Integrity damaged by technology?

[PSBA10]

This is a loaded question that unlike a coin has many sides. Back when I started bowling the lanes were oiled by hand. A good lane man was worth his weight in well.... Anyway, the houses that prospered had people who were capable of duplicating conditions lane to lane. Thus the advent of the oiling machine. Now ball manufacturers got involved because lane conditions were such that you could predict what you will be faced with. This was/is a continuing battle back and forth. More oil, a stronger ball - a stronger ball, more oil.

Right now I believe the bowling centers control the scoring pace. Let me make a comparison. Golf for example has seen technological advancements equal to or greater than bowling. The scoring on the golf course is still dictated by the greenskeeper. By placing the tees and pins in certain positions he can either make the course basically unplayable, or very easy. The golfer still has to make the shot though. Bowling centers with the microprocessor controlled oiling machines can do exactly the same as the greenskeeper. They can make the shot unplayable or easy. However, it is to the bowling center's benefit if the shot is relatively easy. Most league and recreational bowlers will keep coming back and laying their dollars down when they feel they have accomplished something. There are bowling centers that will deliver a challenging conditioin. The more skilled bowlers tend to gravitate to these centers because the condition will test their skill, thus the advent of the sport leagues and the PBAX leagues.

[TenPin]

Very well said PSBA10, the house controls the average. Higher averages equal happier bowlers which then equals more money spent. My house manager explained to me, when I asked about a more challenging league, there wasn't enough interest to develop one. He said he needed bowlers so he puts out the shot people like best, a simple one.

Although I have to admit, they need to change out the old pins with new ones. He said he knows they need to be replaced, but I guess the owner doesn't want to put up the money to get them. Maybe it's their way to hold averages down 10-15 pins.

Hey, Kev, I know it can be tough to prove and even if you did, would they really care? Probably not, but at least you can have some satisfaction that you proved it. See if they'll do an inspection on a league night unanounced? No way to prepare for that one if they oil the lanes like this all the time. I'm not sure what kind of oiling machine they use to oil with, but I bet they can inspect it to see how it is set up for the lanes. I know this much, it will come back to bite them if they do this all the time.

TenPin

[MICHAEL]

I think this is a GREAT thread posted in 2008,,, I think it bares another look, goes right in there with my thoughts on technology!

[billf]

But Mike, you want to compare technology and averages with a THS. I averaged 195 on a THS while BLIND. That just proves anybody can crank it, spray and pray, and score well. Try that on a real pattern. The same technology alters the oil pattern to make the shot a lot tougher. This wasn't the case years ago. The oil wasn't the factor that it is today. Why? Because it didn't have to be. As the balls got more advance (offense) so didn't the oiling procedures (defense). Like any sport, once the offense steps up and smashes barriers then eventually the defense comes up with a way to stop them.
Open bowling scoring is a joke and should not even be considered in this conversation. The business has to make the shot real easy to try and lure recreational bowlers back in. That's why we don't bowl on those patterns.

[MICHAEL]

I agree, even me, a guy from a small town in Poland can bowl a 298, in my first year of bowling! Was that skill,,, (no), just good equipment, and oil pattern that is very forgiving! (IT was a good clean game, that 298 except for that last throw,,, I go over it, and over it in my head every night before going to bed). Bill do you know a good shrink??
I, myself, really don’t care about high house pattern scores! REAL men do it on the sport pattern! I am more proud of that 274 I did on the turnpike a couple weeks ago, then all my other score put together! I like the challenge!!!!!! Trying to figure out angle, ball, speed, ect ect! That’s where the real fun is!! Waiting for tomorrow, Monday and bowing the U.S. Open is like Christmas Eve for me!! Can’t wait! Dude???? Where are YOU??? You are going to meet me there,,,,,,, RIGHT!!

[The German Shepherd]

I agree, even me, a guy from a small town in Poland can bowl a 298, in my first year of bowling! Was that skill,,, (no), just good equipment, and oil pattern that is very forgiving! (IT was a good clean game, that 298 except for that last throw,,, I go over it, and over it in my head every night before going to bed). Bill do you know a good shrink??
I, myself, really don’t care about high house pattern scores! REAL men do it on the sport pattern! I am more proud of that 274 I did on the turnpike a couple weeks ago, then all my other score put together! I like the challenge!!!!!! Trying to figure out angle, ball, speed, ect ect! That’s where the real fun is!! Waiting for tomorrow, Monday and bowing the U.S. Open is like Christmas Eve for me!! Can’t wait! Dude???? Where are YOU??? You are going to meet me there,,,,,,, RIGHT!!

I do believe that the blocked lanes have certainly made scores higher. All you need to do is look at the number of 300's and 800's thrown every year! I watch the videos of bowlers who love to make the ball HOOK. Many feel that this is how you measure the skill level of a bowler. Then you watch these videos a little closer and see that these bowlers miss 3 left and 3 right and still end up with strikes. Mama mia.

This past week I bowled 4 games on the US Open pattern. Right now, I am averaging 217.6something and I bowled scores of (in order)166/172/176/236 -a 771 for FOUR games, and I left feeling chastened and happy to get out alive.

Jay

[RoccoRock]

It's the same argument people make in golf. The glubs are so much better, the balls are better. These are the times we live in, every company wants to put out the latest and greatest, cause they know we all want the best. Would the game be better in we were all throwing plastic balls? I don't think so. Some of the challenge with technology is how to use it.

[The German Shepherd]

It's the same argument people make in golf. The glubs are so much better, the balls are better. These are the times we live in, every company wants to put out the latest and greatest, cause they know we all want the best. Would the game be better in we were all throwing plastic balls? I don't think so. Some of the challenge with technology is how to use it.

I agree with you but would suggest that the problem arises when the technology removes the challenge. Sure the argument holds in the sport of golf, but what if you had greens that sloped so that every putt had an automatic track to the hole? What would we be able to say about our sub-par rounds then?

Jay

[TheSheibs]

I think the advances made in the balls core and making it easier to hook the ball with no real skill is out allows those who do not have the knowledge of bowling(i.e. the guy who can get strikes but can't pick up a spare to save their life) are being given the advantage. These people are averaging higher than they were 10 or 20 years ago before the cores changed and the different oil patterns came out. It also changed the game for those who were able to average well before these advances were made.

[edpup316]

This is an disscussion that can be sumed up very easily. So golf, yes its tech advancments have made doing things like hitting 300+ yards drives easier but thats why courses have 600 yard par 5's and 500 yard par 4's now. What im trying to say is its not technologies fault for it being easier to get good scores its the houses that havnt changed to match the advancments in technology and the average joe bowler doesnt want to bowl on a difficult shot. Thats why there are PBA experience leagues and what not. I realize that a few of you guys dont have houses with those kinds of leagues but they still exsist.

As far as trying to get a house to change its shot; its way more difficult then its worth. I tried for a couple months to get the manger of my house to change the shot to soemthing more difficult. He finally gave in and said for the Summer leauges this year he was going to put down more oil and the patteren was similar to the kegel Main Street. That lasted for about 3 weeks. There was practiclly riots!!! People sending him emails about how they have bowled here for years and threatened to quit the league and go bowl somewhere else. Its was a nightmare.