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Post by MrPerfect on Oct 30, 2006 13:06:29 GMT -5
PBA, USBC to Launch "PBA Experience"
GREENDALE, Wis. - 10/29/2006
The ultimate bowling experience has been unleashed.
The USBC and the PBA are teaming up to offer bowlers a unique and exciting new league concept called the “PBA Experience.” League bowlers will get the chance to compete on the PBA’s five different lane conditioning patterns – Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion, Shark and Viper.
The program was announced Sunday during the finals of the USBC Masters on ESPN.
Starting Jan. 1, 2007, bowling centers across the United States will be organizing PBA Experience leagues that will be contested on the same lane oil patterns used during the previous week’s Denny’s PBA Tour event. All lane patterns for the PBA Experience – which is part of the USBC Sport Bowling program – will comply with USBC Sport Bowling rules under newly-modified specifications governing the application of oil to the lane, which allow a maximum of three times as much oil on the inside boards versus the outside boards closer to the channel.
“The PBA Experience gives bowlers a competitive, on-lane adventure that is a unique concept in the world of sports,” said Director of USBC Sport Bowling Steve Wunderlich. “For example, you can watch an NFL game but can’t duplicate Peyton Manning standing over center and dissecting a defense. You can watch a Major League Baseball game, but you’ll never face a 95 mile per hour fastball from Roger Clemens. The PBA Experience is different because bowlers will be playing on the identical playing fields – the lane conditions – as the pros. This truly is the pro experience for those who are passionate about the sport.”
"For the first time in the history of our sport, millions of USBC league bowlers from across the nation will have a unique opportunity to face and try to tame the professional lane patterns of the Denny's PBA Tour,” said Denny's PBA Tour Director Kirk von Krueger. “The PBA Experience is an absolute must for anyone who wants to return
'sport' to bowling and experience the real challenge of the game as it was meant to be played."
To make this an experience like no other, bowlers will receive tips on how to play the patterns from professional bowlers – such as USBC Sport Bowling spokesperson Chris Barnes – in the forms of a video and handouts. USBC also has created a new “PBA Experience” section of bowl.com.
“We’re trying to give bowlers the chance to experience what it’s like to compete as a pro and compare themselves to what they see on TV,” Wunderlich said.
Existing USBC Sport Bowling leagues may change to a PBA Experience league as of Jan. 1. New PBA Experience leagues can be formed as leagues as of that date.
Sport Bowling continues as an optional membership level of USBC that offers bowlers of all abilities the chance to experience a new challenge, satisfy their competitive nature and improve their bowling skills. Sport Bowling leagues and tournaments are conducted on challenging lane conditions that have become the recognized standard for competitive bowling.
For more information about the PBA Experience and the lane patterns, visit the Sport Bowling section of bowl.com.
I think we should do this next Summer in our Sport League.... What do you think James ?
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Post by WineUdotKing on Dec 15, 2006 13:12:26 GMT -5
Here's my real take on the whole situation.
The game as alot of us once knew it, sadly is gone. (Keyword here is accuracy) that's pretty much out of the picture in today's game. The USBC's notion that paying another fee on top of what is already the standard fee to bowl on a condition that (Should be the Standard) is dumb. It's just backwards of what should be normal. The tough shot should'nt be "tough" it should be "normal". If you want to bowl on an easy shot and get lots of big scores, go right ahead, but you pay the extra money to do so. Go back to giving free gold rings for shooting honor scores on the "new standard shot". Make them buy the cheap rings that are given out now for the $80 or whatever they cost if they want to bowl on the easy stuff.
If Greendale is waiting for junior bowlers to come through the ranks and save it from extinction, it might as well close up shop now. The drop off rate is so bad that there cant possibly be enough young bowlers to save it.
I think more bowlers would bowl on a tougher condition(maybe not all so willing at first) than have to pay a higher fee not to. That's the mentality of alot of people, and that's a fact.
I also dont think that they would quit in droves(the more I think about it) because of the investment that so many have in equipment these days. Some might, but most people with a $1000+in equipment are not just gonna' throw it in the basement and say forget it. It also wont really hurt your (joe/jane average bowler either) IMO as their just playing the game to have fun anyway. USBC cannot afford to wait for everyone to want to go the sport route.
Pay less for integrity, pay more if you dont want integrity, it's your choice. It cant be any worse off than it is now losing around 200,000 members a year,and if everyone wants to continue on the 'fluff" USBC will get a revenue boost.
