I love how it's like a TV broadcast when Coach Randy wants to take a break it plays a clip or commercial about bowling it makes you feel like you a watch this on your TV and not on TH-cam I love it keep up the amazing work that goes into there videos they are great and can't wait to see what new amazing videos come our way
Love to watch Prodigy bowlers. They are fantastic. I'm 71 years old and a league bowler but these kids astound me. I'm a big fan of Hunter and Christian. Way to go guys!!!!
I remember all of the old stuff including wax pencils!! Great to see nostalgic circumstances! Lots of background noise....it's like we're in a bowling alley or something. 😛 I hear the air hockey!!
Yep, the air hockey machine was behind the camera and off to the right, between the men's and women's room. It's where I recorded the interview with the winner of our Single Ball Elimination.
My favorite masking units of all time are these same single lane Gold Crown masking units, but with the pale blue color. I've never been a fan of green. But this place is so beautiful, and I'm glad that the camera captured it quite nicely. I think this was the most beautifully photographed episode of PRODIGY we've ever done. I love the way this place looks. And it's a credit to the management and the mechanic that the machines are working so smoothly and efficiently. No hiccups while we were there.
Loved this episode.... great concept Randy. Hoping in the near future to see Rowan & Hunter compete as a doubles team in tournaments. I feel they would work very well together.
I have a bowling alley here in Colorado I bowl at every summer that has 8 lanes, wood lanes, above ground ball return, and manual scoring. It's really fun to bowl at but I might not be able to bowl there this weekend since I'm going camping with some family
I really enjoyed the Brunswick documentaries. The sixties look, the fiberglass seating, the futuristic ball returns, the masking units. Very cool. And of course, I enjoyed the show too. Well done.
I remember bowling on wood for the first time. Was the hardest thing I have ever bowled on. The heads and front part of the lane were so burnt out the ball was rolling as soon as I released the ball. Didn’t matter if I lofted it or not. I would have had to loft it a foot PAST the arrows to get the ball to skid. Ended up lofting the left gutter cap. Gotta bowl on more garbage time like that. Loved this video was like a flash back and a learning lesson for me. THANKS RANDY!!
Hey Randy, I could not help but notice that your baby picture was easily recognizable with your picture of you today. You simply never changed your looks at all. You just grew a beard. === It looks like I may have to quit bowling this year. My right arm has been destroyed by arthritis. I bowled a 190 average this past year at 76 years old, but it now looks like I will not be able to compete this Fall. I really waned to keep bowling but the pain has became to severe. ===I still love your shows, and I will continue to watch them as long s God allows. Your passion for providing a place for the kids to be other then being at a meth lab, is appreciated very much. Stay safe, hwc
I occasionally find myself giving lessons to older youths and young (and even sometimes older) adults who learned to bowl by "muscling" the swing. This is a sure-fire way to shorten your bowling career by wearing down your muscles and joints. The swing should be free-flowing, completely devoid of tension of any kind. The ball should swing like a rock on a string. Trying "guide" or "steer" or "control" the swing somehow not only sacrifices accuracy and feel, but it does damage to the shoulder, elbow, wrist and arm. I know it's said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I gotta tell ya, what you've described here has all the earmarks of a player who's been muscling the ball for years and is now paying the price. Learn to relax your arm, push the ball away, let it drop into a swing and JUST LET GRAVITY DO THE WORK FOR YOU. The swing should literally be like a swing on a playground with the weight of a child in the swing, but the swing itself is just swinging freely. Learn to swing that way and I can almost guarantee you that some of the pain you're feeling will vanish...almost immediately. Over and out from Doctor Brown. LOL!
This was one of my favorite episodes yet. I love the look of this house, and the championship match was as good and riveting as any you'd ever see on TV.
Great show! What a neat place. The only thing missing is the tear-off sheets with the stubby little pencils. I heard Air Hockey in the background...even their games are 1960s.
blockcl - Good ears! The air hockey machine was just behind the camera and to the right between the two restroom entrances. It’s where I interviewed the winner of the Single Ball Elimination.
Great show. My brother and I are thinking of taking a long weekend to try some of the old 9 pin houses in our neck of the woods. They still hire teenagers to set the pins.
Another awesome episode, as always! As far as retro lanes are concerned, there was this one bowling alley that was the closest by my house. Pretty small alley that only has 8 lanes, which were all wood. Sadly, it’s a town commons now, but that was the place where I started bowling junior league. That aside, I really enjoyed the retro concept!
I bowl at Heids Lanes in Cincinnati Ohio and they still have wood lanes. The issue they have with wood lanes is getting them sanctioned or resurfaced. I’m not sure of the term. Regardless, not too many outfits do this type of work anymore so they have to shut down the lanes whenever the outfit that does the lanes can show up. So they can show up in the middle of a league season and it can impact your game a tad bit.
No reason why you can't stage after-league challenge matches. That's how PRODIGY began. The kids would stay after league, hold a little qualifying game or two, then bowl a stepladder. All I did was get their parents' permission to film them and put it up on TH-cam with a bit of production added...and play-by-play. But long before a camera was pointed at them doing this, they bowled these challenge matches all on their own. It's fun for kids to fantasize that they're bowling in a real deal tournament. It's how you simuate pressure situations, which, as a coach, I find to be a very valuable exercise.
