2023 USBC String Pinsetter Report

[@bendeiber7572]

Leave the game alone

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Absolutely agree with you!

[@h8GW]

It's just a slightly different form of bowling and it shouldn't matter competitively if all the players use the same string system. Tennis players need to play on different court surfaces all the time. You should feel more pity for NASCAR drivers, who can NEVER go back to an older car iteration that they liked.

[@ThorD4602]

You said it, it isn't real bowling. We want bowling not a fake carnival version if it. A better comparison in your statement would be between tennis and pickleball

[@isaacholzwarth]

You can say that, but the problem is that a lot of bowling places are on the edge of closing, so unfortunately in a lot of cases it's going to be either this or no bowling at all.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

​​@@isaacholzwarth That's not the case here in my home country Philippines. Many Bowling Centers here aren't declining and all of them are still running Free Fall Pinsetters. Same thing with malls here, they're still alive than in the US. So its not the Free Fall Pinsetters what's causing center shutting down, its just the way managers or proprietors ran their business like they don't promote or commercialize their business to gain more revenue.

[@evilkids8823]

I think this is the wrong answer to the correct problem. This is just my opinion. Strings are seeking to reduce costs for centers. I get it. But you’re telling me that no one has been able to design a free fall pin setter that’s more affordable and can be mass produced? We have self driving vehicles, spaceships, high speed rails and all sorts of insane technology. But a group of engineers cannot figure out how to make 10 pins stand up in a cost effective way without strings? Looking at it from that perspective, it seems a little silly that we’re optimizing string material and length rather than re designing how a free fall pin setter works in the first place. I clearly don’t have as much knowledge on this topic as anyone at USBC. But what I cannot help but wonder is how on earth there is no other solution than this. If it keeps the sport alive and helps centers, it makes sense, but I can’t say it doesn’t make me disappointed either.

[@WoodrowBoudreaux]

just put strings for the masses and a kid in the pit for league night. HOLLER HOUSE lemme hear ya!!! 🤣

[@bowlingxp8345]

That's my view as well. I've been told by Brunswick staff that a machine with magnets was experimented with, but they didn't make it work. I say they didn't try hard enough.

[@mishaostrovsky3668]

Magnets

[@notonyourlife7939]

Agree 100%... but it's really not a surprise. We are not a proactive species, we are reactive... and by and large, we're lazy. Human beings like quick fixes, and simple solutions... and if it's quick, simple, and CHEAP well... we're all over it like flies on shit, especially in the Good 'Ole US of A.. Doesn't matter if something is actually a GOOD idea or not, if it can quickly turn a profit, then integrity and common sense be damned! Show me da money! 🤣👍 Anybody who didn't see this coming, hasn't been paying attention...

[@sonofnothing]

​@@bowlingxp8345 Yo I was going to joke about making them magnetic, and how they'd all stick together. That's wild!

[@TraumaER]

Been bowling 30+ years. The day the PBA allows strings is the day I sell everything.

[@Bowlingpba]

Agreed. I am a current PBA member and I will never bowl on any lane with string pin setters

[@DaveCM]

So, you will give up something you enjoy doing just because you cannot accept change? I hate string setters also. There is a center by my house that uses them. My wife and I both do not like it after trying it several times. But, if that is all that becomes available, we would still bowl. For right now, we have two other options near us.

[@timvracer]

@@DaveCM Yup, that's what they are counting on.... the driver here is shops like Bowlero that make $$ on non-bowling enthusiasts (parties) and are purely margin driven. Reducing maintenance/employee costs improves their profits, and share price. But for those who are bowling enthusiasts, this ruins it. I would maybe keep bowling, but this will kill the sport as we know it.

[@tsnide34]

​@@DaveCM I tend to agree. I would like the golf ball rolled back, I wish softball HRs weren't so easy to hit, and I don't want string pins. But as with those other games, I'd still enjoy bowling if it's relatively close to the game I've enjoyed for so long.

[@TraumaER]

@whimseyOFC did enough research bowling at a string pin house at a new Bowlero. First, the approaches were shorter as were the lanes. And no, my eyes aren't acting funny. This was confirmed by our anchor of our regular league who tends to stand at the back of standard approaches. I used a plastic ball because I was at a party. I was able to strike at will whenever I hit the pocket because pins would magically fall down (be pulled down). I noticed 6-10 spares didn't require me to even hit the 10 pin. I could barely tap the 6 pin and its string would wrap around the 10 pins' string and pull it down for a spare. The same thing applies to baby splits or any other multi pin spare where strings can magicallly pull other pins down. This isn't bowling. This is string pin bowling. That's my research. My anchor is a 225+ avg bowler. I'm a 200+ avg bowler. I know bowling and string pins isn't bowling.

[@McCollum2009]

I hate the idea of string settings. If this becomes the norm I will quit bowling entirely

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Am with you!

[@teddine7366]

I know the ideal of changing sucks but I think you'll mostly see this in new ally's being built. And no bowling lane is exactly the same to begin with. I go to two different ally's and I do average slightly more at one over the other for some reason whether it is the lane itself or the oil pattern. I just wouldn't give up something I love over a little bit of change even though I think it does suck.

[@billb5534]

I've been bowling for over 30 years , bowl competitively in tournaments and do well and have tons of fun. Bowl in leagues faithfully. I've been talking to many bowlers, everyone would quit bowling if they go to string pin setters. It will kill the sport of bowling.

[@Steve-eq8iz]

Centres closing will kill it faster.

[@binaryanticommunist1882]

@@Steve-eq8iz So be it. The market will decide. Maybe it will split off...the fake Putt Putt version, and the real sport.

[@Kenny-pw8ul]

Must be the same people who said 2 handed bowling is unfair also.

[@notonyourlife7939]

​@@Steve-eq8iz Six of one, half dozen of the other... either way, dead is dead.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

@@Steve-eq8iz only in Western Countries where Bowling Centers would closed every year. Bowling in Asia is a lot different because they're keeping their operations really good and there's no reason for them to switch to Garbage Strings.