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Post by PBAHoFer on Dec 15, 2006 13:33:06 GMT -5
Here's my real take on the whole situation. The game as alot of us once knew it, sadly is gone. (Keyword here is accuracy) that's pretty much out of the picture in today's game. The USBC's notion that paying another fee on top of what is already the standard fee to bowl on a condition that (Should be the Standard) is dumb. It's just backwards of what should be normal. The tough shot should'nt be "tough" it should be "normal". If you want to bowl on an easy shot and get lots of big scores, go right ahead, but you pay the extra money to do so. Go back to giving free gold rings for shooting honor scores on the "new standard shot". Make them buy the cheap rings that are given out now for the $80 or whatever they cost if they want to bowl on the easy stuff. If Greendale is waiting for junior bowlers to come through the ranks and save it from extinction, it might as well close up shop now. The drop off rate is so bad that there cant possibly be enough young bowlers to save it. I think more bowlers would bowl on a tougher condition(maybe not all so willing at first) than have to pay a higher fee not to. That's the mentality of alot of people, and that's a fact. I also dont think that they would quit in droves(the more I think about it) because of the investment that so many have in equipment these days. Some might, but most people with a $1000+in equipment are not just gonna' throw it in the basement and say forget it. It also wont really hurt your (joe/jane average bowler either) IMO as their just playing the game to have fun anyway. USBC cannot afford to wait for everyone to want to go the sport route. Pay less for integrity, pay more if you dont want integrity, it's your choice. It cant be any worse off than it is now losing around 200,000 members a year,and if everyone wants to continue on the 'fluff" USBC will get a revenue boost. Until USBC can govern the bowling centers then nothing will change. A bowling center in a metropolitan area has much more incentive to buy new technology and put out a scoreable shot, than say a 12 or 14 lane center in the middle of the corn belt somewhere... On top of that, USBC can only mandate certain conditions for which the houses to comply... equipment and lane standards I am talking about... but, there is no "national enforcement" of the standards... I heard there has been no "physical certification" i.e. "fieldwork" performed at a local Houston center for over 3 years... and they get their window sticker every year. So, I agree with your logic... pay the $20 to bowl on what should be the standard condition. i.e. compliant to past shot standards, have a list of approved equipment for use in these leagues, i.e. plastic or urethane, or maybe low end reactive, and go to town. Easy shots, particle and reactive strike out of the box equipment pay more to certify. My goal for our local Association is try to provide value for your membership dues... conduct a tournament or 2 a year. Give a local participation award... I know it's a "poo poo" junk award, but, it really is the thought that counts... it's not like we can improve "service" for $1/ bowler... so they might as well get a trinket. Plus, it's not like we are only awarding an achievement, they get those type awards from the National group. We also need to continue to improve our turn around for awards. It has been the most improved aspect of our merge, in my opinion. Now, if we can only solve or satisfy the continual missing award requests that still occur monthly... I mean really, it's been almost a year, why do people wait so long to question an award score that was bowled 6-8-10-12 months ago... This outlook is why I wish we had more participation in out Annual Tournaments... it really is one of the few things we can offer as an Associaiton. The rest is just service and process work. |
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Post by MrPerfect on Dec 15, 2006 14:09:11 GMT -5
I remember back in the early 80's when I worked and bowled at Mimosa Lanes for Ray Devito. All I heard from the older guys was how easy it was these days to get honor scores because of lane conditions and better equipment as opposed to the 60's and 70's. We didn't wall them up 10 and out at Mimosa like Ronnie Camp did at Meadowcreek, we used a slotted shot, usually giving 3 to 4 dry boards with aluminum foil covering the wicks on the old Century lane machines, usually 6th to 9th boards. Back then, Assoc. officials had to come out and check the lanes with tape and finger tests and looked over the lane machines, checked the weight of the pins and whatever else they had to do. Then they would either approve or turn down the honor score. There were more than a few turned down back in those days and it upset a lot of bowlers. Instead of these bowlers getting mad at the center, they would be mad at the Assoc. officials and/or ABC and if a few got mad at the center, they would either give that bowler money or buy a BPA ring for their award score to make the bowler happy.
USBC and the BPA have to work together to keep bowlers coming back into the centers and recruit new bowlers from open play or youth leagues. Bowling centers want easier lane conditions to help make that happen. Also, better equipment (balls) and better pins have all contributed to the higher scores and averages we see today. Plus, I feel bowling styles have changed a bunch to over the years, higher ball speeds, and more revs are being put on the ball than bowlers from 20 years ago as an average. I put more on the ball now than I did 20 years ago when I bowled on
Tour. The easier lanes conditions of today are here to stay but heavier pins and limits on bowling balls and the layouts can help in reducing honor scores and that is the type of stuff USBC can better control in my opinion.
And the Sport league shot we bowl on in the summer is tougher than what house shots were 20 years ago.... That shot is closer to what you'll see in PBA Regionals and PBA National Tour. of today and years past. We pay more because of the additional cost involved by USBC and the better awards they offer free of charge.
But the true test of a bowler these days in my opinion is in Tourns. beating the other bowlers on the same shot. To me, running up honor score counts is nice but not the true test of a bowler. Because that depends totally on what house you bowl league in. To me, Averages with in the house and Tourns. is where the true mantle of a bowler is earned.....JMO....
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Post by PBAHoFer on Dec 15, 2006 14:53:35 GMT -5
Lane conditions in "house tournaments" are easy everywhere mr. p... and thus, outscoring bowlers on fluff shots, just because they are not your home house shot still doens't mean you have done anything outstanding.
