Earl Anthony wouldn’t make many cuts in todays game (unpopular opinion)

[@BeauchamJM0830]

I can tell you that I agree with you 100%. I was that guy who thought "I just need one ball and I'll be fine." I have definitely changed my tune and am now a 9 ball arsenal and have had to adapt. I've learned a lot in the last 5 years and have really started to hone my game to constantly learning. I'm 51 years old and definitely thank you for your help in my changing my ways and learning more about the game. Thank you JR I appreciate all that you continue to do to inform everyone and keep those of us "old guys" humbled.

[@jeremyramberger5198]

Earl Anthony would be able to adapt to any type of era

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@jeremyramberger5198 no wrong

[@wms702]

No Doubt!

[@Topnikko]

no

[@williamthompson3092]

You are a smart guy, but you are trying to hard to be smartest guy in the room. Earl was the best of his era, period. The rest of your rant is meaningless, who cares if today's players are better, in the old days they made more money than today's tour and in fact it was comparable to other professional sports. They didn't need multiple revenue streams in order to make a living. Remember Earl was on the cover of sport illustrated and Don Carter was the 1st million dollar athlete. They must have done something right. Please don't demean their legacy in order to put some old guy down. The bottom line is that nobody wants to fund the PBA even though the players and game are better in your opinion. You guys are bowling for peanuts. By the way, I am a fan of how you coach and communicate the fundamentals of the modern one handed game, which doesn't mean you are right about everything.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@williamthompson3092 nah. This is common sense and clearly a bunch don’t get it.

[@billt2020]

It’s obvious you hit a nerve with a bunch of people trying to elevate the modern player and I understand why you feel the need to do that. It’s too bad you can’t do that without dragging Earl down. It’s kinda of shows the credibility issues the PBA has now. Back in Earl’s day everyone knew he was better than Joe six pack bowler, not sure about today’s crowd.

[@TonysMusic1974]

One of (if not the) worst "pro" youtube bowling channels. You're just a miserable dude. How about you make a cut or two before opining on how some of the greatest to play the game wouldn't hold up today.. . . . Just stop whining!

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@billt2020 who’s dragging him down? I’m stating a fact. Not taking anything away from what he did.

[@toddhoppes1123]

In every sport because of the man that came before us, we learned from them and the game evolves, and we get better because what they showed us no matter the sport, the greats of the past show us, things that we improve on in the future along with technology.

[@mikecantwell2014]

Give me a break. The best of the best could bowl anytime anywhere under any conditions. Earl is the GOAT !!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@maxvoisard1145]

I could see Earl sticking with urethane, like the IQ Tour 78/U, and going two-handed today. Kind of mimicking Eric Jones or Deo Beonard...lol, young Earl even seems to look like those two. Not sure how competitive he would be, but he's still the GOAT, which is my unpopular opinion. Walter Ray himself said in an interview he'd gladly take second place all-time to Earl, since Earl won the same amount of titles in a much more condensed time period. He also would dominate the National Championship, which he had two three-peats in, when no other lefty would cash. Myself being a low-rev bowler who prides himself on accuracy, he's my hero in bowling!

[@WestPac-ny9vi]

I bowled in the 60's,70, &80's. Lane machine were used in the 70's but not like todays machines, they used to put telescore sheets on the brushes to block the lanes. There were different patterns then also, some easy and some hard. As far as revs go Matt Russo probably doesn't have many more revs than Earl's plus if Earl had modern equipment he probably would have a few more revs.

[@michaeldouglas8214]

Walter at his age is rolling two handed 300's. All you need is accuracy and consistency if you have those two you can adapt to any era. I see more strike balls thrown that are a good five boards off the mark than back in the day. Because of rev rate they still strike.

[@JB-wh3we]

Modern bowling: puts out a flood at different lengths & acts like it reinvented the game. JR casually omitting many things, especially that the pins have changed (they're off balance to cater for carrying at higher speeds) & that wood lanes themselves had much more variation lane to lane & board to board than synthetic lanes. Not to mention the difference in hitting power btwn pancake weightblocks vs. balls w/ cores. Or that for PBA shows they'd have some guy using oil in a spray bottle to prep the lane in a guestimation pattern... Also, this 2 decade plus industry wide hostility towards strokers/down&in is the biggest open secret in Bowling...and its weird.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@JB-wh3we so you’re saying you’re an old guy. Got it

[@JB-wh3we]

@@Tenpindoctors i mean if 30 is old, then yeah I guess lol 🤷‍♂️

[@JB-wh3we]

@@Tenpindoctors I'm a self-admitted house shot hack but I remember the 90s and seeing ppl like Butch Soper & Ozio be able to play the gutter shot & compete on the tour. But for some reason they removed that option for lane play 🤷 literally would have no impact on crankers

[@googleuser7662]

The cross is very important! I’m a lower rev guy and when I bowl with higher rev guys, they will destroy a pair of lanes.. bowling is an educated guess adjustment wise.

[@shaneimler9328]

I do agree that revs have taken over the game. On the other hand I give you Norm Duke. Yes they were great back in the day, but not many 60 and 70 years olds can completely change their game after 50 years or so. However if you could go in your wayback machine and ask them to di it in their 20s and 30s? Thinking they would be able to adapt. Mark Roth, Marshall Holman, or Amletto Monichelli come to mind for adapting back when.

[@wms702]

Dude, you totally just roasted Earl Anthony and Walter Ray Williams Jr…..

