The 11th Frame: Guest column: Veteran pro shop owner Rob Bailey on USBC’s latest proposed ball specifications

https://www.11thframe.com/news/article/10116/Guest-column-Veteran-pro-shop-owner-Rob-Bailey-on-USBCs-latest-proposed

Most league bowlers averaging over 210 are pretty accurate.  Their weakness is in the versatility to make adjustments that take them outside their comfirt zone.  Such adjustments aren't as necessary on league patterns that font very in length from week to week

What benefit is anything possibly being proposed by USBC going to do for your typical league bowlers?  How does it increase membership?  How likely is it to bring down honor scores or perfect series?

It won't stop the in flux of new equipment.  It won't lower the cost of equipment. It won't slow down the manufactures from working around the guidelines to continue and give consumers what they have seen in recent years.  According to USBC the last coverstock advancement was in 2005, (technically 1997) and the last core advancement was in 2001. So the USBC is over a decade behind the manufactures.

Quote from: ignitebowling on March 05, 2018, 10:22:20 PM

What benefit is anything possibly being proposed by USBC going to do for your typical league bowlers?  How does it increase membership?  How likely is it to bring down honor scores or perfect series?

It won't stop the in flux of new equipment.  It won't lower the cost of equipment. It won't slow down the manufactures from working around the guidelines to continue and give consumers what they have seen in recent years.  According to USBC the last coverstock advancement was in 2005, (technically 1997) and the last core advancement was in 2001. So the USBC is over a decade behind the manufactures.

Based on the report, it will allow proprietors to put out less oil thus saving them money.  Imagine that.... a USBC rule change that benefits BPAA.  Who woulda thunk it.

Houses can do that already and eliminate the ability for bowlers to use high end equipment.  The center I bowl in has done that to try and save money.  There's even "short patterns" that eliminate the middle of the lane and force bowlers to ball down. Everyone always assumes you need more volume  to combat the new bowling equipment when it's easier to do with far less.

So every center has the ability to dry up the condition why would we need equipment regulations to then allow the centers to do it?

All they need to do is enforce the rules they already have to get the scoring pace where they want it.  They have proven that at Nationals since 2014.  USBC is on record saying they weren't happy with the scoring pace that year so they started to figure out how to tighten it up through lane patterns.  The scoring pace has come down to a point where they (USBC) are comfortable.
The same thing can be done with the scoring pace in general if they simply enforced their own rules rather than mandating new specifications on equipment.  Lower the volumes and flatten the patterns, scoring pace comes down (IMO) and the economics make more sense for the proprietors.  The problem can be solved organically.  I'm not advocating leagues use a "Nationals" type pattern.  That would be a disaster.  All I am saying is that the inaction governing lane conditions over the past decade or two created the current situation. 

Quote from: spmcgivern on March 06, 2018, 08:10:49 AM

Quote from: ignitebowling on March 05, 2018, 10:22:20 PM

What benefit is anything possibly being proposed by USBC going to do for your typical league bowlers?  How does it increase membership?  How likely is it to bring down honor scores or perfect series?

It won't stop the in flux of new equipment.  It won't lower the cost of equipment. It won't slow down the manufactures from working around the guidelines to continue and give consumers what they have seen in recent years.  According to USBC the last coverstock advancement was in 2005, (technically 1997) and the last core advancement was in 2001. So the USBC is over a decade behind the manufactures.

Based on the report, it will allow proprietors to put out less oil thus saving them money.  Imagine that.... a USBC rule change that benefits BPAA.  Who woulda thunk it.

Houses can do that already and eliminate the ability for bowlers to use high end equipment.  The center I bowl in has done that to try and save money.  There's even "short patterns" that eliminate the middle of the lane and force bowlers to ball down. Everyone always assumes you need more volume  to combat the new bowling equipment when it's easier to do with far less.

So every center has the ability to dry up the condition why would we need equipment regulations to then allow the centers to do it?

Sure houses can do that, and they do.  But it doesn't stop the bowlers from throwing charcoal on the lane and thus destroying the lane bed.

I bowl in such a house.  I am a bit of a cranker but not overly so.  I am forced to use an OG Purple Rhino Pro due to that lack of oil.  Only the extremely speed dominant bowler succeeds in this house.

Every center around me has a more conducive shot for a wide variety of bowling styles to succeed.  I would never want the shot to be catered directly to me, but this house is ridiculous.

And by lowering the strength of the covers (in the report) and the core (in the report) bowling balls will naturally become weaker.  This will force centers to cater to their bowlers and put out less oil than currently applied. Yeah, cheaper oiling costs.  And if they don't change their patterns, then they will longer life from their lane beds.  Another win for the proprietor.

The scores will not change.  The league bowler will dictate the pattern with either complaints or their wallet.  The house with the highest scores will still get the business. 

Quote from: spmcgivern on March 06, 2018, 08:10:49 AM

Quote from: ignitebowling on March 05, 2018, 10:22:20 PM

What benefit is anything possibly being proposed by USBC going to do for your typical league bowlers?  How does it increase membership?  How likely is it to bring down honor scores or perfect series?

It won't stop the in flux of new equipment.  It won't lower the cost of equipment. It won't slow down the manufactures from working around the guidelines to continue and give consumers what they have seen in recent years.  According to USBC the last coverstock advancement was in 2005, (technically 1997) and the last core advancement was in 2001. So the USBC is over a decade behind the manufactures.

Based on the report, it will allow proprietors to put out less oil thus saving them money.  Imagine that.... a USBC rule change that benefits BPAA.  Who woulda thunk it.

Houses can do that already and eliminate the ability for bowlers to use high end equipment.  The center I bowl in has done that to try and save money.  There's even "short patterns" that eliminate the middle of the lane and force bowlers to ball down. Everyone always assumes you need more volume  to combat the new bowling equipment when it's easier to do with far less.

So every center has the ability to dry up the condition why would we need equipment regulations to then allow the centers to do it?

The problem with this is you cant erase "surface + high end balls = hook" mindset. When Joe Bowler sees his Sure Lock stop at 27 feet and go forward he will either rough it up more and go grab another ball thats even stronger.

Quote from: northface28 on March 06, 2018, 12:33:46 PM

The problem with this is you cant erase "surface + high end balls = hook" mindset. When Joe Bowler sees his Sure Lock stop at 27 feet and go forward he will either rough it up more and go grab another ball thats even stronger.

So much truth here.  Joe Bowler doesn't always have a high bowling IQ (or have the "want to") or an understanding of bowling theory with regard to ball motion.

I don't know if I completely agree with this.  My definition of Joe Bowler is someone who doesn't understand or even use surface for coverstock management.  To me, Joe Bowler is someone who buys the new ball of the month/year, stands on the big dot, and throws it right, somewhere near 2nd arrow.