Bowling, The Wright Way - July 29, 1998 by Don Wright
Reactive Resin and Electric Bats

I have written columns before about technology in the sports business, but a recent sports story caught my eye and I had to ask myself - what's happening in sports?

The article I am referring to was about an "electric" bat. The bat promises to give the hitter an "unlimited" sweet spot and prevent the shakes batters get from hitting too close to the handle. Of course the company claims that youngsters will learn to hit better and get more hits and that makes the game more fun. The bat has electric dampers allowing popups and grounders to become solid base hits. It even has a little red light in the handle to let the batter know it's working. I guess if the light goes out, you get another bat. The bat will sell for $299.

While watching the finals of Wimbledon, John McEnroe commented that the longest play of the match was three hits. He followed that comment by saying, "we need to go back to wooden rackets."

College athletic director Bill Rowe Jr. asked, "how far is technology going to go?" My question is "what happened to the athlete?"

How many of our youth will be brought up on a bat like the "electric" bat and with high hopes make it to the professional level and be handed a Louisville Slugger and they can't hit squat?

Sports fans are responsible for this happening in sports. They want to see faster baseball games, more home runs, faster tennis with serves exceeding 125 miles per hour, longer drives from the green and manufacturers of sporting goods profit by making poor players good, good players excellent, and excellent players, legends. To accommodate this farce umpires take away strike zones, fences are moved in, defensive players can't defend against the pass and it goes on and on. And bowling is not immune.

The reactive resin bowling ball, lane conditions and creative ball drilling have enabled the bowler of today to practice less, bowl less, yet improve in average. All a person has to do is look at the yearbooks of any association to know what I am referring to.

I'm not opposed to changes in technology, but I do believe it has to have limitations. Standards should not be lowered to appease those who can't meet the standard. Work harder, study to pass the test, don't change the test.

What satisfaction can there be in beating Roger Maris or Babe Ruth when half the league has a chance to do it because pitching has been taken out of the equation? What satisfaction can there be in rolling a 300 if they become routine?

Bowling is the only sport I can think of that has a maximum score. 300 is the maximum score anyone can bowl. What happens if, and when that becomes so routine that people decide it's time to change the manner by which we score and equate perfection to the game?

The only sport I can think of that isn't influenced by technology is soccer, and look at how well we did in the World Cup.

The best equipment in the world isn't as good as practice and work ethic. Just look at the number of "big gun" league bowlers that can't make it on the Professional Bowlers Tour.

I enrolled my Grandson in a YABA league during the summer vacation. I have to admit I have not coached since YABA was AJBC and my kids grew up and made lives for themselves. But, I remember that our AJBC program had coaches that taught kids the fundamentals of the game, ensured the language was proper and took an active role in teaching and mentoring the youth. I saw none of that in my Grandson's league. Kids showed up, mostly alone and bowled three games. Some good, some not so good and some wished they were someplace else.

During the time I was there I got into a conversation with a father who had two teenage boys bowling. Both boys, by today's standards are good bowlers. They don't practice a lot and their game is more equipment and natural ability, than expertise. Nevertheless, they are good kids and enjoy the sport. But, I was amazed when Dad said to me that one of the boys wanted a new Quantum bowling ball with a $295. Price tag. I looked and he was bowling with top of the line equipment, but still wasn't satisfied. And, folks that's what has happened to our sport. It's the reason the best amateur bowlers fail when they try the professional ranks. As the man said, we make poor, good - good, excellent and excellent, legends.

I watched as kids were in awe when they couldn't strike and then fail most of the time at spare shooting. One parent commented about abusive language by a bowler each time he failed to strike. And, each time it was the fault of the equipment.

It's time for equipment standards and let the athletes play. It's time we taught the kids how to bowl and be good sports and better citizens and have less concern for today's new ball.

Now I know I started this column about technology and drifted into YABA, but they go hand in glove. The electric bat manufacturer said, "it's going to make the game more fun."

Cool, but what are we teaching our kids? For that matter, what are we teaching ourselves?

See you on the lanes.