[@tarlkudrick1174]

I think that if Earl Anthony's clone was five years old today and got into bowling, the first thing he'd do is start bowling two-handed. I agree with the commenter who said that determination finds a way, even if "the way" is much, much different now than it was back then.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@tarlkudrick1174 that’s not the argument though

[@badbadbowling101]

Man I’m so with you on this one bro you keep dropping GEMS!! By the way if you make a red one pro sect I’m definitely buying one.

[@skipeichelberger5723]

As a old guy and a Don Johnson fan u r correct Skip E I am 78 years old

[@steveboguslawski114]

Athletes in every sport are stuck in their own time, with whatever limitations or advances are in play in that era. Bowling balls and lane surfaces are very different today compared to 50 years ago. Lane machines and oils have changed. Ball motion has changed. The style of play required to be successful today is different, though I would argue that accuracy/precision is an advantage in any circumstance. There is a reason why old athletes are no longer competitive. Mostly It is not because the game changed and they didn't adapt, though that can be a factor. Mostly It is because they got old and their bodies became less able to do the things they did in their prime. Watching Earl Anthony in his prime years is a textbook on how to play the lefthanded game in that era, under those conditions. He learned how to bowl on lacquer surfaces with a hard rubber bowling ball, adapted to urethane surfaces and early synthetics and the introduction of polyester balls, and he won with urethane equipment at the end of his competitive career. His last PBA title came at the ABC Masters when he was 46 years old, though it wasn't recognized as a PBA title until later. Earl had retired as a PBA competitor 8 months before. I'm not sure if he won any PBA tournaments on a lacquer surface, since his first win came at age 31 in 1970, which is very near the transition from lacquer to urethane coatings. Being the "best" is a moving target. If you took a few modern players and forced them to play under 1974 conditions how well would they score? No resin, no urethane, no high performance cores. RG around 2.7, maybe higher because I have no idea what an old rubber ball would measure. Rubber would likely be higher than polyester. Pancake weight block under the label, minimal track flare. Would you care to guess what that would do to carry on a flattish condition? I mean, it was possible to average 230 or a little bit above that on the highest scoring conditions, which were non-compliant and honor scores regularly were disqualified back then. The ABC tournament (now USBC) scoring pace was about 20 pins lower than today. A 200 average at that tournament was Hall of Fame level, and it wasn't because those guys were any worse than the best bowlers today. It was a different environment.

[@brianlevandowski3167]

I didn't start watching PBA bowling til the relaunched PDW bad boy era, the Couch 3 peats. The first thought that came to my mind with the modern power game is Tommy Jones & Rash. Now they are lower power compared to the top guys of today. I remember like 8 years ago Belmo went to Lane 81 in reno & was sickly accurate, like one of the best that Mike J ever seen!

[@jimlake22]

I'm thinking the 'best' of bowlers would be successful in any era. Same with golfers, baseball players, etc. The cream rises to the top, regardless of improved equipment..

[@brianbradley9380]

I'm a big baseball fan, and I feel the same way about Ruth. No way could he swing a 40 to 54 once bat with guys bringing it 100 mph.

[@deadpolymers3416]

Without going into a lot of detail, old school lane machines began hitting local bowling alleys in the early 70s. Century 100 machines pretty much dominated as the primary oil machine across the county for roughly 20 years. During that time the machines could only put down a single coat of flat oil, so a specific length and width. Later machines could clean and strip and do multiple passes to layer the pattern a bit, but for that 20 year period, the THS was either some version of flat oil, tiered (similar to modern sport shots), or hand sprayed with the flat oil run on top to create (aka the Christmas tree pattern). I remember regional PBA events still using a combination of hand sprayed and old flat oil machines up until 1997. After that Century/AMF developed the QAMF machines, and within about 10 years those became what we know today as the modern oil machine, that can put anything you want on the lane.

[@deadpolymers3416]

I'd argue it both ways. The bowlers today vs bowlers of yesteryear, would have equally hard times adjusting the conditions and the equipment in the opposing generations heydays. They are completely different games. The rev rate of today plays well, because the oil conditions of today allow it. in 1970, 500 rpm on the standard wood lanes with 4ml (or closer to 1ml of actual oil because they used to mixed in thinners at a 3:1 ratio to even the oil distribution), the modern bowler would have issues just getting the ball down the lane without it burning up. If you know the history of what was actually being bowled on, and what equipment was being used in those different eras, you can begin to understand why people bowled the way they did at those times. Bowling conditions and equipment today allow bowlers to completely over power the equipment, whereas bowling in the time of Earl Anthony required touch and precision. I'm absolutely certain some bowlers today could excel if they bowled 50 years ago, I'm just as sure many would quickly find other occupations... and vice versa if that scenario were reversed.

[@garymay2801]

I am an old guy [late 60's] and I would like to see these 2 handed wonders on a wood lane house that had not been resurfaced in 3 or 4 years in the southern US. From 7 to 13,14,15 board [on the right side] and 3 inches past the foul line to the arrows were so beat up a black diamond [that ball doesn't exist anymore] would burn up [roll out] unless you could throw it 20+ mph. Well young guy says move left which we did, problem was a 90+ hardness ball with a pancake weight block didn't carry very well. After that we would try some variation of a gutter shot. If you missed right a board you picked off the 6,9,10 or went in the ditch. Miss left a board or 2 and you might miss the head pin on the left. Even in a well maintained house some pairs would play wildly different. I bowled amateur tournaments in the 70's and 80's and the first synthetic lanes I ever played on was Western Bowl in Cincinnati at the Hoinke Classic. That was usually a scoreable condition, sometimes kind of tuff and sometimes pretty good, but always better than the conditions at home. My point is bowling was a lot harder in my day and I promise Earl Anthony in his prime, especially with reactive equipment would be just as good and probably better than he was then. It's hard to make a judgement on a player or players in an era that you never saw in person JR other than youtube.

