The tremendous success of the Reynolds 9 Pin No Tap Singles Tournament in 2007 has led to an expanded tourney in 2008. The first of seven monthly qualifiers will begin Sept. 21. All events for the 2008-09 season will begin at noon. All monthly qualifier winners will receive $250 based on 60 entries.

The pre-paid entry fee is $25. The entry fee on the date of the tournament is $30. The pay-out ratio is 1:5.

The top five finishers of each monthly event will qualify for the April finals. First place guaranteed payout for the final tournament (April) is $1,000.

Other monthly tournament dates are as follows: Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec, 21, Jan. 18, Feb, 15, March 15 and April 12.

Let’s review the rules. This is a handicap tournament (80 percent of 210) and is open to men and women. Participants will bowl four games across eight lanes.

Bowlers will use their highest book average from the 2007-08 season. If there is no book average, then bowlers will use their current average. Bowlers with no Mercer County average must provide average verification. The tournament director also has the right to adjust tournament average based on previous tournament performance.

Side pots will be available, but are optional. They include 300 game scratch jackpot, handicap jackpot and brackets.

Additional information can be obtained by calling Reynolds Lanes at 724-646-241l or e-mailing reynoldslanes@ hotmail.com.

Primary sponsor for the tournament(s) is Hilko Construction. Additional sponsors include Met Life, Paul’s Specialty Heating, Rowes Sewing Room, Our Gangs Lounge, Knott’s Interiors, Durkos Painting, Fredonia Tire, Greenville Auto Parts, Micsky’s Septic, Denny’s Gun Repair, TNT Graphics, Hoover Well Drilling and Nelles Party Favors.

ä It’s early in the year, and there isn’t much to report in the way of tournaments, high scores, etc. With that in mind, let’s review one of the major problems that face bowlers — oil transition.

It’s no secret that today’s high tech balls are responsible for oil breakdown and transition. Transition and absorption begins with the first ball thrown in shadow bowling or practice.

The more a ball hooks, the more oil is removed from the lane. The same holds true for flare and porosity. The more flare and the more porous the cover, the faster the oil dissipates.

The number of bowlers on a pair is another factor in oil transition. Obviously, the more bowlers, the faster the transition. The faster transition occurs, the quicker the bowler must use his ability to read lanes and recognize what adjustments must be made.

Most bowlers only think of depletion in the heads and the pocket area. You must be aware that depletion also occurs in the midlane area. When this happens, the ball has a tendency to read the lane more quickly, and you lose some of your back end reaction.

Let’s add another common problem (carrydown) to the equation. When carrydown is coupled with depletion, there is going to be a negative affect on pin-carry. Once again, it’s up to the bowler to recognize the problem and make the correct adjustments.