These are Brunswick "A" machines. Bowlero Roswell has the Brunswick A2 machines (which, unfortunately, were not well maintained until the last year or so -- they've been catching up on a lot of long-overdue maintenance issues). I believe AMF Woodstock has A2 machines as well. They have the original A2 stickers on the face of the pin tables. Although they run kinda slow like the "A" machines. But that can be a choice by the mechanic. You can adjust the A2s to run slower like the "A" machines. It puts less wear and tear on them.
Coach Randy, you could have played pin setter and reset the pins!! My Dad did that one weekend with a friend of his. He said that was enough for him!!! Love the old videos.
The oldest "continuously operated bowing center in Georgia." That's what they tell me. Which implies there might be one or two that are older, but must've closed down for a whie sometime along the way. But I can't tell you what or where they are. However, I can tell you that since this episode was posted on TH-cam, I have learned of another 12-lane wood bowling alley in Northern Georgia with old AMF masking units and ball returns. Plus, they even have a youth program! So you can bet that I'll be looking for a way to bring PRODIGY up there one of these days.
My home center has 18 wood lanes. On July 7th we will be getting synthetics though. We have had the same lanes since 1959. I’m excited but also makes me kinda sad
It was over an hour, and we weren't sure if it was going to come back on anytime soon. Glad it did. The people at Jefferson Lanes couldn't have been nicer.
There are MANY more differences you can't see from the front between a model "A" and an "A2" pinsetter, most differences are in the back. Really all you'll notice from the front is the rake dropping first due to the addition of the rake trip assembly or the "shotgun" as its often called, and a change in the pit cushion design and the linkages to trip the rake first before the deck lowers. As mentioned on a model "A" you will see the deck and rake lower together. Machine speed itself can be changed (faster or slower with just 1 pulley change on the 1HP motor) and as time has passed MANY MANY A2's have been slowed down to jetback or original "A" speed to save on wear and tear since they are running slower (and more smoothly). Model "A"s have different ball lift rods in the back (taller) and the return track is totally different as it's an entirely gravity based return system once the ball exits the lift rods. A2's have ball accelerators to get the ball back more quickly since the machine cycle is much faster, basically just a long belt that shoots the ball down the ball ramps. There were also the jetbacks, which were converted model "A"s and were basically between the A and A2. If this place was built in 1960 that's WAY too new for Otis made machines. I have some old videos on my channel before I became disabled of machines in the 3200 serial number range (field converted to A2's) that I was fortunate enough to work with, installed in late 1956 or early 1957 still running like gold 60 years later! Absolute TANKS, I heard originally the machines were supposedly going to last 8-12 years, just a tad off on that estimate lol. Otis made machines I feel were the best though, just GOOD 1950's american steel, of the 12 lanes in the center shown on my channel MANY MANY parts were original still, rake arms, deck lift shafts, etc. Just so well made and such beautiful machines. I miss working on them more than throwing the ball down the lane. I hope someday I can return to working with them again
Thank you SO much for writing this. I did not mean to suggest that the ONLY differences between the two machines were the timing of the rake and the table descending and the speed of operation. But as you correctly mentioned here, they are two of the more readily apparent differences from the bowler's perspective. Having never worked on pinsetters, I would not pretend to know all the differences between them. I also did not mean to imply that I thought THESE pinsetters at THIS house were of the Otis Elevator era. It has long been my understanding (and I thought I indicated) that THE EARLIEST Brunswick "A" machines were made by Otis Elevator. The exact date is not something I've ever quite known. But the fact that the early Brunswick "A" pinsetters were made by Otis is, itself, a source of fascination to me, and I thought it might be to others, which is why I mentioned it. There are some things I consider myself a expert on. This is not one of them, so I really do appreciate you chiming in here. I love the history of our sport, and the introduction of the automatic pinsetter in our sport was a landmark achievement -- arguably the most important advancement our sport has ever seen (far more important than the modern bowling ball) as it changed the trajectory of the sport from a seedy activity swept under the rug of polite society to being a sprawling and expansive sport that was brought to the mainstream of modern society. Again, thank you for chiming in with this information. By the way, for what it's worth, my understanding of how the timeline played out goes something like this: In 1946 (or was it '48), AMF introduces the first automatic pinspotter at the ABC Tournament in Buffalo, NY. Brunswick lags behind a few years before they introduce their first "automatic" to proprietors. I am not sure exactly what year that took place. Do you know? I know that when I was a kid, a brand new bowling center opened up in my neighborhood called King Louie Ranchmart Lanes in Leawood, Kansas (suburban Kansas City). King Louie Ranchmart was a 24-lane center with the twin Gold Crown masking units (white) with the subway "Cluster" ball returns (white and gray). The fiberglass bench seating was white. And the pinsetters were the same Brunswick "A" machines seen on this week's PRODIGY with the gold face on the rake and the "Brunswick" script. The pinsetter table had the gold "B" on the front just like these. Thank you also for the timeline of the introduction of the Jet Back retrofit kit for the A machines. That jibes with what I remember as well. To the best of my recollection the A2 machines were first introduced in the mid to late '60s. Is that how you remember it as well? Again, thank you for this.
