QubicaAMF Research Study
Since the mid-1960’s string pinsetting machines have been used for entertainment bowling applications such as five-pin, nine-pin, duckpin and mini-bowling games. More recently string machines are increasingly being used for tenpin bowling — as existing and new bowling investors are drawn to their operational benefits such as reduced maintenance, lower operating costs, decreased energy consumption and less stress for owners and staff.
When we decided to develop the EDGE String pinspotter the product requirements included features to make the play as similar to free-fall machines as possible to deliver the most authentic experience possible for both recreational and competitive sport league bowling. Consequently, EDGE String was designed to meet the relevant dimensions controlled by USBC for certified free-fall machines—these include kickback spacing, ball stop location, pin curtain location and pin deck surface-to-pit floor surface distance. EDGE String was given a unique string handling system to minimize resistance strings can have on pinfall, so pins fall over easily - as close to free-fall as possible.
Since the mid-1960’s string pinsetting machines have been used for entertainment bowling applications such as five-pin, nine-pin, duckpin and mini-bowling games. More recently string machines are increasingly being used for tenpin bowling — as existing and new bowling investors are drawn to their operational benefits such as reduced maintenance, lower operating costs, decreased energy consumption and less stress for owners and staff.
When we decided to develop the EDGE String pinspotter the product requirements included features to make the play as similar to free-fall machines as possible to deliver the most authentic experience possible for both recreational and competitive sport league bowling. Consequently, EDGE String was designed to meet the relevant dimensions controlled by USBC for certified free-fall machines—these include kickback spacing, ball stop location, pin curtain location and pin deck surface-to-pit floor surface distance. EDGE String was given a unique string pin handling system to minimize resistance strings can have on pinfall, so pins fall over easily - as close to free-fall as possible.
EDGE String Designed for the Sport
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Meets relevant dimensions controlled by USBC for free-fall machines
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Unique string management so pins fall over easily — as close to free-fall as possible
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Uniquely robust to perform and last for decades of rigorous sport bowling
In creating EDGE String our hypothesis was the bowling experience, pinfall and overall scoring would be very close to that of free-fall. To test this hypothesis we deigned and executed a research study on the scoring and pinfall behavior of EDGE String compared to free-fall machines.
Purpose
Structure Prior to this study no comprehensive side-by-side research between string and free-fall machines had been conducted and little qualitative data existed on how play and scorability compares to free-fall pinsetting machines.
The purpose of this research was to collect real-world quantitative scorability data and qualitative feedback on how EDGE String performs as compared to traditional free-fall machines under sport bowling conditions.
The study was conducted with experienced sport league and elite bowlers—real bowlers under realworld bowling conditions. Specifically, QubicaAMF collected data to understand the following:
- How the pinfall and pin action on EDGE String compares to fee-fall
- How overall scorability on EDGE String compares with free-fall
- How sport league and elite bowlers view the competitive experience on EDGE String versus free-fall
Structure
The study was conducted in a real-world tournament format1 using a combination of experienced sport league bowlers and elite professional bowlers.
A bowler rotation process ensured each bowler played an equal number of games between QubicaAMF EDGE String machines and free-fall machines. All controllable variables were kept the same, only changing the pinspotting machine between EDGE String and free-fall. Scoring data was collected through the tournament management system within Conqueror X. Additionally, a brief written survey of participants was conducted, along with interviews of a subset of participants.