YOUR thoughts on the Ease of Bowling 300 Games

[MICHAEL]

Perfection Made Easy; Bowling a 300 Game Just Isn't the Feat It Used to Be
By DAN BARRY

I have mentioned this in previous threads, JUST HOW EASY do you want it to be today with the oil and balls!!! Should they do way with house patterns, and each week have a different sports pattern to put the sport back into bowling?? Your thoughts,,, very interesting article, sorta puts my 300 in its place.. LOL

Published: April 21, 2000
It was the holy grail of bowling, once.
The quest led men and women to lace up footwear that would not be out of place at a circus and hurl heavy black balls 60 feet down an alley. They would do it again and again, hoping against the odds to someday knock down all 10 pins for a strike 12 consecutive times. That would mean a score of 300, the highest one could achieve: perfection.

Thirty years ago, throwing a 300 made you a bowling celebrity, the Paul Anka of your local alley. The American Bowling Congress in Greendale, Wis., would solemnly present you with a gold ring to signal your ascension into an elite club. The bowling alley would memorialize your feat with a plaque or a glass-encased shrine. And from that day forward, it was a safe bet you would never buy your own coffee ever again.
These days, you had better bring some change if you think a 300 game gets you a cup of joe, because you have lots of company.





Thanks largely to NASA-like advances in bowling-ball technology and the more liberal application of lubricants upon lane surfaces -- by bowling center proprietors seeking to enliven a game of fickle popularity -- the number of perfect games has exploded. Teenagers in youth leagues are throwing them. Retired people in senior leagues are throwing them. There is a bowling alley mechanic in Nassau County who has thrown perfect games with his right hand and his left.
The experience of Mike Serigano, the general manager of the AMF Babylon Lanes, provides perspective. When he began working at the center in 1987, four perfect games had been bowled in its 30-year existence. Since September alone, he said, the alley has had 93 perfect games. Perfect-game bowlers are so common now that the center displays their names for a few days, then takes them down with the same pomp a supermarket devotes to removing a sale sign for overripe fruit.

''In fact, we're backed up,'' said Mr. Serigano, who has a perfect game of his own. He said the names hanging over the lanes right now celebrate perfect games bowled in February.

The numbers are not peculiar to a bowling alley on Sunrise Highway. The American Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport, reports that in the 1968-69 season, it recorded 905 perfect games in league and tournament matches; in the 1998-99 season, it recorded 34,470.
That figure represents about a 3,700 percent increase in 30 years.

And it does not include the 1,708 perfect games recorded last year by the Women's International Bowling Congress and the Young American Bowling Alliance. The increase also comes at a time when the number of people who bowl regularly enough to register as members with these organizations has declined drastically, to about 3.5 million from 9 million in the last 20 years.

Granted, bowling a 300 game remains a feat to brag about, considering the millions of games played every year. Still, the trend vexes the game's leading experts, from Len Nicholson of Vacaville, Calif., who has dedicated his career to the study of bowling lane surfaces, to Bill Wasserberger of Muskegon, Mich., whose job title for the Brunswick company is: director of research and development, high-performance bowling balls.

They are in full agreement with Norm Ginsberg Jr., who at 25 is considered one of the top amateur bowlers on Long Island.
''Today, it's not that big an accomplishment,'' Mr. Ginsberg said as he hammered away at a thumb mold for a ball at Norm's Bowlers Pro Shop in Levittown. ''It looks silly, because there are so many. It just mocks the game.''

Mr. Ginsberg has some standing in the matter; he has bowled 41 perfect games. So far.
The perfect-game epidemic has prompted years of discussion above the din of clattering balls and tenpins. Blame and a bit of sheepishness seem to frame the debate among industry monitors, bowling equipment manufacturers and bowling alley proprietors.

True, many people say, the bowler's technique has changed over the years, creating more ball revolution and, therefore, more action when the ball hits the pins.
Then there are the scientific advances in the design of the ball itself. Technicians have studied the bowling ball the way Hamlet studied Yorick's skull.
Thirty years ago, most bowling balls were hard rubber or plastic. Today, the companies that manufacture balls guard their formulations as though protecting state secrets. Bill Supper (''just like the meal!''), the president of Storm Bowling Products in Brigham City, Utah, said that companies use ground-up glass beads, ground-up ceramic or ground-up rubber, all in pursuit of a ''proprietary concoction'' that will create a sublime marriage of traction and friction.

Mr. Wasserberger said that he and Ray Edwards, his research partner at Brunswick, had focused in recent years on the interaction between bowling balls and the oil on the lanes. Now, he said, bowlers can choose balls that respond best to the specific lane conditions of their preferred bowling centers. He talked with gusto about ''proactive urethane,'' the ''maximum coefficient of traction'' and something called a ''flared ball track.''
He acknowledged that he and Mr. Edwards are a rare breed: men addicted to physics and bowling. His senior project in college was related to the ''static balance in bowling balls,'' he said. He has also bowled four perfect games.

