BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: JustRico on July 03, 2017, 03:37:26 PM
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(de)EVOLUTION or DESTRUCTION of BOWLING
Has the game of bowling been devolving or slowly destroying itself thru the so-called evolution of technology?
The game is competed in an ever changing, invisible environment (playing field) that has a multitude of variables that can dictate play, more now than ever.
Many wish to point a finger at one single entity but it will always be the playing field & applied condition that will dictate scoring pace and play, along with competitors choices; in other words too many variables can affect the game & the scores.
*For example take golf, how would you explain to a person void of sight, wind or rain?
Imagine explaining to the them where to correctly place the golf ball (or not), avoiding any placed hazards (trees, sand or water) or ever-changing effects such as wind or rain?
All while playing the game in front of them, in which they are unable to see?
This would be comparable to explaining bowling and ball motion to a layperson.
Another example would be playing tennis, with needing to hit a tennis ball inside lines that are constantly moving & changing, on every hit of the tennis ball; along with the player being unable to see the lines.
Equipment
In the winter of 1991, the game of bowling would see the largest advancement in bowling ball technology, with the inception of NU-LINE bowling and a team led by Steve Cooper; a new era would arise termed as the 'reactive resin era' - referenced as such due to the fact that this new cover stock reacted to friction (due to heat) stronger than basic urethane or polyester cover stocks, which increased angularity & pin carry.
'Reactive resin' is a combination of polyester, urethane (polyurethane) and a resin additive creating an all new reaction.
Cooper also pointed out, in his last interview just before his passing (2012?), that the last true advancement in cover stock technology was in 1997, by Bill Wasserberger (then head of R and D for the Brunswick bowling ball division, before his passing in '06) with the introduction of particle or pro-active cover stock, an interesting thought to say the least.
Many point to this single advancement (reactive resin) as the beginning of the end. In many purist's eyes, it changed bowlers true abilities, as it was perceived to produce reaction, with less effort or ability.
In reality, it changed reaction overall.
And to be fair, golf & tennis both evolved with technology as did the athletes, to compensate for the changes.
Another factor that evolved or progressed, in the latter part of the '90's was core technology (or the inside dynamics) as they increased in strength; the more dynamic the core (higher RG differential numbers) the more potential for flare and flare creates traction.
But in the truest form of effecting reaction, surface still dictates amount of ball motion, as well as length, by how it slows down and responds to the lane and the environment.
*It is best understood that in every explanation or situation, potential is implied...implied in the sense that any reaction is predicated by the bowlers attributes (rev rate, ball speed, length of levers, plus overall knowledge) nothing else.
A bowling ball in a static state does nothing...it does not hook or hit in any prescribed manner or way until the bowler applies the necessary force.
Bowling balls have potential, nothing else.
A lane condition is only true until a bowling ball is delivered onto the lane, then it changes or transitions due to participants and their choices-area of the lane and/or surface choices.
There are NO magic layouts in regards to ball motion, they merely enhance as surface dictates the majority of ball motion (70-75%) and truly only enhance when the bowling ball is allowed to slow down properly.
Why do we talk about the bowling ball slowing down? It has to in order for it to change direction.
Hook
Back to the cover stocks technology and reaction - confusion arises (in regards to bowling) in understanding & truly defining 'hook'.
'Hook' is defined as any deviation from a straight line; this can occur in the front part of the lane, the middle or the back-end, wherever friction manifests itself, due to applied or created and the cover stock interacts with it.
Before the inception of 'reactive resin', bowling balls had a smoother arc type reaction and tended to be considered hook lazy-slower response to the friction. Angles were created more through the front part of the lane than the down lane; bowling balls did not have the angularity they possess today.
Reactive resin has a stronger response to friction side to side, as well down lane, thus creating entirely different angles, previously seen with urethane or polyester. This created a new thought in regards to 'hook'; bowlers now perceived 'hook' as any motion down lane more so than anywhere else on the lane.
This changed how bowlers approached conditions; today's bowlers play an area down lane vs the front part of the lane as in previous eras, as well as changing how conditions are effected.
Lane oils & machines
In the early part of 2000, at the PBA stop at the Orleans in Las Vegas, the introduction of additives in the lane oil or conditioner appeared for the first time.
There had many other instances where proprietors had used their own additives in their lane conditioning process, such as STP or Vaseline, but this was the first actual produced product to see the market.
It was the first attempt at conquering the bowling ball or better controlling the playing field. Lane conditioner went from being described as mineral oils to motor oils through the increase in viscosities or thickness of the oils.