@@ProdigyBowlersTour Oh gladly! Good to speak to you again as well Randy, we haven't since Keith's (mrbowling300) forums years back. When I became ill I fell into a deep depression and really went unsocial and off the radar. If anything came off as rude or downtalk I assure you by all means it was not. I can't physically work on the machines anymore so if I can share knowledge that I do have I always try to. I know from Prodigy and even before on Keith's forums you're a historian like I am :) That stuff always fascinates me. And yes your info is correct, the 1946 ABC Nationals in Buffalo introduced AMF's first model of the 82-30. AMF actually had quite a lead. It wasn't until 1956 in Roselle NJ that Brunswick first installed 16 Model A pinsetters (later field converted to A2's, and sadly Roselle closed a few years back). Rumor has it Brunswick took those 16 machines back due to how old they were and being their first installation of them. The earliest deck shields that I have seen were a dark green color with simply "Brunswick" written in cursive on them, tho I will admit I always liked the big gold "B" like these model A's had. I did notice these A's were modified to remove 90 degree overtravel (which was a safety concern), longish story but I can get into that too if you'd like. Some Otis history for you, Brunswick made a deal with Otis to make the machines for them as they were setting up their plant in Muskegon, the demand went crazy and Otis made the first 25000 machines or so for Brunswick before their facility was ready. The center I worked in had 8 lanes (machines installed in late 1956 or early 1957, never could get an exact date) then 4 more lanes were added and were later Otis made machines with various serial numbers between 20000 and 23000. Your timeline is correct according to all of my readings over the years (sadly I'm only 39, I missed out on a lot BUT I will say my first center I bowled in when I was 3 had ALL Gold Crown. Single lane masks, and subways with the LONG returns and field converted A2's). The first factory A2 as we call them (made by Brunswick as an A2) was released in either 1962 or 1963, I wanna say 62 but I might be mixing that date up with AMF (I worked on AMF 82-70's for over 10 years, starting when I was 18 and later changed centers and worked on Brunswicks). Your dates/timeline is pretty spot on. I'm glad you found the info useful and again if anything came off in a sour way, not intended at all. I just love discussing the machines and their history, they were my love and passion for many years and if I was physically able I would still be climbing all over them with grease, oil, wrenches, and ratchets. Good to speak with you again Randy, it's been literally years. If I can answer anything or help in any way feel free to hit me up at anytime! :)
@@ProdigyBowlersTour I think it was just Rep without the numbers on the end. It's been years since I've been over there. I remember we chatted a bit. I know you were BowlingOldies back in the day :)
looks like it! My center has wooden lanes as well! They are very angular. My other center that has Synthetic, are more straighter and give a little more miss room. Especially for the higher rev players.
Today i was bowling league and i left a pocket 7 10 split and then i missed it and then the next frame on the same lane and i left another pocket 7 10 and then i threw my ball about 25 mph and the 7 pin bounced out of the gutter and rolled across the deck and knocked the 10 pin over.
Well, this was the SINGLE ball elimination format. We've done both. The double ball elimination gives players a second chance to keep from being eliminated. But since this was part of a double feature, I figured we needed to keep it simple and keep it moving. But the single/double ball elimination format is one of my favorites. I've come to believe, however, that it's not such a great format when you have visitors coming to bowl who might go to the trouble to come bowl with you, only to be eliminated after throwing just one ball. But in this case, since I knew we'd be doing a whole, full PRODIGY event AFTER the Single Ball Eliminator, I figured we could get away with it. I think coupling the format with a full blown PRODIGY "tunamint" works nicely, as this episode shows.
It's not quite finished. Still editing. Still have play-by-play to add. I'm hoping to be able to release it to Patrons later tonight (or in the morning), and then the general release a few hours after that. It's a blockbuster.
There are many ways to increase ball speed. A lot of theories, a lot of flawed Ideas, and a lot of good ones that work. Some find that raising or lowering their start position creates ball speed. Some step further back on the approach and slide/plant at the same spot at the foul line. I as a two hander actually lowered my backswing a good 6 inches or so and just did my best to let it go clean and not crank on it at the bottom, and boy did that ball speed up. But everyone bowls differently. Some things work for me and hinder you. Belmo does what he does, you do what you do. Experimentation is hands down the best way to find what you're looking for. Some people physically can't hit 20 mph no matter what they do and that kinda stinks, but hey, nobody can bowl for you, and more importantly, you are you, and nobody else can be. Just mess around with wrist positions, wrenching on it at the bottom of the swing, letting it go clean, raising or lowering your backswing and/or starting position, even might be where you bowl/the shoes you wear. I can easily hit 19 mph at one house where it sticks a lot, but can barely hit 18 at another with extremely dirty/slippery floors. Footwork and swing height are likely the most common areas of ball speed, but as to everything in life, there are many other variables. I'll shut up now and let you enjoy the rest of your day, but hope this helps :)
Wood lanes are alot more fun to bowl on. You have a different shot almost every week when you bowled league. One week it could be real dry. Next week it would be a great shot until the third game. Then you moved way inside to lay it down. I'm 65,I preferred wood lanes myself. More fun back in the day of weaker balls. Bowling as it should be on wood. Harder to control the ball instead of just laying it down and the oil guiding it to the pocket. Rowan needs to quiet down in the background. He never keeps quiet during video screening.
Sure, if they'd have us. I will say, however, that since releasing this video, I have learned of another all-wood center with retro 1960s-vintage masking untils about the same distance from Atlanta but in a different direction. This one's an AMF house with the old "Magic Triangle" masking units with the "pindicators." (I don't know if the pindicators still operate, but they're there.) I also understand that this particular house has a youth program. So going up there seems like a natural if I can ever get in touch with them. The owner at Jefferson Lanes told me there was a good chance that the wood lanes could be converted to synthetic soon. See, the deal with wood lanes is, each time they're re-surfaced, you have to shave the wood down a bit to flatten out the surface. Over the year with each resurfacing, you reduce the amount of wood that's there until the lane beds become so shallow there's no wood left to resurface. So you either have to install new wood lanes (very expensive, and I'm not sure if companies even make them any more), or you have to install synthetic panels over the top of the old wood lanes. He told me that the next time they resurface (and the lanes appear overdue now for that to be done), they'd probably just switch to synthetic. So when that happens, part of the center's appeal would be diminished. But I still love the place and the retro masks. Besides, they were so nice and just awesome hosts, that I'd definitely consider another trip there somewhere in the future. But I'd probably want to go to this other place first just so we could see an old, retro AMF house -- something we've never had on PRODIGY before. But that's nothing against Jefferson Lanes. I highly recommend that people go bowl at Jefferson Lanes. It's an awesome place. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip there!
