Five Things to Know about Power Wheelchair Bowling! :-)

[BillMiller823]

Hello all!

I'm a C1-2 who actually is credited with co-inventing a bowling device that will enable virtually all power wheelchair users to bowl, here are five key things to know...

#1. Virtually ALL power wheelchair users can use an IKAN Bowler for real, dynamic bowling. (Wheelchair users, IKAN? Yes You Can!)

How can virtually all wheelchair users bowl? The IKAN Bowler attaches to the user's wheelchair, and is designed so that anyone who can safely drive their chair, can bowl. It's basically a really well engineered attached ramp system -- the momentum from driving forward and stopping releases the ball. We have two types of mounts: Universal and Center-Post. The Universal Mount can accommodate any wheelchair with two side legrests (traditional or sport style legrests; not power elevating -- but people with power elevating legrests can use a set of regular legrests when bowling). The Center-Post Mount is a custom mount designed for newer chairs with the legrest system that has the foot pads coming off the single center post. Between those two mounts, we can accommodate the vast majority of wheelchairs on the market and in use today.

What makes it real bowling? The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sanctioned the IKAN Bowler for league play -- any league, anywhere in the U.S. -- bowling with and/or against able-bodied bowlers, or fellow IKAN Users. The USBC sanctioned it because the process mimics the able-bodied bowling process, i.e. setup, physically approach and release the ball upon stopping at the foul line. This is referred to as dynamic bowling, not stationary ramp bowling.

Who bowls and what are top scores? Thus far we've had people with Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, and Spinal Cord Injury, driving their chairs with different methods (joystick, sip-and-puff, head control and chin control) achieve scores of 150 and higher. The overall record is 243 by a spinal cord injured C4-5 quadriplegic in Colorado named Jon Musgrave. Click HERE for our message board thread with additional records.

#2. The IKAN Bowler is considered therapeutic medical equipment, and as such, financial assistance is available in most every state. One customer ONLY had to pay the SHIPPING cost for an IKAN Bowler! Click HERE to contact us for details!

#3. For $599 the IKAN Bowler with Universal Mount can be purchased and delivered anywhere in the continental United States. There's no sales tax for residents outside the state of Florida and shipping is included to the continental U.S. We can ship worldwide, click HERE to contact us for a shipping quote.

#4. Our mounts work with both the IKAN Bowler and IKAN Soccer Guard, enabling users to compete in two sports! Our quality mounts actually reinforce the legrests, especially compared to most existing mounts for power soccer. We have the best power soccer equipment available anywhere. Power soccer is already a popular sport being played lots of places. Click HERE for details.

#5. You've got to see it to believe it -- click HERE* for links to two videos and a slideshow on power wheelchair bowling -- it's social, therapeutic, recreational, allows for legitimate competition, and it's a whole lot of FUN!

*The above link to videos takes you to our message board on our IkanBowler.com website.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or reply to this thread and I'll respond.

Sincerely,

Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 202 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.IkanBowler.com
Personal website: http://www.LookMomNoHands.net

[SimpleAlex]

Hi, I am new on this forum and I just found this very interesting thread. I learned so much about power wheelchair bowling! I find this is an amazing idea and to help those who are affected from spinal cord injury or any type of disease that makes them less able to practice sport. Simulation pret immobilier

Thanks a lot!

[BillMiller823]

Thank you for your interest and the message Alex!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Bill Miller

[Florin]

Hi BillMiller823,

Thanks for the wonderful info. I heard The IKAN Bowler is a 2004 da Vinci Award winning invention. It is really great to create something for dependent people’s leisure time.

As you said the IKAN Bowler attaches to the user's wheelchair accessible, and is designed so that anyone who can safely drive their chair, but I would like to know how they can control the speed, direction, as well as timing of the ball? How the controllers work really? Will the controllers allow them to control the game while moving as well as just in stand?

I’d be glad if you could elaborate about the controllers. Thanks in advance.

[BillMiller823]

Originally Posted by Florin

Hi BillMiller823,

Thanks for the wonderful info. I heard The IKAN Bowler is a 2004 da Vinci Award winning invention. It is really great to create something for dependent people’s leisure time.

As you said the IKAN Bowler attaches to the user's wheelchair accessible, and is designed so that anyone who can safely drive their chair, but I would like to know how they can control the speed, direction, as well as timing of the ball? How the controllers work really? Will the controllers allow them to control the game while moving as well as just in stand?

I’d be glad if you could elaborate about the controllers. Thanks in advance.

Hi Florin -- thank you for questions!

When properly attached to the user's chair, the top of the IKAN Bowler is slightly tilted back -- just enough that the bowling ball won't come down until the user stops. We have several adjustment mechanisms built into it, including a fine micrometer adjustment, which allows the user to drive at their preferred speed (I recommend driving pretty slow for best accuracy).

Since the IKAN Bowler attaches to the user's chair, the speed one chooses to drive, the angle / direction / location with respect to the bowling lane & foul line where one chooses to stop, and the timing / when to stop are all entirely up to the user.

How well the user drives and executes the shot he/she sets up for determines how well he/she bowls. Most bowling balls can be setup to either curve or go straight, so the user also gets to make that choice for the shot they want to execute.

Does that help? I can elaborate further.

The videos linked in my original post are at the below link which helps illustrate what I'm talking about:

http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot...-on-power.html

I also created a website for record scores for various categories:

http://www.wheelchairbowlingrecords.com/

Thanks for your interest!

Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 221 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
My blog: http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net

[BillMiller823]

Despite being a vent-dependent C1-2 quadriplegic, I recently bowled a legit 223, which was my 12th game of 200 or better, and was a part of a 564 series. For details, visit:

http://www.wheelchairbowlingrecords....Scoresheet.htm

- Bill :-)

[Sh1wn]

That's a pretty cool setup, if I didn't live so far out in the sticks I would try it out.

[BillMiller823]

Our IKAN Bowler on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

My friend, MGT partner, and IKAN Bowler co-inventor Claude Giguere, will help a young adult wheelchair user bowl IKAN-style on the "Keefer Family" episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition -- TOMORROW (Friday), October 21, from 8-10 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

From the show's website: "Keefer Family -- The team helps build a home for the family of a man who quit his job to take care of his paralyzed adult son."

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition

I have some additional info on this blog post:

http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot...-makeover.html

Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 223 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
My blog: http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot.com
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net

[BillMiller823]

Not to brag, but to show what is possible... I bowled a 212 recently; my 14th game of 200+... details here:

http://powerwheelchairusers.blogspot...bowls-212.html

- Bill :-)

[rosieC12]

that's really great ! Way to go