Author Topic: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS (Read 10391 times)

revTrex · « **on:** June 08, 2009, 03:44:09 AM »

June 8, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jason Overstreet
International Bowling Campus Communications
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 8380
jason.overstreet@bowl.com
On the Web: bowl.com

USBC DEVELOPING NEW RED, WHITE AND BLUE CONDITIONS; BPAA TO ASSIST IN TESTING

ARLINGTON, Texas - The United States Bowling Congress plans to introduce a new series of lane conditions for certified competition. The group of patterns is designed to provide bowlers a better description for the difficulty of traditional "house" conditions.

As part of the plan, leagues and tournaments will have the option of using oil patterns falling into USBC Red, White or Blue condition categories. USBC Red pattern will be the most forgiving condition, USBC White will be more challenging and USBC Blue will be the most difficult of the new "house" conditions. USBC Sport Bowling conditions will continue to be the most challenging level of oil patterns.

"We know that lane conditions have a tremendous impact on the sport," USBC Vice President-National Governing Body Neil Stremmel said. "House shots can be very easy or reasonably challenging. Knowing the difficulty of the condition helps build credibility for the sport and adds a new fun element for bowlers."

The new condition categories are scheduled for testing later this year in cooperation with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. The conditions should be available for tournament use in spring 2010 and for the fall 2010 league season.

"This program can provide proprietors an excellent marketing tool to attract and maintain league bowlers," BPAA President Jim Sturm said. "Red, White and Blue can be used like stepping stones to progressively increase a bowler's interest in the competitive side of the sport. We are eager to test the program and hear feedback from customers and proprietors."

Use of the USBC Red, White and Blue conditions will be completely optional and the patterns will be available for download at no cost.

"A primary goal of the project is to make the USBC Red, White and Blue conditions easy for bowlers to understand and proprietors to utilize," Stremmel said. "The industry's lane machine manufacturers have been extremely supportive in making sure this program will work for nearly any center wanting to participate."

As part of the effort to gain attention for the new condition categories, USBC is sponsoring a stop on next season's Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. The Red, White and Blue Open presented by USBC will be held at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan., Dec. 7-13. The finals telecast will air Jan. 3 on ESPN.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Bowling Proprietors' Association of America
Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Arlington, Texas, BPAA represents the business interests of bowling center owners worldwide. BPAA's mission to enhance the profitability of its member centers and its vision is to be an essential resource to bowling centers and to lead a united, growing, more prosperous and highly regarded bowling industry.

# # #
--------------------
www.900global.com

www.bowlersjournal.com

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #31 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:04:42 AM »

AZ .. I understand your point and agree .. but I think I'd like the USBC to make a rule where OIL for LEAGUES should be a standard (perhaps R/W/B).. maybe specifying that NEVER will a LEAGUE bowl on lanes that have had more then two league usage (or the equivalent).

The case that I define re: Seniors is one that exists here in Raleigh NC ..and you would say .. why not complain or get the league to move .. it's very much like politics .. the seniors are satisfied because they pay a discount rate for lineage .. it really ISN'T a discount rate .. FACT is they are getting robbed .. and the USBC collects their fees and does NOTHING!
--------------------
Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess

Atochabsh · « **Reply #32 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:05:39 AM »

"Broken down properly".

How many bowlers in your center do you think understand what those three words mean? Besides scratch leagues, all the mixed handicap leagues I've bowled in had such a wide varience of skill levels that you could not get lanes to be "broken down properly" even if you tried.

Joe brings up a valid point that there are still many centers that are in the stoneage as far as oiling and servicing their league bowlers whether they be scratch, handicap, Jrs or seniors. I would imagine those centers would not participate in any such program. Bowlers tend to know which centers these are or within a center which leagues will have the least cared for shot.

I would also imagine that most centers without lane reading tools and tape reading tools will not participate in any such program. Of our 13 centers not one has such tools. So I don't see this has being something that will make much of an impact around here, just like Sport and PBA hasn't. For those centers that have those tools and use of those tools, it will be something that each league will have to bargin for with the center. And due to the amount of work it will take to change patterns, tape and read the lanes, send in the tapes for verification, lineage will go up.