[@dejabowler873]

I would love to see belmo go back to the old days but back then lofting was frowned apon way more than it is now and i can only see belmo standing about 45 and wheeling the lane

[@yoyo762]

Get real. Even on the senior tour where conditions were more similar to today, Earl was shooting high 700s for 3 game blocks. He was plenty competitive with high scoring lanes.

[@Miknificynt1]

Earl would be great in any era...

[@YoPhocFays]

You're getting the olds butt hurt. Lol. But if you're right, you're right. I love the channel regardless. Thank you for all the instructional videos. It's helped tremendously

[@davidprice2111]

I would pay money for a video on old wood hand oiled lanes using 1970s equipment and 2024 equipment. It would be interesting

[@garyloomis4961]

Wow! A lot of people are butthurt in this series, lol,, but you're right JR. It's a different game now. Anyway, I just wanted to say that your tip about looking at the dots rather than the arrows revolutionized my game I used to loft it,,, and now i look at the dots. I roll it down smooth, way more accurate for me anyway, Thanks a million bro !

[@rickdecker2146]

There were some guys back in the 70s and 80s that would compete today. Roth, Holman, Handley come to mind immediately. I'm sure there are a few more.

[@EviLNox8]

Is there a fb group for bowling discussions?

[@lonestarpatriot876]

I disagree with your take. If Earl Anthony were bowling in todays game, he would be bowling to todays standards which encompasses everything that you see in the modern game. It also would include everything you see in modern physical training and diet. All of the modern advances, he would be a part of. I personally hate comparing athletes from different generations for those reasons. It is the drive and dedication that makes great athletes great. You could move them from one generation to another and that drive and dedication that made them great would still be the same. They would just be doing it with all of those modern advances.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@lonestarpatriot876 he’d gain 200rpm? Nope no chance. You’re not understanding the point I’m making

[@lonestarpatriot876]

@@Tenpindoctors Yes. Why couldn't he? Are we to believe that athletes of the past, if coming up with all of the modern advances in society today, somehow would be incapable of using those advancements and still being great athletes?

[@gc3-]

, it’s silly to try to do this, But if you took somebody who was exceptional at some thing in the past and then trained them the way people train today, it seems plausible that their skills would still allow them to be good. In other words, if you were taught the way people are taught today. You very well could be a champion again. An easy example would be if he were taught to just be two-handed and gain 200 RPM. saying it couldn’t happen is frankly a lack of imagination.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@lonestarpatriot876 the argument isn’t about growing up in todays conditions. The argument is their game in their prime vs todays bowlers

[@lonestarpatriot876]

@@Tenpindoctors Their game in their prime is reflective of all of those circumstances I referenced. That is why this is almost an exercise in futility.

[@dentureman42]

I love Earl. He was a machine, but he retired and joined the senior tour because he felt he could no longer compete with the new generation of bowlers at that time. Even he knew his limits!

[@SealofPerfection]

Because he was older. He was almost 50. He won the Masters in 84 when he was 46, and then retired.

[@garymay2801]

Earl retired because he was burned out from all of the traveling. He won the ABC Masters the year he retired 1984.

[@squidly2112]

I don't understand why people don't recognize some of these things and insist on holding on to the past. I absolutely agree with you JR. I have seen this exact thing play out through the decades with golf. Same story. The players of yesteryear would have a much more difficult time today. Could they have adapted? .. perhaps, but the fields are larger, MUCH larger. You have have a LOT more people competing for the $$ than we did in the yesteryear. Times change, techniques get perfected over time, people figure out new ways to be better, technology changes and as you said "bring in more variables" that one needs to contend with. So many sports have developed exactly this way, same story. Games evolve, equipment evolves and most importantly, players evolve and refine their craft, getting better and better all the time.

[@ripvanrevs]

Every single sport that can be measured against a clock or height is much better now than 30-40 years ago. Every athlete can jump higher or farther or stronger. Why would bowlers be the exception?

[@vanitys7]

Guns > Bow and arrows

[@mbschleicher0]

What happened to code JRX?

[@jeffnewman8261]

I see your point that if those guys were dropped into the present day, with the skills they had in their primes, it wouldn't translate to make them the best of the best in today's modern game. However, I think if they came up today, they'd probably spend their time developing power and rev rate instead of focusing on accuracy, and if they did who's to say they wouldn't be just as good and powerful as today's bowlers.

[@chrism-ex9ld]

You mean kind of like an old slow, can't jump basketball player couldn't make it in today's NBA. Let me introduce you to Larry Bird. Great talent figures it out and Earl Anthony is far beyond great.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@chrism-ex9ld the argument is prime earl in todays game. Not old earl

[@bowling300.]

Squads on 60 players with 43 2 handed bowlers, with hammer urethane 500 grit , nasty rev rate in avg of 550-650, There is no laneshine after warm up, there is no pattern anymore , there is insane amount of friction , and many if these guys are accurate, and many throw back up urethane balls on 10 pins and doing insane stuff with the balls in competiton what you see is mindblowing and you cant say anything about whats up if you have not been there, it is nasty extremely hard and werry though!