[@kingpin123rcs]

string setters are an abomination. Sanctioned competition of ANY kind should NEVER be considered when using string setters. What's next? The PBA silly string open?

[@timothymarcus96]

They might as well make it cosmic bowling all around too.

[@motoman22atgmail]

If my favorite center can’t afford to maintain traditional pinsetters and their option is to close, I’ll cheer for string pinsetters. I will still get a certified average and they will figure out a conversion at some point. The Open remain free fall and preserve the heritage no matter what I’m sure. Cheers to USBC for putting in the research to find a consistent standard for this new technology!

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

The PBA won't ever switch to them, but remember the low the PBA had fallen when they tried those gold pins? PBA isn't doing bad these days, they got a formula that helps the players by having a shorter season and packing events at one city saving them a huge expense of going around to different towns each week.

[@edhawkins3797]

This is completely ridiculous... you wanna have some lanes like that for open bowlers, go ahead... but from a competition standpoint... it's absurd... I've bowled competitively for a long time... they go full strings, I'm gone and never looking back

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Yes, the absurdity of the USBC! Will be a goner also with no intentions of ever looking back!

[@jptheredsoxfan]

These will kill the game. I'm sure bowlero will be all over it soon

[@Jivuls]

They just added it to a Bowlero in my area (San Jose, CA) - it is absolutely HORRIBLE… 🙁😢

[@WilmingtonOHProductions]

If they add it its most likely going to be on private lanes

[@MamasFunkyMonkey]

​@@WilmingtonOHProductionsprivate as in bowlero facilities?

[@dp92492]

They have already talked about it and I have already seen videos of bolero centers with them in. Remember bowlero is a publicly traded company, they answer to share holders not bowlers.

[@WilmingtonOHProductions]

@@dp92492 Well then that's where the Bowlers buy a crap ton of Bowlero shares, THEN they would have to listen

[@tomrogue13]

I'll stick with free fall pins thanks

[@critterdude311]

The USBC, BPAA, etc will FIND the data they want to see or hear on this topic because the financial incentives are too great. It’s inevitable. But please, don’t lie to us as to the motives here. We’ll respect you more if you just come out and say we need this to make the sport economically viable.

[@louieatienza8762]

They need this because the minimum wage is raising again, and this is a way to eliminate jobs, to increase profitability. And maybe this is relevant to the mom-and pop centers which are slowly disappearing sadly; but to the conglomerate crap like Bowlero, it just means more greedy pocket-lining. I've heard horror stories from families that have gone to their centers, where they take their credit card at the door, and after 2 hours leave with a $300-400 bill. And now they're colluding with the USBC to make these league-sanctioned? Pure trash.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Yup... this falls squarely in the "Don't piss on my leg and tell me its raining" category. 🤣

[@KC9UDX]

Like with everything else in life, people don't see the trouble with going cheap. Sure, they'll save enough money to stay in business with strings. But what will they do when they can't stay in business that way anymore? It's a race to the bottom.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

​@@KC9UDXYes, a race to the bottom, like a bowling ball falling off a cliff on a blocked lane!

[@Jason_P]

All this data is irrelevant. Bowling has been the way it is for several generations. Think about why this is a thing all of a sudden. Companies want more money, and that's the bottom line. String pins don't improve the game in any way other than to increase profit for the bowling centers. These Bowlero houses already charge $8 a game but that clearly isn't enough for them.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

You're right on! Follow the money right down to the bowels of avaricious greed...

[@Shakenbake-in9ux]

What do you think the purpose of a business is..?

[@RysterARCEE]

Bowlero will be all over this and start converting as soon as they can 😂

[@steviejay7106]

you are most likely right! nobody will do this in league play

[@Christian-qu6yv]

Yep. One of the centers around where I live already have plans this fall 😬

[@steviejay7106]

@@Christian-qu6yv wow say goodbye to business for them

[@SamFisher300]

@@steviejay7106 nope open bowling going way up in there center and there going to make more then they do for leagues

[@xguitarist_]

They converted mine almost a month ago already 💀

[@fiddlemahn]

It is time the USBC is replaced with a different governing body. One that will stand for the integrity and preservation of the sport. One that is receptive to the feedback of the athletes, rather than caving to the pressure of large corporate bowling center conglomerates and equipment manufacturers. The USBC's "Future for the Sport" is not the future that bowlers should stand for.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

GOOD POINT!

[@YourFavoriteChef]

Spoke to an employee today at a local alley, apparently these are significantly cheaper to build and maintain. A lot of the freefall pin setters are getting old and need constant fixing and there aren’t enough mechanics. A new freefall set could run $1,000,000. That’s what I heard anyway.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Hey Chad, how does it feel to be presiding over the demise of a century-old sport? I gotta know...

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Good Question!

[@matthewvega3416]

It seems that USBC has been on a mission the last few years to ruin the sport of bowling. That what happens when an entity has a monopoly on a product or business, they do whatever they want. We really need the PBA to grow their brand of certifying bowlers for league play. Hopefully bowling centers do not convert over to this string pin garbage. Way to go USBC! Keep on manipulating rules and making nonsense changes to the very fabric of the sport we all grew up with. Hats off to you.

[@MotivGuy94]

All started with the damn weight hole ban...

[@timvracer]

I agree... but as I watch Bowlero convert all their centers in the Bay Area to strings, it makes me wonder.. given Bowlero owns the PBA. Has me nervous.