Erin

azguy · « **Reply #33 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:24:49 AM »

quote:
but I think I'd like the USBC to make a rule where OIL for LEAGUES should be a standard (perhaps R/W/B)..

That might work but I know at our house, 44', is probably longer and heavier than most leagues. One standard would not be something I'd like to see. I'm not sure what the numbers are on the R/W/B but if they are anywhere near the "Roads", let each house choose, that may well be something good. Just have to see.

I'll admit, oiling and the cost is not as important to our house as many, being it's a military house, so the cost is not as important to them as a privately run house.
--------------------
az guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net

Edited on 6/9/2009 10:36 PM

Smash49 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 09, 2009, 11:10:33 AM »

Ok everyone that wants the easiest shot you can get raise your hand. Motion carried! Let's see do I want to work hard and struggle all night after working hard and struggling all day??? Please!!! Many bowlers just want to relax and bowl. If the shot is not right up 10 they are mad. Most league bowlers have no understanding about lane conditions at all. You can hand them a lane map and it's the old deer in the headlights. The serious bowlers may care and have interest but the number of them compared to the casual league bowler is small in some places. All this will do is have people confused and ask questions that get answers some of them do not want to hear. We experimented with a sport shot type league this spring and many people we tried to get interested in it had no idea what they were looking at or why to do it. It's hard to make people understand that they will get better by scoring less and adjusting.

Also how many proprietors are going to mess with their old Silver Bullets to make changes.

Thank God we have a Kegel machine.

Smash49
--------------------
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!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
Striking Cat Bowling Pro Shop, Duncan Oklahoma! IBPSIA Certified Technician
www.strikingcatbowling.com

uptheboards · « **Reply #35 on:** June 09, 2009, 11:13:31 AM »

My house has lanes so crystallized that it does not make a difference. There are no back ends. Every week no matter the pattern, it is like 50 feet of oil.

titletowncards · « **Reply #36 on:** June 09, 2009, 04:49:38 PM »

I agree with Smash49. Only about 10% of our league bowlers are what I consider serious bowlers. I'm fine with bowling on a normal THS on league nights and bowling more challenging shots for certain tournaments. I don't think and I hope that our center doesn't change a thing. Our local center is finally starting to put up some big scores (8-800's and 13-300's last season) and that's getting more people interested in coming back to bowling. Make it more difficult, and you'll lose the people who just do it to get out of the house. I know plenty of bowlers that just like to shoot the occasional 700 series or 250+ game. There happy with that and don't want to spend time or money to try getting better. In my opinion, the USBC has done a horrible job relating to the average "Joe Bowler" and what he/she really wants out the sport.
--------------------
titletowncards

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #37 on:** June 10, 2009, 07:23:08 AM »

quote:
I agree with Smash49. Only about 10% of our league bowlers are what I consider serious bowlers. I'm fine with bowling on a normal THS on league nights and bowling more challenging shots for certain tournaments. I don't think and I hope that our center doesn't change a thing. Our local center is finally starting to put up some big scores (8-800's and 13-300's last season) and that's getting more people interested in coming back to bowling. Make it more difficult, and you'll lose the people who just do it to get out of the house. I know plenty of bowlers that just like to shoot the occasional 700 series or 250+ game. There happy with that and don't want to spend time or money to try getting better. In my opinion, the USBC has done a horrible job relating to the average "Joe Bowler" and what he/she really wants out the sport.
--------------------
titletowncards

I respectfully disagree with your last sentence. If anything, I feel the ABC/USBC has done a lot more for the average "Joe Bowler" than they have for the more dedicated, serious player. Maybe not in a sense of actually doing any market research on them to figure out what they want, but definitely in how they chose to start looking the other way when big scores were shot on unapproved conditions (which I feel is partially responsible for the score fest patterns we see today).