[@charlesroulette5296]

Comparing athletes of different eras doesn't work. Each generation is great; but only in its own era. Nice videos and I appreciate the lessons.

[@tonymalone2458]

so what you are saying that is if earl anthony were 22-23 yrs old today that he would not be able to adapt to the equipment and lanes of today?

[@holidayhouse03]

Bowled AJBC, YABA in the late 70’s early 80’s NEVER HEARD anyone speak of oil patterns…it was always just…are they oily or dry? I’m sure it was different with Earl. And no kids were rolling 300’s like today

[@rousefire]

Earl Anthony wouldnt be dominant today if he bowled like the Earl Anthony of yesteryear. If he was thirty years old today , I speculate he would be a totally different type of bowler.

[@brianschumaker5912]

Earl would adapt to today's game. Just as today's great players would adapt if they went back in time to his Era. You seem to assume Earl would still be using the same equipment, with the same style, with the same rotation. He would put in the lane time to figure it out. That's what professionals do. I think you are assuming his abilities at the end of his career. What if he is transported to the future as a 16 year old? In 5 years he would be kicking ass. There seens to be a factor you are leaving out.... natrual talent.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@brianschumaker5912 I agree but that wasn’t the argument. The argument was that he would come here as the bowler he was and dominate. Thats just laughably wrong

[@brianschumaker5912]

True. If you are comparing his game the way it was. What if Bellmo ot Tackett were transported 25 years to the future? Could they still dominate? I would say yes, given if they had the time to adapt. There is a factor called natural talent.

[@persistentintensity]

It would be more fun to take a modern player back to compete on the old condition... with balls of that era.

[@Tenpindoctors]

And watch them completely dominate? I’d like that too

[@persistentintensity]

@@Tenpindoctors Ha, maybe!

[@wms702]

I got mad respect for senior bowlers, Love open bowling with them, I always end up learning something.

[@stevehurst7526]

Thats why its become less wanted and enjoyable to compete. Been bowling for 40 years. adapted as much as I can at my age but accuracy has played less a role. power and rev rates has made up for accuracy. ya still have to be accurate to some degree. BUT. less fun now to compete for anyone that doesnt have their whole young life to devote to the lanes, sad for the sport. still a fun game but the elite are just people that have been able to do it since young and follow the sport full time. untouchable for most. maybe why popularity is waining

[@joshg218]

The only opinion I have on this is bowlers who bowled back then would adjust to the modern style if they were living in the same time frame. The issue is and will always be exposure and getting the best bowlers out there to compete. Today it is much easier to do this, before, not so much. It is true about all sports with much smaller groups of elite professionals and limited sponsorship. I think you could agree there are probably ATLEAST 10-20 bowlers that didn't even try to bowl on the national tour, that would have been competitive to earn one. The money isn't in bowling to get the greatest bowlers in the world on tour. Was Earl even the best back then.....?

[@biIIyball]

Earl would be no worse off than most if not all other lefties on tour. Usually the left is shut out anyway. How many cuts did Ciminelli make last season with all of his power and rev rate?

[@joepic85]

Just like how old NFL players would get crushed today

[@roberthamilton9621]

This is -always- a question of how much raw talent the player would have had versus drive to improve their game. Babe Ruth with that massively heavy bat (44 oz) would not hit more than like 0.060 versus the pitchers of today; most MLB hitters typically use 32 to 34 oz today. The question is, would Ruth have been willing to grind it out to perform today? Hard to say as he was a notorious partier, right? He thrived with his raw talent for the time. We can see that raw talent still plays in games. John Daly in golf is a great example of raw talent and again too much of a partier to have the longevity he could have had. The modern NBA doesn't have much use for the center in the traditional sense. Wilt Chamberlain was very regimented in his practice and workouts and I suspect were he coming up today would still be a great basketball player. I am too young to know much about Earl Anthony and his generation, but while I agree that their games as they were in their prime years would not play today, at least some of them would have had the discipline and drive to learned what it takes to be successful in the modern game. It is a skill to learn -- you know, you make videos that are much appreciated on how to learn those skills! Would they all have been able to do it, certainly not. But would some of them been able to train and learn it? I think yes. But its really fairly unknowable, which it what makes cross-generational comparisons really unwieldy and ultimately kind of meaningless.

[@underrated7602]

If your theory is correct why aren't you making TV finals?

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@underrated7602 did you not watch the video? 😂

[@underrated7602]

@Tenpindoctors you seem to have all the answers so just make the adjustments.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@underrated7602 again did you watch the video? Clearly not

[@underrated7602]

​@Tenpindoctors Winners find a way to win so YES Earl would still dominate today. That's like saying MJ would be trash today lol. So let's flip the coin ask the real question would EJ beat Earl back in the day both at peak? Nope! 😂

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@underrated7602 earl would not win ever today and yes EJ would dominate back then

[@apolaconeagleeye8571]

Bowling ran its course. What more can they do?, bowl with 3 hands. Want to be a pro?. Spend your life knocking down pins. Just like anything else, eat sleep and do your thing. I couldnt. CAPISH!

[@bowling300.]

Many of the players today that avg 220 are kids in 14-21 years of age and they are extremely fit and they really want to be the best, and they gather more information in 1 day then these guys in the 70-90 got in 20 years, today they have something from the beginning they never had.😂 they cant even remotly compare todays youth with what it once was!

