Monson Lanes to close

This was posted by the Josefiak family on the Voy Message Board:

"We regret to say after 30 wonderful years of operating the Monson Lanes, we will be closing our doors as of May 6. The decision was made because of our Dad's health. Back on Mar.18, our Dad suffered a massive stroke at the lanes. He is as of today still in the Hospital, mostly in the I.C.U. at Baystate. He is doing as well as can be expected, but will not be the same. Which leaves Dan and Al to run 2 bowling centers single handedly, and we don't want our Mom to work any hours, let alone more hours. So, in saying that, we are pleased to have all the Monson bowlers relocate to our Roll-A-Way Lanes in Ware for next season. So with no leagues left in Monson, the building will be for sale as commercial building for another business venture. As far as the contents go, we will be selling those as well, hopefully ALL as one package complete. 8 lanes of maple wood and approaches (recently refinished by J.E.Corp.)200+ Garland pins, pinsetters, phenolic decks, balls, shoe rentals,seating, Brunswick tele-scores, ball returns, motors, gearboxes, turntables, 8 selection soda vending machine. The pinsetters have all the latest updates, chain drives, pinlift conversions, all done by Wayne McDonald of Pinsetter Service in Worcester.Solid states by John Renner. Everything is in perfect condition, we never neglected the machines.So if you are looking to expand or have 8 lanes of spare top quality parts for spares.Price for all is $25,000. FIRM. If there are no takers for everything by JUNE 1st, we will sell off individual parts and equipment, I am compiling a list of parts along with names and phone numbers of who wants what.Please contact us in Ware (413) 967-5209 after 1 p.m. or email me for prices. dallas2299@yahoo.com"

Which candlepin ball is best for me?

Which candlepin ball is best for me?

This is a question we get a lot, which unfortunately there is no standard answer for. Picking the right candlepin ball for you is mostly preference with a few other factors thrown in.

Candlepin bowling balls come in one diameter, the regulation 4.5 inches (that's one thing you don't have to decide on!). They come in a variety of weights, generally which go from 2 pounds 4 ounches, all the way up to 2 pound 7 ounces. While a lighter ball (2-4 or 2-5) may be a better choice for the younger folks, for the average adult bowler a 2-6 or 2-7 ball is probably what you're looking for. With the weight of a regulation pin being 2 pound 8 ounces, the closer your ball's weight in relation to the pin's weight, the more action you're going to get on the pins. Of course the speed and rotation of the ball also play a role in pin-action, so again it's really a matter of preference when it comes to weight. But generally the heaviest ball that you feel comfortable throwing, would probably be your best option.

Your next decision is what material you want your ball to be made of. This will determine how soft or hard the ball is, and how it will react to the lane. One of the most popular balls, the EPCO Paramount ball, is a low-priced ball made of a rubber (80%) and synthetic (20%) blend. This makes for a harder, more durable ball, great for beginners and experts alike. It's available in all weights (2-4 to 2-7), and a variety of solid colors and swirls which also adds to it's popularity.

If you are looking for more grip on your ball, if you like to throw a hook for example, the EPCO Pro 72 ball is a softer ball which is designed for gripping and hooking action. The only downfall to this softer ball is that it may be more prone to defects due to its softness. This is a small price to pay for people who are looking for more lane grip. The Pro 72 comes in 2-6 and 2-7 weights.

The EPCO Cobra Pro Rubber ball is a higher-end ball made of high performance polymer rubber. If you're looking for durable ball with hard hitting action, this is a great choice. If you're familiar with the old EPCO Scorpion balls, this is the next generation, and is a great replacement. The Cobra comes in 2-6 and 2-7 weights.

Looking for the coolness factor? EPCO Novelty Balls combine quality and durability with various novelty designs. Whether it be your favorite New England sports team, USA flag, or poker hand, these balls will definitely attract attention. Paramount Solid balls also come in some nice, bright, funky colors including hot pink, bright blue, orange, etc. The only downfall of the novelty balls is they only come in a 2-6 weights. This is not the case with the Paramount Solids, which come in 2-4 through 2-7.

In conclusion, what ball fits your game the best is a personal decision. Hopefully this guide will assist in your choice!

Welcome to the OddballSportingGoods.com Blog!

Here you'll find lots of news and information (both useful and completely useless) with regards to Oddball Sporting Goods and the game of Candlepin Bowling in general. What's different about our blog than the other 5000 bowling blogs out there? Probably not much, but hey we had to jump on the bandwagon too! Seriously though, we'll try to keep this blog limited to useful information, and hopefully we won't find you face down on your desk snoring.

Enjoy!