[@jasonsmith3537]

I work on pinsetters..... And am trained on the Brunswick string pinsetter... Yea, string pins don't need mechanics... They can be untangled through an app on the phone. Those machines are made for cost. These things cost our new centers about $25k per pair for strings....as opposed to $40k for the GS-X's I work on. Strings require barely $1,000 in spare parts in the back as opposed to about $20k in spare parts I carry in the back for my GS-X's. The frames per stop are considerably less on strings, the requirement of someone with any mechanical skill whatsoever is virtually eliminated, and the cost to maintain overall is less. The whole point of strings is money and labor.... It is why it is being pushed so hard to be certified so big centers can essentially reduce their costs by huge amounts.....Centers that stay open means more $$ for the USBC. String pins can be maintained by the same $10/hr person who rang up your pizza slice. Every month all you have to do (major PM) is rotate pins and check strings (which are sold in pre-cut lengths btw). So, all the stats and testing being done is to push for the reduction of cost all the way around.... Don't fool yourselves, these WILL be certified and start making their way into your home centers. USBC is just throwing up smoke to make it look like they really had a hard time coming to the conclusion...In reality, they have already decided...Now, they are setting the standard for the string pinsetters to operate by is all. The way they look at it, the new generation of bowlers will very soon be growing up on these string pins... and they won't know any different. The change will happen... and there will be videos out about the old A-2 houses still in operation that are extremely rare... Our centers plan to have all our A-2 and GS-X pinsetters phased out and replaced by string pins in the next 5 years. They have already done an A-2 to string swap in one center.

[@Thechomp89]

And what will happen to the old pinsetters? I'd like to purchase a pair for myself.

[@vance836]

I can understand using strings in places like Main Event where they have bowling, game room, laser tag, and restaurant all under one roof. But for your more traditional bowling centers where the only things are a small game room and snack bar I think need to stay away if they know what is really best for them. Leagues will almost cease to exist and feel those centers will eventually shut down.

[@deft_spex_jr9628]

Even the main event that was 15 minutes away from me that sadly gotten shutdown had free falling pin setters, I been to other places that has bowling that you think would have string pinsetters but surprisingly they didn't

[@Topnikko]

I will not bowl on strings. As much as I love the game I will hang it up if freefall pins are not available.

[@traviskirk3834]

I REFUSE TO BOWL WITH THE PINS ON STRING.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Admire your emphasis with the upper case lettering. BTW, share in your emphasis!

[@HotAxleBox]

Im an ex league bowler and ex brunswick+AMF tech - its sad to say that string machines will need approving if the game is to stay alive for many years to come. Owning a center of just pinsetters alone is extremely expensive and with ghe economic pressures felt globally, cheaper methods need to be sourced to keep activities alive. I dont like it nor do i accept it but it is what it is.

[@patrickj1628]

Did they change speeds to see if ball speed will make a difference with split conversions or even strike rates because I can see pins fly around and strings playing a part

[@TraumaER]

Why stop at strings? Why not just have 10 lasers shooting upward at the end of the lane and a computer records your entry angle and gives you a statistical result of strike or a count remaining? No more busted pin setters, no more strings, no more maintenance. Just have a computer give an approximate score to the bowler...

[@ripvanrevs]

I like it. You can wear goggles that will simulate the pins falling as your ball goes through the sensors. They can have an up charge for 3 "messengers" per game so you can get a higher score!!

[@TraumaER]

@@ripvanrevs haha!

[@remoevans7847]

Do not let the fact that this will be a separate classification i.e. Sport, Challenge, Recreation get in the way of a good rant. Bowlers would never be happy if they didn’t always have something to complain about.

[@meteoric91]

Better yet, why don't we just simply go full video game? Wii bowling leagues anyone?

[@TraumaER]

@@meteoric91😂

[@talex001]

just started to bowl more, bought my first ball and shoes as it has just been something to do occasionally - was thinking of going more regularly and maybe joining a league next year but if string pins become the norm, I'll find something else to do and bowling will stay as it has, maybe take a grandkid once in a blue moon - something to do when nothing else comes to mind.

[@bowldev]

Heres an idea for a cheap pinsetter. The sweep: similar to a gs-x execpt have tiny parts that lock into place in the side wall to push the sweep back and forth. When the sweep is finished the parts unextend and a string gets pulled and locked in place by a gear. When the sweep needs to come down, the gear loosens the string and the sweep comes back down. The pintable: have pins get lifted up by a pin elevator similar to a gs-x. When the pins reach the top the pin cups in the pintable move on a track. The track moves each pin cup in front of the pin elevator which will not release the pin until a pin cup is in place. To release and pick up the pins the pins will have a tiny hole on the top that the pin cups will use to grab the pins by extending a part that locks in to the pin so it wont fall. The pit: the pit will have a wall that will wait until the pintable sets the pins down to push the ball to make sure the ball doesnt get stuck. Another idea: strings lower the pins and retract. When the player throws a ball the strings will lower down and pick up any pins that are left on the deck. The sweep will then lower and clear all the pins that are knocked over. The pins will then get lifted up by the pin elevator and put in to a pin cup. The pin cup will then rotate and the string will attach to the pin. To make sure the pin cups arent in the way of the strings they will retract. To stop bowling from dying they should have events at centers that offer free coaching sessions for people that want to start bowling. Bowlero needs to have summer passes and kids bowl free. Hopefully they see how much hate string pinsetters have.

[@chiclids]

Well, I’ve been bowling since I was five years old. I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to just change the pin setters to string pins. It’s going to lose a lot of business, but I have a very strong feeling it might not happen because everybody’s gonna be very upset.

[@remoevans7847]

The centers trying to stay afloat and in business are not going to take your feelings into account on the decision. Profit margin and operating costs is the driver, not the opinion’s of dinosaurs afraid of change.

[@chiclids]

@@remoevans7847 appreciate the sarcasm. I am aware about how everything is becoming expensive and business is slowly dwindling but hopefully that it’s gonna last but maybe It can be balanced, half strings, and half freefall just like in Canada

[@remoevans7847]

@@chiclids Sarcasm and facts are two separate things. The game has experienced a myriad of changes over the past 40 years and no amount of complaining ever stopped any of them. The dinosaurs can’t escape extinction and that time is drawing closer with every passing day.

[@chiclids]

@@remoevans7847 all I’m saying is there should be a balance and mother nature is full of it and I’m not being all political here I’m born in the 1980s and for the new generation, not thinking bowling is interesting enough is kind of sad

[@remoevans7847]

@@chiclids As Gen Xer that has been bowling longer, all I’m saying is you’re too young to be thinking like the typical Boomer. When the bus is coming you have 2 options, get on board or get out of the way.