Lack of manpower or lack of desire to police the rules they had/have in place governing lane conditions/sandbagging/equipment has also played a part, IMO, in the decay of bowling's integrity. This is one of the main reasons, I think, bowling is not considered a sport in most circles. There is too much leniency or non-enforcement in the rules regarding conditions and equipment, and the whole handicap/sandbagging thing is a joke that nobody is lauging about except the sandbaggers.

--------------------
9~

Internet Tough Guy

Cyberspace Sheep Lover

JonDaggett · « **Reply #38 on:** June 10, 2009, 07:59:24 AM »

quote:
quote:
I agree with Smash49. Only about 10% of our league bowlers are what I consider serious bowlers. I'm fine with bowling on a normal THS on league nights and bowling more challenging shots for certain tournaments. I don't think and I hope that our center doesn't change a thing. Our local center is finally starting to put up some big scores (8-800's and 13-300's last season) and that's getting more people interested in coming back to bowling. Make it more difficult, and you'll lose the people who just do it to get out of the house. I know plenty of bowlers that just like to shoot the occasional 700 series or 250+ game. There happy with that and don't want to spend time or money to try getting better. In my opinion, the USBC has done a horrible job relating to the average "Joe Bowler" and what he/she really wants out the sport.
--------------------
titletowncards

I respectfully disagree with your last sentence. If anything, I feel the ABC/USBC has done a lot more for the average "Joe Bowler" than they have for the more dedicated, serious player. Maybe not in a sense of actually doing any market research on them to figure out what they want, but definitely in how they chose to start looking the other way when big scores were shot on unapproved conditions (which I feel is partially responsible for the score fest patterns we see today).

Lack of manpower or lack of desire to police the rules they had/have in place governing lane conditions/sandbagging/equipment has also played a part, IMO, in the decay of bowling's integrity. This is one of the main reasons, I think, bowling is not considered a sport in most circles. There is too much leniency or non-enforcement in the rules regarding conditions and equipment, and the whole handicap/sandbagging thing is a joke that nobody is lauging about except the sandbaggers.

--------------------
9~

Internet Tough Guy

Cyberspace Sheep Lover

sandbagging upsets me also, the last tournament i went to their was a 175 avg guy and he shot like 780 actual something crazy. he didnt even bowl like he had a 170 avg im never bowling a handicapped tourney again especially if i only get like 9 pins.
--------------------
http://jondaggett.bowlspace.com/ check out my bowling vids

dpunky · « **Reply #39 on:** June 10, 2009, 08:06:59 AM »

My bowling center does not have the oil machine that you can program any of these new oil patterns. It's the one with pre-programmed oil patterns. Add on top of that that they have no clue how to maintain or fix it, so it constantly breaks down to lay wierd oil patterns by accident. This results in harder than THS conditions. I can tell you that we won't participate in the Red, White, Blue program.

I agree with the other posters here. If it doesn't yield high scores, then you won't get big turnouts. Our harder conditions turn away a lot of bowlers that choose to go to the "Great Wall of China" houses to average 200 or above. I'm at one of these houses now bowling in a summer league and amazed on how easy it easy it is to average a 200.
--------------------
Ken - aka "dpunky" - Certified USBC Level I Coach

Smash49 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 10, 2009, 12:59:01 PM »

I'm afraid things will get worse. With the new things USBC plans to put into place. I'd like to know more about sanctioned open bowling. This idea really scares me.

Smash49
--------------------
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!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
Striking Cat Bowling Pro Shop, Duncan Oklahoma! IBPSIA Certified Technician
www.strikingcatbowling.com

Smash49 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 10, 2009, 03:48:22 PM »

The previous owner of our center would let people bowl on their league lanes before the league started. We oil our lanes right before league and do not allow anyone on the lanes especially the lanes they would be bowling on for league. Some people were not happy about it but they were the ones that had the advantage.

