Quote

This makes one wonder..

There was a time in the 90s when the PBA, LPBT, and the Senior PBA tour were on during the week, and in prime time. Any idea of what the ratings were like then, especially as they went up against most of the network shows on during the week at that time?

Would you believe that I can get that information and probably lose my job at the same time. I work for a marketing research company (past 25 years). My department specifically produces audit reports for networks. I am responsible producing reports and listings for  The Turner Networks, A&E Networks, Chiller, Cloo, Golf Channel, and Nuvo TV.

Come on, you know it's for the good of BR. Who needs a job anyway? 

One "WORD"!!   Computers!.

 

I wouldn't mind going back to manual scoring. 

I think the public opinion is that bowling is dirty.  The centers have a smell, the shoes are borrowed, the balls have had a million hands in them. 

You might be right. But that is the old days. Bowling ALLEYS are nice now. Everyone who Bowls should buy their own Shoes.

Quote from: DrBob806 on November 06, 2015, 09:14:17 AM

IMHO the drop in numbers in youth leagues is hurting bowling. There is simply too many options for youth sports and entertainment. Basketball and soccer basically ask a year round commitment from the youth, so there's less opportunity to bowl, join youth leagues.

Without league bowling, centers end up closing. It's sad.

Youth bowling is very expensive compared to other sports. Most other sports kids can go home play and get better. Bowling it's all about time on the lanes. Equipment isn't cheap and it surely doesn't last.

I agree 100%.  To get good at something, like really really good, you need to be doing it for hours 7 days a week.  It is exponentially cheaper to get really really good at 100s of other things inside and outside of sports.  Give a kid a basketball and a place to shoot hoops, and he will get very good for the price of say $20 until that basketball wears out or he needs new shoes. 

But a big problem is the equipment.  Bowling balls to the naked eye look great after dozens of games.  But let's be serious.  That bowling ball will never react the way it did when it was new after just a few games on a heavy oil pattern.  After maybe 50+ games, that ball just became like your other balls. 

This is one reason why I moved to golf.  Yeah clubs aren't cheap.  But I've seen pros use the same clubs for years.  They get scratched a little.  They might not shine as much.  But they hit just as well.  Also, you don't have the risk of your bowling ball getting sliced to hell by the lane/ball return/etc.  That is what made me mad the most when I bowled regularly.

Not necessary to have the latest equipment any more than the latest 400 dollar driver that Taylor made  comes out with every year.

Golf can be just as expensive as bowling, even more at the higher level.  Many think clubs last forever, but they too are subject to deterioration.  Sand wedges are constantly replaced.  Forged irons are many times made of metal so soft the grooves become compressed.  And believe me, the condition of the grooves is paramount for proper performance.  Only club not replaced often is the putter, but even then, each pro has many of them.

It depends on how you look at it.  I've been playing golf for a few months now and my clubs still look brand new.  It depends on how the person takes care of their equipment too.  I hate how I have maybe 10% control over how my bowling balls look after 50+ games.  I cleaned them off after each set of games, always took them inside, had pro-level storage bags, etc.  However, some have deep cuts and it's not from me throwing them 20 mph into the gutter. 

With golf, my instructor has used the same clubs for over 10 years and plays with no handicap.  The top pros on tour have used the same putter their entire career.  As for costs, bowling can get up there.  If I didn't bowl for VT, I probably would have had to pay $30+ a night for how many games of practice I bowled during the week.

In other news, I was watching an AMF Amateur bowling championship on youtube and saw the champ using what looked like a Brunswick Rhino - one of the balls I always wanted but couldn't find.  I even tried to find one years ago when I bowled regularly.  However, I just typed it in and found that they have been re-released!  I might have to get one just in case I start bowling regularly again haha.

I tried to find leagues to join, but it seems like they all started already.  I might use this time to practice 1x a week or something.  I can bowl on pretty nice lanes for $3/game and it's like 3 min away from work.