[@tomguisti6536]

Usbc the bud light of bowling

[@skalamaz3]

Ouch 😂

[@TetrologyGamingBattlefield]

I'd quit bowling if they all switched to this.

[@cptmiche]

I have no interest in this, and I really feel like this will be embraced by the corporate overlords for cutting costs, disregarding the players.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

They also leave Pinsetter mechanics unemployed. Only 1 person can work behind Strings while the others will leave because their jobs will be useless with this lazy contraption.

[@cbrdealer]

This just sounds terrible. Because look at how overly technical it needs to be to kind of be like normal, but not really. Then you have to consider how each house is going to keep up with requirements to have it be kind of like normal? It sound like it would be a nightmare and the inconsistencies center to center would be even more then it already is, and not in a good way.

[@Brandon_Wallis]

0:45 wouldn’t have been a spare without the string

[@yourmomtwice]

They acknowledge this specifically 5 seconds later, it was the point of the clip.

[@terrencevalentine3198]

Bowling centers need to pay the mechanic guy in the back alot more. they don't get enough respect for maintaining the machines. USBC u will loose in the long run guarantee.

[@justinpauli9004]

Fair point, however with string pinsetters mechanics may not be at the same value anymore. There is already a shortage of mechanics so maybe String Pinsetters will possibility be better for the centers.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Can't pay a mechanic anything if you go out of business... and the simple fact is that bowling is not as popular as it once was. Like everything else, it's supply and demand. If more people bowled on a regular basis, then we wouldn't have seen one center after another close up shop over the last 20-30 years, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. But the economic realities of the bowing industry are what they are... and just blindly demanding that mechanics be paid more money isn't gonna solve anything, because that by itself won't bring any more customers through the front door... it'll just ensure that those doors will close for good that much sooner.

[@whackamole4722]

Somebody at USBC got their pockets filled on this. They sugar coated the whole video. We are looking into bowling at private bowling facilities that are not owned or in the Bowlero family. You know they are pushing for this crap too. No one I know is happy about this.

[@quitinfolkes4639]

We already have a house in our area like that and all the leagues have left that house!

[@skalamaz3]

Good! I hope that center and any other center that does this garbage goes out of business.

[@hertzvanrental100]

UK are going full on Strings. Installers insist its the only way that Proprietors will go due to the cost involved and saving that canbe made as centres become "Leisure" establishments and far from Tenpin Bowling Centres. Some places are even installing 40ft lanes and odd numbers of lanes and cater only for the Saturday night crowds. !! The game is either gone or going fast.....

[@industriastroll3177]

Oh, the game is alive & well. The sport is dead.

[@ripvanrevs]

@@industriastroll3177 Imagine the blasphemy when they started firing all the pinboys!!

[@skalamaz3]

Need to stop this shit immediately or the sport will die.

[@donrumgay5200]

I will QUIT bowling before i EVER bowl with string pins….

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Same here!

[@joemandarino9818]

First off idk how I feel about string pins I bowl 5 days a week plus tournaments all free fall setters. Maybe I’m just old school but what I can see happening is that string pins will be optional at first but once not enough centers are using them then free fall will become outlawed. Idk just a feeling I have.

[@joeyrulz86]

Went to our local Main Event center where they have string pins and it was totally different than normal. I even made a 7-10 and almost made the greek in the same session... never have made them in normal bowling. I honestly hate string pins but i get where its going. By the time its relevant the game will be past me anyways so its going to be the kids who have to deal w it.

[@Glatzel132]

Exactly what the politicians think about global warming. ❤

[@JoeBrrFan]

@@Glatzel132 Only string pinsetters are real.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

That's if there's a sport of bowling still around for our children & grandchildren. It's a shame they would have to deal with it in the first place.

[@jasonsmith3537]

I work for them and all new centers are getting them and they have already started converting the older centers to strings. They told me 5 to 7yrs for my center. Also, all Main Event centers were USBC certified until end of 2022... They decided not to re-certify because the USBC DOUBLED the price to certify our lanes....

[@binaryanticommunist1882]

Fake. Carnival game trash. Go ahead and Bud Light yourselves. We'll all watch and laugh.

[@Empire526]

I think this is a great idea! At least for casual bowling! It does seem to be significantly cheaper and even more significantly easier to maintain than a more traditional pinsetter. I was bowling at an alley today that uses this mechanism and it seemed to work very well.

[@MichaelSmith-pn7im]

I have bowled since I was born. I am 46. Strings SUCK. The first big change I remember was electronic scoring. Which we were told you will be able to focus more on the game (not sure how that works since with hand scoring you had to pay attention to know what to mark down and to watch for cheating but what the hell do I know) and it would be cheaper because no more buying the bulbs and score sheets however I remember our cost GOING UP! 2 nd big change SYNTHETIC LANES. We were told that this was better because each lane would be the same and no saw dust from sanding and less up keep it would be CHEAPER and nicer for us the bowler. However the old bowling balls didnt seem to work as well anymore and when trying to slide you stick like you hit super glue. So now you need a new ball!! Those balls now are 220-300$ and last about 3 yrs they also require MORE oil on the lanes and these balls suck oil like a sponge! So from 50-100 bucks for a ball we are at 220-300$ and SHOES that need switch out soles because moisture in the air gums up these synthetic puppies like tar! 200-300 for shoes now! But did the cost go down? Oh hell no SKY HIGH! 300 games were rare now its almost every night!! Balls that you could use for 20+ yrs are now good for 2-3 yrs and thats if you bake them to cook out the oil they absorb which in the process breaks down the ball!!! The USBC has upped the sanction cost but in return stripped bare any rewards you get. from trophies to KEY CHAINS!! And you only get 1 300 ring anymore you have to pay for if you want one for each 300 you roll! Can you get a center to oil like they should with all of these HIGH performance balls we had to go to because of synthetic lanes OH HELL NO THAT COSTS MONEY!! So they tell you to adjust! Do you really see people adjusting anymore? Nope! I can the same line damn near all night when on fresh oil. How about the stripping and re-oiling? All done now by one machine WHICH DOES NOT STRIP WELL leaving the backends oily and the pin decks oily allowing pins to slide rather than be knocked over and increasing out of ranges!! Does any place offer a fun good time anymore? Not really. The managers used to run the concourse on fun nights giving out prizes like during Rock n bowl sessions and have you do goofy things to earn a prize while playing good music! Now they think some flashing lights or color changing pin deck lights is an “EXPERIENCE” all the while playing FM MUSIC COMMERCIALS INCLUDED! Now with this being said some of you asshats want to say that centers need to cut costs? Oh they have and have shoved it onto us!! All the while gaslighting us into believing that we are having the times of lives!! BULLS**T!! A center by me just was sold and the new owner just replaced the AMF 82-30s with the Brunswick string machines. Now granted those machines are super old and finding the electronic parts of the 60’s is pretty damn difficult and those machines were pretty tired. HOWEVER all open play games have gone up by 1.50 league rates went up 2$ a person pop went up his party rates went up by 40%! Yet he is saving on parts and a mechanic and blah blah. Where is this damn savings I have been hearing about for the last 32 yrs? HMMM? The centers that have closed around me have closed because the owner wanted to retire and somebody unfamiliar with bowling bought it! And didnt know what they were doing. Nobody wants to put in work and effort anymore to deliver a FUN TIME they now want it to run on its own with little effort and be able to buy a mansion and yacht within a month!! This center that just put in strings has already told his weekly leagues he doesnt care if they leave! I just wonder how he figures on making money during the week when parents dont bring kids out for fun because of work and school. Leagues have died off (which I argue is because the industry itself has forced ppl out) so I get not having leagues on Fri-Sat nights. But if he thinks he will make ends meet by killing off his other 5 bizness days I bet he will come to regret it. As for me It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever spend a dime in a center with string machines.

