Bowling Forums, Bowling Discussion and Bowling Talk

PBA Records I Don't Think Will Be Broken

bowler723 — Thur, 09 Sep 2010 19:50:43 GMT

1. Mark Roth's 8 Titles in one season (1978)

Can you imagine a bowler winning 9 titles in one season today?

2. Johnny Petraglia's three consecutive televised titles (1971)

No one is winning FOUR titles in a row on television.

3. The 7 - 10 split converted twice on television in one season (1991)

It has not been converted ONCE since then, so forget THREE conversions in one season!

4. Bob Learn's 282 Four Game Average (1996)

No more do overs please.

5. Chris Barnes 12 telecasts in one season with no titles (2000)

Why would anyone want to break this record?

6. Jim Pencak 16 consecutive wins on television (1989 - 1991)

That would mean someone would have to win 17 consecutive televised matches... I don't think so!

7. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 172 television apearances

... and still counting!

8. Steve Jaros lowest 129 score on television (1992)

not on today's conditions.

9. Walter Ray Williams single season earnings of $419,700 (2002 - 2003)

especially with the shrinking prize funds...

10. Walter Ray's 47 career titles

He's still winning and would the PBA last that long to see someone else break it?

Forum: General bowling discussion

Funny 7 bagger as part of a 256 game

Curtie — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:15:53 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktBpCgqcX9U

The first 6 were pretty good, but the 7th is just lol!

Also this is another update on my form. Any thoughts?

Also, this was the second time using my new Mega Recovery.

I used that on the left lane, and a Cell on the right lane.

Forum: General bowling discussion

? abt handicap

scv76 — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:56:48 GMT

I have a question about handicap.
Why is it that every bowling center I've seen seems to give the scratch bowler a 10%
advantage over the other bowlers?
It just doesn't seem logical that bowlers would agree to bowl giving up 10% to anyone.
When I proposed to make the handicap 100% of some number, I got no support at all.
Is my thinking flawed that everyone should be an equal?
I would like to hear from you other bowlers why you think it's fair to give a 10% advantage to the scratch bowler in a handicap league

Forum: General bowling discussion

Shoulder Pain

1150A — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:55:23 GMT

I posted a thread awhile back about wrist pain, which has slowly gone away. I've used my wrist support more constantly and bowled a bit less during the week. So far, my wrist doesn't seem to bother me very much at all anymore.

That being said, my shoulder pain is still here. It's strained on the upper part of my right shoulder. It doesn't seem to affect my strength too much, but it's just sort of a pain. I notice the strain mostly when I'm at work. I'm in sales so I spend the day walking around with my hands hanging down. If I put my hand toward my chest (like an arm sling, the strain goes away. Any one experience something similar?

I'm about 140 lbs and am bowling a 14# ball.

Here's a quick video my girlfriend shot of me. It's not the best, but I thought I'd show it to you guys anyways. I know my technique is not the best and I have a big stutter step, but what do you guys recommend on working first? My goal is to basically alleviate my shoulder pain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSBEJIio4E4

Forum: General bowling discussion

JASON THOMAS: Top 10 TV 300 Games in PBA History

mrbowling300 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:44:25 GMT

JASON THOMAS: Top 10 TV 300 Games in PBA History

by Jason Thomas September 1, 2010 04:38

This Labor Day weekend ESPN Classic is running a PBA 300 Game Marathon (Sunday, September 5, to be exact...click here for the complete schedule listing).

Of the eight shows they picked, there are definitely some good ones, but I thought I'd get you bowling fans warmed up with a list of my top 10 favorite treys in PBA history. Here goes:

#10 - WES MALOTT: 2009 KING OF BOWLING
After missing the last show of the season and needing a little help from Mike Scroggins (and a stone 8-pin by Chris Barnes) to win Player of the Year, Big Wes had the opportunity to prove he was worthy of the lofty award. The King of Bowling made-for-TV event was his stage and Malott bowled like a king.

