The hazy area is becoming smaller as the divisions between each classifications are becoming more clearly defined. This sociological phenomenon happens in industries and areas of study on a continuing basis, but to have a sudden acceleration of this usually occurs at the birth of a new phase which actually changes its direction. At least until the next revolutionary phase. Now that I've lost most of the casual readers of this column except a couple of the eight regular readers, let me explain what this is all about. In his monthly Bowlers Journal column "Strikes Me, " Bob Johnson suggests in the June 2006 edition the USBC Open Championships is in need of an 'intervention' (his word, not mine) to take away an edge higher average teams may have over lower average teams. His points include against having the 10 people on a pair of lanes for the team event break down the oil pattern by rolling balls in the same area, making scoring a bit easier. Another issue was about posting the oil pattern on the USBC Tournament website. According to Johnson, the playing field is becoming less level rather than more level.

     OK, where do I start. For years, the ABC(now USBC) has been a speck in the rear view mirror of bowling technology. From ball design advancements to scoring conditions, they have been getting better as of late. Now keep in mind, they will say quietly their largest constituency is the 160 average bowler and that is who they serve. Advancements in ball design or oil patterns will not make this group average 200 overnight, but they may get to 185-on the stand-somewhere-left-throw-somewhere-right patterns. Anything other than this pattern and that new $240 ball does not work worth a hoot with this group. Let's not even mention honor score approval. The long standing rumor was no series score over 886 would be passed until Allie Brandt had died. That might explain the first true 900 not being approved, authored by ABC Hall of Famer Glenn Allison 24 years ago. Public Relations, what's that? Didn't matter. And don't you dare bring up the TWO prebowled 900 series by the same teenager in the last nine months, either. That's a completely different train wreck.

     Lanes are required to be checked within 30 days either side of an honor score has been rolled. They are examined after a scheduled fresh stripping and oiling for legal oil patterns. Until about 15 years ago, lanes were checked immediately after an honor score had been bowled. Lanes bowled upon do develop a worn area and can appear to be blocked after several10 to 20 games, thus making it easier to show an illegal condition. Why this was not known or considered a factor until the early 90s in honor score inspection is a mystery. And the balls? Yikes. That has been very well chronicled in this column the last nine years and elsewhere even longer. Ball technology has developed and continues to do so at a speed-of-light pace, the Greendale group is just getting into the 1990's.

     Back to Johnson's first point; tournament credibility. New technology usually births new techniques and methods to be successful. Having 2 teams play the same part of the lane to wear in a drier area is not a new phenonenon. Finding the right area and then playing it properly does take skill. Throw in the right mix of roll styles and on top of that bowler personalities, and you see it's much more than just wearing out an area. Some patterns are designed to play tougher or the same as play continues. Don't be surprised if you see such a pattern next year for the USBC Open in Reno. The whole idea is to create a drier area producing a larger margin of error. Of course, one still has to use the right roll at minimum to have a chance to score higher.

     If that confused you, how about this. Do we still drive our '69 Buick Electras, play "Pong," or listen to your 8-track? Of course not. You can see that stuff at the Smithsonian. It has taken nearly 20 years of study by John Davis and his Foundation 300 to get a better understanding of defining oil patterns and how they break down. Better bowlers have always known about how to "play a lane." Ball and oil pattern technology is off the chart in growth the last 30 years verses the 30 prior years. These days, more bowlers know the information and apply the knowledge. Why should we play a 21st century version of a sport by 19th century techniques?

     And that in a nutshell explains the respect problem this sport. Bowlers learning and fine tuning technique for the current technology is time-wasting while golfers who spend hours on the driving range and the course are building themselves for success. When did we 'jump the shark,' or are we still in midflight over the tank, or crash-land a long time ago? If this tournament gets further separated by divisions like softball tournaments, will it be changed forever and lose its prestige? This is one of the toughest tourneys to win on the planet along with the Petersen Classic. You get one shot per year, that's it. Right now, it might be the healthiest tournament around based on what has been reported from this summer's Las Vegas mega-buck tourneys

     Sadly, there is a growing divide between those wanting to learn more and get better and the other group who prefers the never-practicing-while-bowling-on-the- house-china school of thought. I'll leave you with this: there are those who bowl, there are those who think they know how to bowl, and those who actually do know how to bowl. Oddly enough, it actually does take work to get from one group to the other.