When you do the nine pin no tap adult youth scotch doubles on the house shot event, you should make it a much bigger step ladder so more people can bowl
BrownswickBowling I know, and I’m aware that the bigger it is the more editing, but it would be nice to have a larger step ladder so more people can participate, also are you participating in it?
Simple: It's much softer than the synthetic surfaces we see today, and because of how the track gets worn into the lane, particularly on the right side, it causes much more friction with the ball.
Rowan looked like he was having trouble with that ball today. Wasn’t smooth like usual looked like he was dropping it. Am I the only one who has OCD and was going nuts the whole video because the prodigy bowling pin wasn’t perfectly centered between the screens 🤦🏻♂️ Great vid coach randy
Back in the day, I had a friend in Louisiana who used to tell me that some of the bowling alleys in his area damaged bowling balls so often that some players warned that if you were going to bowl there, "you need to bring your war ball."
Those pinsetters have been around for many years too. That masking is the same as Plaza lanes had here before it burnt down. Plaza had a putrid pinkish color on theirs. Helluva shot though. High scores every week. I don't believe you could change those masking fronts on the older Brunswick machines. Christian never fails is does he. He always ends up losing on a bad shot in the 10th or splits early in the title games. Tangerine was Plaza's masking colors. Kind of ugly. There's no crying in bowling Rowan. Hahahaha
Those junior bowlers are exceptionally good especially the younger ones for their age. They deserve to bowl in a better house. Were those lanes oiled manually or just a junky machine.... that right lane condition is so messed up. Couldn't you just paused the vid during power failure and edit out the non-bowling? I did enjoy seeing some of the history of the Brunswick machinery. So AMF automation was the first.
I bowled on wood all my life dude. Those lanes were fresh oiled. Aside for poor conditions, you can see there is major pattern mismatch. Those junior bowlers did great to do so well considering.
Big Foot lol jk needs to really slow down on his single pin spares. His average would easily go way up if he took his time on them not just launch it down the lane!
*** PLEASE DO *NOT* POST SPOILERS!!! ***
*** PLEASE DO *NOT* POST SPOILERS!!! ***
*** PLEASE DO *NOT* POST SPOILERS!!! ***
BRING LOFO BACK
@@johndeere3325 - That is not my choice. I am not his keeper. I saw Lofo today practicing. He's welcome to bowl on PRODIGY anytime he wants.
Can you come to Potomac Lanes in Oxen Hill on Saturday because I bowl on that day
This is my favorite episode of prodigy so far
I love how it's like a TV broadcast when Coach Randy wants to take a break it plays a clip or commercial about bowling it makes you feel like you a watch this on your TV and not on TH-cam I love it keep up the amazing work that goes into there videos they are great and can't wait to see what new amazing videos come our way
That's the whole idea -- to make and feel as much like a network TV broadcast of a bowling event as I can make it one a budget of exactly $0.
Love to watch Prodigy bowlers. They are fantastic. I'm 71 years old and a league bowler but these kids astound me. I'm a big fan of Hunter and Christian. Way to go guys!!!!
Omg I love this bowling center do more prodigy bowlers tour episode with this center
I found another one! We'll go there sometime. An old AMF house with the Magic Triangle!
BrownswickBowling oh nice
I remember all of the old stuff including wax pencils!! Great to see nostalgic circumstances! Lots of background noise....it's like we're in a bowling alley or something. 😛 I hear the air hockey!!
Yep, the air hockey machine was behind the camera and off to the right, between the men's and women's room. It's where I recorded the interview with the winner of our Single Ball Elimination.
This is my most favorite prodigy episode.
Clean Hitz Official - It’s in my Top 5, for sure.
What a nice old school bowling alley. I love the sea foam green background.
My favorite masking units of all time are these same single lane Gold Crown masking units, but with the pale blue color. I've never been a fan of green. But this place is so beautiful, and I'm glad that the camera captured it quite nicely. I think this was the most beautifully photographed episode of PRODIGY we've ever done. I love the way this place looks. And it's a credit to the management and the mechanic that the machines are working so smoothly and efficiently. No hiccups while we were there.
Liking this video for dropping the "Bowling Is Our Business" promo video into the episode. Love it!
The cool thing about Jefferson Lanes is that Their Amflite 2 bowling pins are ABC approved instead of USBC
I love wooden lanes I wish more bowling center have wooden lanes I love your videos
Awesome telecast with retrospective wood lanes & I love old school bowling. Great job Coach Randy!
Loved this episode.... great concept Randy. Hoping in the near future to see Rowan & Hunter compete as a doubles team in tournaments. I feel they would work very well together.
Again Randy perfect timing! Bored no more
I have a bowling alley here in Colorado I bowl at every summer that has 8 lanes, wood lanes, above ground ball return, and manual scoring. It's really fun to bowl at but I might not be able to bowl there this weekend since I'm going camping with some family
I really enjoyed the Brunswick documentaries. The sixties look, the fiberglass seating, the futuristic ball returns, the masking units. Very cool. And of course, I enjoyed the show too. Well done.