As this process has went on, the industry has not only seen the inception of super oils or conditioners, but advanced computerized lane machines costing as much as a mid-sized automobile, ALL with the intent of better controlling the lane - playing field - environment.
Super oils designed to minimize migration or mutilation of the 'patterns' applied by the highly technical machines used to apply them.
Patterns
With technology came the roll out of 'patterns' as another move towards controlling the ever changing playing field or the attempt at purifying the game.
Specific 'patterns' would attempt to force players into playing a prescribed portion of the lane, with the intent of controlling the playing field and scoring pace devoid of the topography or characteristics of said playing field; all allowing the 'condition' to transition in certain prescribed manner.
*This in itself has created a new version of mass confusion.
Many of the middle-to-upper of the road level bowlers immediately subscribed to this theory but in a bigger sense, become less educated, by believing that they were being shown/told exactly how & where to play in the invisible environment, devoid of educating on how & why this should or could be happening.
Too many instances, suggestions are posed based on what was perceived instead of actuality...if this so-called condition 'played' a certain way, at a certain center then it has to be the same everywhere, right?
Bowlers have been brainwashed into believing there is absolution in pattern play, instead of understanding their ball motion.
One of the main stays of the elite, in the game of bowling, has always been in their ability to understand what was occurring on the lane devoid of any 'road map' and adapting their games to it quicker than their competition.
The largest portion of confusion is explaining what may occur in an invisible environment, where having the innate ability to correctly guess, in an educated manner, generally wins out, all without truly seeing any of it happen.
As I write this, I must state, I vehemently detest the concept of patterns and teaching pattern play; the creation of patterns has had the largest impact of confusion (dummying down) on the game, as any other single entity created so far.
We need to educate the masses on understanding what their bowling ball is doing and why, to allow them to attack any lane condition; bowlers are being told, mistakingly, how to properly attack nothing more than a piece of paper.
There is a belief in purity or absolution that a pattern will bring to a tournament; there is also a belief in fairness or level playing field...one thing that will never change, conditions are dictated by the competitors and the scoring pace is generally always relative...
In addition, another conundrum was the decision to name patterns...chameleon; viper; Taj Mahal; this implies a certain assumption of a characteristic or 'way to play' a condition; another misinformation in the game.
A lane condition is dictated by applied conditioner in prescribed areas of the lanes. Varying amounts of conditioner plus length & ratios dictate potential ball motion and difficulty of scoring pace, all taking topography into play and competitors intended choices.
Topography
The topography of the lane always wins out no matter the condition applied, in the smallest or largest way, depending on amount of games competed.
Topography is the landscape as microscopic as it may be, it is best seen as peaks & valleys; friction or wear portions of the lane.
Topography is created by underlying foundation & how foundation may settle, plus transition through age and friction...thus creating a different finger print on every lane bed.
Every lane has an individual fingerprint & personality...
Environment
Another area that is generally missed in explaining lane play is residual friction on any lane surface, especially synthetics.
With the inception of higher friction cover stocks and the increase in competitors rev rate, the lane, through longer formats and continual play, heats up throughout the process of competition.
With any plastic surface, it retains a certain amount of heat which takes longer to cool down - the lane surface is staying hotter longer; which in turns softens the surface thus creating more friction than a harder, less played or effected portion of the lane surface.
Lane machines smartly apply the same condition onto a surface, that may or may not still be 'hot' from the previous day or timeframe of competition, thus creating a quicker dissipation of conditioner in these 'hot' zones.
This effects the way the competitors will potentially see & attack the lanes, along with effecting the future of the environment by creating a wear spot (track area) on the lane. Bowlers see reaction they'll tend to camp out in these areas; reaction is easier to respond to than a lack of.
Lane play
So, we all realize bowlers compete in an ever changing environment, through the movement of the conditioner, created not only by -
*the type of conditioner applied
*the cleaner applied
*the thoroughness of the cleaning process
*the type of lane machine used
and lastly
*the topography of the environment (largest contributor)
but also the decisions the competitors make, through their perception of their environment, effect it greater going forward.
The bowler generally chooses what may or may not look correct to their eye, in the appropriate portion of the lane, in creating the proper entry to the pocket, ALL in hopes of creating the strongest amount of strikes in conquering the environment, void of what they are forced to do through a prescribed 'pattern'.
If a condition is created, forcing players to start or play an area a player may not be comfortable playing, the player will attempt to play where they are comfortable; this happens through equipment choices, surface prep (80 grit to 20k grit), area of the lane to play and rev rate.
