OVERVIEW
Managed by the United States Bowling Congress, the System of Bowling is the body of standards by which the sport is measured. The System involves the combination and interaction of the four key components that affect tenpin scoring: bowling balls, bowling pins, lane conditioning and lane surfaces.
While these elements have existed since tenpin bowling began, they continue to evolve and become more standardized.
The System of Bowling was formally established in 1991 after considerable discussion and debate within the industry. At that time, it also was determined that the System of Bowling would be revisited by 1997 to determine what changes might be needed to maintain balanced credibility in the sport.
And changes were needed. From 1992 to 1996, much technological advancement occurred to upset the balance of the System. Those enhancements included:
- Lane machines that could not only apply oil in the same precise amounts and patterns day after day, but also could strip and clean the lane surfaces more effectively.
- The development of different lane conditioners that significantly decreased the depletion and carrydown of oil on the lanes.
- New ball cores and surfaces which significantly enhanced the ball’s ability to reach the pocket.
As a result, the ratio of high scores to the number of sanctioned participants continued to escalate. The System of Bowling was unbalanced and losing credibility within the industry.
A nine-person System of Bowling Task Force that includes representation from the American Bowling Congress, the Women’s International Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, was established to examine the issue and determine what changes should be made. In early 1998, the Task Force made the following recommendations, which were agreed to by the ABC/WIBC Equipment Specifications Committee:
- Different levels of competitive standards should be developed and implemented.
- Develop additional specifications for ball characteristics, as well as guidelines to restrict the use of bowling balls that unduly alter or damage lane surfaces and equipment.
- Establish lane conditions that prevent artificial steering of the ball and place emphasis on the skill of the bowler.
- Additional methods to accurately measure the components of the System of Bowling must be developed in order to maintain the balance.
To implement these recommendations, the industry formed the System of Bowling Implementation Committee, a sub-committee of the ABC/WIBC Equipment Specifications Committee. For nearly two years, this group has been working closely with the Specifications and Certification team to restore balance to the System of Bowling and credibility to high scores.
A new competitive level called Sport Bowling was developed in 2001 to address those concerns. Sport Bowling was tested in ABC and WIBC leagues throughout the United States and is the first step in re-establishing the credibility. With an emphasis on controlling lane conditions and equipment, Sport Bowling is expected to reward shot-making skills and improve overall ability.
Ultimately, the objective of the System of Bowling is to put the level of success back into the hands of the bowler, and to fortify the credibility of the sport.
The System of Bowling is an ongoing priority for USBC.
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