Tossing not one, but TWO 300 games in his five-week run, The Big Nasty averaged a cool 272.6 in demolishing five of the top 10 players in the world by an average of more than 50 pins a game. So which one of the two perfectos makes the list? I'm partial to the second because it ended the series with an exclamation point, but I also kind of liked the post finale roar Wes gave out after the first. You decide after watching below.

#9 - JACK BIONDOLILLO: 1967 FIRESTONE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Journeyman pro Jack Biondolillo immortalized himself in the annals of PBA history by tossing the league's first televised 300 game.

Oh, and did we mention that it was on ABC-TV in front of more than 10 million viewers during the most prestigious tournament of the year? Not a bad way to do it, Jack. Plus the $10K bonus was pretty decent coin back in the day.

#8 - RHINO PAGE: 2009 JAPAN CUP
Rhino Page was looking to buy his first home after his second successful season on tour, and fretted to best buddy Patrick Allen that he just wished he had $100K to make a nice down payment. A few weeks later Rhino made the TV finals of the Japan Cup, where he tossed the event's first televised 300 to earn a nice bonus of...you guessed it, $100K.

Check out the 10th frame below with the original Japanese commentary. You can also hear Mike J. Laneside and The Bowling Doctor call this one on Xtra Frame in the PBA Telecasts Archive.

#7 - NORM DUKE: 2003 EARL ANTHONY CLASSIC
In an arena setting that was attended by a couple thousand (plus each of the new PBA owners), Norm Duke put on a striking clinic against Walter Ray Williams, Jr.

The diminutive Duke fired 12 straight shots right up the gutter and jumped straight up in the air when the pins flew straight back on the final shot. His exuberant jump into the arms of Walter Ray (who, frankly, was a pretty good sport considering he must be getting a little tired of seeing all these 300 games shot against him on TV) was what made this one truly memorable.

#6 - TONY REYES: 2006 MOTOR CITY CLASSIC
After several years competing as a very solid tour player, Tony Reyes was still in search of his first PBA win. One of the most popular players among the guys on tour, everyone was rooting for Tony to get that first title. When he finally did, he did it in style, tossing a 300 game in the semifinals against Parker Bohn III to set up his first (and only) career victory.

#5 - MIKE AULBY: 1993 WICHITA OPEN
This 300 game by the classy Hall-of-Fame lefty is still tied for the highest-scoring TV match in PBA history. Needing perfection to hold off the hard-charging David Ozio (who shot 279 with a nasty blower-7 pin in the 8th as his only miss), Aulby flushed three in the tenth for the title and a $10,000 bonus. Plus, extra manly points for shooting it in that pink shirt!

#4 - PARKER BOHN III: 1998 ABC MASTERS
Competing in a three-man match where only the winner would advance, Parker Bohn III took on two fellow lefties for the right to face Mike Aulby for the title. What better way to do that then by shooting 300 for a $10,000 bonus? Of course, Aulby wouldn't let Parker win his first major that week, taking advantage of a letdown by the now 32-time champ to get the win. Parker would have to wait until the 2001 Masters to get that first (and so far, only) major title.

#3 - PETE McCORDIC: 1987 GREATER LA OPEN
I have to admit that this one here may be my personal favorite. I actually attended this tournament all week long as a wide-eyed 13-year-old kid and then watched the show on Saturday afternoon during my junior league. There was a huge build-up of pressure because it had been so long since the last TV 300 (13 years since Jim Stefanich's 300 in 1974) and there was now a huge $100,000 bonus from True Value hardware. The images of McCordic shaking like a leaf on the 11th and 12th shots was a perfect complement to the excellent call by Chris Schenkel and Bo Burton.

#2 - BOB LEARN JR.: 1996 FLAGSHIP OPEN
Maybe the best PBA telecast of all time. 5,000-plus crazed fans. An arena setting. Hometown favorite and all-time 300-game king Bob Learn Jr. putting on one of the greatest displays of striking ever. Plus all of his opponents pushing him to the limit by averaging in excess of 260.