Education
The bottom line is, what has truly been the de-evolution of the game of bowling? The miseducation & confusing of the competitors? Or the equipment used?
Too many times, we hear bowlers are accused of knowing the alleged 'pattern' ahead of competition, some advantage is given, eliminating any credit given to competitor on succeeding on the condition, through proper choices and intelligent adjustments. The champions generally never say a pattern didn't play properly.
Bowlers NEED to be EDUCATED on why they are failing NOT why the pattern didn't play right or correctly?
What is correctly? Who are said patterns exactly created for?
The elite use their bowling ball to explain to them the applied condition and base judgements off of that, not what they've been informed by a piece of paper.
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Thanks for the post. I wish bowlers at leagues would read this.
Some believe formula 31 is concrete instead of a guide.
I just want to know the length/volume, and let my ball tell me how to play the lanes.
The pairs play differently and so can lane to lane - just like patients I see, some believe the bone structure/position on one hand or foot will be exactly the same as the opposite side, but they are not. The names are the same but not the shape.
My first coaching session with you a decade ago helped me realize that I needed to learn ball motion besides skid, hook, and roll.
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Thanks .. not all of it sunk in .. but thanks for taking the time!
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Whew....Rico, you made my head hurt. As someone who has bowled through all of the last 40+ years of changes, I'll try to keep the discussion going.
Bowling is just evolving, or morphing into something else. All things have a finite lifetime. Just as our "Democracy" from the old days is changing so will everything else.
Your descriptions of "knowledge" in todays game has always been there. Just without all the fanfare. Even in the rubber and shellac days, lane play was there, with all the variables. Heat, amount of "oil", lane traffic, all these were in play since the game was invented.
What has changed is all the hyperbole about the game. We went through changes in balls even in rubber. Soft, softer, and softest. Dull and shiny. Amount of shellac and where. Sanded parts of the lane, all of this has always been there. There was even a few capitalizing, inventing a bowling glove, fingertip grip, book writing
The biggest change is economics. People woke up to the fact that the customer is so gullible, you can sell them anything you can come up with. Bowling was ripe, no big jumps in tech for years. Opportunities were wide open, and forced on the game by outsiders. The old game was kind of conquered by a few who did what you said. They understood roll, skid, lane play, all these things. But there wasn't(for a time) someone trying to make money off of this part of the game. Now there is a "salesman" for everything, including the mental game.
Anyhow, the only tactic is swim or sink. The true bowler just loves the game. He doesn't care how, what, where or when. The old "hustlers" were a good example. They would bowl you anywhere on anything, including the parking lot. The lesson here is, play what you got, go with the flow. I fully expect the game to evolve finally into a game(not sport) way more frivolous than it is now.
Economics changed the lanes. Insurance companies said no more shellac.
Economics changed the balls. Plastic was cheaper, easier to work with, and prettier.
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Bowlers can only be educated if they want to be. Otherwise, it's easier to blame everything but themselves.
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Very good point also,doom
Thank you Rico for the reading
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That's kind of my points
First no matter the era or time, there has always been perceived advantages but no one ever accepts ability or talent to be the differing variable
And yes you can take a horse to water but you can't make em thirsty...
If you offer explanation or education instead of embarrassment you may create more enthusiasm
Thanks for reading 'guys'
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Almost seems as if a question should be coming now "Which hurt bowling first, the Pattern, or the ball?" .........the patterns as we now refer to them were mainly a response to the "destructive" effects the new resin bowling balls were having on the lanes themselves...and it became a back and forth, a push and pull, here are more advanced oil sucking balls........we'll then, here are new patterns that can contain them and mitigate the damage done to the "lanes" and on and on it goes. It just sounded to me like blame was being assessed, but more directed towards the way lanes are dressed today rather than at the modern equipment that has necessitated changing how lanes are dressed. Interesting reading though.
Brad
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Patterns were created to legitimize bowling as a sport, to possibly get into the olympics
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By the way, I didn't say it before, but I absolutely love this bit of reading. It's the truth.
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Check out NU-FUSION BOWLING
A new approach to bowling
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As mentioned, if bowlers took the time to educate themselves with the knowledge, as well as how each ball has a certain condition, along with working on their mechanics/fundamentals, this game may still have some integrity to it, well written rico.
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Personally, I believe it's a combination of issues that led to the decline of bowling.
1. The massive reduction of American manufacturing.
2. The rules prohibiting indoor smoking.
3. The rise of the Internet and related technology .
4. Old ass run down bowling alleys.
5. 500+ channels of television
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If we don't have patterns then what is it replaced with?
