Ebonite

Dec 17, 2012

There was a six-year period when Las Vegas resident Lou Moretti wouldn’t step foot in a bowling center. Surgery on his neck in 2005 following a car accident took away his desire to bowl.

Now that he’s able to bowl again, the 63-year-old put his loyalties to the Brands of Ebonite International, only picking equipment from Ebonite and Columbia 300.

The move has made Moretti the toast of Las Vegas, as Ebonite and Columbia 300 has been his equipment of choice for a 300 game and four series of 800 or better since July.

“I’ve really been enjoying it all,” said Moretti of his recent success. “I do have pain when I bowl but I have it managed pretty well.”

Moretti, who recently retired from the casino business, suffered an injury to his cervical spine, which houses the spinal cord and its flexibility allows movement of the head in all directions.

“I was hit from behind by a truck that did not stop for a red light,” said Moretti. “My doctor had me going to therapy for months before he decided I needed surgery.”

And with the surgery came a lot of pain for Moretti, which caused him to lose his desire to bowl.

“I had no interest in bowling again,” he said. “Then in July of 2011, I went to the South Point to see a friend, and he ask me to bowl in a singles leagues, and that is how I started bowling again.”

As Moretti began to get back into bowling, his equipment of choice has been the Ebonite and Columbia 300 brands. And the results have been astounding: four 800 series in five months.

The 800 parade got started for Moretti on July 30th. In the K&K Senior Match Play league at The Orleans, he posted games of 268, 278 and 256, for an 802 series. He came back with a closing 300 game in an 803 series at South Point Bowling Center. Both series were with the Columbia 300 Eruption.

“I absolutely love the Eruption,” said Moretti of the mid-price Columbia 300 ball. “Because the ball had so many games on it, I had to get a new one. It’s drilled like the first one and it really works well for me.”

Just eight days later, Moretti put together games of 289, 279, and 262 for an 830 series. For good measure, on November 14th he posted an 801 series on games of 288,279, and 234. The 830 and 801 series were in the Storm Red Rock Doubles league using an Ebonite Warning Sign.

“I have all of my balls drilled to go long and hook at the end,” said Moretti. “I am an old-school, down-and-in player. I don’t like to hook the ball a lot.”

Moretti says that’s the best part of the two balls.

“That’s why I’ve had success with the Eruption and Warning Sign,” he said. “They both allow me to go straighter with a hook that carries well.”

Even with the 300 and four 800 series in five months, Moretti still gets pressure to use equipment other than the Brands of Ebonite International.

“Everyone that I bowl with tells me that I have the wrong equipment,” he said. “My answer to them is that I bowl with the top senior bowlers in Vegas in three different leagues. So far, no one else has shot an 800 in any of my leagues this season.”

Moretti says that the reason for his loyalty stems from his friendship with Kwang Chun Bae, director of Asian sales for Ebonite International.

“We met years ago at a High Roller tournament, and have been friends for almost 15 years,” said Moretti. “I have always respected his view on bowling. He knows my game, and when I’m going to get a new ball, I ask him what I should get for the conditions I bowl on.”

Moretti averages between 225 and 230 in three leagues throughout the Las Vegas area, and says that he likes the singles leagues better. They bowl faster and it doesn’t allow him to get caught up in the moment.

“I don’t get nervous anymore,” he said. “I’ve had five chances in the last four months to shoot 800 after two games, and I’ve done it four out of five chances.”

Moretti has some strong words for those who insist that he needs to move away from Ebonite and Columbia 300: thanks, but no thanks.

“Why should I throw other equipment? I’m doing great with the Ebonite International stuff. The Ebonite and Columbia 300 brands are what I bowl with, and with Ebonite, I Bowl to Win!”

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