The show started off with a bang with Learn facing 49 year-old legend Johnny Petraglia. Needing the first strike in the 10th to win the match (Petraglia finished with 279), Learn got that and more, rolling his 52nd career 300 (at the time, the most ever) but, as Chris Schenkel exclaimed, "this one is by far the most valuable." $100,000 worth, thanks again, to True Value.

Side note: Check out the college preppy sweater Ron Palombi Jr. was rocking whilst sitting next to Learn's wife. SWEEEEET!

#1 - JOHNNY PETRAGLIA: 1994 PBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
And our number one favorite 300 televised game of all time comes courtesy of the man who suffered the loss in our previous entry. After disappearing from the PBA limelight for almost a decade, all-time great and Triple Crown winner Johnny Petraglia returned to TV to make the finals in the 1994 PBA National Championship.

A sentimental crowd favorite, Petraglia bowled against reigning PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the day's second match. Rolling strike after strike, Petraglia, who famously gaffed on the 12th shot of a possible 300 back in 1978, had a chance for redemption (and a $100,000 bonus) when he stepped up for the 12th shot here.

After delivering the coup-de-grace, Petraglia's emotional outburst and post-match interview expressing relief that his kid's college was now "taken care of" was as emotional as it gets. All hail Johnny P! The king of all TV 300 shooters!

As usual, there are a number of 300 games that were indeed memorable, but missed out on my list. Definitely Jim Stefanich, Johnny Guenther and Bob Benoit stick out right at the top of my list of honorable mentions. What other 300 games do you remember? Your comments are welcome below.

Forum: General bowling discussion

Hurricane Earl

mrbowling300 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:14:06 GMT

Should be called Hurricane Earl Anthony....its path looks like it's hooking from left to right!

Forum: General bowling discussion

Beware on youtube bowling video

pbateson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:14:15 GMT

I deleted two my videos in Bangkok SF Strike Bowl with music. These music got violate on my two videos. One of my bkk bowling video blocked in Germany.

Becareful if you have bowling take a video with background music. Deleted it otherwise it get acct go suspend.

Forum: General bowling discussion

Liz Johnson takes Petersen Classic lead

mrbowling300 — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:51:00 GMT

Liz Johnson is one of the greatest female bowlers of all time.

Actually, she is a great bowler, period -- something she has proven competing against the best men on the PBA Tour, where she has finished as high as second.

There is no one I'd take against her on a lane condition requiring a direct shot with speed and accuracy, especially from an outside line.

I remember crossing next to her a few years ago in the PBA Regional Players Championship where the deep inside shot was where almost everyone played the lanes ... except Liz, who made the cut firing deadly accurate bullets up about 5 board. It was amazing.

Obviously, that description means her game is a natural fit for the Petersen Classic in Chicago.

Former Petersen champion and veteran bowler Dave Armstrong predicted when he came to watch our Pete squad last Monday that Johnson was a threat to take the lead when Armstrong's squad bowled Sunday.

Not surprisingly, Liz came through with a 1,651 that knocked off previous leader Jeff Roche by three pins, Armstrong reported.

Armstrong's very strong squad took the overall squad lead with 47,001, knocking our squad headed by Lennie Boresch to third -- the top two squads get free entries the next year.

Armstrong said Tom Adcock needed 195 the last game to also beat Roche but ended with 166 on lanes 15-16 for 1,620.

The squad had 11 bowlers at 1,520 or higher, including Armstrong, who was near a 200 pace with 12 frames left but said he "ran out of gas" and ended with 1,521. (Armstrong has been battling a balky knee for some time.)

The group had tons of high doubles scores, and Armstrong, Johnson, Adcock, Scott Pohl and Norm Duke took the team lead with 3,187.

Armstrong said the magical 100th place score is looking to be about 1,506 or 1,507 as the tournament hits its final week.

Dave Erickson's squad that includes many solid Madison area bowlers competes at noon Monday.

One other big score from the weekend was Boots Kass, who had a 655 in doubles in his 1,544, according to Armstrong. That doubles score figures to make Kass the dominant figure on the doubles prize list.

Forum: General bowling discussion

Kelly Kulick and Fred Shreyer on Glenn Beck

djrickysmith — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:19:55 GMT

Came across this clip tonight. Thought I would share it with you all.