I remember bowling on wood for the first time. Was the hardest thing I have ever bowled on. The heads and front part of the lane were so burnt out the ball was rolling as soon as I released the ball. Didn’t matter if I lofted it or not. I would have had to loft it a foot PAST the arrows to get the ball to skid. Ended up lofting the left gutter cap. Gotta bowl on more garbage time like that. Loved this video was like a flash back and a learning lesson for me. THANKS RANDY!!
Hey Randy, I could not help but notice that your baby picture was easily recognizable with your picture of you today. You simply never changed your looks at all. You just grew a beard. === It looks like I may have to quit bowling this year. My right arm has been destroyed by arthritis. I bowled a 190 average this past year at 76 years old, but it now looks like I will not be able to compete this Fall. I really waned to keep bowling but the pain has became to severe. ===I still love your shows, and I will continue to watch them as long s God allows. Your passion for providing a place for the kids to be other then being at a meth lab, is appreciated very much. Stay safe, hwc
I occasionally find myself giving lessons to older youths and young (and even sometimes older) adults who learned to bowl by "muscling" the swing. This is a sure-fire way to shorten your bowling career by wearing down your muscles and joints. The swing should be free-flowing, completely devoid of tension of any kind. The ball should swing like a rock on a string. Trying "guide" or "steer" or "control" the swing somehow not only sacrifices accuracy and feel, but it does damage to the shoulder, elbow, wrist and arm. I know it's said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I gotta tell ya, what you've described here has all the earmarks of a player who's been muscling the ball for years and is now paying the price. Learn to relax your arm, push the ball away, let it drop into a swing and JUST LET GRAVITY DO THE WORK FOR YOU. The swing should literally be like a swing on a playground with the weight of a child in the swing, but the swing itself is just swinging freely. Learn to swing that way and I can almost guarantee you that some of the pain you're feeling will vanish...almost immediately. Over and out from Doctor Brown. LOL!
well coach Randy, you weren't kidding when you said it was gonna be thrilling!!!
really enjoyed this 1
This was one of my favorite episodes yet. I love the look of this house, and the championship match was as good and riveting as any you'd ever see on TV.
Logan’s ball reaction on wood lanes!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Great show! What a neat place. The only thing missing is the tear-off sheets with the stubby little pencils. I heard Air Hockey in the background...even their games are 1960s.
blockcl - Good ears! The air hockey machine was just behind the camera and to the right between the two restroom entrances. It’s where I interviewed the winner of the Single Ball Elimination.
Great show. My brother and I are thinking of taking a long weekend to try some of the old 9 pin houses in our neck of the woods. They still hire teenagers to set the pins.
I like watching pRoDIGY BoWLERS TOUR
Another awesome episode, as always! As far as retro lanes are concerned, there was this one bowling alley that was the closest by my house. Pretty small alley that only has 8 lanes, which were all wood. Sadly, it’s a town commons now, but that was the place where I started bowling junior league. That aside, I really enjoyed the retro concept!
Reminds me of my bowling alley where I live, wood lanes and everything💕🎳.
I bowl at Heids Lanes in Cincinnati Ohio and they still have wood lanes. The issue they have with wood lanes is getting them sanctioned or resurfaced. I’m not sure of the term. Regardless, not too many outfits do this type of work anymore so they have to shut down the lanes whenever the outfit that does the lanes can show up. So they can show up in the middle of a league season and it can impact your game a tad bit.
Never noticed’ rewatching episode’ kids playing air hockey in the background during the Championship match.
Wish we did prodigy in idaho
I am also from Idaho. Do you do the IJBT's?
No reason why you can't stage after-league challenge matches. That's how PRODIGY began. The kids would stay after league, hold a little qualifying game or two, then bowl a stepladder. All I did was get their parents' permission to film them and put it up on TH-cam with a bit of production added...and play-by-play. But long before a camera was pointed at them doing this, they bowled these challenge matches all on their own. It's fun for kids to fantasize that they're bowling in a real deal tournament. It's how you simuate pressure situations, which, as a coach, I find to be a very valuable exercise.
getting two handed tips watching Lane...... you a beast!
Are those brunswick a pinsetters and in the brunswick zone and amf woodstock lanes have a-2s?
These are Brunswick "A" machines. Bowlero Roswell has the Brunswick A2 machines (which, unfortunately, were not well maintained until the last year or so -- they've been catching up on a lot of long-overdue maintenance issues). I believe AMF Woodstock has A2 machines as well. They have the original A2 stickers on the face of the pin tables. Although they run kinda slow like the "A" machines. But that can be a choice by the mechanic. You can adjust the A2s to run slower like the "A" machines. It puts less wear and tear on them.
@@ProdigyBowlersTourOk, thanks for all of this information! Have a nice day!
Coach Randy, you could have played pin setter and reset the pins!! My Dad did that one weekend with a friend of his. He said that was enough for him!!! Love the old videos.
Hello there!
Gotta give props to Xavier I mean he was brave enough to bowl without bumpers
This alley is just like my alley
Jeez..Does Allysen have a textbook delivery or what?? Wow!! I see she will go far in the sport!!
My huge local center recently replaced their wooden lanes :|
Jefferson lanes must be the oldest bowling alley out of all the rest of them in Georgia.