[@thefamilygreg]

I took the grandkids to Chipper's in Broomfield Colorado and noticed they had changed to strings and thought, what a I am doing in an arcade! I felt like I was playing skeeball! I get that the recreational bowler could care less and if that is where the bulk of the establishments revenue comes from then so be it. I only bowl in one league a week and an occasional tournament but I will first look for a bowling center with free fall pins first. If free fall pins become obsolete, then I will have to adapt or not bowl at all. I guess I've adapted to a game where a 300 game isn't that rare due to the easy oil layouts and advancements in bowling balls, so I think I can adapt to puppet strings on pins. That said, it will be a sad day for sure.

[@bryanallen9851]

I used to Bowl 🎳 their in High School around 03 04 then bowled their for a couple of years before COVID hit then didn't go 🔙 for a couple of years and went bowling with a Buddy thought I was seeing stuff at first but nope pins were on strings so Damn cheesy if this becomes the 🆕 norm I will unfortunately stop 🛑 Bowling 🎳

[@surroundedbyjaggoffs]

Old school , all the way!!!!

[@josefrukavic7368]

thats depressing

[@machinethesun9243]

Totally. It's like Home Depot self checkout. #endtimes

[@ThorD4602]

That sure is a lot of work for something that no player ever asked for and everybody hates.

[@CatDaddySteve]

I pay more to be on a traditional lane as they are much more maintenance heavy

[@shannondingus8430]

Looks like something you'd see at a traveling carnival.. only instead of a crappy prize, you get a 10 pin drop in average. String are B.S.! Where the hell is the integrity of this game? USBC RIP

[@Thechomp89]

This is why I plan on building my own set of lanes.

[@skater92123]

They say it will be harder to strike and less 300 games. I can see centers making a lot bc it will bring ppl in to want to try it out. They should just use string pins as practice lanes or ppl that want to use string pins and half the rest of lanes free fall. Then everyone’s happy win/win

[@undercov3erboss340]

I always thought they would try to implement string pins in bowling centers like they do with arcade bowling setups. I understand they want to find a way to lower costs; bowling alleys use a lot of electricity. I can see this being used in a casual bowling environment but not in a traditional bowling center where leagues and tournaments are held. However; this not only will create new problems with strings and such, but bowling pins are designed to move a certain way when you hit them and these pins with strings attached to them will likely change the way the pins move when bowlers hit them.

[@where578]

Both of the centers in my area have taken out the high use of electricity.. Both centers, 2 miles apart, use solar to offset cost. Sure it cost a bunch up front, but in the end, it's good for the power bill and the environment !

[@jode5586]

I have already share some tournement with string pin and the results are the same. Good player dominate lobby and the others mate try their best game to climb the leaderboard. Even if tjere are string pin, you still habe to know what happen with oil pattern. Surely string pin can help but you don t become a champion just for that. It s necessary to work before. Ihave already played games at 150 or 160. I had to correct my positions on the approach to get better score. (I am sorry my english is so bad) Good luck every one for your next championship. 😁

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

Thats it :) You still have to play the game as usual, the string would only help 1 out of 100 shots.

[@ripvanrevs]

I like the term "puppet pins" better.

[@imnotabotrlyimnot]

or maybe, Puppeteer Bowling.

[@azulcrema1O]

Not interested in string pins at all. The day my local alley switches to string pins is the day I will quit bowling.

[@ArmoredsoldierCZ]

Im looking at the comments and i want to say this. Imagine that you want to quit a sport that youve put like 10 years into just because of a change on how pins are placed instead of adjusting to it, therefore wasting 10 years of your life, 10 years of experience in this sport. I bet that you will not actually quit because you know DAMN WELL that you dont want to waste all of these years and starting on sport you have probably never done before. What? Strikes are harder to do now? Well, that just raises the skill ceiling that you can get to if you will spend another year or two adjusting to it. You WILL continue playing this game, even IF strings are gonna be the ONLY THING that will be available. And those that will try fighting me saying that they wont, just shush. We all know that you wont quit. Edit: Actually, i will agree to you that they suck if the ropes are not long enough and light enough that they would actually pull the pin as it would be flying around. THAT is actually quite bad and i am with you. But there are actually string pinsetters that are actually great. At least with one type of bowling (the 9 pin version). The pins seems to be quite heavy and they are almost not influenced by the strings at all. Maybe check this type of bowling out if you can?

