chameleon championship tournament, incorporating the same lane conditioning patterns that are used in the respective “animal pattern” championship tournaments that will be part of the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling, Nov. 2-11, at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The same “animal patterns” are the core lane conditions used in United States Bowling Congress PBA Experience Sport Bowling leagues, an optional program that offers USBC league bowlers an opportunity to take on new challenges if they elect to do so.
“The PBA created the ‘animal pattern’ concept to give the lane conditions PBA players bowl on specific identities the general public could better understand,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “Each of the various lanes conditions has been meticulously designed by highly-qualified experts to challenge a variety of bowling skills, and they are re-assessed annually and refined as needed to ensure they remain current. That is the true test of greatness in bowling.”
While there are several other lane conditioning patterns used in PBA competition, the “animal patterns” include a variety of challenges based upon the distance oil is applied down the lane to the amount of oil applied across the lane. The PBA Tour has conducted Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion, Chameleon and Shark championship events each of the past four years, and the patterns have been used in regional and Senior Tour events as well.
(While the Shark pattern will not be part of the 2012 WSOB lineup, it will continue to be used in PBA Tour competition during the coming season).
“Giving the ‘animal pattern’ program specific events within our regional program is a natural extension of our education process,” Clark said. “The Teen Masters is using PBA patterns as part of a cooperative qualifying program with the PBA. We hope additional youth, collegiate and international bowling tournaments will also embrace the ‘animal pattern’ program in the future. By using these specific lane conditioning patterns in tournament competition as well as league play, it will make it much easier for everyone involved in the sport to understand the many variables that make bowling at a high level so challenging.”
The new regional “animal pattern” series will also provide players an opportunity to win paid entries into the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling. At each designated PBA Regional Animal Pattern Championship, players can pay an optional $50 entry fee to compete for a paid entry into the World Series. Additional entries may be awarded based upon the number of entries in each regional “animal pattern” event.
In addition, the bowler in each of the PBA’s seven regions who compiles the highest competition points total for the four “animal pattern” events will earn a paid entry into the WSOB. No additional entry fee is required to become eligible for the entries based on the four-event qualifying program.
“The PBA’s Regional Tournament Directors are excited about this new program, and we think regional competitors are going to like them as well,” said John Weber, PBA Director of Regional and Senior Tours. “Bowling in PBA competition is all about testing your skills, learning more about the game and improving under a variety of situations.
“Our regional players have been bowling on the animal patterns over the past three years, but now they will be rewarded with special championships and opportunities to advance to the PBA World Series of Bowling. Players will have the option to pick and choose, if that’s what they want to do, or bowl all of them,” Weber added. “Players are going to know in advance exactly what lane condition they’ll face, which should help them prepare, and the event will also give PBA fans a better idea of what professional bowling is all about.”
For a detailed explanation of each of the PBA “animal patterns,” visit pba.com and click on “oil patterns” under the Resources drop-down tab.
Below is a schedule of 2012 PBA Regional animal pattern championships. For entry information for any regional event, click on “Regional Tour” under the Schedules drop-down tab, click on the appropriate regional link and then click on the specific event:
PBA EAST REGION
April 27-29 - PBA East Rockaway Lanes Chameleon Open, Rockaway Lanes, Rockaway, N.J.
July 6-8 - PBA East Homefield Bowl Viper Open, Homefield Bowl, Yonkers, N.Y.
July 20-22 - PBA East Cap Card Scorpion Open, Cedar Lanes, Lebanon, Pa.
Aug. 3-5 - PBA East Bowlers Supply/Storm Products Cheetah Open, Colony Park Lanes North, York, Pa.
PBA SOUTH REGION
June 1-3 - PBA South Rocky Mount Viper Open, The Bowling Center, Rocky Mount, N.C.
June 29-July 1 - PBA South Canton Scorpion Open presented by Columbia 300, Cherokee Lanes, Canton, Ga.
July 6-8 - PBA South Gastonia Chameleon Open presented by Columbia 300, George Pappas Liberty Lanes, Gastonia, N.C.
July 20-22 - PBA South Spring Hill Cheetah Open, Spring Hill Lanes, Spring Hill, Fla.
PBA CENTRAL REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Central Baldo Campana Viper Open benefiting Lorain County Kids Fund, Rebman Recreation, Lorain, Ohio.
June 15-17 - PBA Central 4th annual J.D. Producing, Inc./Triway Lanes Cheetah Open presented by Hammer, Triway Lanes, Wooster, Ohio.
June 29-July 1 - PBA Central Storm Products/Beechmont Toyota Chameleon Open, Cherry Grove Lanes, Cincinnati, Ohio.
July 20-22 - PBA Central Dan Kondas Memorial Scorpion Open presented by DV8, Legend Lanes, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
PBA SOUTHWEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Southwest Fort Sill Viper Open, Twin Oaks Lanes, Fort Sill, Okla.
July 13-15 - PBA Southwest Lubbock Cheetah Open, South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas.
Aug. 10-12 - PBA Southwest Killeen Chameleon Open, Hallmark Lanes, Killeen, Texas.
Aug. 24-26 - PBA Southwest Greenville Scorpion Open presented by DV8, DB’s Sports Grill and Bowling, Greenville, Texas.
PBA MIDWEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA Midwest Stars & Strikes Scorpion Open presented by Ebonite, Stars & Strikes Bowling Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
June 22-24 - PBA Midwest Oak Forest Bowl Chameleon Open sponsored by American Family Insurance, Oak Forest Bowl, Oak Forest, Ill.
July 20-22 - PBA Midwest Illinois Valley Viper Classic presented by Storm, Illinois Valley Super Bowl, Peru, Ill.
Aug. 24-26 - PBA Midwest Premiere Bowling and Entertainment Center Cheetah Open presented by Brunswick, Premiere Bowling and Entertainment Center, Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
PBA WEST REGION
May 18-20 - PBA West Battle at Black Oak Casino Cheetah Open, Black Oak Lanes, Tuolumne, Calif.
June 15-17 - PBA West/Northwest Wine Country Scorpion Open presented by Columbia 300, Double Decker Lanes, Rohnert Park, Calif.
July 6-8 - PBA West Vanessa Brown Homes Viper Open, Yosemite Lanes, Modesto, Calif.
Aug. 17-19 - PBA West/Northwest Chameleon Don Johnson Memorial, Fourth Street Bowl, San Jose, Calif.
PBA NORTHWEST REGION
March 16-18 - PBA Northwest/West DV8 Chameleon Open, Caveman Bowl, Grants Pass, Ore.
March 30-April 1 - PBA Northwest Pawn Brokers Cheetah Open, Bowl Arena, Ft. Lewis, Wash.
June 22-24 - PBA Northwest/West Secoma Lanes Scorpion Open, Secoma Lanes, Federal Way, Wash.
Aug. 17-19 - PBA Northwest Dave Husted Viper Open presented by Etonic, Milwaukie Bowl, Milwaukie, Ore.