May 13, 2005
ROTO GRIP SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE USBC PROPOSED CHANGES
by Roger Noordhoek
Due to the large amount of comments and questions from consumers, and pro shop operators, we decided it was necessary to speak out about the USBC proposed changes. I spoke with Hank Boomershine, President, last night before he left for Storm/Roto Grip Fair in Japan. Here are his thought and concerns on the proposed changes:

First of all the proposed changes seem to be a thumb in the dyke of inflated averages and Honor scores. The manufacturers and bowlers should not be punished or prejudiced against by the USBC. We have been abiding by the rules and developing equipment based on the specifications given. We have already been subject to recent rule changes in the past year and we have abided by all of them. We feel that the new proposed changes have pushed past the line of fairness to both the bowlers and the manufacturers. We have polled several of our staff members and Star Pro Shops across the country to see how they feel. We are still getting feedback everyday, and we have decided to post some feedback based on their responses as well as our feelings on the matter. Let me say that no matter what is decided by the USBC we will abide by the rules.

1. Elimination of Weight Holes: Eliminating weight holes and the use of bowling balls with weight holes will cost the consumers thousands of dollars. It may cost a large percentage of our current league bowlers because the cost of replacing the equipment they have with weight holes may be too big of a burden to bear. As a manufacturer we do not want to gain sales of equipment because of a rule change. We would rather see them buy the equipment based on performance, and to replace them as needed.

Weight holes can be used to adjust the ball's performance after it has been drilled. These changes although minor are very valuable to the player and with the elimination of these weight holes, you take the adjustment out of play. It would be like eliminating the use of lead tape to the back of a golf club or the newly designed drivers with the adjustable weights on the back of the head by the USGA. These weight holes help to level the playing field for some players of a lesser ability. They don't make a great player even better, but they help a player of less ability to compete with some of these players. Much the same as the adjustable golf clubs used on the market today. So the elimination of weight holes will not help to better the sport, but only drive the player's with less ability away.

2. CG With-in 1 Inch of the Center of Grip Once again this rule seems to handicap the players who can adjust the distance of the CG away from the center of grip to enhance ball reaction. It also handcuffs the pro shops options to drill the ball. We as manufacturers try to keep pin distances from the CG within a certain range. This will force us to manufacture balls with greater variance. This will require a complete change in research and development of our products and also in the manufacturing. It in turn will force the pro shop and also the distributor to carry a wider variety of pin distances and top weight. This may carry too large a burden of cost on both parties; therefore, forcing some out of business because of the large amount of capitol required to inventory that much product and not be certain of the sale and the ability to use a ball with a certain pin distance and adjust it with the movement of the CG and the placement of a weight hole.

3. The Placement of the USBC Logo on every ball To place the USBC logo on every ball would cost the manufacturers a large amount of money and time. It would require an extra step in the engraving process of the ball and therefore slowing down the production of the bowling ball and increasing the cost of labor which in turn would increase the price of the ball to the consumer. This seems to be another rule that will hurt the consumer/player which in turn may cause him to quit the sport.

All in all these rule changes if in fact they do go into effect will only cost the USBC more loss of membership of an already declining organization.

Hank Boomershine
President
Roto Grip, Inc.

If you would like to share your comments on these proposed changes please email info@rotogrip.com, and in the subject line put USBC CHANGES. We want to know how you, the members feel about this. That way when we go to the “industry forum the USBC has planned, we can best represent you the bowlers.

I have included below the comments by a well respected Bowling Proprietor that is involved in 5+ Centers:

I would like to comment on the proposed USBC equipment specifications from a Proprietors perspective.

Like many businesses, we face daily challenges to keep the lanes running as much as we can. The days of opening the doors, handing out shoes and ringing up the register are long behind us. Even marketing savvy proprietors that have plenty of tricks, gimmicks and programs to increase frequency struggle with implementation and execution in an effort to maintain their business model. It’s more difficult today to entice someone to not go to the movies, Skate Park, Mall, pizza buffet, casino, and choose you than ever before. Families have too little time and when they do there are far too many options for their now limited disposable income. Now, take into account the Internet and just staying home and you have even more hurdles to overcome just to get people to decide to do something, then attracting them to your center.

