Couple things come to my mind. First off, the same faces kept showing up on the PWBA because there are not that many very talented women bowlers who toured. Don't get mad at me, there were 34 entries in the PWBA tour stop they had in Houston last year. Absolutely pathetic, so no wonder it's the same people on tv, there is no competition.
I've watched women bowling before and it's as exciting as watching an apple brown. Maybe Feldman is fun to watch... but no one could throw it better than Tammy Turner did back in the days. I like watching board-splitters with the best of them, but from what I have been told (don't know from experience) that ladies tour was a little softer and easier to score. But like I said, I don't know for sure.
Also, maybe a pro shop operator can chime in here, of your monthly ball sales, how many come from women? Bowling has always been a mostly-men sport, as far as I know. That leads me to believe that product sales come from mostly men. The fact that television viewership is higher for men than it has been for women is a reflection of that.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the LCT wants to lower the qualifying average to 170 for membership. That's 40 pins lower than the PBA requirement. And I think the PBA requirement is too low. So now the LCT is bringing in a lower caliber bowler to its ranks. Probably a smart move financially, but that won't change a thing when it comes to who will be dominating the money list.
I think the PBA is definitetly on the right track. They have the talent on Tour, they viewers, the financial backing and an enourmous regional program which is a breeding ground for the next year's stars. The PWBA had very little, if any, of that in my humble opinion.
I think the LCT is a good move. Build from the ground up. Once they build a consistent regional program they may be able to yield a better touring crop. Until then, it seems the public was tired of the same women faces on television.
Tony
http://www.allBowling.com