Strategy when dealing with old pins

[mattmc82]

I have a weekly league at a place that uses pins way past the expected lifespan. The results are varied. Have noticed a high frequency of splits when it appears the pocket was hit. 4 weeks into a 32 man league and the high score is 203!

In everyone's experience, what works best in these conditions? It appears full rollers do better on average and that 13 mph as straight balls fair better than their 20 mph cousins.

[Briantime]

Other than getting grungy. What happens to pins to limit their life span?

Not challenging your post, I am just curious.

[mattmc82]

Once the clear coat wears away, the wood gradually retains some water from cleaning. The pins become uneven weights and alot will fall on their own because the bottom is warped. The overall sound when the pins get hit just sounds so deadened. Some of that is from being waterlogged or even oil seaping in. The end result is bad action off the pins when you bowl the way you would traditionally. I just want to win this league and never bowl there again.

[bowl1820]

Other than getting grungy. What happens to pins to limit their life span?

Not challenging your post, I am just curious.

Water can cause damage, such as dry rot, swelling, cracking. It's is usually from water soaking in through the bottom of the pin, pins being submerged in water or standing in water.

Humidity in the pinsetter area needs to be maintained between 30-50 percent (Brunswick did tests which showed that during the dry winter conditions pins fell 4 times faster than during humid summer conditions).

Also when the clear coat gets damaged, the surlyn can get stained by oil & dirt.

Improperly maintained equipment can cause pin damage also, where that damage is on the pin is a guide to the part of the machine causing the damage.

The average life of a pin is said to be about 12-18 months average. The AMFLite Pinnacle pin's have a two-year/10,000 game warranty.

As a comparison Here's from the 1996 Brunswick Pin Care Manual when they used the MAX pins.

"Under normal conditions, with two sets of pins per pinsetter, a pin should last:
-30 games per day 6 months
-60 games per day 4 months
-90 games per day 2 months"

That would be a busy house, that's a lot of games to do in a day.

[J Anderson]

I have a weekly league at a place that uses pins way past the expected lifespan. The results are varied. Have noticed a high frequency of splits when it appears the pocket was hit. 4 weeks into a 32 man league and the high score is 203!

In everyone's experience, what works best in these conditions? It appears full rollers do better on average and that 13 mph as straight balls fair better than their 20 mph cousins.

I haven't run into this lately. I did bowl for a while in a center where it seemed that you had to either hit really light or else very close to going through the nose. Anything in between would leave a 5-7 or 5-10 split.

My best advice is to really observe the ball as it goes through the pins and watch where it exits the pin deck. make whatever adjustments, ball changes, etc. needed to get it to roll off on board 20.

I would not suggest changing over to a full roller release or going with a heavier ball since you're not planning on ever bowling league there again.

[mattmc82]

I haven't run into this lately. I did bowl for a while in a center where it seemed that you had to either hit really light or else very close to going through the nose. Anything in between would leave a 5-7 or 5-10 split.

My best advice is to really observe the ball as it goes through the pins and watch where it exits the pin deck. make whatever adjustments, ball changes, etc. needed to get it to roll off on board 20.

I would not suggest changing over to a full roller release or going with a heavier ball since you're not planning on ever bowling league there again.

that's good advice. the 5-7 and 5-10's are so aggravating. league is tonight. Let's see what happens.

[mattmc82]

ok so the owner only strips the lanes about once a month (sometimes twice) and its a 35 foot flat pattern. that is what i learned last week.

any advice knowing the above other than to stop going there. i hate this place

[got_a_300]

ok so the owner only strips the lanes about once a month (sometimes twice) and its a 35 foot flat pattern. that is what i learned last week.

any advice knowing the above other than to stop going there. i hate this place

Only strips once a month wow!!!!! There could be oil carry down on the pin decks
causing the ball / pins to slide around causing all of those splits. My best advice is
to drop that bowling center like a hot potato after you are done with your league.

[Jessiewoodard57]

the only way a pin gets retired at the center we bowl at is if it gets broken . Its always interesting when the pinsetter sets a rack down a a pin falls over.