I recently wrote a letter to USBC concerning my opinions on the current state of bowling that I thought I'd share with everyone. I actually got a response, and just about word for word what I expected, but at least an actual human read my letter and replied. Here is the letter, their response, and then I'll finish up:
This is an open letter to whom it may concern reflecting my opinions and comments regarding the state of bowling as a whole as well as a widely perceived view on how the USBC is only serving to further destroy the sport so many of us love and have already begun to mourn. I will however begin by saying that the USBC Open Championships represents everything that is right with the sport of bowling. The challenge, the venues, the organization, the execution, the resources, etc., every part of "Nationals" is so expertly crafted that even some of the best bowlers in the world make a point to come compete. That, unfortunately, is where it ends, and could one day be lost as bowling as a whole continues to decline. It is incredibly irresponsible of USBC to be so out of touch with league bowling, the very foundation of the sport. I read a published article regarding fresh oil for every squad at the 2013 Open Championships, finally correcting the only problem I believe the event had. It referenced a quote from someone regarding having one pattern for the team event and a different pattern for singles and doubles, effectively saying that USBC wanted to challenge their bowlers' versatility. I found it to be one of the most hypocritical statements or comments I have ever come across. USBC's specifications and limits regarding legal lane conditions are so wide open that thousands of league bowlers who never practice can show up to league once a week, shoot 750 with the only ball they own, and go home without so much as a thought. These are the same people that post 230+ averages during the league season, only to show up to the Open Championships to shoot 1500 for all events, and go home with their tails between their legs. The idea that making tighter restrictions on lane conditions would only serve to further drive away bowlers and hurt revenue for center owners is ludicrous, as USBC membership has fallen from approximately 9 million to 1.7 million in a little over a decade, corresponding with ever increasing numbers of "honor scores" and member averages. When scoring was harder, people spent money practicing, centers were full for early AND late leagues every night of the week. This has made the future for our youth bowlers dismal, and has driven away the majority of the truly skilled bowlers. The quality of coaches has declined, combined with the fact that it's impossible to convince a kid they made a bad shot even though they struck. If youth bowlers are putting up numbers on easy shots, they believe they are good, and become hard to coach. Then when they start competing in Junior Gold or PBA Experience leagues, they become discouraged fast, and when they are ready to be coached, more often than not, their game has to be completely torn down and rebuilt. There was a youth in my city recently who shot his "first" 800. He is not skilled, and not accurate. He is a no thumb bowler who simply throws a lot of revs and a lot of speed, and on a legal USBC pattern, all he really has to do is keep the ball right of the headpin to strike. This past summer, he, like a lot of the city high school bowlers, joined our summer PBA Experience league. He proceeded to shoot 354 for the entire 3 game set the first night of league on the Cheetah pattern, following which he packed up his equipment and never came back. This is the kind of bowler the USBC is creating. I used to believe my "accomplishments" were earned and worth something, now I realize they aren't worth any more than the metal the rings are made out of, which is in fact so cheap that they are impossible to resize. All my work, my effort, what I've learned, it's all meaningless. I have been a pro shop operator for 7 years now, and I would consider my knowledge, experience, and skill to be very high, yet the process of selecting a ball, watching the bowler, and crafting a layout and surface prep for most USBC sanctioned lane conditions is needless. I can pick any ball off the wall, "label" drill it, never touch the surface, put holes in it, and whoever I drill it for will be "successful." People in their 60's and 70's are reaching scores they have never seen before. It's more surprising to hear that someone has NOT achieved "perfection" now than to hear that they have. USBC is supposed to be the governing body for sanctioned competition, but all it serves to do is drive people elsewhere for real competition or real challenge. Bowling is no longer a sport, or even a game, it is a recreation, where people gather in attempts to record obscene numbers or merely occupy them while they drink and socialize. Any activity that requires zero practice and little effort to achieve "perfection" will eventually cease to exist. I have put my life into bowling, and in turn it nearly became my life, but no longer. I am ashamed to be a USBC member, and to be associated with the laughingstock that this recreation of sanctioned bowling has become. The amount of money and time that has to be put into obtaining "available" coaching certifications, or to attend "available" tournaments or events is staggering, and the opportunity to prepare for these things doesn't exist for most of us. The USBC is turning a blind, uncaring, ignorant eye to the most important things in bowling, while raising sanction fees at the same time. Charging me admission to view the destruction of a sport I have put my life into is unacceptable. For the first time in several years, I will not attend the Open Championships, simply because I have zero opportunities to practice on tougher conditions to prepare in the months leading up to the tournament. The attitude the USBC has towards the sport is wholly irresponsible. I can serve my kids cake for supper, but make vegetables available, which do you think they will choose? Bowling is not on the rise, it continues to fall, and the focus and effort is completely in the wrong direction. Making coaching and affordable equipment available and teaching a golfer how to putt makes little difference if the greens they play on funnel down towards the hole. The USBC is singularly to blame for the current state of bowling, and it disgusts me. Thank you for your time.
The response:
I appreciate your feedback and your membership. Your email illustrates a challenging issue the industry faces. USBC’s role in controlling lane conditions are a controversial subject and one that draws out many strong opinions. While you make a good argument for a mandating lower scoring lane conditions, there are enforcement and compliance challenges on the other side. USBC’s Sport Bowling program attempts to provide an option for those bowlers/centers who want the challenge you seek. I realize this is not a perfect solution as many communities do not have a center that offers Sport Bowling leagues.
I respect your passion for the sport and have no doubt your opinions come from a desire to improve bowling. I do want to clarify your implication that USBC has been raising dues. USBC national dues are $10 and have not increased since 2006.
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Best regards,
Jason Overstreet
USBC Communications
First of all regarding the league dues, a few years ago our dues rose from $15 to $17, apparently our local association raised their fee and blamed it on USBC, so I wasn't very happy about that, I definitely would not have stuck that in my letter if I'd have known. The point of the letter wasn't to throw USBC under the bus, but this is honestly the way I believe it is. I knew I would get something back about the challenges of enforcement, but here's the deal. The USBC let it get out of control years ago when they were more concerned about an ounce of sideweight in a ball than about the ball itself, or about regulating the oil patterns. The PBA figured this out 15 or more years ago, why didn't the USBC? So maybe the current people in power at the USBC didn't have anything to do with it, but the organization itself is completely responsible. Regarding the challenges though, as I said in the letter, I've worked in the bowling industry for 7 years now, I very well understand all the challenges and issues, I'm not just writing the letter crying about things without having a very knowledgeable and objective viewpoint. Honestly though, they're going to have to do something, and here's the real point of contention. Center owners will fight tougher conditions because they think they'll lose business. Well, they have already lost business for years. A real simple solution here, make conditions tougher for the sanctioned leagues. If you don't want a tougher shot, don't bowl a sanctioned league. What does sanctioning really do for you? Gives you some trinkets, and allows you to use your average in tournaments for potential handicap. People wouldn't quit bowling if they were told their league wouldn't be sanctioned, they would see it as a way to save fees every year. Most people don't bowl tournaments anymore. But of course, this would really hurt the USBC. So instead of really governing the sport and enforcing the rules, they're content to just let things slip away while they say, "oh, well we offer a bunch of stuff." Rant off.
