Question:  Who mandates what is being used now and in the future for bowling equipment and how the game is played?

Your choices.

1.)  ABC/WIBC/YABA/USBC etal.  They make the rules and if you are bowling in sanctioned competition this is what you are using for rules.

2.)  Bowling ball manufactures.  They make they equipment you are going to use.

3.)  Bowling center proprietors.  They own the places/centers we bowl in.  

4.)  None of the above

We'd like to hear who you chose and why.  I am sure there are many factors here but what one thing stands out to you!

Thanks,
Scott

Whoever has the most money and right now that is not the ABC.

I would say the proprietors. They make money off both the bowling and (assuming they run the proshop) the proshop sales as well. They could stop all the ball tech by simply putting out a lot less oil. But that would make the customers unhappy being unable to use their new hook monsters.

The ABC (USBC) will continue to set the playing rules but will give the leeway to the manufactures and proprietors to do as they want.  


Edited on 9/21/2004 1:21 PM

While everything said here is true, we the bowlers still have the ability to control things more than anybody!  We are the masses!  Remember supply and demand?  Well right now we ARE being brainwashed as somebody else here said, and we are letting the ball manufacturers and centers dictate to us what will be put on the lanes and how the game will be played.

I wanna change all of that.  This board is proof that there are people out there that want a better sport of bowling.  There IS in fact a demand for tighter ball restrictions, tighter oiling restrictions, and just an overall fairer game of bowling!

The bowling center proprietor HAS to listen to us (even though many numbskull proprietors aren't currently listening) because it's dollars and cents to them.  Look at all of the "good" bowlers out there that bowl their one or two leagues per week, and NEVER practice.  Now what if we could get just 5% of those bowlers to want to practice?  With tighter restrictions and more education as to why it's better for the sport, the good bowlers will want to practice more so they can still shoot their big scores.

In other words, let's just look at the sport shot.  I currently offer to bowling centers what I call the Sport Shot Open Bowling Program.  One, two, or three days a week, the center can oil 4-10 lanes with PBA patterns or sport shots during off peak times (2nd shifts, 9:30pm).  There is a growing demand for sport bowling as people have bowled in my sport tournaments and have loved the challenge.  The word is spreading fast!  So looking at the Battle Creek, MI area, I have about 4 or 5 guys at least that WANT to practice on sport shots because they see the benefits.  There's 2 centers in Battle Creek, and I can't get either one of them to put this shot out!  MORONS!  Sooooooo, these guys will travel 15-20 minutes to find the sport shot, and that center will benefit by doing this.  4-5 extra guys per week paying $10 all you can bowl from 9:30-close, that adds up.  And after a while, the 4-5 will start growing to about 8-10, then maybe 15-20.  You're crazy if you think the Battle Creek bowling centers don't catch wind of this by the time they start getting 40-50 people coming out per week to practice on it!

It is us here at BR that believe in tighter restrictions that need to help educate the other bowlers in our areas as to how the game could be better!  If we want this bad enough and truly believe that bowling could be a real sport again with tighter restrictions, then we can lead the industry in whichever direction we want it to go.

So Scott, my answer to your question is 5) We the bowlers do!

We've just been led to believe otherwise.
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"