Do any of you guys have a sense of history?
What did they do to control scoring back in the 70s and 80s?
Lane conditions.
What did they do in the 90s?
Lane conditions.
What do you want?
Lane conditions.
The worst thing that's ever happened to bowling is that back when people were using the soaker balls, etc., bowling decided to INCREASE the amount of oil on the lane, etc. in order to prevent or lower the amount of hook, entry angle, etc. What they should have done is let the lanes hook -- drier lanes hold scoring down, and they wouldn't have created the arms race that is modern bowling ball manufacturing. After all, you wouldn't have needed resin if resin would have simply created too much friction.
In any case, about changing other factors, I am all in favor of changing equipment. In fact, I am radically in favor -- I say let's have a game ball. Yes, I said it -- one ball. Or, if that's too extreme for all the ball companies that would get squeezed out, set specs that must be matched.
Why, you ask? Well, nowawagonmaster kind of pointed it out himself. In his mind, in the golf analogy, the big guy would be able to hit the ball further in golf than the little guy -- but this is only partially true. Rather, it's the guy with better form and skill that can hit the ball further (to some extent, after that, yes, body shape and strength take over). But even if you do give up some "yards" per se, consider that the bowler with better skills should still be able to change hand positions, move on the lane, etc. in order to find an even higher scoring line...
Basically, if you wanted a short answer as to why I think one ball or closely watched specs would do the sport well, it's because it would create an elitism within the sport. Certain bowlers would be better than certain bowlers, on a pure talent basis. So what if certain bowlers "can't" score well? I ask you, in other sports, can a less skilled athlete become better or gain an advantage by changing the equipment? NO! But in bowling, this is how it is -- which is really quite sad.
If bowling is to become respected and grow once again, it needs to make a serious step toward leveling the playing field and letting the true bowlers rise to the top.
Just my .02. After that, my vote goes to changing the pin weight distribution to lower the center of gravity or make them heavier. It has NEVER been hard to hit the pocket in bowling. What was hard in the 1950s and 60s -- and what is easy now -- was carrying pins like the 5, 7, and 10.
Edited on 12/13/2007 12:59 PM
Edited on 12/13/2007 1:04 PM
Edited on 12/13/2007 1:04 PM
