I haven't been keeping up with this post but if this has already been said I apologize. Equipment and technique gets better over time, how many guys hit 300+ yard drives 30 years ago and how many hit them now. On a really good day, I can push my drives out into the 320 yard range and I'm an 18 handicap. How often in the late 90s and early 00's did we hear the term Tiger-proofing about all these golf courses that were too easy for Tiger? it's the same thing with patterns and such, I play golf on a 6,700 par 71 course, Tiger plays on a 7,700 yard par 71 course. I bowl on a league shot, Chris Barnes bowls on the PBA patterns. Yes if I go toss a 300 at my local house it's not nearly the same as me going and bowling a 300 on TV in a PBA event, just the same as a 65 in Stillwater, Oklahoma isn't the same as a 65 at Augusta on Sunday.

Most people understand there is different levels of competition, there is 3-4 sets of minor leagues for baseball, most local bowling leagues are probably the equivalent to Rookie league for baseball. You can be a stud in rookie league but not be worth anything in AA ball.

I assume then, it is a programming change to run Kegel and PBA patterns internal to the machine. Then, I wonder why Kegel patterns are not seen around here?

Is there a USBC approval required?

This year, in our provincial youth championships we actually used a Kegel tournament pattern, though I forgot what it was. Could've been a Winding Road or Beaten Path (an extremely low volume). Anyway, it was really cool since all we normally bowl on are house shots. But since my low average is mainly due to my inconsistency and most of it comes from spares, my scores on that pattern was only a fraction of a pin lower than my normal average. I did notice that my beloved outside second-arrow line was unplayable, and that overall there's far less margin of error.

We've also created a sport youth singles bowling league, and there're now 3 in Canada. We use PBA patterns, and are sanctioned by the Canadian Tenpin Federation, but I'm not sure if it's PBA-approved. As much as I love singles competition, I'm extremely busy on Tuesdays and so am unable to bowl in that league. But I don't think bowling's doing that badly at the amateur competitive level, it's just the professional level that needs serious revamp.

If I were running a bowling center, I would do what makes me the most money.

And that's what it all boils down to really. Bowling centers want to make money for the least effort and expense. Leagues, Sport leagues and tournaments are, to the center, a pain in the behind. Leagues are guaranteed money to be sure, but at a discounted rate to open play. Same with tournaments only with no guarantee of participation. Sport and PBA leagues are flat out a management nightmare.

Erin

I wonder if bowling would survive with no tournaments & scratch leagues. Just strictly basic handicap leagues, cosmic bowling & birthday parties? It would kind of be like going to a weekly arcade. But it would probably make the $$$.

Joe

Sad to say, but there is a bowling center near me that does not even have leagues anymore. It was completely redone to be more like a sports bar/lounge with big screen TVs on the wall above the pinsetters. They are charging something like $8 dollars per game on the weekend, and packing them in.

It was a shock when I first went in there after it it was remodeled. They don't even have bowling ball racks. Instead, there is a "concierge" to fit you for a house ball, and they bring the ball to you from another room.

It will be interesting to see if they survive. Personally, I am hoping they don't. But, I am not sure if it would ever return to being a "regular" bowling center.

I'm sure places like Firkin and Kegler are doing better than the average bowling alley. These new alleys are turning into Dave and Buster's. If these become more popular (which I suspect they will) it will be interesting to see what happens to regular alleys.