For all his life's dedication to the mysteries of the bowling ball, Mr. Wasserberger said he was convinced that the precipitous rise in perfect games -- and in overall averages -- was primarily due to changes in the oiling of lanes. And he belongs to a growing chorus.
About a decade ago, the American Bowling Congress relaxed its lane-dressing regulations to accommodate bowling center proprietors who complained that they did not have the time, money or equipment to meet the governing organization's exacting standards. The centers quickly learned that they could create high-score conditions by applying more oil down the middle of the lanes, which essentially guides balls to the pocket -- between the one and two pins for left-handers and between the one and three pins for right-handers.

''It's very similar to funneling,'' said Mr. Nicholson, the pre-eminent ''oil man.''
The trend has not affected the Professional Bowlers Tour, which requires more demanding conditions. And it seems rooted in a basic philosophy of human nature: people who bowl well are more likely to return. But many purists say the changes have alienated the best amateur bowlers, who find the game too easy.
The American Bowling Congress, of course, has noticed the difference. In the old days, proprietors would have to rope off the lane upon which a perfect game was thrown until a representative of the congress arrived to confirm that indeed such a miracle had occurred. Then would come the gold ring.
Now the rings are made of something called Siladium, which bowlers describe as something like steel. And verification is done through a form whose most serious requirement is: ''Use dark ink.''

But the congress is addressing the issue with plans to create a ''sport level'' of competition with less-forgiving lane conditions. Roger Dalkin, the organization's executive director, said the plan would allow more accomplished players to focus on the skill of ball placement, while retaining the more generous conditions for ''the 50 million who bowl and have a good time.''

And a good time is being had in Babylon.

Mr. Serigano recently took down the old board that long ago had been hung near the alley's entrance to honor the very elite: those who had bowled games of 300 and 299. He had his reasons: there was no more room on the board for all the names; 299 games had become passe; and some prankster had been moving the letters around to spell out crude jokes.

Still, the dusty board provided a telling chronology of the 300-game revolution. Pointing to a name toward the top left-hand corner of the board, Mr. Serigano said that the lanes began to be oiled differently at about the time that that particular perfect game was bowled.
''And from here on down,'' he said with a sweep of his hand, ''they started whacking them.''

He walked down the alley -- past the snack bar, past the sign that says ''Please, this bench is reserved for changing of shoes only'' -- and stopped for a while to watch some members of the Tri-Rite Auto bowling team warm up.
''This guy just shot a 258,'' he said, motioning to a smiling man whose score was being projected on an overhead screen. ''He's just practicing and he's throwing a 258.''
Later that night, down on Lane 38, there were more smiles when a bowler threw yet another perfect game. It was his second.

[ghetto24]

i still think that shooting a 300 isn't easy by any means. yes, there are a lot more than what used to be but not everyone can shoot one. i sometimes think that its made easier to shoot one so that you "league only" bowlers keep coming back. but that's just it. they will only bowl league. they wont shoot a sport shot. our house offers a sport league and ive thought about getting into it just to help better myself.

its kind of like mens softball. modern technology is allowing guys to buy bats that allow them to hit farther than the old school metal ones. it makes them feel good about themselves and want to continue playing. i think if you made leagues a sport shot only there would be far less teams bowling. you kind of have to look at it as a business stand point, too. just like life, now-a-days, anything that is hard to do will be given up on just because that is what our society has become. LAZY! i think your TRUE bowlers would stick around, but you would lose far more of you rec bowlers.

[MICHAEL]

Maybe to put the sport back into bowling we should not be given the choice. Its almost like in golf, if they were to have the greens all slope to the hole lol..... The day I had my 300 game, a young man next to me that I have bowled many times, a good bowler, but not real consistent, like myself included,,,, bowled for the first time a 800 series, and two other guys bowled high 290's.

Could it be that the lanes, when I bowled my 300 were setup for high scores!? Bowlers that won't bowl a lane because its not oiled for high scores week after week, are missing the point IMHO. Hey,,, I am a broken down Old Iron Worker and I did it, and have been close on other occasions... Is it to easy,,,, should it be,,,,?

[e-tank]

Imo i think fun leagues should be cuz that what people are seeking....fun. Yes many people now days want the easy route, the high scores, but i think the fact that most people want to stay in ths makes the sport leagues that much harder reason being that its the people that wanna better themselves that join sport leagues. Ive never bowled on sport shot before but i couldnt imagine myself drinking and having a good time when im too focused on watching the changing oil conditions or making sure i can find my strike line

[MICHAEL]

I think there are 3 types of bowlers,,, the Rec bowlers, (house balls, straight ball plastic alley balls), The Ego bowlers, that WOULD quite if the lanes did not give them 200 plus averages, and the Sports bowlers, who really want a challenge, and scores be damned! lol

It would make a 300 game, or 200 average have meaning if lanes were different each week. How many of you would like different pattern each week. Remember it would have no effect on the Rec bowlers, but would on the high ego bowlers. Have we reach a point in bowling where in order to keep people bowling we need balls, and oil that guide the ball into the pocket like it did for me last sunday!! LOL.....

