How to "save" bowling...

[bowl1820]

Like I said, I don't know the 1950-1970 USBC specified pattern. I just know that at some point a change was made where USBC sanctioned lanes could use their own house variations on oil patterns and that was at their request to make the game easier. Maybe it was a more intense oil application to the middle...I don't know. The article I read either didn't state that or I don't remember.

The article I believe your referring to is the Bob Summerville one that he wrote for Bowling This Month back in 1996. Where he writes how the proprietors association got what was then the ABC (The USBC doesn't show up till years later) to change the rules back in the 80's.

The ABC did change them and allowed the proprietors to dress their lanes anyway they wish provided that there is at least three units of oil gutter to gutter for the entire distance that the lane is dressed. (the distance the lane is dressed includes the buff area.)

Then, ironically, later the USBC realized that equipment was leading to inflated scores...so they developed sport patterns and Red, white, blue house patterns, etc...

This is true enough, I don't think it's ironic. The ABC back then knew the coming changes in conditions and equipment would raise the scores, so it didn't come as a surprise to them.


The big surprise back then was when amateurs started using Reactive resin balls.

When resins came out the Pro's heralded their virtues, how they'd help get those one or two extra strikes in their game they might not have gotten before.

The feeling back then was that only Pro's and High level amateurs would use the balls. Mainly Do to the high price of the balls.

But then what happened was the amateurs got to trying them (Like me, my pro had got one and said here give this try (I fit in his stuff)). and they said "WOW" and they started buying them.

Now all of a sudden you started hearing "Hook in a box" and "Cheater ball" about resin balls coming from the same people who said they were the greatest thing in bowling.

The slippery slope had started and all the complaints because of it (Averages, handicaps etc). The balls got stronger so they increase oil, they increase oil the balls get stronger.

And also ironically, now I heard some bowlers are claiming the house patterns are too difficult because the high end balls made for heavy oil are hooking too early on the shorter oil patterns.

It's a never-ending see saw.

Yes shorter patterns are harder with the powerful balls. That's why some houses have started using them, to make it harder.
They have to learn how to adjust.

[Aslan]

Woohoo!!

Excellent post!!

I wish I had an emoticon that claps...they have that in some forums....I'd use it here.

That was the probably the article I read. There was also a really intersting (all be it a bit "dry") study that the USBC did where they did a long technical study on the "technology" and how it was affecting the game due to the heated debates that bowling was becoming too easy and it's the "equipment not the bowler these days". I'm a nerd...so I found that study kinda interesting....but a little dry even for me.