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POWERHOUSETM WAVE BRINGS BALL CARE OUT OF THE KITCHEN
Bowlers are doing potentially dangerous things to their bowling balls… in their kitchens. Powerhouse’sTM new Wave ball cleaning system aims to improve ball maintenance by taking it back where it belongs – in the pro shop.
While reactive and urethane balls roll, they absorb the lane oil. Modern reactive balls have become more and more absorbent, to increase their hook and strike potential. In order to keep the ball’s performance fresh, that oil needs to be removed.
Bowlers are resourceful people, and they’ve come up with some inventive methods to remove the lane oil from their balls: from baking them in their ovens, placing them in bathtubs full of hot water, or running them through their dishwashers.
None of these processes are recommended by ball manufacturers as safe methods of oil extraction. For one reason, the composition of a bowling ball is such that different materials are used to make up the core and the cover of the ball. These different materials will expand and contract at different rates when heat or cold is applied, causing cracking or breakage. Secondly, the plasticizers that work to absorb the oil can also leak out when too much heat is applied, adversely affecting ball motion.
“The Wave solves the issue of oil extraction in a safe way,” said Rich Hanson, Powerhouse Brand Manager. “Water is the safest method, but the challenge is to keep it at a controlled and consistent temperature. The Wave brings ball care out of the kitchen and back to the pro shop, where it belongs.”
The ball is heated gradually to a safe and consistent temperature of 140 degrees, bringing the oil to the surface of the ball. The water moves around the ball in a circulating motion, and the force of the water, along with the Wave Solution, removes the oil from the surface, while keeping the plasticizer in the ball. A filter removes the oil from the water as the water recycles through the machine. A complete ball cleaning cycle lasts approximately 45 minutes, at which time a built-in radiator helps to cool the water back to room temperature.
“Maintaining the machine is easy as well,” added Hanson. “The Pro Shop Operator simply has to add the Wave Solution every three days, and empty and replace the water every nine days, for maximum performance.”
Several pro shops across the country were involved in a beta test of the Wave prior to mass production. Mike Wolfe, of Wolfe’s Pro Shop in Louisville, Kent., was pleased to be a part of the process.
“We were able to test out the machine and give feedback,” said Wolfe. “After testing the Wave for a few months, the R & D team made the needed adjustments that we recommended, which increased performance and durability.
“The Wave has been a great ice breaker for people to inquire about what it does. Upon explanation of the Wave, it made selling ball maintenance easier. Allowing the customer to see the results first hand put them in awe.”
Hanson says the payback on the machine is quick.
“Within a year, pro shops will triple their investment in the machine,” explained Hanson. “It’s really an easy sell. We’re including a tracking card pro shops can give to their customers, so the customers can track their number of games on a specific ball. When they get to the right number of games, the card instructs them to take their ball to the pro shop for cleaning. We’re driving the customer right back to the pro shop for their ball care.”
The Wave is available now from Powerhouse, and comes with a one-month supply of Wave Solution. Additional Solution is available for purchase, and an auto-ship discount program is available.