I have no Ego,,, I have been married to long for that!! LOL Its time for the Dude and me to do a little Sports Bowling.... ( I did have, and have the sheet of me bowling a 274 on the Turnpike oil pattern last summer) But it took two games to figure it out.

[Big Nick]

Since I've never thrown one, I don't see them as being easy. You still have to throw 12 strikes in a row which means playing the changing lane conditions. And it's complicated even more if it's in a league where there may be as many as 10 or 12 bowlers on a pair. That being said, I was talking with an old-timer at one of the local lanes and he was showing me a lighter he got in the 70's for throwing a 780 series. He said that during that time, there might have only been three 700s thrown in any particular league over an entire season. If I've never had the (dis)pleasure of bowling on those conditions, can I ever really know the difference?

[MICHAEL]

Imo i think fun leagues should be cuz that what people are seeking....fun. Yes many people now days want the easy route, the high scores, but i think the fact that most people want to stay in ths makes the sport leagues that much harder reason being that its the people that wanna better themselves that join sport leagues. Ive never bowled on sport shot before but i couldnt imagine myself drinking and having a good time when im too focused on watching the changing oil conditions or making sure i can find my strike line

I agree with you 100 percent,,, I am just saying the scores you get bowling SPORTS patterns will cause you to DRINK, and the more you drink the less important it is what the score is!! LOL Its so easy now that even I have been close VERY close on dozens of occasions...

I guess that's why there are for real bowlers, the sports pattern leagues. That 274 I did on the turnpike,,,, well ,,, I almost hold it in higher esteem then the 300 I had on easy conditions. Bowling should be FUN, but who is to say that averages being over 200 is what constitutes FUN.... Its like the example I said about golf! Do you want all the holes short, like a par 5 400 yards! easy greens ect.... I just thought the article had some good points!

[Greenday]

Are the lanes today too easy? Yes and no.

Yes, they are too easy in the fact that my league has multiple guys shooting 300s and 299s every single week. I mean, I go from bowling on a sports pattern to a THS and I had to laugh about how much easier it seemed. Sure, I wasn't bowling 300s, but I've been seriously bowling for less than a year. I remember when bowling 200+ in a game was impressive. Now it doesn't seem like any big deal. When I bowl my low 200s, I'm not satisfied with myself because I feel like I wasn't challenged much.

No, in that the THS is perfect for beginners and more casual bowlers. It's a stable pattern that gives people a chance to do well. You still have to make adjustments. You still have to make spares.

Ponder this: Since becoming more serious about bowling, I've bowled a new high game a few times. First I hit 260, then I hit 265, then I hit 267. A couple months ago, I was bowling on the Scorpion pattern and bowled a 245. That 245 felt immensely better than the 267. The 245 on the Scorpion required me to be precise with my shots and consistent. With the 267, I just got up, rolled the ball, and let it read the lane into the pocket.

[e-tank]

I think there are 3 types of bowlers,,, the Rec bowlers, (house balls, straight ball plastic alley balls), The Ego bowlers, that WOULD quite if the lanes did not give them 200 plus averages, and the Sports bowlers, who really want a challenge, and scores be damned! lol
It would make a 300 game, or 200 average have meaning if lanes were different each week. How many of you would like different pattern each week. Remember it would have no effect on the Rec bowlers, but would on the high ego bowlers. Have we reach a point in bowling where in order to keep people bowling we need balls, and oil that guide the ball into the pocket like it did for me last sunday!! LOL..... I have no Ego,,, I have been married to long for that!! LOL Its time for the Dude and me to do a little Sports Bowling.... ( I did have, and have the sheet of me bowling a 274 on the Turnpike oil pattern last summer) But it took two games to figure it out.

theres is def a ton of ego bowlers in my league that rage hard when theyre not pumping out the strikes. Not gonna lie some times ill use this to my advantage and do a little more celebrating that i normally would just to rustle their jimmies a bit. Anyways im pretty sure im the only one that pays attention to lane conditions and adjust accordingly whether is a movement change or a ball change. I wanted to join a pba league for summer but none of my friends are game for that. I guess ill just have to network a bit more at the alley and see if any of them are tryna join with me.

[MICHAEL]

I hope to get The Dude/Jason to bowl a Sports league with me. We did a number of games last summer in a City not far from us. Only about a dozen people usually would show up for a different pattern each week, and prize money for the winner. e-tank if you didn't live so far away I would bowl on a Sports league with you. ( I lived in Modesto Ca for 6 years,,, moved back to Missouri 3 1/2 years ago, due to family needs!! San Diego is a beautiful city,,,, love it there!!

Again,,, a golf course being very challenging does not stop the duffers from playing, I don't think the doing away with easy house patterns would hurt bowling, just make high scores that MUCH MORE appreciated and held in Super HIGH Esteem!!

I think the lower numbers of bowlers has to do with MANY other things, it can't be because its hard to bowl 300..... I DID IT LOL.... I could list several but that's another thread.