Without a name I will assume your numbers are exaggerated like everything else on the internet.  There are very few people that make $30-40k a year bowling while holding a regular job.

I believe tkkshop on the numbers. I also can see from looking at the money leaders how quickly it falls off. Tells you everything

I go back 40 plus years as a scratch bowler.  If I had a dollar for every person who asked me over the years why I didn't go on tour, I would have more money than most of the guys on tour.  There has never been a point where more than the top 5 or 10 guys were making more than a hand to mouth living.  Most of the rest were guys who managed to find a sponsor, and had not other options above minimum wage jobs.

A good friend of mine found a sponsor and went on tour in the mid 70's.  For two straight seasons he was in the top 20 money winners ( less than 30k, but not bad in those days ).  The third year he bought out his sponsors, had two bad seasons and was off the tour.  I doubt whether there are more than 15-20 guys in history who made enough throwing a bowling ball to be set for life even with endorsements.

You would need a 30 stop tour paying 100k for first in every stop to entice anyone who had any other job options to want to try to make a living with a bowling ball.  A lot of the young guys with college degrees who are bowling now can afford to try it for awhile, but sooner rather than later most will find better options to feed themselves than with a bowling ball.

Ironically, as an amateur I have been able to pursue bowling as a lucrative hobby that came close to paying for itself while I pursued a good living outside the game.  Best of all I was still able to test myself against the best in venues like the Masters anytime I wanted.   

 

The PBA, for all of its good and bad, has always been about bowlers whose talent and game is better than 98 to 99 percent of the bowling population pursuing a competitive dream -- and perhaps, mission -- of finding out just how good they are. Most do it knowing they are not likely to reap any appreciable return on investment. Yet it is a 'life' most do not understand, or have any reason to appreciate.

The same could be said for most, if not all, athletic pursuits.

Yea after all PBA is a tournament. Not a league like football where your team pays your big o salary. On TV we see the winners or people who cashes, but when there's a winner there has to be a loser.

Quote from: bowlallthetime on March 05, 2015, 10:14:10 PM

Quote from: tkkshop on March 01, 2015, 10:10:12 AM

I will not divulge his name. He works a regular middle class job and bowls all of the major stops. He makes roughly 20-30 a Year bowling regional and national events alone. He makes another 10 bowling local amateur events. He makes double what he has spent a year, over the last 5 years. And ALL of his equipment is free and entries paid.

BJ Moore is pretty good.

BJ doesn't quite make that much. You can look the up for yourself.

Maybe I'm wrong, but he made 10,600 at the world series (you said just under 11k), just moved to the National Staff, from the Carolina's (pretty sure that's your area...if its texas not NC, then Shawn Maldonado). 

Tackett didn't make anywhere near 11k at the WSOB (and earned well over the 20-30 a year estimate you gave...., and Pickford made a show.  So that eliminates them.

That is an excellent question.  I remember when I went to my first ABC nationals in 1975 just prior to nationals week.  A team mate told me that I would be shocked how many really good bowlers weren't on tour and how many mediocre guys with sponsors were.  This was back in the day when tour stops were drawing 128 entries and they had rabbit squads. 

I think the top 30 guys, give or take, are really good.  I also think there are a lot of guys you have never heard of who would be competitive out there if the money was worthwhile.