The oldest "continuously operated bowing center in Georgia." That's what they tell me. Which implies there might be one or two that are older, but must've closed down for a whie sometime along the way. But I can't tell you what or where they are. However, I can tell you that since this episode was posted on TH-cam, I have learned of another 12-lane wood bowling alley in Northern Georgia with old AMF masking units and ball returns. Plus, they even have a youth program! So you can bet that I'll be looking for a way to bring PRODIGY up there one of these days.
@@ProdigyBowlersTour maybe u can bring the prodigy video up there at that bowling alley in on of these episodes coming up.
My home center has 18 wood lanes. On July 7th we will be getting synthetics though. We have had the same lanes since 1959. I’m excited but also makes me kinda sad
I can’t believe the power went out for an our
It was over an hour, and we weren't sure if it was going to come back on anytime soon. Glad it did. The people at Jefferson Lanes couldn't have been nicer.
I think I bowled a tournament on wooden lanes once wasn't too fun
I know my alley still has wood lanes. I'm in beckley west Virginia. They don't take very good care of them though
There are MANY more differences you can't see from the front between a model "A" and an "A2" pinsetter, most differences are in the back. Really all you'll notice from the front is the rake dropping first due to the addition of the rake trip assembly or the "shotgun" as its often called, and a change in the pit cushion design and the linkages to trip the rake first before the deck lowers. As mentioned on a model "A" you will see the deck and rake lower together. Machine speed itself can be changed (faster or slower with just 1 pulley change on the 1HP motor) and as time has passed MANY MANY A2's have been slowed down to jetback or original "A" speed to save on wear and tear since they are running slower (and more smoothly). Model "A"s have different ball lift rods in the back (taller) and the return track is totally different as it's an entirely gravity based return system once the ball exits the lift rods. A2's have ball accelerators to get the ball back more quickly since the machine cycle is much faster, basically just a long belt that shoots the ball down the ball ramps. There were also the jetbacks, which were converted model "A"s and were basically between the A and A2. If this place was built in 1960 that's WAY too new for Otis made machines. I have some old videos on my channel before I became disabled of machines in the 3200 serial number range (field converted to A2's) that I was fortunate enough to work with, installed in late 1956 or early 1957 still running like gold 60 years later! Absolute TANKS, I heard originally the machines were supposedly going to last 8-12 years, just a tad off on that estimate lol. Otis made machines I feel were the best though, just GOOD 1950's american steel, of the 12 lanes in the center shown on my channel MANY MANY parts were original still, rake arms, deck lift shafts, etc. Just so well made and such beautiful machines. I miss working on them more than throwing the ball down the lane. I hope someday I can return to working with them again
Thank you SO much for writing this. I did not mean to suggest that the ONLY differences between the two machines were the timing of the rake and the table descending and the speed of operation. But as you correctly mentioned here, they are two of the more readily apparent differences from the bowler's perspective. Having never worked on pinsetters, I would not pretend to know all the differences between them. I also did not mean to imply that I thought THESE pinsetters at THIS house were of the Otis Elevator era. It has long been my understanding (and I thought I indicated) that THE EARLIEST Brunswick "A" machines were made by Otis Elevator. The exact date is not something I've ever quite known. But the fact that the early Brunswick "A" pinsetters were made by Otis is, itself, a source of fascination to me, and I thought it might be to others, which is why I mentioned it. There are some things I consider myself a expert on. This is not one of them, so I really do appreciate you chiming in here. I love the history of our sport, and the introduction of the automatic pinsetter in our sport was a landmark achievement -- arguably the most important advancement our sport has ever seen (far more important than the modern bowling ball) as it changed the trajectory of the sport from a seedy activity swept under the rug of polite society to being a sprawling and expansive sport that was brought to the mainstream of modern society. Again, thank you for chiming in with this information.
By the way, for what it's worth, my understanding of how the timeline played out goes something like this: In 1946 (or was it '48), AMF introduces the first automatic pinspotter at the ABC Tournament in Buffalo, NY. Brunswick lags behind a few years before they introduce their first "automatic" to proprietors. I am not sure exactly what year that took place. Do you know? I know that when I was a kid, a brand new bowling center opened up in my neighborhood called King Louie Ranchmart Lanes in Leawood, Kansas (suburban Kansas City). King Louie Ranchmart was a 24-lane center with the twin Gold Crown masking units (white) with the subway "Cluster" ball returns (white and gray). The fiberglass bench seating was white. And the pinsetters were the same Brunswick "A" machines seen on this week's PRODIGY with the gold face on the rake and the "Brunswick" script. The pinsetter table had the gold "B" on the front just like these.
Thank you also for the timeline of the introduction of the Jet Back retrofit kit for the A machines. That jibes with what I remember as well. To the best of my recollection the A2 machines were first introduced in the mid to late '60s. Is that how you remember it as well?
Again, thank you for this.