HE HE HE...WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A CLIP ABOUT KELLY K WOULD TURN INTO A BECK BASH....OH WELL...MUST BE THE FULL MOON

Forum: General bowling discussion

Wayne Webb Caps 2010 PBA Senior Tour Season with Win in Senior Jackson Open and Senior Player of the Year

mrbowling300 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:47:08 GMT

JACKSON, Mich. (Aug. 24, 2010) PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb capped the 2009-10 Senior Tour season with a win in the Senior Jackson Open Tuesday and he clinched Senior Player of the Year honors in the process. He joins fellow Hall of Famer Mark Roth as the only bowlers to win both the PBA Tour and Senior Tour Player of the Year awards.

Webb, the 1980 PBA Tour Player of the Year, defeated Ray Johnson of Battle Creek, Mich., 211-194, in the championship match at Airport Lanes for his third Senior Tour title of the season and fifth of his career. He also won the USBC Senior Masters and Senior Columbus Open earlier this year.

Nursing a knee injury suffered in the PBA Senior U.S. Open in June, Webb qualified 40th after the first round in Jackson and had to fight back to qualify 25th to make the cut for match play after the second round. He then won six matches Tuesday on his way to the victory.

I thought about withdrawing after the second round but because Player of the Year was on the line I felt I should keep going, said Webb, who also owns 20 PBA Tour titles. The whole tournament was a roller coaster ride.

Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. had a shot at Senior Player of the Year with a win and a fourth- place finish or worse by Webb. Williams, who won a record seventh PBA Player of the Year title at the conclusion of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season in April, was trying to become the first player to win both the Senior Tour and PBA Tour Player of the Year in the same season, but was eliminated in the best-of-five-game Round of 16 by Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., 3-2.

Mark Williams of Beaumont, Texas, who also had a shot at Senior Player of the Year going into the final event with a victory, also lost in the Round of 16.

It didnt look like it was going to happen, said the 53-year-old Webb, The way he (Walter Ray) was bowling, I dont know if I could have beat him.

With my knee, I felt lucky to still be in the tournament. After awhile I was just running on adrenaline.

Roth won PBA Player of the Year crowns in 1977, 78, 79 and 84 and Senior Player of the Year in 2002.

Mark was my idol growing up and Im honored to be in his company, said Webb, who is a bowling proprietor in Columbus, Ohio. Winning Player of the Year 30 years apart is pretty cool its something they cant take away from you.

In the semifinals, Webb defeated Patrick King of Yankton, S.D., 236-198, and Johnson defeated Dale Csuhta of Wadsworth, Ohio, 232-226, to advance to the championship match. Webb earned $8,000 for the win and Johnson $4,500 for second.

PBA SENIOR JACKSON OPEN

Airport Lanes, Jackson, Mich., Aug. 24

Championship Match

Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio ($8,000) def. Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich. ($4,500), 211-194

Semifinal Round (losers earn $3,000)

Webb def. Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 236-198.

Johnson def. Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 232-226.

Round of 8 (best of three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)

Webb def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 2-1.

King def. Patric Donaghue, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., 2-1.

Johnson def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2-0.

Csuhta def. Bob Faragon, Schenectady, N.Y., 2-0.

Round of 16 (best of five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)

Traber def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3-2.

Webb def. Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 3-1.

King def. Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 3-2.

Donaghue def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3-1.

Baker def. Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3-0.

Johnson def. Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 3-1.

Faragon def. Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 3-1.

Csuhta def. Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3-0.

Forum: General bowling discussion

The 11th Frame: Pete' day is one of the three best bowling days of the year

mrbowling300 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:44:48 GMT

By JEFF RICHGELS | The Capital Times | jrichgels@madison.com | Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 3:00 am | No Comments Posted

Hoffman Lanes in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates now houses the Petersen Classic.

The day I bowl the famed Petersen Classic is one of my three favorite bowling days of the year.

The only others that rank with it are the two days my teams compete in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

At noon, I and 31 other brave souls on Lennie Boresch Jr.'s squad will take to the "Pete" lanes at AMF Hoffman Lanes in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates for eight games of bowling war.