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

Give me a Brunswick GS-NXT anyday than this crap

[@cbrdealer]

This sounds like something that centers that don't really care about bowling would love. The kind that care about laser tag and open bowling more then leagues and tournaments. I really don't like this direction.

[@scorpiodude18]

Yes you are correct. Most FEC(Family Entertainment Centers) will have these...

[@Steve-eq8iz]

It's inevitable. Competitive bowling declines in popularity every year and outside of some major population centres it just can't support the bowling alleys the way they used to. They need other revenue sources. Free fall isn't going to go away, but it will probably become a lot rarer in small and medium sized cities. Competitive bowlers will just have to drive further to get to a "premium" alley.

[@cbrdealer]

@@Steve-eq8iz Hey Steve. You don't think the sport has been growing again in the past 2 years? With this new generation of pro's and youtube giving people a look behind the scenes like we have never had before it seems like its on an upward swing.

[@cbrdealer]

@@scorpiodude18 It just seems like its catering to centers that don't care about bowling. These centers that say they are having a hard time staying open ( at least the ones in my area) are the ones that ran off all their league and tournament players for open bowling. So then the only people going there are non regular bowlers. They rely on people coming there once or twice a year for birthday parties instead people who will be there 1, 2, 3 times a week? IDK im just ranting now.

[@notonyourlife7939]

​​@@cbrdealerNo, it's not growing. The number of sanctioned bowlers has been in steady decline for decades. and is currently at or near it's all time low. The PBA TV ratings have enjoyed a bump of late... but again. when you're in the basement, there's nowhere to go but up. If it were a thriving industry, nobody would be talking about the need for massive cost-cutting, and these garbage string- pins.

[@pony053]

Why don't we "string" the USBC up by their bowling "balls?"

[@Davi-yj2ht]

I really wanted to see an innovation on pinsetters, but I don't think string is the right way to go... maybe using magnets...? or improving the current ones, I don't know, but I think it must stay free falling string ten-pin bowling is fine and can be lots of fun, but it should be a separate category and never replace free-fall ten-pin bowling

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Yes, train a new generation of automatic pinsesetter mechanics & pay them a decent wage. Make free falling pins about 1/2 pound heavier with single voids & a lower center of gravity. This just may keep league & competitive bowlers in the bowling alleys & present more of a challenge at the same time. Finally, incentivize one or more manufacturing companies to fabricate affordable parts for the automatic pinsetters that are in existence & stiil in service. The alternative, string pins & devastate the sport entirely.

[@stumphead4885]

I like string bowling...I convert a 7-10 split every time.

[@Shot_Decoder03]

I will quit if they ever go to strong bowling. I already ring enough ten pins I don't need to get screwed by strings no thanks. Absolutely not!

[@PinDominator]

Rates better be dirt cheap if a center converts. I can't stand centers that charge Bowlero rates with this garbage.. Strings are economically great for entertainment, practice, and test facilities, but I don't think they should be for league/tournament play. Light mixer strikes are also eliminated with these machines causing bowlers to leave 4-5 or 5-6 (left-handed) split combinations. The epic pinaction we know from free fall is gone.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Bowlero desperately wants to make the conversion! It will then be more expensive, NOT cheaper!

[@ddtalk]

This is a dead end..taking away why we all bowl... NO STRING BOWLING LANES!!!!!!

[@swainer8014]

Don't even think about it!

[@samiclex6816]

Picking up hard spares makes the game fun watta joke

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

So you didnt watched the whole video then.

[@skizilla]

The USBC doing a report on String Setter's is like the NFL doing a report on concussions. The SIMPLE fix to nearly all of this controversy is simply have bowlers carry two yearbook averages, and let people bowl in what houses and what events they want, or is better suited to their game. This movement to say that string and free fall setters are equal is ridiculous on it's face.

[@dougblazer1376]

They are going to kill the game. I have no desire to bowl on string pin lanes. I think it will be the end of a great tradition.

[@NeilTruick]

My first sanctioned ABC/USBC league was in 1982, and I've been bowling ever since. I live in Los Angeles. 30 years ago, I could travel to 25 bowling alleys within 30 minutes of my house. Today, it's seven and the proprietors profit far more from open bowling and parties than they do leagues. I understand the need for centers to survive financially. When you look the machinery involved in the string vs. free-fall pinsetters, the difference is signficant. That being said, I know bowlers. Bowlers hate change. Going from rubber to urethane was a travesty. Going from urethane to reactive resin was the end of the sport as we knew it. Synthetic lane surfaces? What manner of sorcery is this? Oil _patterns_ were the handiwork of the devil himself. Through all those changes, the sport still survives. Contrary to public opinion, it will survive this change, too. There will be whining. There will be pouting. There will be those who take their ball(s) and go home...but eventually, they will come back. They _always_ do. Why? Because it's bowling, and only a true bowler can describe what _not_ bowling feels like. Bitch, moan, and complain we will...but tomorrow, we bowl.

[@asadopholis]

Not on a string machine.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

agree. Making blocking the lanes legal with balls changes to urethane and resin hurt the sport. Should have been just rubber and plastic. Remember when 300s were bowled and then the ABC wouldn't recognize them because the lanes were blocked? It's like allowing golf greens to always tilt toward the hole and allow mega-technology to come to golf balls and clubs.

[@NeilTruick]

@@tenfourproductionsllc Like it hasn't? Golf clubs used to be wood. Metal, titanium, fiberglass...no one is claiming those have ruined the sport. About those tilting golf greens, you do realize you can purchase a programmable practice green for your home where you can set up any layout you want? The one thing people forget whenever these discussions happen is the people coming into the sport only know what's there at that time. They have no direct experience with the way things were, no desire to go backwards with their progress, and will definitely complain about changes that will happen in the future. It is the circle of sporting life; all change is inevitable and whining has no cost.

[@skalamaz3]

Nope, this is completely different and will destroy the sport. It's not even debatable at this point.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

​@@asadopholisDITTO!!!

[@bcquon]

String pinsetters, the solution nobody wanted for the problem that didn't exist.