@@ProdigyBowlersTour Oh gladly! Good to speak to you again as well Randy, we haven't since Keith's (mrbowling300) forums years back. When I became ill I fell into a deep depression and really went unsocial and off the radar. If anything came off as rude or downtalk I assure you by all means it was not. I can't physically work on the machines anymore so if I can share knowledge that I do have I always try to. I know from Prodigy and even before on Keith's forums you're a historian like I am :) That stuff always fascinates me. And yes your info is correct, the 1946 ABC Nationals in Buffalo introduced AMF's first model of the 82-30. AMF actually had quite a lead. It wasn't until 1956 in Roselle NJ that Brunswick first installed 16 Model A pinsetters (later field converted to A2's, and sadly Roselle closed a few years back). Rumor has it Brunswick took those 16 machines back due to how old they were and being their first installation of them. The earliest deck shields that I have seen were a dark green color with simply "Brunswick" written in cursive on them, tho I will admit I always liked the big gold "B" like these model A's had. I did notice these A's were modified to remove 90 degree overtravel (which was a safety concern), longish story but I can get into that too if you'd like. Some Otis history for you, Brunswick made a deal with Otis to make the machines for them as they were setting up their plant in Muskegon, the demand went crazy and Otis made the first 25000 machines or so for Brunswick before their facility was ready. The center I worked in had 8 lanes (machines installed in late 1956 or early 1957, never could get an exact date) then 4 more lanes were added and were later Otis made machines with various serial numbers between 20000 and 23000. Your timeline is correct according to all of my readings over the years (sadly I'm only 39, I missed out on a lot BUT I will say my first center I bowled in when I was 3 had ALL Gold Crown. Single lane masks, and subways with the LONG returns and field converted A2's). The first factory A2 as we call them (made by Brunswick as an A2) was released in either 1962 or 1963, I wanna say 62 but I might be mixing that date up with AMF (I worked on AMF 82-70's for over 10 years, starting when I was 18 and later changed centers and worked on Brunswicks). Your dates/timeline is pretty spot on. I'm glad you found the info useful and again if anything came off in a sour way, not intended at all. I just love discussing the machines and their history, they were my love and passion for many years and if I was physically able I would still be climbing all over them with grease, oil, wrenches, and ratchets. Good to speak with you again Randy, it's been literally years. If I can answer anything or help in any way feel free to hit me up at anytime! :)
Rep2369 - What was/is your screen name on MrBowling300’s forum?
@@ProdigyBowlersTour I think it was just Rep without the numbers on the end. It's been years since I've been over there. I remember we chatted a bit. I know you were BowlingOldies back in the day :)
Gainesville, GA..... home of Logan Mathis & The Phenomenal A.J. Styles
Wow they were hooking a lot. Wood lanes?
looks like it! My center has wooden lanes as well! They are very angular. My other center that has Synthetic, are more straighter and give a little more miss room. Especially for the higher rev players.
I have a lot of old centers like this where I live, lots of old wood surfaces and old synthetics.
Yes, it is mentioned quite a number of times on the show that these are wood lanes.
@@timbush1874 yeah the wood surfaces are brutal like!
Looking at the match with the Littles, Hunter’s approach on his first shot reminds of of Josh Ballenger’s approach. Not too shabby
MrEzraRulez21 it’s Jacob not josh
Today i was bowling league and i left a pocket 7 10 split and then i missed it and then the next frame on the same lane and i left another pocket 7 10 and then i threw my ball about 25 mph and the 7 pin bounced out of the gutter and rolled across the deck and knocked the 10 pin over.
Love double ball elimination. Always a fun time.
Well, this was the SINGLE ball elimination format. We've done both. The double ball elimination gives players a second chance to keep from being eliminated. But since this was part of a double feature, I figured we needed to keep it simple and keep it moving. But the single/double ball elimination format is one of my favorites. I've come to believe, however, that it's not such a great format when you have visitors coming to bowl who might go to the trouble to come bowl with you, only to be eliminated after throwing just one ball. But in this case, since I knew we'd be doing a whole, full PRODIGY event AFTER the Single Ball Eliminator, I figured we could get away with it. I think coupling the format with a full blown PRODIGY "tunamint" works nicely, as this episode shows.
Any word on TOC?
It's not quite finished. Still editing. Still have play-by-play to add. I'm hoping to be able to release it to Patrons later tonight (or in the morning), and then the general release a few hours after that. It's a blockbuster.
Great!
Does anybody know hot to speed up ball speed as a two hander I tried walking/running faster but my speed stays the same
Vybes bend your elbow
There are many ways to increase ball speed. A lot of theories, a lot of flawed Ideas, and a lot of good ones that work. Some find that raising or lowering their start position creates ball speed. Some step further back on the approach and slide/plant at the same spot at the foul line. I as a two hander actually lowered my backswing a good 6 inches or so and just did my best to let it go clean and not crank on it at the bottom, and boy did that ball speed up. But everyone bowls differently. Some things work for me and hinder you. Belmo does what he does, you do what you do. Experimentation is hands down the best way to find what you're looking for. Some people physically can't hit 20 mph no matter what they do and that kinda stinks, but hey, nobody can bowl for you, and more importantly, you are you, and nobody else can be. Just mess around with wrist positions, wrenching on it at the bottom of the swing, letting it go clean, raising or lowering your backswing and/or starting position, even might be where you bowl/the shoes you wear. I can easily hit 19 mph at one house where it sticks a lot, but can barely hit 18 at another with extremely dirty/slippery floors. Footwork and swing height are likely the most common areas of ball speed, but as to everything in life, there are many other variables. I'll shut up now and let you enjoy the rest of your day, but hope this helps :)
@@corbinaguiar3697 thank you
@@vybes4300 anytime dude :)
Longer, faster strides. But of course any change like this can impact one's timing. Takes practice to hone it.
I wanna see the video of big logan bowling a 300
Novak4310 Prodigy 2x2 Vol. 1 is the video you need to see this
th-cam.com/video/xgTXFJ3Khpo/w-d-xo.html
Wood lanes are alot more fun to bowl on. You have a different shot almost every week when you bowled league. One week it could be real dry. Next week it would be a great shot until the third game. Then you moved way inside to lay it down. I'm 65,I preferred wood lanes myself. More fun back in the day of weaker balls. Bowling as it should be on wood. Harder to control the ball instead of just laying it down and the oil guiding it to the pocket. Rowan needs to quiet down in the background. He never keeps quiet during video screening.
