Date: 11 Jul 2006 15:04:05
From: Savage Lizard
Subject: Bowling Equipment Ruining the Game?
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I love bowling, and bowl in a league every week. I consider myself a decent
rec bowler. I put almost no effort into it, I just bowl the once a week,
and only own one ball. I don't practice, I don't do tournaments. My
average is usually between 170-180. The post about the ball driller getting
credit for 300 games brought to the surface my biggest gripe with bowling.
I feel like equipment does most of the bowling for a lot of people. They
have several balls, all drilled or weighted differently for different
conditions, etc. They balls for a big hook, smaller hook, late hook,
whatever. An old lady in our league pretty much drops the ball on the lane
and it rolls down the lane with a big hook. She isn't doing anything other
than letting the ball go, the ball is doing everything.
I'd like to see everyone throw non-specially weighted balls. If they can
throw them and make them hook the way they want, then they are truly skilled
bowlers. And I'd like to see everyone use ONE BALL. If they can adjust to
different conditions with the same ball, then they are truly skilled
bowlers. Otherwise, are they really that good, or is the equipment propping
them up?
One guy in our league shows up with like ten bowling balls, and he has one
of the highest averages in the league. He shows up early, bowls a practice
game or two, and changes balls a bunch. At some point, he finds the one he
likes for the night. Sometimes during a game he will switch. Now, is he
really making adjustments, or is he doing the exact same thing, but using
the different ball makes the adjustments? Doesn't he have an advantage over
others just because he is willing to sink so much money into equipment?
Now, I know what most will say, that the bowler still has to make the shot,
and not everyone can do as well using the same ball. That's all true, but
philosophically, I still don't like it. I'm sure I am in the minority here,
but it's basically the same as guys using souped up golf clubs or tennis
rackets. They aren't hitting the ball farther or harder, the equipment is.
Is the bowler actually better, or is he a 180 bowler averaging 220 because
of his equipment?
Savage Lizard
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