[@TraumaER]

Imagine growing up only to lead the end of an entire sport.

[@Steve-eq8iz]

The problem is bowling alleys aren't making enough money. The solution the string setters provides is less maintainance and downtime. All well and good to say "I'll never use a string setter for competitive play" until the nearest free fall alley is an hour and a half away by car, which over the next decade is going to be more and more common for people.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

​​​@@Steve-eq8iz If they aren't making enough money, then try to promote the business and make a commercial of it to draw more attention. Also if they want less maintainance and down time, hire Pinboys instead. In the end, if they want a cheaper pinsetter get the Brunswick GS-NXT

[@hilkakurth4311]

In my opinion bowling centers are losing money because lack of customer service am old school and customer service should be a priority if they care about making money start there offer better menu for food, have waiters or waitresses on the floor here you are bowling in a tournament the house is full you want something to eat or drink tu have to walk to a long line to order ooops I have leave the line because is my turn to bowl again is ridiculous specially if someone is bowling way down the high end of the center there mo way, so people just don’t buy nothing and this is every where you go even stores mo one there to help that is a no no, business don’t save money by eliminating customer service, customers service is a good repeat of customer for life, my opinion, you can have the spring pins you want raise prices, whatever but if your customer sucks so is your business, just saying

[@iceman5117]

@@Steve-eq8iz the nearest usable center to me is already an hour and a half away. The one bowlmore 5 minutes from my apartment doesn't even oil the lanes anymore. The local center 20 minutes away is charging $50/person/hour anymore. It's ridiculous

[@nicknackdaddyack]

Stupid..just stupid. Honestly are they just hoping this is a cheaper alternative for pin machines? Free fall is the ONLY bowling that I will ever recognize. I can just see it now...this won't be its "own" thing for long...they will convert all alleys to this, just watch.

[@d.m.1421]

My thoughts on the final comments of the video based on my 31-year bowling career: Don't fix what isn't broken. That's considered breaking it. You say "all bowling growth is good for the sport." I say, don't eliminate free-fall bowling, but do eliminate two-handed bowling from being legal. It's a crazy unfair advantage. The reason why it was thought of was because that person/people can't bowl one-handed very successfully. I know that firsthand. 27-ish years ago, this kid (16, same as me) couldn't average higher than 165. He went to two-handed and had many 300 games. Those who can't catch play defense. Same here, those who can't score well one-handed throw two-handed.

[@Mikey-1990]

Bowlero will absolutely jump all over this. They only care about making money off of open bowlers. Open bowlers wouldn't care if they convert to string setters and pins. Us competitive bowlers mean nothing to them. My hometown Bowlero has actually already started testing string pins and I'll tell you right now I won't come back next season for my sport shot league if they do a full conversion. This will be the beginning of the end.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Good analysis! Agree with you wholeheartedly!

[@emerald3331]

I think it's coming whether bowlers want it or not.

[@sonofnothing]

I know it is, because they expressly said so in this video. 08/01/23 they will introduce them, and by 2025, pending acceptable results, they will phase them in as normal. Of course they'll do it.

[@Hue_Sam]

This is like playing on arcade centers. You’re telling me that soon, a new category of competition bowling will be played on the same stuffs that KIDS usually play on. That is mental!

[@joshuapangan262]

I am really surprised on how they don’t see how unfair this is going to be when they approved this in the USBC and the PBA.

[@QuantumSecureCrypto]

THIS IS THE WORST IDEA EVER

[@pikespice]

Bowling: How can we piss off the bowling purists? 1970s: High backswing! 1980s: Synthetic lanes! 1990s: Reactive bowling balls! 2010s: Two-handed bowling! 2020s: Pins on strings!

[@OldWorldAscension]

I think you would be better off either letting players use a 60 foot broom to bowl with. This way everyone can strike, and 300 900 series to their legacy.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Time for a new slogan, folks..."A Future For The Sport" no longer applies, now that you're allowing this travesty. RIP competitive bowling...

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

The slogan should be more forthright & honest by stating, "A death knell for the sport of bowling"!

[@StevenBis-u6f]

THEY ARE MAKING THE SPORT OF BOWLING AN ARCADE GAME

[@rngerfanbaby]

They told us this at the convention and we all hated the idea I will quit bowling before I bowl on this shitty arcade game!!

[@JimmyDAmore]

Instead of going to string pins, which completely destroys the game... just hold an engineering competition of some sort to invent/innovate free fall machines to make them more efficient. Having worked in bowling centers, I've seen several types of machines that work very differently. I'm sure there's some brilliant way to innovate these machines where they work much more efficient, and don't have strings.

[@timhayden1240]

Unfortunately the house where I bowl went to the strings and there really isn’t that much difference as far as the scoring averages the things I see and notice is you will get what we call string carry also your ability to pick up splits increased.. the strike percentage goes down and we found you have to make a good shot majority of the time being there’s always a true spot .. now leaving ten pins or seven pins seem to me is a little more common I bowl from both sides so I have a perspective from right or left .. for the owners of these centers it makes sense a lot less need for a mechanic which are getting far and fewer to find .. the problem we ran into is the machines they sold to the house we bowl in do not meet the requirements for approval from USBC which have put many of us that bowl to bowl a lot farther away living in rural Ga that means around an hour drive to get a sanctioned average..

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

I'm impressed, so many comments let me think that they didnt watched the whole video :D

[@jtjt1836]

How come? I watched the whole thing. It is a little concerning that this may be the norm one day.

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

@@jtjt1836 lot of comments are based on the first few mins of the vid i believe were pins got slamed by the string. But that doesnt seem to be the case anymore or at least in a very marginal amount. If the strings can compare to the free fall nearly very closely, then comments like " i quit bowling" or "easy split convertions inc" doesnt make sense to me.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

I watched the entire video and wasn't impressed with this concept. I known a lot of mechanics would fear losing their jobs because of this lazy machine with not much work going on. Yet lousy pin action, tangled pins and slow rolling lightweight bowling balls sitting on the Pindeck ? No way this machine would be great. I bet those people wanted Strings are the same people prefer getting those lousy inflatable halloween decorations just because its "easier" when in reality they're being lazy.

