Back in the Old Days

[MICHAEL]

I wonder what the BEST bowlers averages were say in the 40's 50s 60s ect. I wounder if a best bowler back then, with his balls, and alley condidion (wood ect) could even compete with a Good bowler today!

[The Mayor]

If I understand your question correctly and the old timer was bowling with rubber bowling balls on wood lanes and pins from that era, there's no way they could compete over a long period. They could win a game here and there, but the new technology and the revolutions and speed created now will always win most of the time.

[MICHAEL]

It is sorta of vague! My quesion should have been, ( I wonder what averages were considered at the top, best for the era of say the 50!) And was that average THAT MUCH lower then todays top, best bowlers! I have never really looked at what was considered the cream of the crop, back then: 30s 40s 50s 60s ect. I wonder if you looked at each
decade, what would a graph show you!

[peterfa]

I began bowling in the rubber ball era of the early 1960's. Best as I recall, mid-180's was considered a very good league bowler. It was rare to see a 190 average in most houses. 190 in multiple leagues in multiple houses was the requirement to join the PBA at that time. Few made the grade.

[MICHAEL]

thanks Peterfa, thats very interesting... Damn I love this sport, I only hate the fact that I waited so long, but then most of my working life, I worker two jobs, so not
much time back then. I am making up for it NOW!! thanks for the info!!

[J Anderson]

I wonder what the BEST bowlers averages were say in the 40's 50s 60s ect. I wounder if a best bowler back then, with his balls, and alley condidion (wood ect) could even compete with a Good bowler today!

The real question should be if you could take your time machine and bring some of those very good bowlers back to the present and see what they do with synthetic lanes and high tech balls. Or we could take some present day bowlers who average 210+ on the THS and send them back to 50's or 60's and see how they do on those conditions.
My guess is that the old timers would probably come close to 210 after awhile getting used to the new equipment. The guys going back in time would have a much harder time dealing with the old school conditions.

[JerseyJim]

Teata Semiz who bowled his first PBA event in 1961 was still bowling a few years ago. He's probably golfing more now than bowling. But every once in a while, you'll see a 700+ series list for him in the local bowling news. I think he's right around 78 now.