[@russs7574]

Hogwash. The difference between Earl Anthony and Walter Ray Williams and today's top bowlers isn't so much about talent as it is about the evolution of the equipment. I've been a humble (avg. about 165) league bowler since the 80s, and I can tell today how much more of the work today's balls do compared to when I started. There are shots that I can throw with my mid-priced Light Blue Hammer and my antique Red Hammer that would have made me look like a freak of nature in the 70s. I would think that a bowler of Anthony's and Williams' abilities would be able to tame today's high-tech balls and sophisticated lane conditions. The very best bowlers of the 70s would similarly thrive today. This is about as inane a comment as the "hockey expert" saying that Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky would not be superstars in the NHL today. And yeah, there are "experts" (especially on ESPN...surprise, surprise) that make that comment.

[@nytemyst72]

I think the greats of the past would hardly ever miss the pocket in todays game. I also think they would be able to compete in a low low scoring envirement. But like you said in todays high scores I just think the lower rev rates would not be able to get the off-pocket hits and they would get more 9 counts which would drop thier scores by at least 20 pins. They would have to never miss a spare and almost have a perfect tourney and make every adjustment right and not get any bad breaks. My heros of the past would of course be capable of winning at any time but dominating like they did in todays era I just don't think so. Too many talented bowlers on the tour and future legends and HOFers to compete against. You aren't really saying the bowlers of today are better than the legends of the past just a different game and I can't argue with that one bit. It is the 10 or 20 board moves of today vs the moves of the past and all the variables. You can split boards and be a robot of accuracy but can you make the right move and ball change guess and still strike? Lower rev rates do not carry as well as high rev rates they just don't not on off pocket hits. They also tend not to leave really bad splits if you are lazer accurate but it won't make up for the strikes the high rev players can string. I am a old school stroker myself and I hate to agree but it is just the way it is. I can average 210 on anything but I can't average 240 at every tourney thats why I am at home. Give the new guys their due they deserve it.

[@bowler3329]

Incorrect JR, there were different patterns they bowled on in the old days. They weren't named after animals etc. but there were more than one pattern.

[@SealofPerfection]

Dude, accuracy is accuracy. Earl was the Walter Ray of the 70's. Prime Walter Ray would still win a ton today because he, along with Earl, are the most accurate bowlers ever. Everyone hooked the ball more than WRW in the 80's and 90's and it made no difference, he still won. Same would apply with Earl. Dude was a phenomenal athlete and easily would adapt. The PBS was intentionally putting out patterns to stop him, and he'd still cash or make the show. Earl in his prime, put into today's game would do just fine. This is like saying Jack Nicklaus wouldn't win on today's PGA because the equipment and whatever. He absolutely would, he's the GOAT. Put today's clubs and balls in his hands he'd be winning majors just like he did in his day.

[@bowling300.]

They all do the same thing , only the winner is the best one to do it

[@tlenda44]

This is such a horrible take. Does EJ get to learn and develop in his own time and then time travel back to 1980? Do Earl and Mark Roth get to time travel forward and develop their game in current time? Stop doing these comparisons in all sports.

[@talkcat10]

You can't compare eras. You compete in your era because there is no time travel!

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@tlenda44 take names out of it. Is there a bowler from the 70’s that had the physical game to compete today?

[@notonyourlife7939]

​@Tenpindoctors No... but that's not the point. Human beings adapt. It's one of our greatest strengths, and to imply that the greats from that era would not have been capable of adapting to synthetic lanes, reactive balls, and today's oil patterns, is ludicrous. Ffs, they never even had the chance, so how can we conclude that they would have failed? They did what they needed to do given the conditions at the time.... they didn't develop today's physical game because it wouldn't have helped them if they did.... but how does that translate to a lack of ability to adjust to changing conditions? People are capable of extraordinary things, especially those who thrive in competitive environments. Jeez, what would you say to someone who counted you out before you even had the chance to try something new?

[@batl_born702]

It amazes me how butthurt people get over this topic. They clearly have no understanding of how power changes the outcome of shots. More power results in more momentum. A shot with more momentum is going to transfer more energy to the pins resulting in greater pin carry. The power player is going to carry shots that the non power player wouldn’t due to the higher transfer of energy. This has absolutely nothing to do with skill. This is just based on physics.

[@Tenpindoctors]

Yup

[@jeffhart8214]

I think you're wrong. Here's a good example. Pete Weber he bowled in both era's and he adapted to the ball and lane technology.of todat!!!! And Earl Anthony and those other bowler's would have adapted to .

[@MM3ScubaSteveUSN]

Sorry, people, but I concur with JR. Think about how WRW would do against the kids these days. That's about how Earl would do, if he even BOTHERED with it. There's a reason why WRW, PDW, and Duke are just bowling the Seniors these days. As for these kids bowling back in the day, I'm not so sure about that. Perhaps running this by Marshall Holman, John Petraglia, or George Pappas would be examples to shed better light on that one. One last thing, congrats to Sean Rash for making the USBC HoF. I KNEW he was OVERDUE for PBA HoF. That ALSO goes for Belmo and "Real Deal". Peace!

[@lonestarpatriot876]

The reason they are bowling the Senior Tour is because they are Seniors and from a physiogical perspective, there is a difference in what Seniors can do vs. guys in their 20's and 30's. Testosterone production is just one of many examples.