Now, if this is just a set up to tout your Nationals Tournament average then you win... but, while your 38th place 4 year average standing is impressive, it is also important to note that in the past few years scores are higher at the National Tournament than they have ever been in the past... so, while it is impressive to have that type accomplishment, in perspective, scores are up everywhere in everything.
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Post by MrPerfect on Dec 15, 2006 15:09:16 GMT -5
Lane conditions in "house tournaments" are easy everywhere mr. p... and thus, outscoring bowlers on fluff shots, just because they are not your home house shot still doens't mean you have done anything outstanding. Now, if this is just a set up to tout your Nationals Tournament average then you win... but, while your 38th place 4 year average standing is impressive, it is also important to note that in the past few years scores are higher at the National Tournament than they have ever been in the past... so, while it is impressive to have that type accomplishment, in perspective, scores are up everywhere in everything. No, no set-up for anything.... I was refering to beating other good bowlers no matter what the shot or scoring is, be it higher or lower scores, it was the competition I was refering to and winning Tourns. as being a little more impressive than honor scores on fluff in league play. ....IMO... But I would disagree with you as to not meaning anything, when you beat other bowlers on the same conditions, what ever it is that is saying something.... At present I have the highest avg. at Arm I, yes a fluff house shot... but I also ended up avgeraging 205 this summer on the Sport shot which was higher than anyone elses. I just didn't get the league award for doing so because I only had 6 weeks in and needed 8 to qualify. And I have the ONLY honor score on that Sport condition in Pasadena.... Basically, I am saying, the cream will rise to the top on any condition.....JMO... |
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Post by PBAHoFer on Dec 15, 2006 15:49:56 GMT -5
Lane conditions in "house tournaments" are easy everywhere mr. p... and thus, outscoring bowlers on fluff shots, just because they are not your home house shot still doens't mean you have done anything outstanding. Now, if this is just a set up to tout your Nationals Tournament average then you win... but, while your 38th place 4 year average standing is impressive, it is also important to note that in the past few years scores are higher at the National Tournament than they have ever been in the past... so, while it is impressive to have that type accomplishment, in perspective, scores are up everywhere in everything. No, no set-up for anything.... I was refering to beating other good bowlers no matter what the shot or scoring is, be it higher or lower scores, it was the competition I was refering to and winning Tourns. as being a little more impressive than honor scores on fluff in league play. ....IMO... But I would disagree with you as to not meaning anything, when you beat other bowlers on the same conditions, what ever it is that is saying something.... At present I have the highest avg. at Arm I, yes a fluff house shot... but I also ended up avgeraging 205 this summer on the Sport shot which was higher than anyone elses. I just didn't get the league award for doing so because I only had 6 weeks in and needed 8 to qualify. And I have the ONLY honor score on that Sport condition in Pasadena.... Basically, I am saying, the cream will rise to the top on any condition.....JMO... Sometimes one can be a winner just by being a competitor... and many times beating the field in competition does not make one a winner. Respect is earned. Reputations are hard to overcome and even harder to rehabilitate. I think this is the stigma that haunts many good bowlers with less than stellar reputations... I'll use Rusty Davis as an example, the boy hasn't kicked a ball return or screamed expletives at the pins in years and conduct rules are still referred to as the "Rusty Davis Rule". |
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Post by MrPerfect on Dec 15, 2006 15:57:42 GMT -5
No, no set-up for anything.... I was refering to beating other good bowlers no matter what the shot or scoring is, be it higher or lower scores, it was the competition I was refering to and winning Tourns. as being a little more impressive than honor scores on fluff in league play. ....IMO... But I would disagree with you as to not meaning anything, when you beat other bowlers on the same conditions, what ever it is that is saying something.... At present I have the highest avg. at Arm I, yes a fluff house shot... but I also ended up avgeraging 205 this summer on the Sport shot which was higher than anyone elses. I just didn't get the league award for doing so because I only had 6 weeks in and needed 8 to qualify. And I have the ONLY honor score on that Sport condition in Pasadena.... Basically, I am saying, the cream will rise to the top on any condition.....JMO... Sometimes one can be a winner just by being a competitor... and many times beating the field in competition does not make one a winner. Respect is earned. Reputations are hard to overcome and even harder to rehabilitate. I think this is the stigma that haunts many good bowlers with less than stellar reputations... I'll use Rusty Davis as an example, the boy hasn't kicked a ball return or screamed expletives at the pins in years and conduct rules are still referred to as the "Rusty Davis Rule". This is very true.. but I have noticed that Rusty hasn't done that in a long time but others may have not realized that yet and may never change their minds about him.... I'm in the same boat about complaining about lane conditions and other things. I use to do it a lot, I seldom do it these days but that is what everyone still thinks about me.... and I may never lose that reputation regardless of how quiet I may be in a bowling center... |
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