For those who don't know what the Pete is all about, please click here to read my 1994 story on the venerable tournament. That was the year the Pete moved from 35th and Archer in Chicago after the monsoon summer of 1993 severely damaged the Pete building.

This year is the tournament's 100th year.

When you are done reading that story, you will know exactly why all true bowlers love the Pete: there is nothing that tests you in the ways the Pete does. And with lucrative payoffs for those who best handle the tests.

One of the great disappointments of my career is that I've never quite been able to win the Pete, despite a few near misses and six finishes in the top 10.

Maybe this year!

The Pete has begun drawing more top professionals -- it has never had any limits on who can bowl -- as a recent PBA news release noted.

Hall of Famer Norm Duke made a run at the lead last month, as I blogged here. Duke totaled 1,448 last year and 1,599 this year. If he keeps bowling it, it would not surprise me if he wins it one year: just make good shots and our spares and you can win.

"I was pretty stoked to have a chance to take the lead with a game to go," Duke said in the PBA release, "especially after what I did the first year."

And last I heard the leader is PBA Central Region competitor Jeff Roche of Dearborn, Mich., with 1,648, which has a great chance of winning the $20,000 top prize.

Other noted PBA players that have bowled the Pete, PBA said, include Eddie Van Daniker (1,560), Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (1,513), and Mika Koivuniemi (1,480).

I have some special feeling this year as the Pete marks my return to competition after an injured hip put me on the sidelines for about three months.

In early May, I had a cortisone shot in my hip for bursitis and issues with my glut tendon and then embarked on some serious rehab, starting with stretching and moving up to a series of interesting exercises designed by PT Dave Knight of UW Sports Medicine and Fitness Center.

(Many thanks to Knight and Dr. Tony Chang, my regular doctor, and Dr. Dave Bernhardt, the sports medicine specialist who diagnosed me and gave me the shot ... and who like me is a proud member of the Madison La Follette class of 1980.)

When I started with Knight, my left (sliding leg) glut muscle was completely shut down, which is what had been putting all the strain on my hip and other leg muscles. It took about a week of intense stretching and stimulation exercises just to get my glut firing again, then several weeks of exercises to get it close to normal strength.

I returned to bowling July 29 with two games that caused just some minimal soreness in my hip area. I've since built it up to where I can bowl as many games as is necessary for a tournament with no pain.

The most amazing thing is I'm actually able to post shots at the line, holding position until the ball hits the pins. It's been years since I could do that.

My DL stint was my longest break from bowling since 1989 when I had my wrist reconstructed, so I'm rusty. But I can't wait to get back at it.

The Pete will be a good test, as will the PBA Midwest Regional in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, next weekend.

It's great to be back on the lanes.

I'll have a report up Monday night or Tuesday on how our squad did at the Pete.

Forum: General bowling discussion

TURBO AGREES TO BE A PROMOTIONAL SPONSOR OF THE HISTORIC 2011 BOWLINGS U.S. WOMENS OPEN

mrbowling300 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:42:06 GMT

In just a couple of months, the U.S. Women's Open has gone from dead to gaining sponsors.
After the financially strapped United States Bowling Congress announced that it wouldn't be able to hold the 2011 U.S. Women's Open, the event looked dead.
Then the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America stepped in to save the event, with the brands of Ebonite International sponsoring.
Now BPAA has announced that it has reached a deal to have Turbo Bowling Accessories become a promotional sponsor of the 2011 Women's Open, which will conclude with TV finals at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
For details on the Turbo deal, go here.
The ultimate for the U.S. Women's Open -- or any bowling tournament, for that matter -- would be gaining a sponsor from outside the industry.
Full disclosure: Turbo, which is best known for its inserts and accessories, sponsors our two Turbo teams.