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

@@PinoyBowlerGS92 if its easier to maintain would be a plus for the flow of the game but sure you got the stop with the tangle. For public its better i think for (semi)proffesional bowling we will see. I mean i got stuck on league cause the pinsetter failed to pick up and set the pins correctly. In this vid it seem at least more accurate.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

@@sm4r7sh4d3r I prefer a Free Fall Pinsetter that's easier to maintain and at the same time for the mechanics not feeling that their jobs are useless. That's why the GS-NXT is my best choice of a pinsetter because it gets rid a lot of moving parts and resolves all the problematic from its GSX predeccessor. Also I've been there where pins aren't picked up and not spotted correctly, that's just poor maintainance and the mechanics didn't do their job to clean and fix them.

[@Habeev07]

I WILL QUIT BOWLING IF THIS SHIT IS IMPLIMENTED!!

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

DITTO!!!!!!!

[@mrb43605]

Synthetic lanes ruined the game...strings are a folly....should never be used for sanctioned competition!

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

Synthetic Lanes had nothing to do with it. In fact I like Synthetic Lanes better that outdated Wood Lanes because they hold my Ball Reaction really good and not overhook. Plus Wood Lanes are a hassle to maintain, gets easily uneven from resurfacing and easliy gets damage from lofting the ball. I speak from experience tho. String Pinsetters is where I draw the line and I hate it. Give me a GS-NXT Pinsetter anyday than that crap.

[@machinethesun9243]

Thumbs down. We are watching the slow death of bowling. If our center switches to string pins, I'm done with bowling.

[@notonyourlife7939]

It's been a slow death for decades... this will make it a mad dash to the gallows.

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

I will never support this. If it becomes the standard, I will quit bowling entirely.

[@notonyourlife7939]

We put a man on the moon more than 50 YEARS AGO, and these pathetic machines are the best we can do as a cost effective means of resetting bowling pins? I'm no engineer, but it seems to me that something is dreadfully wrong with this picture. Did somebody sell their soul for this travesty? Oh well.... nothing good lasts forever. Guess I'll get fitted for some golf clubs...

[@teddine7366]

Man, I think it is a shame bowling is a dying passtime. There use to be over 20 bowling ally's in my city, and that is a low estimate. And now I just looked it up, there is only 4, one of them being in a mall. I use to love how it got you out of the house, even in the cold winter, how you socialized with people and did it with friends and family. I even miss the arcade video games they would have and the snack counters and the bars. I even remember back when it was a sport that had ashtrays out for the competitors. lol. And the smell. Ah... the days before internet and social media. I don't know why they call it social media. Nothing social about it.

[@alexlarsen2464]

All you need is 12 tubes above the pin spots that act like a magazine or hopper with pins filled up waiting to drop. you need to figure out how to get them back to the top.

[@debmetzler8429]

The day you guys allow string pins to be sanctioned is the day I’ll stop bowling for good. This is asinine.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Well you're done then, because that's exactly what they just did.... this isn't a theoretical "We might do this in the future" announcement. String pins are sanctioned for competition as of August of this year. Albeit in their own separate category, but sanctioned is sanctioned.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Asinine completely sums it up!

[@MikeJones-fz3bi]

No words, just 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@OzFrog48Z]

String pin setters and the two handed delivery will make a total mockery of the game.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

StringPin is a mockery yes but not for 2 Handers.

[@igoramaral95]

I'm glad this is being put into discussion. String-pin machines are way less expensive, therefore regulating them so they can be used for competitive bowling without major headaches will help the sport spread more easily throughout countries where bowling is not exactly the most accessible sport to practice frequently.

[@hertzvanrental100]

Strings should not promoted as a sport, the strings create false pin action if you have ever watched them for a while.

[@robertjobes3237]

actually the IBF has instituted string pin bowling in there tournaments and sanctions

[@kuyanilakota6571]

No sport that goes backward in technology is going to succeed. It's like giving up your Playstation 3 for a Pong. Or play tennis with a hundred year old racket. How about a golf ball without dimples? Play football in a gymnasium.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

At least keep the pins as it should be: FREE FALLING AND FREE FLYING. I'm all for a new pinsetter as long as it doesn't rigged the pin action. Cheaper doesn't mean better as Strings has issues, its like giving up your traditional halloween decorations to those pathetic inflatable decorations or if you don't know how to fix a normal car and the idea you got is buy a Tesla despite lithium batteries does more harm to the environment and the number of charging stations are far less than any gas station exists on every corner. This is a result people are lazy when it comes with working with pinsetters and of course proprietors are corrupt as politicians as there are some who refuse to pay their mechanics which in my opinion mechanics deserve a higher wages than fast food workers because cleaning and repairing pinsetters is a tough job to prevent any breakdowns. If Bowling Centers are closing in the US, that's an American problem because here in the Philippines, that's not the case where Bowling Centers aren't declining and free falls are still being installed even with the most recent center of 2024. Its no suprising this in a Southeast Asian country filled with so much successful shopping malls in the world and in fact more then 90% of Bowling Centers are built inside of them which can attract mall shoppers to bowl.

[@shanetoler9905]

I'm a 54 yr old man. Been bowling for 36 years now. I've seen this country slowly destroy itself in the name of greed, religion, safety, racism, woke, etc. If the USBC does this they will end up like Bud light and Harley Davidson.

[@cory1705]

Bowling is already a dying sport, with more centers closing each year.. with less strikes with string pins and this generation is a participation trophy generations.. this is a way to lose bowlers! and really cause bowling to die!

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

Agree! USBC is certainly driving the nail in the coffin on this one.

[@chaidenchadams7603]

1. How many alleys will actually pay for the certified string pins? 2. We like our messengers!!

[@mcmike89]

I can guarantee they will face major backlash from professional bowlers nationwide, they'll go on strike and get a petition going to reverse their decision to keep using free-fall pins again. They shouldn't get away with this at all.

[@duggysduggys5505]

I would think the strings would catch other strings when pins hit , knocking over other pins