Would u come back to Jefferson?
Sure, if they'd have us. I will say, however, that since releasing this video, I have learned of another all-wood center with retro 1960s-vintage masking untils about the same distance from Atlanta but in a different direction. This one's an AMF house with the old "Magic Triangle" masking units with the "pindicators." (I don't know if the pindicators still operate, but they're there.) I also understand that this particular house has a youth program. So going up there seems like a natural if I can ever get in touch with them. The owner at Jefferson Lanes told me there was a good chance that the wood lanes could be converted to synthetic soon. See, the deal with wood lanes is, each time they're re-surfaced, you have to shave the wood down a bit to flatten out the surface. Over the year with each resurfacing, you reduce the amount of wood that's there until the lane beds become so shallow there's no wood left to resurface. So you either have to install new wood lanes (very expensive, and I'm not sure if companies even make them any more), or you have to install synthetic panels over the top of the old wood lanes. He told me that the next time they resurface (and the lanes appear overdue now for that to be done), they'd probably just switch to synthetic. So when that happens, part of the center's appeal would be diminished. But I still love the place and the retro masks. Besides, they were so nice and just awesome hosts, that I'd definitely consider another trip there somewhere in the future. But I'd probably want to go to this other place first just so we could see an old, retro AMF house -- something we've never had on PRODIGY before. But that's nothing against Jefferson Lanes. I highly recommend that people go bowl at Jefferson Lanes. It's an awesome place. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip there!
When Rowan get a little bit of more ball speed he gonna be good
He’s got a bright future ahead of him if he continues
I'm getting my own bolling ball on my birthday
When you do the nine pin no tap adult youth scotch doubles on the house shot event, you should make it a much bigger step ladder so more people can bowl
It will be a 5-team stepladder as it's always been.
BrownswickBowling I know, and I’m aware that the bigger it is the more editing, but it would be nice to have a larger step ladder so more people can participate, also are you participating in it?
Reign Drops - I am not.
The wood is extremely reactive!Why is that?
Simple: It's much softer than the synthetic surfaces we see today, and because of how the track gets worn into the lane, particularly on the right side, it causes much more friction with the ball.
Rowan: "It hit my foot"
Me: well maybe don't stick your foot out in front of it 🤣🤣🤣
for wood lanes use urethane on wood lanes
I like how kenny G was playing in like a classic bowling alley lol 😂
Where is LOFO
This has been answered like a hundred times. Please scroll around to find the answer.
I know this is weird but I had a dream I was bowling on prodigy
Rowan looked like he was having trouble with that ball today. Wasn’t smooth like usual looked like he was dropping it. Am I the only one who has OCD and was going nuts the whole video because the prodigy bowling pin wasn’t perfectly centered between the screens 🤦🏻♂️ Great vid coach randy
I still bowl on wood lanes in my league.
Can you get rid of those old commercials just pause the video
The old commercials are part of the appeal of this show.
@@ProdigyBowlersTour yes, I agree. I love the old commercials and I think they add a nice touch to the video
Lane bowls a lot like Hunter Kempton
Richard Caruso I take that as a huge compliment!! Thank you, I take a lot of stuff from him and put it to my game!!
@@lanemoore5492 yeah I noticed it from the approach and backswing. Keep up the good work
What episode does Logan get a 300
Prodigy 2x2, Volume 1
My local bowling ally has wooden lanes and they eat your bowling balls.
Back in the day, I had a friend in Louisiana who used to tell me that some of the bowling alleys in his area damaged bowling balls so often that some players warned that if you were going to bowl there, "you need to bring your war ball."
that sounds terrifying
Those pinsetters have been around for many years too. That masking is the same as Plaza lanes had here before it burnt down. Plaza had a putrid pinkish color on theirs. Helluva shot though. High scores every week. I don't believe you could change those masking fronts on the older Brunswick machines. Christian never fails is does he. He always ends up losing on a bad shot in the 10th or splits early in the title games. Tangerine was Plaza's masking colors. Kind of ugly. There's no crying in bowling Rowan. Hahahaha
Those junior bowlers are exceptionally good especially the younger ones for their age. They deserve to bowl in a better house. Were those lanes oiled manually or just a junky machine.... that right lane condition is so messed up.
Couldn't you just paused the vid during power failure and edit out the non-bowling? I did enjoy seeing some of the history of the Brunswick machinery. So AMF automation was the first.
Obviously youve never bowled on wood... wood no matter how good the machine is, is tough
I bowled on wood all my life dude. Those lanes were fresh oiled. Aside for poor conditions, you can see there is major pattern mismatch. Those junior bowlers did great to do so well considering.
2:10:42 its the headpin randy😂
William Rivera - Nope. It’s the 2. Remember, I have the raw video and was able to frame advance IN REVERSE to confirm.
Those are some old wood lanes I have a old bowling center near my house
If only I was there... at least there is someone with my name AND HE IS 6
Edit: Also I see Christian has been working on his backswing
Big Foot lol jk needs to really slow down on his single pin spares. His average would easily go way up if he took his time on them not just launch it down the lane!
I am certain his college coach will stress that when he gets to college this Fall.
That place is pretty cool, wood lanes that old look.
I shot my first 750+series
great job
CHRISTIAN what lb Ball do you throw?
He throws a 15lb if I recall.