I don't understand this at all.
Even if the pattern isn't stated - there has to be some configuration of oil on the lanes.
Furthermore - the only places different patters are used are in scratch tournaments (from PBA, to college, or other) and sport shot leagues. 99.9% of all bowling is done on the same fucking generic easy houseshot that everyone online hates but virtually everyone in real life loves.
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If we don't have patterns then what is it replaced with?
I don't understand this at all.
Even if the pattern isn't stated - there has to be some configuration of oil on the lanes.
Furthermore - the only places different patters are used are in scratch tournaments (from PBA, to college, or other) and sport shot leagues. 99.9% of all bowling is done on the same fucking generic easy houseshot that everyone online hates but virtually everyone in real life loves.
What Rico is saying is that when people hear "the pattern is (insert pattern name here), if it doesn't "play" exactly as they think it should, they lose their minds. So if you walk in to a place that put out Cheetah and they take the gutter away, everyone gets confused. Preconceived notions, I believe it's called. I bowled on some 33 foot pattern a while back, and on the practice pair, I had the nut at the gutter. So I had an idea of where I wanted to be after bowling 8 games on a 45 foot pattern. Well, they stripped between the 45 foot pattern, but not very well, because there was mega hang at the gutter. Sure made the preconceived notions of the pattern total crap. I recognized it, but it was tough.
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My issue is the false labeling of conditions...what exactly is a house shot? Do bowlers even understand all the variables that constitute a condition? No two conditions are the same...hell no two lanes are the same, so how can that be?
Too many believe if there are high scores it's a house shot...of someone strikes more than them, it's too easy or a fricking house shot
I've competed in many paces where their normal condition, due to being made easy was extremely difficult due to the extremities of conditioner vs friction
Get away from labels and understand what's truly happening...bowl the condition not the name is all I'm saying
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Let me try and elaborate...perception vs reality
Example - if the machine applies a short length condition, which generally dictates attacking the lane from farther outside and one of the competitors is not comfortable playing the outer portion of the lane, he will find a piece of equipment that allows him to play where he's comfortable...what happens to that condition? And how does it evolve and effect the other competitors? They will say it didn't play right? Compared to what?
Bowlers have been taught to believe the lane is as pure as a piece of paper...flat and true with no flaws...in reality it's closer to a wadded up crinkled piece of paper
Another example-golf related
A hole is built not taking the wind direction into consideration so if the hole is constantly played into a prevailing head wind, it more than likely changes the scoring vs a prevailing tail wind...bowling lanes are similar to this
If the characteristic dictates one portion of the lane and the bowlers are forced into another, the transitioning of that lane now changes effecting the scoring
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I feel all the advancements in bowling was/is a double edge sword. as much as I enjoy every and all advancements in bowling i.e. cover's,core's layouts and lane pattern's the majority just got confused and tired of it. So JR is correct that the bowler's need to be educated on ball motion.
I also feel that if the bowling industry can stabilize it's advancements for a period of time the bowler's will catch up and the population of bowler's will grow again.
the days of picking the blue ball or the burgundy ball with the same layout and chucking it up second arrow are long gone but still I see the older bowler's sticking to the same lane play sink or swim. and all to often I see these bowler's fall to the bowler's who understand and they almost always blame it on the advancements of the bowling ball and/or the lane pattern.
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he will find a piece of equipment that allows him to play where he's comfortable.
That is my typical mindset, and yet I have seen various threads over the years where some are almost condemning people for doing just that.
Brad
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he will find a piece of equipment that allows him to play where he's comfortable.
That is my typical mindset, and yet I have seen various threads over the years where some are almost condemning people for doing just that.
Brad
what is a ball designed for? We saw Barnes using the strongest ball 900 G has made on 32 feet while others used plastic and urethane.
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I feel all the advancements in bowling was/is a double edge sword. as much as I enjoy every and all advancements in bowling i.e. cover's,core's layouts and lane pattern's the majority just got confused and tired of it. So JR is correct that the bowler's need to be educated on ball motion.
I also feel that if the bowling industry can stabilize it's advancements for a period of time the bowler's will catch up and the population of bowler's will grow again.
the days of picking the blue ball or the burgundy ball with the same layout and chucking it up second arrow are long gone but still I see the older bowler's sticking to the same lane play sink or swim. and all to often I see these bowler's fall to the bowler's who understand and they almost always blame it on the advancements of the bowling ball and/or the lane pattern.