TURBO AGREES TO BE A PROMOTIONAL SPONSOR OF THE HISTORIC 2011 BOWLINGS U.S. WOMENS OPEN

Bowling Proprietors Association of America Finalizes An Exclusive Arrangement For Premier Womens Event

Arlington, Texas, August 24, 2010 - The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) has inked a deal to have Turbo Bowling Accessories become a promotional sponsor of the prestigious 2011 Bowlings U.S. Womens Open. As part of the agreement, Turbo captures product line exclusivity to all marketing aspects of the historic event and the qualifiers leading up to the finals.

The 2011 Bowlings U.S. Womens Open, sponsored by the Brands of Ebonite International, is open to all female youth and adult bowlers in the United States and their international counterparts. The June 30, 2011 finals will be hosted on-site at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of Super Bowl XLV). The event, scheduled to air on ESPN, is expected to draw one of the largest live viewing audiences in the history of the sport.

Turbo, a leading manufacturer of bowling insert products and accessories, plans to use the partnership to further expand recognition in womens sports. As a female executive of the bowling industry, it is my privilege and honor to be able to lend our support and sponsorship to this prestigious event, said Lori Tessmar, president of Turbo Bowling Accessories. We commend the BPAA and Ebonite International for stepping up and offering this tremendous opportunity to showcase womens bowling.

Bowling continues to be the largest participation sport in the U.S. as annually, more than 71 million consumers take to the lanes. Now women represent 49% of all bowlers and their involvement has grown the last four years with a 1.5% increase in the past 12-months.

We are proud to have Turbo aligned with the 2011 Bowlings U.S. Womens Open and all marketing associated with this once-in-a lifetime event, said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA. As a progressive leader in our industry, Turbo recognizes the surging popularity of bowling among women and the heightened consumer demand to watch and attend bowling events.

About BPAA

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, the 78-year-old Bowling Proprietors' Association of America is a trade association representing the business interests of bowling center owners worldwide. BPAAs mission is to enhance the profitability of its member bowling centers.

About Turbo

Turbo Bowling Accessories is recognized worldwide as a one of the best and most innovative companies in the industry and likewise respected as a company totally committed to giving back to the global community, and improving the sport on all levels with top quality grip and accessory products, and exceptional service to distributors, pro shops, and bowlers everywhere. Visit http://www.turbogrips.com.

Forum: General bowling discussion

The 11th Frame: 104-year-old starts new season with a 224 game

mrbowling300 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:40:20 GMT

Rolla Zuck rolled a 224 game only a month shy of his 105th birthday.Bowling Proprietors' Association of America

There is absolutely nothing I can add to this story, except "WOW!"

I'd post a link but the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America doesn't have one up yet, so here's the news release they sent out:

WATERFORD, Mich. -- Almost 6 years ago to the day, Rolla Zuck shot a 199 game on his 99th birthday during his league bowling match at Century Bowl in Waterford, Michigan. Like all good athletes, Rolla believes that practice, practice, practice makes you better. Only 1 month shy of his 105th birthday, Rolla rolled a 224 game during the "League Season Kickoff Tournament" at his favorite bowling center, Century Bowl. The tournament included all league bowlers getting ready to start the new season. Rolla had one of the best scores and everyone celebrated. Many of the younger, high average bowlers were inspired by the great score and are ready to bowl another 80 years.

"Rolla is an amazing person as well as bowler," said Century Bowl Manager Sheila Kiefer. "Between turns, Rolla is joking and having fun with his fellow Monday Century Kegglers league members. However, he becomes focused when it is time to bowl. Last year, he even carried a 152 per game season average."

Rolla has been bowling for many years on the Monday afternoon Century Kegglers league at Century and has enjoyed every minute. According to Century Bowl Director of Operations and Guest Happiness, Roger Philipi, "Bowling is the greatest lifelong activity and the key to longevity. Many people in the new 50+ generation want to remain active. Bowling provides an exciting social and recreational atmosphere. For some people, bowling keeps the competitive edge alive."

Forum: General bowling discussion

League Rules

mrbowling300 — Thur, 26 Aug 2010 12:29:16 GMT

These are our league rules. What do you think?