[@bigbowl37]

Lol this circus performer said WRW and Norm Duke can't keep up even though they were dominating for multiple decades and all throughout their 40s! Maybe he doesn't know they are nearing 100 years old now. If he is going for Lolcow content, well done. Thats why I watch.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@bigbowl37 you’re joking right? Lol why did Walter try two handed? Try again

[@daviddeiss7907]

I don't know, part of what makes a player so good is their competitive spirit, I'm sure if Earl was living in today's game he would adapt simply cuz he has a deep desire to compete and win at the highest level and having the confidence in yourself to make it happen, there's more than one way to get to the pocket weather your a stroker tweener or cranker everyone has a chance. Norm duke has proven himself against the power players, you just need versatility and a keen sense to make good decisions when the time is right.

[@markneubeck1768]

I'd by one

[@michaelsaad684]

I just wanted to let you know you are off base on this issue. Earl had enough revs and accuracy to compete successfully today. (Today's patterns are no match for the equipment available today.) Look at the number of perfect games after the reactive ball explosion.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@michaelsaad684 you’re confusing league with the pba. His game as it was in his prime had no chance in todays environment even with a ball twice as strong as the are today. Tell me the last time a sub 300rpm bowler won

[@curtokay8046]

I ran alane machine in the 70's

[@jimmyscott6159]

Earl, Walter, Duke, Weber Parker and Mark Roth all we’re very accurate bowlers who knew how to make adjustments without changing balls. And those skills allowed them to be competitive in different eras. So don’t tell me they wouldn’t make many cuts today.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@jimmyscott6159 they wouldn’t make cuts. There I said it again. Please read up on the modern game. The past is dead

[@krazyk57]

My opinion…. Everyone has to do “Their thing” during “Their time”….In any sport…I don’t think you can say they wouldn’t make the cut..Because you just don’t know…They controlled their time with the equipment they had…..That’s s the bottom line….The modern game is completely different in every sport..Not just bowling….Life lesson….If you don’t adapt you get left behind….Period…

[@Greg780]

7:13 Yeah, I don’t know why, but bowling comment sections on social media are the worst. Usually, I avoid them. And I agree with what you’re saying in this video, for the most part. The game is completely different today than it was 50 years ago. You can’t compare the players from back then to the players nowadays.

[@bowling300.]

Norm Duke is prob the closest one!

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@bowling300. he lasted the longest for sure. He was a mad scientist with the ball. But still can’t keep up

[@shanetoler9905]

Back in the day, bowlers didn't use BOTH hands.

[@lonestarpatriot876]

And the guy dominating the tour right now only uses 1 hand. 😅

[@ripvanrevs]

Almost every bowler uses two hands at some point.

[@scottlope4680]

Would you be good at the time earl was great. My opinion would be no. Convince me your that you are.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@scottlope4680 back when you could play right of 5? Yeah I’d like my chances much better back then rather than now

[@PaulWard-g8s]

I think he’s lost his mind. Look up the scoring records for the PBA that’s still stands from the 60’s on. To knock 10 pins down you don’t need 50 revs, you need accuracy. As he says facts are facts. Look at the scoring when WR jr and earl and mark roth were winning.

[@ScottyThompson-lt7wl]

Cool video talk tech bowling 🎳 ball Jr Raymond

[@NeilTruick]

So, you're saying, leaving all technology for the era the same, today's players could go back in time and dominate, but yesterday's players couldn't compete in today's game? I respect your knowledge of the game and view you as one of my mentors for the modern game. I'm 60, by the way, so I'm old enough to have watched Anthony and Roth and Pete Weber and Walter Ray during their prime. The lanes are still 60 feet long, there are still 10 pins, and the bowling balls are still round. You probably saw these bowlers when they were older, which can be the only reason for this "unpopular opinion". Get everyone in their prime and you're basically saying these bowlers couldn't adapt to the game, given enough time. You're far deeper in it than I have ever been or will ever choose to be, but I respectfully disagree.

[@jeffhart8214]

Power players don't make it They're not consistent and don't make the cut consistantly look at this. Norm Duke, Walter Ray, pete Weber ,Johnny Petraglia , and other players who MAKE THE SHOW REGULARLY What these bowlers have in common is acuracy and straight down and in. These players are not power players . So there you have it true facts. And how come the power players don't make it consistantly .

[@squidly2112]

This is similar for golf. A lot of people are hung on Jack Nicklaus "is the best of all time", but Jack would have had a lot of trouble being "the best" in Tiger's era. Even Jack himself recognizes that and contends that he wouldn't have won as much in Tiger's era. Courses were made much more difficult in Tiger's era (Tiger proofing courses). Competition alone is MUCH MUCH more difficult now than at any time in history. Much bigger $$$ involved making competition very very difficult. To date, Tiger Woods is the best to have ever played, hands down, no contest. But, 30, 40, 50 years from now, that could be completely different and somebody else will likely become the next Tiger. The same is true with bowling and just about any other sport you can name.

[@ronmexico8383]

Who's this "Mark" guy?