This exactly what alot of the problem is in this game today ^^
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Thanks, Ric. In case you guys haven't figured it out yet, he's one of the really smart guys in our industry. I will always be grateful to Ric, and he knows why.
Maybe with the new BallReviews, and our average age being more mature, (see age topic) he'll spend more time with us. It used to get very frustrating when some 18 year old kid started arguing with Ric, when their knowledge would fit, comparatively, in a thimble while Ric has acquired a vast ocean...
I wholeheartedly agree that when people start to understand ball motion, and how it's created, their enjoyment of the game will be because the game is a challenge and it's fun. Too many are only happy when their scores are above average, which utterly destroys the meaning of "average".
An old friend of mine, John Forst, who passed away last year, always told me "you're at the mercy of the laneman for the first 10 minutes or so, after that you're at the mercy of all the bowlers on your pair (and what and where they're playing). This, along with the factors Ric has mentioned (environment, topography, etc.) can really help the ALERT bowler to have some insight as to how the pattern will transition.
But what do most people do? Instead of watching every ball thrown by every bowler, they return to their conversation with their teammates, or the next slice of pizza... And then if things don't (magically) fall exactly into place for them (almost by accident) they b*tch and moan about the very pattern they have not watched develop!
The one thing I liked about this years' USBC Open in Vegas was that they didn't release the patterns beforehand, forcing/allowing the bowler to find a shot (or die trying). I did some of both. ;) But no one could say "we need to play 'here' because we practiced on it for 48 games back home." (The only problem with not releasing said patterns is that anyone from Vegas could go watch anytime and get a feel for what's on the lanes; but that aside, I was fine with everyone starting with a clean slate so to speak.)
There are plenty of challenges in bowling, regardless of pattern used, if the bowlers will educate themselves and embrace all the change instead of complaining about it.
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"Patterns" is just a more socially acceptable way of saying "we block our lanes". Let's admit it, most bowlers want to bowl on lanes they can score well on. In the early 70's, when I started to learn more about oil on the lanes we felt that if we had two boards to hit to get to the pocket with our rubber and plastic balls they were blocked. Today that would be considered a very difficult "pattern". -- JohnP
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Thanks, Ric. In case you guys haven't figured it out yet, he's one of the really smart guys in our industry. I will always be grateful to Ric, and he knows why.
I am grateful that he has shared what he has with us here, even though people have challenged him with illogical arguments and irreverence. I can hardly believe he has returned time after time, but thank him for doing so.
Maybe with the new BallReviews, and our average age being more mature, (see age topic) he'll spend more time with us. It used to get very frustrating when some 18 year old kid started arguing with Ric, when their knowledge would fit, comparatively, in a thimble while Ric has acquired a vast ocean...
How true, how sad!
But what do most people do? Instead of watching every ball thrown by every bowler, they return to their conversation with their teammates, or the next slice of pizza... And then if things don't (magically) fall exactly into place for them (almost by accident) they b*tch and moan about the very pattern they have not watched develop!
Unfortunately, this seems part and parcel of the human condition:
- bitch when we don't get what we want, even when we make no effort to get it
- take it and get all we can from it, with no acknowledgement that it was GIVEN to use and return no thanks that it was given.
...
There are plenty of challenges in bowling, regardless of pattern used, if the bowlers will educate themselves and embrace all the change instead of complaining about it.
You know and I know that will virtually never happen, but we can continue to be optimistic that it might.
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Originally - oil was applied to the lane surface to protect said surface
Today - create a path or area to force the competitors into
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Originally - oil was applied to the lane surface to protect said surface
Today - create a path or area to force the competitors into
It's as if they're allowing the laneman/oilman to define the difference between the sport of bowling and the game of bowling.
The oil pattern all but determines who will win.
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Maybe not who wins but who definitely won't...certain player types are eliminated from the start...as many leftys put it, they've become an after thought...if they have a look good, if they don't oh well...