Smash49
--------------------
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!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
Striking Cat Bowling Pro Shop, Duncan Oklahoma! IBPSIA Certified Technician
www.strikingcatbowling.com

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #42 on:** June 10, 2009, 06:26:28 PM »

Thanks COOL .. like most of us .. President doesn't want to ROCK THE BOAT .. he's been president as long as I can remember and he likes the price he gets from the alley .. I'd volunteer to be the President but I know I would work on OIL and it might get group upset if the price goes up.

At the end of this past winter season I adjusted the surface on one of my balls and I think I might of hit on something. RARELY TOUCH BALL SURFACES!

Thanks for your suggestion!
--------------------
Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess

pin-chaser · « **Reply #43 on:** June 10, 2009, 06:27:18 PM »

I am interested in how USBC will determine the RED, WHITE and BLUE differentiations. I mean, it is one thing to say that RED will play the easiest and BLUE will play the toughest but for who (What type of player)? Take a cranker and give them a ball that soaks up oil and you have a hole burned into any pattern pretty quick. I assume, they mean by the average bowler (tweener) which could make it look pretty easy for stroker.

This whole topic reminds me of several topics I participated here back a couple years ago with MichiganBowling. Back then we (both Michigan and I) forcasted this to be the best solution (albeit not using the acronyms Red, White and Blue).

While I think there is merit in this for the "bowler who wants to improve" or the bowler who wants to "prove they are good" but for the rest of the bowlers they could care less. I am not convinced the vast majority of bowlers want there cake and eat it too... I still believe the vast majority of bowlers just want to bowl and don't care what they average just like they dont care what they throw. I think there are at least 3 major categories... Those who are good, those who believe they are good and those who don't care. And each of these catagories have will have a different view of the RED, WHITE and BLUE concept.

Personally, I believe this change will split the bowlers into at least two and possibly three groups of bowlers who will not bowl with the others. This will then reduce the size of leagues where as today everyone bowls together (and the good bowlers want more challenge and often bowl an extra league for that). This then will give the appearance that bowling is diminishing yet further which will cause yet another major decline in bowling.

While I like the option of choice sometimes choices are not better. And with the economy and instability in bowling today, I would not risk redefining the already critical and fundamental aspect of bowling (lane conditions and scoring pace) before I resolved the issues of cheating (sandbagging), regulation enforcement and bowling ball issues (that being that bowling balls today are too strong and alter the pattern too much to guarantee that the pattern will not become easier or tougher through out the session).

Atochabsh · « **Reply #44 on:** June 10, 2009, 07:35:48 PM »

Even the Red/White/Blue concept is catering to a small majority of bowlers. I'm sure if bowlers were in favor of Red/White/Blue conditions they would also be interested in Sport/PBA conditions. Therefore I am guessing this move is NOT to interest bowlers in degrees of difficulty. It is a means to justify not giving awards (and the expense involved) and/or a way to generate revenue from additional sanctioning fees for these conditions (just not as much as the Sport/PBA). Leaving the majority of bowlers unawarded and basically still paying even if its some sort of "minimal" membership, but not the full membership we have now. I think this is an effort to create various degrees of membership. With Sport/PBA being top, Red/White/Blue medium membership and everything else minimal membership.

Erin

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #45 on:** June 10, 2009, 07:55:44 PM »

Does anyone foresee that secretaries would need to report different averages for the condition bowled? (eg, R189 W185 B180etc) Could be a nightmare! Imagine what tournament directors will go through establishing averages!
--------------------
Hit them light and watch them fight
J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess

Edited on 6/10/2009 7:58 PM

Author Topic: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS (Read 10391 times)

revTrex

USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

JOE FALCO

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

Atochabsh

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

azguy

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

Smash49

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

uptheboards

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

titletowncards

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

9andaWiggle

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

JonDaggett

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

dpunky

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

Smash49

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

Smash49

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

JOE FALCO

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

pin-chaser

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

Atochabsh

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS

JOE FALCO

Re: USBC INTRODUCES RED, WHITE, AND BLUE HOUSE CONDITIONS