BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: pin-chaser on December 01, 2009, 03:35:26 PM
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I enjoy the PBA show and like the new format too. Been watching for nearly 40 years and will watch it as long as it is on. Not much not to like except for the lack real technical information. Fluff. They say they are catering to the "average" viewer... howerver I would argue that the average viewer is not a 140 bowler who only bowls open play and yet it seems the amount of technical information is for that group.
I like the mic and being able to talk to the bowlers, but hey, they are working for the money and they need to be left alone to perform and not distract them. That being said, they are using CATS. If the announcers cant see the moves or changes a bowler makes fine. But at least put up the CATS stats where those who are interested in the "technical" stuff can at least see it and glean some learning.
I would like clarification on ball speed... off the hand... off the tail plank... and rev rate: off the hand and throw the mids and into the back ends, and what about accuracy? What about axis tilt, rotation and launch angle. Maybe we can see how Duke goes straighter or opens up by changing these things.
It just seems to me, that there is a golden opportunity to really show off how good these guys are by showing the details shot after shot, or at least post it on the net for us who want to see it. The game has gone technical why are we limit to the same level of information on the TV show as compared to the 70's?
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The problem is that catering the show to 2% of bowlers will assure the PBA's demise. You can't survive on an entire demographic of message board junkies that trade for most of the balls they have.
Most bowlers average 150-190...and buy a ball a year. They don't need technical jargon to enjoy bowling...they need the bowling to be simple.
People don't tune in to football to see how the players warm up, or practice...they want to see them perform. We don't need bowling to focus more on the numbers than the game.
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Little known fact: In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"
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But I really wonder what the viewer stats are. Viewers who regularly watch the entire PBA shows would be the better bowlers I would guess. Seems to be that way when I query my league bowlers, "Who watched the PBA Sunday?" And follow that up with comments about how well or poorly XYZ bowler performed etc.
Almost without exception the bowlers who watched the entire show were the better bowlers, not the beginners or the 130 average fun bowlers, even those in a league.
Therefore, I would guess the additional stats and technical information would be enjoyed by a lot of the viewers and perhaps teach some of the beginners something.
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Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
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It's not like the old days where the family would sit around the TV and watch the tour. The one thing I did notice was the missed spares. The unknowing viewer may look at it as these guys are not that great. With that in mind maybe they are not. Seems in the old days pros rarely missed a spare. The pros didn't leave a lot of combo junk either. Many viewers if they are average league bowlers have no clue as to the lane conditions. I think they should give the TV pros the house pattern every once in a while and let the scores go crazy.
I have been kicking around ideas that might help the PBA. Some things that might be interesting would be a points system like NAsCAR. Pay the bowlers by the number of points they win. Another idea might be like the old days. Have a National Pro Bowling League. Each city gets a team complete with drafts and team against team schedule. It could be worked in divisions or regions.
Smash49
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Smash49
Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with SLSM Designs Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
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Striking Cat Bowling Pro Shop, Duncan Oklahoma! IBPSIA Certified Technician
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smash49,
I agree with the spare shooting. I think it is a product of today mentality for scoring, all or nothing. While the scores can be higher today than the way it was in the old days of living in the pocket,shooting single pins spares and catching a double or triple for 220's are gone.
I dont know if I agree with putting house shots up for the pro's. I just dont think they will score significantly more than the typical THS house hacks on decent nights and again that would blow the integrity of the pros. I mean, house hacks use THS effectly (by missing left and right down lane). The pros typically dont and end up fighting the carry down more. Just my perspective.
Lastly, I have fought for two years now synthetic approaches (sticking, tacky) and then slidding too much on wood. Seems like I could never getting my footing correct. And based on your comments here and your footer, I did order one of the bowling socks. I got the best one, with the edge. And I want to say, I have bowled for 30+ years, and this IS the best investment I have ever made for my bowling. Perfect slide on everything!!! Consistant. To anyone who wants to consider buting $100+ intercahngabe soled shoes... spend $10 on one of these and keep your current shoes. THANKS.
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Walter Ray making the show every week = The demise of the PBA Tour !!!!! nuff said !
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I think Walter Ray or any other bowler making the show every week and maybe going on an extended winning streak might be good for the PBA Tour. It might be the only way to garner some attention for bowling in the media and were that to happen we just might gain some new bowlers.
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There's no doubt as to the talent level on the tour. Yet for how many years we've watched one game matches and reveled in the ability of these guys and gals to make quick adjustments and get through the step ladders and win tournaments,titles and majors.
Now let's se how good they are bowling like we do--a three game set with our rules,but using their oil patterns. Have them bowl 3 game sets at the same time with our 1 lane courtesy rules. Let's see them in a marathon,not a sprint. Let's see them go through carrydown,getting tired,dealing with the distraction of other bowlers in their peripheral vision,lane changes over time,etc.
THEN we'll see who is the best.........
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Chris
JTTDB---Just Throw The Damn Ball
Don't "think"---that ball isn't in your bag yet..........
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quote:
Now let's se how good they are bowling like we do--a three game set with our rules,but using their oil patterns. Have them bowl 3 game sets at the same time with our 1 lane courtesy rules. Let's see them in a marathon,not a sprint. Let's see them go through carrydown,getting tired,dealing with the distraction of other bowlers in their peripheral vision,lane changes over time,etc.
THEN we'll see who is the best.........
Err, they do that already in order to make the stepladder finals. The short final games you see on TV are purely because they have to finish it in the allotted time frame that the TV show sets them. ESPN showed the Cheetah Championship in completion and the final was a best of 7 game series, simply because the show was the entire tournament and not just the last 5 guys left standing.
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The best TV format ever was the round-robin format that Gary Beck used in the mid 90's in the Dick Weber Classic. 4 players bowled a three game round-robin complete with the 30 pin bonus for winning the match. So you had two matches going simultaneously. All players got three games on TV so the equipment manufacturers got more bang for there buck with the guarnateed air time and players made ball changes meaning more of a product line getting face time.
The high two of the round-robin then bowled each other for the title head to head. Beck ran this format in an invitational type event with criteria and also in an arena setting for the show.
IMHO this showcased a lot of the talent of the players: you seen them for a three game set and got to see the types of subtle adjustments they make during a block of games which sometimes you don't see on the normal show. Then there was the heads up match game aspect.
The PBA could learn a lot from Gary Beck.
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"Why don't you call me sometime.....when you have no class" ~~Rodney Dangerfield to Sally Kellerman, his college professor in Back to School ~~1986
Mike Craig - Storm Products Pro Shop staff -Columbus, OH
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The most exciting part to the show is when the girls walk the bowlers out to the lanes.
They should do bios on the girls and have
them bowl each other :-)