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Really great post. I could quible with a few points, but overall not worth arguing about. Just a couple of things I would add. The other thing that reactive balls did, other than show a lot more friction on the dry, was to not react to carry down the way urethane did. Not a big issue on top hat patterns, but an over riding important aspect on flatter sport patterns. Also, I don't think people foresaw the extent to which super high rev players would be able to quickly modify any pattern put down because of the high friction resin balls
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There's still carrydown, depends primarily on the conditioner & additives used...what most don't realize or recognize is that when the front part of the lane goes, it increases the slowing of the ball, as well as much earlier on the lane and the carrydown intensifies the visual motion
The bigger effect or factor is the rev rate and what it does to the condition and/or surface...thus is part of the evolution of the competitor and the conditions
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Still carry down, but resin cuts through it more effectively than urethane. This was the first thing I realized 25 years ago when I got my first Excaliber
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It has to do with response to friction...urethane is a slower less visual response vs resin which is more visible down lane, giving the illusion it cuts through
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Great post rico. All the time when I bowl on different patterns I always hear people say this pattern has to play this way. What ever happened to let your ball tell you what you need to do? A lost concept at times
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Lost art might be closer lol
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very true lol
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It may be an illusion, but the flush hits I was getting inthe same area that my blue hammer was hanging for 2-8-10s was not an illusion. Yes reactive resin responds with more friction to the dry ,but it also responds with more friction to the light oil carried down
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Isn't it interesting to note, bowling was most popular when nobody had to understand anything? Asking a person to take / dedicate the necessary time to understand the so called "complexity" of the game is unreasonable. Simply, it's not fun for the average, once a week bowler. Maybe that's another aspect to the decline of bowling. The people who are the driving force in the industry still act like people bowl 3-4 times a week. They don't and never will again.
The most visible of all bowling entities, the PBA, is a shambles and boring. The average bowler will never understand how stupidly impossible some of the conditions can be. Nor do they want to. Who in the hell wants to sit down in front of a television, watch a golf tournament where everyone is hitting the ball into the water or missing every "easy' putt? The same holds true with bowling. Who wants to watch crappy bowling?
The modern bowling game is no different than any other era. Simply, the jargon has changed and there is a whole lot more of it. The upper level bowlers always manipulated the way a ball responded down the lane. Now, it's called "ball motion".
What I'm saying, bowling is supposedly more technical. In reality, it's the same as it's always been, you've still got to roll the ball. Simple.
Bowling has far removed itself from the simplicity of the game, there is no turning back now. Bowling will never be what it was. The masses have spoken.
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You are absolutely correct that in some ways it is no more complex than ever. I often think that if I knew in 1966 what I have learned over the years I could have been a dominate player. Ahead of my time. Yes the technology has exploded, and to some extent over powered the game.
Not all technological advances were inititially about scoring. For example the transition from lacquer to urethane finish was about safety and maintenance issues, but had a profound and unexpected impact on the style that could be most successful. The polyester ball was not considered as a more advanced scoring option when it was introduced, and the first soft polyester was an accident that bowlers discovered
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Equipment is merely a variable not the deciding factor...ability & talent still dictate
One cannot simply believe that if they knew something at an earlier time or era it would have altered their career or outcome...changing one thing or thought automatically changes something else
Barry Asher once told me my game translated more towards the 60/70's timeframe...doesn't automatically mean I would've dominated
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Yes sir couldn't agree more ^^
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>>2. The rules prohibiting indoor smoking.
I've never seen or heard of one person quit bowling leagues because they could not smoke indoors. In fact, just the opposite has happened as some people have come back to bowling with the cleaner air.
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>>2. The rules prohibiting indoor smoking.
I've never seen or heard of one person quit bowling leagues because they could not smoke indoors. In fact, just the opposite has happened as some people have come back to bowling with the cleaner air.
While I was managing a center in college, both centers in my area went non-smoking. One center was more of a family entertainment center while the other (mine) was an old school bowling only center. Our center built a smoke room where the smokers could go without having to go outside. Our league numbers immediately boomed.
I am not saying adding a smoke room or somehow allowing smoking will improve numbers TODAY, I will say that when smoking was being eliminated left and right, it did have a significant impact on several bowling centers. Especially in areas where several municipalities were in proximity to each other and rules differed between them.
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Not thinking about equipment. When I looked at how little I unferstood ball reaction there is no doubt in my mind I would have been m much better. I was already good, so not talking about overcoming lack of talent, but more about understanding how I could carry better , even with the available equipment
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It has nothing to do with equipment Bob
I understand from studying and understanding psychology it's not that simple
Many believe it is or can be but it's just not simple
One thought translates into another action which causes a different result
It's simple psychology thus why many gifted athletes that blossom later in life...they have better understanding of themselves and what effects what...
We'd all like to truly believe we are the heroes in our life's story's but we also need to be realistic
The older I get the better I was...
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We'd all like to truly believe we are the heroes in our life's story's but we also need to be realistic
Truth brother!
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Doesn't everyone wish they could go back to when they were 21 with what they know now?
Guys will only say no because they want to actually go back to 17.
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Doesn't everyone wish they could go back to when they were 21 with what they know now?
