Primarily; the USBC needs to take control of things a little more and reign in the BPAA.
1) The USBC needs to standardize oil patterns.
The USBC has the Red, White, and Blue patterns and needs to mandate that one of those 3 patterns be used during sanctioned league play and that the pattern be laid fresh, undisturbed, prior to each league starting.
The USBC can then make changes in these patterns as the sport evolves, as need be.
2) USBC inspection changes
The USBC still needs to do a full inspection of new centers or new lanes...but it should change it's focus to inspect oil patterns. It's a quicker, less labor intensive inspection process....it should be done unannounced before league play...and centers that pass the tests should be rewarded with a less frequent/likely test schedule while those that fail the test should be penalized with minor fines and potentially more inspections.
3) USBC equipment specification changes
The USBC hasn't kept up to speed with equipment development...using the same specifications now that they used a decade or two ago. Given that balls are becoming too powerful and leading to increased scores...it's time to start reigning them in. One possibility would be to lower the maximum differential from 0.060 to 0.054. Essentially, specifications need to change to make ball motion more a factor of bowler skill and less a factor of ball technology.
The USBC should increase pin weight a small amount and conisider increasing it in small increments over time until scores are reigned in.
4) The USBC should mandate that centers have a minimum number of sanctioned leagues and at least offer one sanctioned youth league for every 2-5 sanctioned adult leagues. They don't even have to "mandate" it, per se. They could simply set up a USBC certification fee schedule that lowers the fee for centers that have more sanctioned bowlers and more sanctioned youth leagues/programs.
5) The USBC should restructure the USBC Open so that USBC Open bowlers are restricted to sanctioned league winners. Each sanctioned league can send their top team and their top 6 bowlers (by average). This would make leagues "count" for something and would encourage league participation. The USBC should then work with the PBA to allow the top USBC Open performers a chance to compete in a "hybrid event" where they bowl in an event (like the WSOB) against the professionals.
6) The USBC should look into "divisions" for their sanctioned leagues.
Bowlers with book averages in the 175-240 range should be restricted to higher level leagues and those with lower averages should be open to join any league they wish. The USBC could then mandate tougher patterns for 175-240 average leagues...and easier patterns for the lower level leagues. Players wishing to bowl together still could...but the lower average bowlers would have to bowl on harder conditions...not the other way around.
7) The "PBA League" should abandon it's current format and instead allow one team per brand of bowling balls. It also should revise it's rulebook to prohibit bowlers from using bowling balls that aren't branded by their sponsor. Columbia bowlers MUST use Columbia balls...NOT all EBI balls. Same for Brunswick and Storm. As bowlers are restricted to one brand...it will stimulate brand loyalty. It also would stimulate interest in the PBA League...which is now nothing more than a gimick. The league should also reach out to lesser brands like Pyramid, Lane #1, Lane Masters, etc...to give those companies more of a chance at competing and growing their brands.
The PBA should also use this "brand versus brand" by tracking and publishing stats. For example;
- Which brand has the highest average?
- Which brand has the most 300-games?
- Which brand has the most PBA titles?
As more of a spotlight is shined on these "statistics"....it makes the PBA even more competitive. Brands will be more likely to offer larger contracts for talent....because the performance of the bowler can more make/break the statistics that help sell their products. And ball manufacturers that TRULY make better equipment....that ACTUALLY performs better....will be rewarded with increased sales.
Some changes can't be undone. We have resin balls....we now need to reign them in...not get rid of them....which would be all but impossible. We have two-handed bowling...it's stimulated some youth and international interest...it would be nearly impossible to outlaw at this point. BUT...the USBC can make slight changes to bowling ball specifications and lane conditions....to minimize the advantages and reign in scores and re-legitimize the sport.
As for "backlash" by traditional bowlers....you're already seeing it. For every new "gimick" that the PBA and USBC comes up with...they are gaining a new bowler and losing two traditional bowlers. "Fun Leagues", "Glow Bowling", Non-Sanctioned leagues, Two-Handed bowling, New World scoring systems, insanely strong equipment, etc.......all of these have failed to grow the sport....the sport continues to decline. The only reasonable explanation is that these new initiatives drive more bowlers away than attract to it.
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