Recently I asked a question about why amateurs are allowed to do nothing but bowl, and still be called amateurs.Also ask when adjusting on the lanes rather than keep on changing balls. I got quite a few responses and to those folks I say thank you. Of course when you post something out there you also hear from the lunatic fringe. I heard from someone named doug, who rambled on amlessly and wound up saying that my knowledge of the SOB could be put on the head of a pin. Well you know what doug bowlers are not supposed to spend a lot of time worrying about where "the shot" is and figure it out themselves.Of course to bowlers ( if he is one) like doug who probably looks for the ball to make his game rather than skill which is understandable because I would venture to say the average high-tech ball today is smarter than he is.
Robert,
Try not to take offense. The comments were not from "Doug" but from Don Gates. And his comments were not directed toward you, but toward Skullpants. These two have been having a running feud for some time now...Skull's comments are usually pretty direct, while Don's are often the reason that most posts have multiple pages. Unfortunately you were caught in the middle.
Eagle Hunter is correct Robert. Don was attempting to discredit my comments with the post in question.
skullpants, not attempting, until you and Eagle Hunter can demonstrate otherwise I think you both can be included ti the 90% and more who do not know what the system or bowling is.
Robert, I am sorry if you mistakenly thought comments directed to skullpants were to you. There is no mistake on my part about who your comments were directed to even if you got my name wrong. I think I addressed your post as well as anyone else has which you may not agree with but point and cournterpoint is all about debate not just everyone agreeing with whatever anyone posts.
Don Gates
Robert, I have to say that I agree with Don. Sometimes it is necessary to tell someone that his knowledge of a subject could be placed on the head of a pin in order to have a healthy debate with point and counterpoint. This is especially true if it is the only counterpoint available at the time.
Don sorry I took it personally. About the sob, you are correct, I know absolutely nothing about it.if anyone out there would care to enlighten me i would appreciate.I only know what I was told some time ago, that if you have 3 units of oil all across the lane you can pretty much do what you want. Is this true thanxs in advance
Simply put, the SOB is the standards created by USBC (with industry help) for each of the various components that contribute to the game of bowling. There are four areas that the SOB covers: Balls, Pins, Lane Surface, and Lane Conditioning. The 3-unit rule that you mention falls under the Lane Conditioning area of the SOB. USBC is currently conducting various studies on the areas of the SOB, most notably as of late Balls and the various things that affect bowling ball motion.
If you want more info, check out this link: http://www.bowl.com/specs/systemBowling/main.aspx
Robert, you are correct about 3 units across the lanes and do anything you want for distances down the lane and how much oil you put down on each board so long as it is at least 3 units for as far down the lane you go.
However, the System of Bowling is not all about lane conditioning rules. It may or may not have been his idea but it was Darold Dobs (ABC exec prior to Roger Dalkin) who got the ball, pin companies, BPAA and others together to discuss what needed to be done about the state of bowling with each of them involved, not just ABC mandating what they thought and ball companies and pin companies and bowling centers having to comply even if they had good arguments for doing something different.
An example would be a plan to eliminate weight holes in bowling balls and require a rather large USBC approved label. Rather than just doing it, USBC gathered together pro shop owners and ball companies together and were convinced that there was a need for weight holes beyond used to create legal dodo balls, lots of flare with exotic weight blocks to work with. The ball companies also informed them of the considerable extra costs for the larger label. The result was not doing away with weight holes and the USBC approval just added to the normal information at little if any extra cost. Before introduction of the Syrstem of Bowling USBC might have just done it, as they did with lane conditioning rules, and found out later what kind of problems developed.
I don't know much at all about it but have heard there may be an elimination of static balance requirements based on studies showing there is not all much affect if top weight and side weight excedes the legal requirments in place now. There are also on going studies for possible changes to lane conditioning rules, ball surfaces and other things that if there is a change to be introduced it will first past muster with everyone that will be affected by the changes, not necessarily please everyone but everyone will have a good opporunity to express their opinions and alternative suggestions and that's what a System of Bowling is so far as I know it to be.
If there is a lane conditioning rule proposal that is not tough enough to satisfy some they will get their say and be able to express an alternative based on testing, not just throwing it out there with no testing. However, what ever they do is not likely to be to a vote of the 2.5 million certified bowlers with a majority of those voting needed for approval.
Just how long are we to wait to get some answers to the study of the SOB that has been going on now for about 17 years ?
The ABC started this study in 1991 I believe and was supposed to give a report in 5 years. At the end of the 5 years ABC came out and said they didn't have any answers and that they would need more time. So from about 1996 until the USBC picked up the ball again and said we need to do a study on the SOB bowling nothing of any substance has come of these studies.
Just what finding is the USBC going to come up with that the ball companies, lane maintenance companies,pin manufacturers,and owners going to be able to agree on that will keep the Bowlers from leaving the game or even slow down their exit rate.
17 years times the 150,000 bowlers lost each year = 2,550,000. If we keep at this rate we will be down to the 1,000,000 that Roger predicted in just ten years.
Maybe and just maybe we are at a point in time things should come from the top down with USBC being at the very top. They set the bar and if you want to play in their game you either follow their rules or show up on friday or saturday night for Extreme Bowling.
Have a great day.
E. Chase
Dr Doom
In the new england area there is an organization called NEBA ( new england bowling assn) which is a monthly scratch tournament which has had members such as patrick allen rudy katzamakis and amateurs such as Brian Bogoshian who won the master tournament a few years ago. You should think about getting together with other scratch bowlers and try to form an association in your area. you can go to www. new england bowling association.com to see the web site
robert martel: Dr Doom In the new england area there is an organization called NEBA ( new england bowling assn) which is a monthly scratch tournament which has had members such as patrick allen rudy katzamakis and amateurs such as Brian Bogoshian who won the master tournament a few years ago. You should think about getting together with other scratch bowlers and try to form an association in your area. you can go to www. new england bowling association.com to see the web site
Doctor Doom: robert martel: Dr Doom In the new england area there is an organization called NEBA ( new england bowling assn) which is a monthly scratch tournament which has had members such as patrick allen rudy katzamakis and amateurs such as Brian Bogoshian who won the master tournament a few years ago. You should think about getting together with other scratch bowlers and try to form an association in your area. you can go to www. new england bowling association.com to see the web site LOL Robert, I was born and raised in Rhode Island, I know the NEBA very well. In fact the NEBA Tournament is the longest running continuous tournament in the country, very successful. What part of New England do you hail from?
Doom, you know or know of Alayne Blomenberg? She was a touring pro for years and, as a Rhode Island resident, once held the national local association tournament all events record. My wife bowled with her for many years in the WIBC nationals with a 2nd place best finish in the Open division team event.
prunenow: Doom, you know or know of Alayne Blomenberg? She was a touring pro for years and, as a Rhode Island resident, once held the national local association tournament all events record. My wife bowled with her for many years in the WIBC nationals with a 2nd place best finish in the Open division team event. Don Gates