Guys will only say no because they want to actually go back to 17.
I actually like being older.
I just wish I still felt 21 ( or 17) again. :o ;D
Don't really want to have to live all that crap over again though.
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...the topic is EVOLUTION or DESTRUCTION of BOWLING.
The one thing about forums, we are all here because we are interested in the game of bowling. Whatever we were, or are now, is relative. It's what keeps us in the game.
There are at least 15 reasons why people have exited the bowling environment. I won't go into all of the detail. But, think about how people respond to anything that causes frustration or confusion. Generally, they will quit.
The MODERN GAME. What? We been executing the modern release since the inception of urethane. Oh, I see, someone just figured it out, they write, do seminars, or are gold level coaches. Whatever. It's not new. To take it further, the MODERN APPROACH is reminiscent of Andy Varipapa's approach and release technique. What is so new about that?
All eras of bowling have had their guru's. Tom Kouros and Fred Borden to name a couple. Then came along Bill Taylor. Please understand, I am not a Bill Taylor fan. His claim to fame was full of negativity. And unfortunately, the venom he spewed is the language of the modern game.
Bill wanted to make the game technical. Believing that the scores were too high, that the only good release was a full roller release, the pins are too light, the oil patterns too easy, Bill aggressively set out to defend his belief. Was he a profit or was he a salesman? His creation of the oil-less lanes and his own brand of pins leads me to believe it was the later. Yet, his message resonates to this day.
Guess who jumped on the Bill Taylor band wagon, ABC. From that point forward, bowlers felt harassed. Scores were being thrown out, balls were being banned, short oil conditions were mandated. Think about it. Who wants to put up with any of that? All of a sudden, bowlers no longer bowled in 3-4 leagues, they narrowed it down to two. Then, they narrowed it down to none.
People became sick and tired of the confusion.
When I first started bowling, I bowled in a great league. It was fun and competitive. ABC had just instituted the ban on sanding a bowling ball during league play. Well, there was this fellow who was one of the fun bowlers. Midway through the first game, he starts sanding his bowling ball. An argument ensued, he honestly did not know about the sand ban rule. Didn't matter, the others vehemently declared: "He should have known".
This fellow I'm referring to was a really good guy, well liked by everyone, a pleasure to be on the lanes with. He never wanted any trouble from anyone. But, that incident got real ugly. When it was all said and done, he said he would not be back. No problem right?
Remember the good guy part? How difficult is it replace a bowler on a team, let alone find someone everybody likes? The team ended up quitting.
So what, you'd say. Well, another team did not want to bowl in an odd number league. Another team didn't want to bowl because the league wasn't full. On and on. The league folded. Too bad, it was one of the longest running leagues in the area.
So, it doesn't take much. One incident, that's it.
The modern game is based on ridicule, "oh, you shot 300 - 800, must have been at an easy house". Sure, there are a lot of award scores, equipment is better, the bowlers are better. Why not compliment them, we certainly don't want them to leave the game because they bowled good. There are enough other reasons to leave.
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It's so great to see so many of us that are so passionate about this game with our many views..... it will always be so unfortunate that these issues could not be addressed many years ago. Who knows where the sport would be if all of these suggestions were applied then?
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many higher ups who don't bowl make bowling decisions for the masses lol.....
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Boy, did you hit dome good points, especially on Taylor.
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Bill Taylor had great ideas but was sand paper in regards to the industry...thus too many chose not to listen to him
Too many bowlers who have nothing invested, want what they want and how they want it
Bowling center owners want to run a profitable business as simple as possible thus the bowlers that have all the great ideas on saving bowling, which doesn't need saving btw, are the ones bowling center owners are running away from
Too many wish to talk abt integrity in the game...generally for their own egos when honestly it's credibility that's lacking...integrity won't sell tickets
Integrity would be designing conditions that allowed ability to shine not certain players...and recreating that condition consistently...credibility would arise from that
Generally the ones that choose to boast abt their own well being or accomplishments are the same that choose to blame equipment for their lack of success
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Spot on again, hopefully bowlers' will read this thread.
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At one point in time, Bill Taylor and Fred Borden had some interesting debates. And, it basically boiled down to, who did you believe. Personally, I leaned more toward Borden. Borden is a class guy and his book KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY, is full of fundamentally sound advice. Taylor? Like I mentioned earlier, didn't care much about his theory or his approach to bowling. That doesn't mean I didn't get an earful about his philosophy though. My pro shop partner, (honestly, the brightest person in the business ever) was a Bill Taylor "disciple".