Forum: General bowling discussion

Now Would be a Good Time

JamesSalisbury — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:50:28 GMT

"Look not mournfully into the
past. It comes not back again.
Wisely improve the present. It is
thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy
future, without fear."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

"The clues to where we are lie in
the past.Without knowing where we
have been, we cannot possibly
know how we got here, or where
we need to go."
John Davis (2010)

Oh, we in the sport of bowling do kid ourselves so! The pretend sport, that's what bowling has evolved into. All dressed to the nines to resemble the former dapper. The ministers of the sport carry on as though the evolution of the sport into this drunken understudy was as normal and good as the spring sunshine.

"But the reformers want to take us back in time!" say the critics. The image of Fred and Barney as the straw men comes complete with the membership in the Slate Construction Bowling League and the use of granite vitae equipment. The fear factor is employed mostly by a younger crowd, the generation who never had the pleasure of employing the subtle skill needed to achieve success with balanced equipment and less porous coverstocks.

At one time, all of us have toyed with the idea of climbing aboard H. G. Well's contraption for a little spin back into history, if only to relive cherished moments in our own lives- the birth of our children, the day we met our soul-mate, the smell of a late summer's evening during our childhood, to see the face of your parents before the ravages of bringing up you and yours stole their youth, just to touch your grandmother's face again and say hello.

But there are also bad experiences intertwined with this thing we call life, and therein lies the rub. Most people would gladly take the trip if they were assured that their mistakes were filtered out, the tragedies skipped over, the pain of living removed. True, the exhumation of past mistakes would be a reminder of our own shortcomings, of our fragility and our tendency to be human. But these mistakes, reexamined, would show us the great ability to learn from them, to prosper in the light of what seems at times unbearable. To witness our ability to overcome great obstacles and parry other difficulties would give great solace and confirm our purpose in life.

The biggest hesitation to the idea of reform may be the uncertainty of the future. The inability to confirm that our decisions are the correct ones. It is not the fear of making the same mistakes over again but the natural caution of being wrong in the first place- a particularly paralyzing form of indecision that all of us face at one time or another. We therefore look to the experts to examine the risks of endeavor and call upon leaders to enable. The bowling hierarchy in the last four decades has ample study of the former but has been unable to supply the latter.

A great advantage in looking back in time is our ability not just in evaluating our collective mistakes and avoiding the repetition of same, but in recognizing our successes and applying what we did right to the current set of circumstances.

The hole in the critics' argument is that we have actually been aboard Well's time machine for the last forty years and fail to acknowledge or recognize this fact. We've been here and are doing that. Questions of the efficacy of lane conditions, topography and equipment imbalances have appeared before. The discussion of fairness in lane drives, blocking and flatness of the playing surface were prevalent in the late 1930's. Unearned high averages in the 220's were discussed
during the years between world wars. The situation of core and weight imbalances in bowling balls was discussed
and rectified- in 1913!

The difference between then and now, between possible success and current failure, it the unwillingness of the governing bodies to take action in protecting the sport. They enjoyed regulatory success in the early and mid part of the twentieth century in addressing these same problems that infect competitive bowling today. There is no justification in not looking back at those successes and applying what we learned to rectify the current situation. In short- they did their job.

It is time to press the stop button and get off Well's merry-go-round. The reform of the sport, not without certain risks, is a forward and progressive thought designed to enhance the quality of the sport and the profitability of the venue in the long run. It is a long term investment that we can no longer afford not to make. Let's get on with it.

Forum: General bowling discussion

Bowling Forums, Bowling Discussion and Bowling Talk

PBA Records I Don't Think Will Be Broken

Funny 7 bagger as part of a 256 game

? abt handicap

Shoulder Pain

JASON THOMAS: Top 10 TV 300 Games in PBA History

JASON THOMAS: Top 10 TV 300 Games in PBA History

Hurricane Earl

Beware on youtube bowling video

Liz Johnson takes Petersen Classic lead

Kelly Kulick and Fred Shreyer on Glenn Beck

Wayne Webb Caps 2010 PBA Senior Tour Season with Win in Senior Jackson Open and Senior Player of the Year

The 11th Frame: Pete' day is one of the three best bowling days of the year

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