Okay, this has been brought up time and time again, but I just wanted to start what I hope will be an interesting topic.

People have been saying for a while now that scoring has gotten out of hand and that bowling has lost a lot of it's integrity.  People have blamed it on the sanctioning body, the ball manufacturers, the lane operators, and many other reasons, and there have been many suggestions on how to restore integrity.

A big thing that always comes up is "oil."  There is always a big cry for more oil and eliminating the THS, wall, cakeshot, whatever you want to call it.  Obviously this can easily be changed by the USBC and the lane operators.  Most likely, the harder the conditions become the more the manufacturers will do to create stronger balls.

Then we always have people that blame it on the balls.  You know, the hook-in-a-box balls that we have these days.  Funny thing is, I don't see many people going back to using plastic with pancake blocks or even old-school urethane.  It seems that everybody wants to buy the latest and greatest hook-in-a-box!

A while back I seem to recall somebody mentioning something about making the pins heavier.  That really seems like a reasonable solution.  I remember watching a tournament on ESPN Classic and the announcer mentioned that the pins being used were heavier than normal pins.  I think they were the gold Brunswick pins, IIRC.  Heavier pins would be something that could easily be used.  I don't know how expensive that would be for the lane operators, but it also gives the option to make them only available to USBC sanctioned play.  So basically, you would have to practice on the lanes with lighter pins, but actual league play and tournaments would be held with the heavier pins.

What do you guys think needs to be done to restore integrity to bowling?
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I think the game is fine.

If I want a challange I'll Sport Bowl.

Bowling balls have changed the game no doubt, but we're not going to go backwards.  You still have to throw it.

Heavier pins?  What's next, longer or thinner lanes?

Bill Taylor spent millions of his own money developing none oil lanes. Nobody interested.

Pro's bowling on heavier pins will further destroy the image of the pro bowlers as there scores will come down even more compared against house hacks.

If I dont throw todays equipment against someone who does I cant win NO MATTER how much better I am. Todays technology is that important.

I know of several bowlers, good bowlers, who quit bowling because of technology and how easy the game became for them. Granted these guys are the exception but even so, the solution(s) for the woe's of bowling  should include these bowlers. We certainly should not be loosing the good ones.

If you dont believe it is bowling balls then drill up a white dot and bowl. If you can average the same then you are truely a great bowler. If you can average within 20 pin you might be a great bowler. (I know there are exceptions to this but I am talking about the masses).

There are so many miss stated facts within this debate (and every other debate on this topic) people simply believe what they read or hear. The bottom line is the greatest, GREATEST bowlers in the world all agree that integrity is a primary culprit. And who are we, the mediocre beleive we understand the issues at hand. In fact, the better you become at this "sport", the more you will realize it. The bottom line is who do we want to be leading the charge in returning bowling to , the best or the masses who dont understand it.

Dont get me wrong this topic is about scoring, but there are many issues that need to be resolved. Integrity is just one issue and until some real studies have been done we dont know the priority of the issues. But without a doubt, integrity is one and let us not forget it. And just because the masses like the scoring pace does not make it right. Period.
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Fine, let's all bowl with 5 pound pins...anyone that has a USBC card. Bowl open play or unsanctioned you get your white colored 2 lb 8 ounce pin. Bowl in USBC league you get a 5 lb pin. Watch when bowlers then would be forced to aim high flush. Get it a little wide you get splits, get it a little high you get splits. Less garbage hits, more quality strikes. Now if you average 180, say hello to averaging 160. If you have low ball speed your screwed or if you have a weak strike ball your screwed.

Can somebody please explain what you mean by "restoring integrity"?

I don't really see that there is a problem.  Yes, there is a problem with the way people perceive bowling, and a problem with the dwindling number of bowlers, but what's the deal with the integrity of the sport?

I understand that people get tired of coming on here and reading posts like "heck, anybody that can hit the same mark twice should be able to bowl a 300," or "wow, your first 300....what took you so long?" or "this game is too easy."  

I also understand that this site represents a very small group of people compared to the entire bowling community, and I also understand that any schmuck with an e-mail address can register here and claim to average whatever they want.
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Haywood

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