Taylor constantly challenged the integrity of the game and it fell on just enough ears. He had people believing some sort of standardized system should be implemented. Ok, but, then he tries to introduce his own brand of bowling. Sorry Bill, you lost me there. I was a national sales trainer for a very large company, I know a sales pitch when I hear one.
Taylor expounded upon the integrity of the game, at least from his perspective. Integrity? What is that in bowling?
My partner came up to me one time and asked me (obviously had just read something from Taylor) which is most the difficult to bowl on, oil or dry? My answer, oil to the pin deck. My pro shop partner's answer, dry. In reality, it's both, not one or the other. Having said that, how is it possible to satisfy all types of bowlers. Who is better, the person who can bowl on oil or the person who can bowl on dry? Both would require a specific "touch" in order to score effectively. Very, very few people would ever be capable of scoring well on either of those two conditions.
I'm not trying to stir up emotions when I say this, but there can never be, nor was there ever integrity in bowling. Simply, there are too many variables and it starts with the fact that there are ten objects, 60 feet away, that must be knocked down. Integrity would be very specific, only two pins to shoot at. They would be orientated like a 4-9 or a 6-8 split. Because, no sport is absolute, there are always variables, converting those splits would provide just enough margin of error to make "bowling" a sport with specific parameters. Accuracy will prevail. Integrity! No more pulling the magic rabbit out of the bag.
Not very realistic though. We have ten pins and always will.
In other sports, if a golfer, basketball player, baseball pitcher or hitter, or any other sport where a foreign object (ball) is utilized in a specific manner to create a desired reaction (score), the sensation of 100% execution results in absolute success.
Taking it further, let's say we could create a bowling environment that was consistent across all surfaces. Is it possible to absolutely guarantee, no solid 9's?
In bowling's attempt to create this atmosphere of so called integrity, they have alienated 100's of 1000's of bowlers. No, let's make that millions and millions of people who enjoyed a trip to a bowling alley at least once a week.
Bowling is a universal game of which some of us have become proficient. It is our lives, bowling is in our blood. Why we try to push our passion for the game down the average bowling patron's throat is beyond me.
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Integrity (defined-the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness) in bowling is creating an environment that does attempt to eliminate one individual style or side of the lane and duplicating to the best of their abilities...when the Phantom was in charge of the Kane's on the tour he accomplished this by taking the amount of competitors into consideration then adjusting the amount of oil applied...the transition & breakdown became more consistent throughout the week
The game is lacking in credibility to the masses not integrity...it does not translate well to the casual observer such as golf, where obstacles are much more visual
As I stated the issue with this is -
*For example take golf, how would you explain to a person void of sight, wind or rain?
All while playing the game in front of them, in which they are unable to see? This would be comparable to explaining bowling and ball motion to a layperson.
Another example would be playing tennis, with needing to hit a tennis ball inside lines that are constantly moving & changing, on every hit of the tennis ball; along with the player being unable to see the lines.
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Honestly, I totally understand and agree with the "sight and invisibility" philosophy. I use it all the time while instructing. It falls on deaf ears, especially if the person is not a very efficient bowler.
Bowling has specific parameters though that anyone can see. The average bowler does understand, there is a foul line and there are pins you try to knock down. It is that basic. It is so basic that blind people can actually bowl. I use the term blind affectionately. I had a young who suffered from cancer on the high school team I was coaching, it rendered her legally blind. She was a very bright young lady, full of questions, and had the desire to do things as normally as possible. Her last game was in the 190's (no, she was not a 190 ave bowler). That's pretty incredible!
Why was she able to shoot that score?
Simply, it was a matter of repetition and the desire to execute the shot to the best of her ability. All she had to rely on was the "line in her mind". The other part of the equation, her ball went absolutely straight. We had drilled her a plastic ball.
Integrity and credibility are not as separate in the bowling world as one would think.
Given the illustration of oil application to make the game more fair to a larger number of bowlers, how would that translate to, let's say, high jumping?
We are witnessing very low scores at the National. People do not expect the conditions they are confronted with. They are frustrated and many will not go back. They are tired of being blindsided. And, a least a few of them will stop bowling in leagues all together.
Has bowling finally reached the point where the bar has been raised a little too high?
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Taylor was most controversial on pins. He called the laminated double voice pins pinnettes. He claimed that it allowed guys who did nothing to the ball to score well. The mistake he made was in recognizing the impact of the change from shellac to lacquer. The full rollers no longer worked as well on the new finishes and the most successful pros like Carter and Weber were going much straighter to keep the ball in play.