[@herbieholland5800]

JR I like you but I'm way older than you and bowled during the 70's and 80's AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLATFORM AND YOUR 40 YEARS OLD DOESN'T MAKE YOU RIGHT YOU NEVER BOWLED BACK THEN YOUR COMPLETELY WRONG YOUNG MAN

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@herbieholland5800 get off my lawn. I’m not wrong. You’re just unwilling to admit the truth

[@thomasboyd6242]

Don’t you think Earl would have adapted his game to today’s conditions just like he did back then? Earl was the best period!!! You’re trying to compare today verses yesterday. Track athletes today have better records and times, but that doesn’t mean the athletes from the 80’s are worse than them. Put today’s athletes in the equipment from 40-50 years ago with their training technology and I’m sure the older athletes would do better.

[@billcain7821]

Doubt if you'll read let alone see this, but here we go anyway. Wrong, wrong, wrong. If you were to take the young Earl Anthony from his time and put him into our time, he'd still be GREAT and win the same tournaments he did back then. First off, he'd be using the exact same equipment that today's bowlers are using and like these bowlers would've grown up using them yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? Didn't see that one coming nor did you think of that did you? Next, he'd be bowling on the same exact lane types and oil conditions/patterns that today's pro-bowlers are bowling on and like them he'd have grown up bowling on them yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? Starting to think you didn't think this one through very well, did you? Next, he'd have the exact same drive and determination to win that he had back in his day yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? Didn't think of that one either did you? The young Earl being put into today's modern era of bowling and being the great pro that he is/was with that same drive and determination would adapt to today's equipment, type of lanes and oil patterns because like todays bowlers would've grown up/around it, yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? Starting to wish you'd thought this through better now aren't ay? For you to sit there and say that he wouldn't/couldn't adapt his game to today's world of pro-bowlers is a CROCK, and you based on what I've written thus far should know it by now. The one thing you can't take away from Anthony, Roth, Holeman, Williams Jr and so on is their drive and determination to win, win, win, their drive and determination to practice, practice, practice, adapt and figure out how to make themselves not just better but the BEST on the planet will still be there period end of story, that isn't something you can just take away from them yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? Maybe you forgot and didn't take into consideration what made these bowlers so GREAT and the HOF's that they are yes, no, maybe, sometimes, always, never? All the bowlers you mentioned in your holier than thou video and take today all had one thing in common, the DRIVE and DETERMINATION to be better than everyone else, the DRIVE and DETERMINATION to WIN, the DRIVE and DETERMINATION to practice and adapt to whatever is being thrown at them, this is what your top pros do period end of story, or am I wrong in that aspect? If you were to take their younger selves and put them into today's modern era of bowling, they would ADAPT. That DRIVE to WIN, that DRIVE to practice, practice, practice and improve their game would still be there and finally that DRIVE to be the BEST would REMAIN. They'd adapt and do what is needed to WIN BABY WIN just as the pros do today and have always done period end of story. You can't just sit there on your holier than thou thrown and declare that these greats as their younger selves put into today's world of bowling couldn't/wouldn't be able to adapt to today's modern era of bowling is BS. Fact their drive and determination to adapt, practice and win would out bowl you any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Fact their drive and their determination to adapt and practice would actually help them to keep up with today's equipment, lane types, oil patterns and other pro-bowlers even the greats of today, you can't take that drive and determination they had during their younger days and time away from them like you are in this video. That drive and determination to practice, to adapt and to be better than everyone else is what separates them from the good average pros such as yourself, armatures and your average joe players, and you can't just sit there and take that away from them, hell you're not even taking any of that into consideration now are you. What you're doing is assuming something without thoroughly thinking it through and you know what happens when one assumes correct? What makes these greats so great is that DRIVE and DETERMINATION they have to practice smarter, better and harder than everyone else, that desire to be not just the best but better than everyone else on the planet. They don't settle, they have one goal and one goal only to WIN and be the BEST there is and ever was. Ask any of them what they think of finishing 2nd in a tournament, and they'd tell ya it's not fun nor is it satisfying because it's the closest last place finisher to the individual who WON!!! They're not satisfied with finishing 2nd like a lot of folks are today, sure they have to except what position they finished in, but it doesn't mean they're satisfied with it. They move on figure out what went wrong and fix those problems to improve themselves for the next tournament. But then again what do I know, right? After all I'm just another one of your average Joe nobody's with an opinion that to most folks would say is coming right out of left field, right? You and your family have a good, safe and blessed rest of yer day and weekend.

[@waynehojnacki5193]

So you think they'd be to stupid to adjust their game? Got it you're smarter than them.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@waynehojnacki5193 pay attention to what I’m saying. Stupid? No. But you think they would have adapted to keep up right? Even Walter tried two handed but couldn’t be successful. Why? Ask yourself that question. So no they would not be able to adjust

[@wms702]

I guess, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Ty Cobb ain’t shit either… 😂Greatness Transcends…

[@rshowers7590]

Oh please. You’d kick Marshal Hollman, Mark Roth and Earl Anthony’s ass? No. You wouldn’t. Would you even win consistently on the old man tour right now? No you wouldn’t.

[@Tenpindoctors]

🤣 ok sure

[@KBATN1]

I guess you stepped in the pile of crap with this video JR. You have no clue what would Earl Anthony do on the tour on today's shot. It's best not to go there and move on, but for me and a lot others, Earl could win because he doesn't cross a lot of boards to get into trouble. You now what they always say; "Straighter is greater" and when you cross less boards with angle and power, you got game my friend. Just take a look at Liz Johnson and Norm Duke games when they shoot down and in on the out side. Having revs and speed is one thing, but I would pick being accurate and have a good release with the right ball in your hand everytime. This is where being focus, having skills, and the mind set to make those shots on the lanes and I've seen this in Earl when he was bowling.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@KBATN1 I didn’t step into anything. Straighter would be greater if the patterns allowed it, which they don’t so these people you mentioned have no chance. You have to do what the lane requires. You don’t get to play what you like to do. Otherwise Liz would have won 100 titles on the mens tour. Duke would have 300… get it yet? No? I’ll keep going

[@KBATN1]

@@Tenpindoctors I'm just saying, Earl was a Stroker in bowling what I've seen and this would be helpful to bowl straighter on the lanes. He knew his game well and he was fun to watch.