Given the competitive marketplace that bowling proprietors face today, it’s incomprehensible that our membership organization would choose to impose a massive restriction on our ability to make money, pay our taxes, cover the mortgage, send our kids to college and enjoy a lifestyle built on exhaustive work. If today I told my bowlers that they could no longer use their bowling shoes and they had to upgrade to the newest style, or told them that they all must wheel their bowling bags into the center and retrofit or purchase new bags, they’ll find another place to bowl, or quit altogether. AND they wouldn’t tell us they were leaving. Having the ability to do business with someone is as simple as making them feel good, solving their problems and breaking down the walls that make people say “no”.

Why on Earth would the USBC then decide in an era where membership is declining at an accelerating rate to now put up a hurdle that allows people to say "no", much easier than before? Does the USBC really understand the alienation that they are creating with this proposal? I don’t think they do. Why else would you justify exploiting the very people that pay your salary and allow the USBC exist. Why would they spend endless marketing dollars searching for the “next big thing” in bowling while at the same time telling people “stay away, it’s too expensive just to get started.”

Isn’t it bad enough that today we risk losing over 40% of our main customer base with radical no-smoking legislation, that those who are left must be driven away as well?

Anonymous


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Roger Noordhoek
Office Manager
Roto Grip, Inc.
888-450-6920
RogerN@rotogrip.com
www.rotogrip.com

For all your Roto Grip Logo Merchandise please visit www.rotogear.com

Roger,
Got your email, too. I plan on forwarding it to a bunch of bowlers who may or may not read this site.

Thanks for the input - I hope ALL manufacturers jump on this.
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-- The way we see the problem is the problem.

As a bowler who has bowled in leagues for over 30 years and who has been fortunate to have rolled several honor scores, I have mixed emotions about what to do about the "inflated" scores of the last few years. Yes, I too have been the victim of the lesser talented bowler who beat me by using equipment that upgraded his game and allowed him to be competitive against me; I have probably been on his end of that as well because I am not the best bowler in my area. No, I do not enjoy being beat by a bowler with lesser talents any more than I enjoy beating my brains out trying to maintain a 200 average. In my area, Classic Leagues do not have the quantity of bowlers nor do they seem to spend as much money at the various houses as the Handicap Leagues/bowlers (i.e. food, BEER, etc). In the Handicap leagues, 95% of the bowlers are there for the fun and 99% of those bowlers have NEVER bowled in a tournament nor do they plan to. And as we all know, scoring equals fun. Those bowlers couldn't knowingly/effectively change their hand position to change their ball reaction to save their life, so how can you compare that bowler to a golfer who can hit it 50 yards past you? In my opinion, the lifeblood of most houses in my area are Handicap league bowlers and the small percentage of bowlers who "open bowl" so to make bowling problematic to that segment of bowlers would be devastating to the sport as a whole. Teflon and Mustang make valid points. But why does any bowler purchase new equipment? To gain an advantage, absolutely (to attain a line that he/she finds more preferable, a better ball reaction, etc, with the exception of the bowler who purchases a new ball because the old ball wore out). The whole mess and solution seems like a vicious circle to me; make the shot tougher, make the balls stronger, require heavier pins, decrease the flare, omit the weight hole. Those of us that want to bowl on a sport shot can do so. Those that want to hit some regional tour tournaments to test their skills can do so. Bowlers with inflated 205 averages will always still bowl against the quality 215 average bowler. Who is penalized by the proposed changes? In the proposed "exercise", it appears that the Sanctioning Body flexes it's muscle, the Handicap bowler loses interest, League membership declines (even more) and the houses lose revenue. I think there is no answer that fits everyone best but my vote would be to toughen the shot a bit... but leave the equipment alone and don't turn the shot into a sports shot.