Dangerous approaches - please comment

[Guest]

Whats the feeling, are synthetic approaches dangerous and why?

All answers greatfully accepted

[KL Kevin]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

They can be, the slightest little bit of crap gets on them and wham, you stick hard.

When properly maintained, they usually dont give too much trouble, but it seems like just about every tournament I go to with synthetics, you see someone take a dive.

When you stick on wood, usually a little hop and you get your balance back, when you stick on synthetics, you're going DOWN

kevin

[Dutch]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

The only experience I have with synthetic approaches is from the National Bowling Stadium here in Reno. When they first opened they had a real problem maintaining them properly. We, at the Reno Hilton came accross something by accident that we passed along to them & they haven't had a problem since.

We were cleaning our overhead monitors & got a little of the chemical on our wooden approach. For two days the bowlers had to walk slowly or their feet would just skid out from under them.

If you have access to Chemsearch products, the name is AR-19. It's an anti-static, cleaner & protectant made for computer screens. You can also get it from Certified Chemical. The 2 companies sell the same products under different names. I'm not sure the name Certified uses.

Other similar products may work, but we've never tried them.

[rrlanes]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

I believe synthetic approaches are the way to go. They are great as long as the center maintains them. Our house uses Brunswick IPA 99 synthetic approach cleaner and we do not run into problems.

[RipOwens]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

One problem synthetics have and still do have as far as danger is how the heal reacts on it. Take a house shoe and apply a little wieght to the heal and try to slide it on synthetics, pretty much sticks where as wood will slide much better.

[Cliff]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

only problem i ever had with synthetics is oil when tracked on them stays on them. get some lazy staff that doesnt do their opening/closing cleaning duties and you got a ruined shoe.

wood, in good shape and well maintained is my favorite approach. more cushion for you legs and it will pass oil through itself.

however wood apporaches are more maintence long run, just like wood lanes. get a board thats popped loose and beginning to stick up, catch it with your toe just as you begin to slide and go flat on your face with some speed.
i found just such a board the other week on lane 6 here. painful discovery. got a blue knee and a blue palm, im just glad i didnt apperently break anything and i got my ball away before i hit ground.

[PJ]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

Talk about bringing back the past. Some of these guys have not been on bowltech for a few years.

[daprhb]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

I noticed Dutch. RIP. He is still missed.

[Comp_u_Geek]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

I have had synthetic approaches for a few years. I found the best way to maintain them is a low speed buffer, a tight looped bonnet and 99% Isopropal alcohol. Started using it in the new house I am at and after a month of cleaning once a week the bowlers love it.

[Scooter185]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

from a bowling standpoint i prefer wood. the feel of synths changes too much with the weather, so getting consistent slide can be hard. also, bowling on freshly installed synths is like bowling on a curling lane. 100 times as bad as resurfaced wood.

[KPADS]

Re: Dangerous approaches - please comment

I have had synthetic approaches for a few years. I found the best way to maintain them is a low speed buffer, a tight looped bonnet and 99% Isopropal alcohol. Started using it in the new house I am at and after a month of cleaning once a week the bowlers love it.

We follow a similar procedure here. We use the low speed buffer as well. But seeing as we are a high linage center, the approaches here get buffed from foul line to bowling circle by the lane guy in the a.m. In the afternoon we re-buff the slide area only after we oil the lane. We don't however use alcohol, we use water. We've been doing it this way for years. JBing can confirm that as he is the one the started us on it.