[@herbieholland5800]

Just like a young man gotta block people because your wrong

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@herbieholland5800 I block disrespectful idiots

[@bill57board]

The game has changed a lot over the course of 60 years. Don't you have anything better with a video than demean the bowlers of the past?

[@Tenpindoctors]

Demean? Nowhere did I do that. Get out of your own head

[@herbieholland5800]

I love the way these youngsters like this JR thinks he's so smart I get this all the time from guys like JR young people thinking they know when they don't. Just stick to you 40 years from the time you where born. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NUTS DONE WITH THIS FOOLISHNESS.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@herbieholland5800 sorry you don’t like being wrong. I’ll keep reminding you though 😉

[@michaeldouglas8214]

You want to drag E.J. to the old days and not drag Mark Roth to todays bowling? vise versa man! You bring any of the old timers at 20 years old in todays environment they would still be dominate and takeout most of the current bowlers.

[@Wildbear28]

🤦‍♂️

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@Wildbear28 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

[@patricklowendick8803]

I know you’ll make a buck off my comment, but it’s worth it to say your take on a lot of things is crazy. Maybe it’s right, probably it’s wrong. However, this is the last video I’ll be watching.

[@Tenpindoctors]

Awww I’m sad. Grow up

[@lockedonlaw]

Ridiculous. Earl was shooting the highest averages on the PBA Tour for years with a hard rubber ball and then a polyester ball. And, unlike modern bowlers, he could repeat shots consistently. He didn't need "area." It was harder to score in the 1970's, and if you bowled then you would know that. 300's were rare, 800's were almost unheard of, and 900's were impossible. Children under 18 did not average over 200. Earl would average 250 on these conditions without even thinking about all the stupid crap modern bowlers think is important. So would Mark Roth. Some people are just gifted. I think you're making the case that the equipment has made it easier for less talented bowlers to compete and harder for more talented bowlers to compete. Accuracy and consistency have been replaced by speed and revs. And, no, modern bowlers are not just as accurate. That's not even remotely close to true. I can give you as many reasons as you like. First of all, the lane conditioner was applied by hand back in Earl's day. It was far lighter weight. It was much shorter. The lanes were not synthetic. The finishes were lacquer or shellac. They were nowhere near as smooth or consistent as modern lanes. The pins were a different weight with a different center of gravity. The pin decks were phenolic. The kickbacks were shorter and less reactive. And the list goes on and on.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@lockedonlaw this is a really bad take. I understand your point but it’s the typical talking point of old vs new. You compare today’s league bowling to league bowling of the 70’s. I concede league is much easier today but not the pba. It’s by far more difficult than it was back then

[@lockedonlaw]

@@Tenpindoctors The PBA is not more difficult. It is nothing more than a marketing campaign. The entire point is to sell more bowling balls. Why have consumers buy one ball when you can convince them they need twelve? And how do you convince consumers they need a new ball that is barely different from the ball they bought last month? You create dozens of oil patterns, you give them names that pretend to pay homage to legends of the past, you make them match up with the equipment being manufactured, and you have popular touring pros shoot high scores with them. No one sees a PBA pro struggle with a ball and thinks to themself they have to rush right out and buy it. What they do see is ball reviews out the wazoo now. Then they rush right out and purchase the solid, hybrid, pearl, tour, and urethane version of the same ball. The fact is you can make the game competitive at any scoring level but consumers want to see high scores.

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@lockedonlaw you must be over 50. Have you bowled on tour in any era. I 100% guarantee it’s more difficult today than it was then. You know why? Count all the variables today vs then

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@lockedonlaw there’s a reason 230 average league bowlers average 160 on tour patterns

[@lockedonlaw]

@@Tenpindoctors Not arguing that. I would never compare casual bowlers with touring pros.

[@herbieholland5800]

I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET MY WHOLE YEARLY PAY CHECK 500,000 THAT YOU AND THE REST OF TODAY'S BOWLERS COULD NEVER BOWL IN THE 70'S

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@herbieholland5800 and I’d take your bet all day every day.

[@bharris7601]

Why do you think your so smart

[@Tenpindoctors]

You’re **** And it’s because I use that thing called common sense. Too many people lack that with critical thinking

[@herbieholland5800]

Just like my son who is your age you don't know nothing stick to your generation

[@Tenpindoctors]

@@herbieholland5800 awww you get so mad that your old days are over

[@jayvallandingham2406]

Earl Anthony would have made the adjustments. Accuracy will beat rev rate 90% of the time. Bowling is Bowling people are going to learn how to adjust. Liz Johnson and the rest of those bowlers are bowling on patterns and they don't have the rev rates. There's a ball that will get the job done. If you bowl on patterns on a daily basis, you'll learn how to make adjustments. Get the ball to the proper break point and you'll be able to score well.

[@dalewiederholt573]

You are absolutely right. The game is now so screwed up being an equipment game and being able to throw rockets.