Why do pro bowlers roll two frames at a time?

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
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Flippin through channels late last night and somehow got stopped on ESPN bowling. Why do they roll two frames each before trading off? Is there a difference in rules I'm not aware of?
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
5,695
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Originally posted by: johnjohn320
Flippin through channels late last night and somehow got stopped on ESPN bowling. Why do they roll two frames each before trading off? Is there a difference in rules I'm not aware of?

Just admit it...you're a PBA FANATIC!
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
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This is done to eliminate the difference in lanes. If they just alternated frames they would remain on different lanes throughout each game. By rolling two frames at a time they end up with 5 frames each on two different lanes.

This is a standard practice for pro and most upper level amatuer tourneys
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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I'm guessing the first guy rolls one, then they do two and two until the end? Probably so that each frame they alternate who goes first, so no one gets any kind of mental advantage. Crazy bowlers.
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
The PBA recently allowed turning off VSYNC hence more frames.

Now if they play N'SYNC the sport is truly tarnished.

:laugh:
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Baked
80% of my balls end up in the gutter. I don't like bowling.

I took a bowling class in college, raised my average by 50 points. You know the little arrows about 10-15 feet down the lane? I never knew why those were there before. Now I use them to aim and I'm a hell of a lot better.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
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I guess I can take a class as well. Maybe I'll take one next semester if I don't burn out from the current one.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,647
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Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
This is done to eliminate the difference in lanes. If they just alternated frames they would remain on different lanes throughout each game. By rolling two frames at a time they end up with 5 frames each on two different lanes.

This is a standard practice for pro and most upper level amatuer tourneys
That logic doesn't hold water. You could just as easilly do this:

Bowler A, lane 1
Bowler B, lane 2
Bowler A, lane 2
Bolwer B, lane 1
Bowler A, lane 1
Bowler B, lane 2
Bowler A, lane 2
Bolwer B, lane 1
etc.

Or:

Bowler A, lane 1
Bowler B, lane 1
Bowler A, lane 2
Bolwer B, lane 2
Bowler A, lane 1
Bowler B, lane 1
Bowler A, lane 2
Bolwer B, lane 2
etc.

Double up the lanes and not double up the bowler's turns.
 

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
2
76
I guess I'm still missing something. Why do they have to use 2 lanes? Why don't they just both use the same lane?
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,647
4,162
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Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I guess I'm still missing something. Why do they have to use 2 lanes? Why don't they just both use the same lane?
Lanes vary drastically. Even two adjacent lanes. Sometimes one bowler can do well on one lane and horrible on another. They use 2 lanes to reduce the bias. The winner is the person who can do well on BOTH. And in the end, you want a "sport" winner to be the person who can do well anywhere.
 

ranmaniac

Golden Member
May 14, 2001
1,940
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Anyone here ever bowl in a league? Bowling for fun and for competition are definitely two different worlds. I've been in 3 team championship matches, won 2 of them, and would like to get back into it if I had time.
 

akshatp

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 1999
8,349
0
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Originally posted by: Baked
80% of my balls end up in the gutter. I don't like bowling.

I hate it when my balls end up in the gutter :(

It usually only happens after I drink heavily.
 

theknight571

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,896
2
81
Perhaps it stems from the time when pins were reset manually.

Alternating lanes gave the pinsetter time to reset the other lane, while not holding up the game.

As for bowling two frames... maybe it's just easier to keep track of who's up? :)

Plus... it is bowling... so throwing two frames leaves time for the 2nd bowler to go get his beer refilled. :p
 

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
3
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Originally posted by: MS Dawn
The PBA recently allowed turning off VSYNC hence more frames.

Now if they play N'SYNC the sport is truly tarnished.

:laugh:

LOL!! :laugh:
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
Originally posted by: theknight571
Perhaps it stems from the time when pins were reset manually.

Alternating lanes gave the pinsetter time to reset the other lane, while not holding up the game.


BINGO!

Plus it forces the bowler to deal with two different lanes each turn, not allowing them to get in a groove on their preferred lane.


And I think they have kept the format because it adds some suspense to the match, and provides for bigger swings. Two strikes vs. two open frames can provide one helluva turnaround.
 

Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
1
81
Originally posted by: mugs
I'm guessing the first guy rolls one, then they do two and two until the end? Probably so that each frame they alternate who goes first, so no one gets any kind of mental advantage. Crazy bowlers.

This was my first thought as well.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,997
126
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Originally posted by: theknight571
Perhaps it stems from the time when pins were reset manually.

Alternating lanes gave the pinsetter time to reset the other lane, while not holding up the game.


BINGO!

Plus it forces the bowler to deal with two different lanes each turn, not allowing them to get in a groove on their preferred lane.


And I think they have kept the format because it adds some suspense to the match, and provides for bigger swings. Two strikes vs. two open frames can provide one helluva turnaround.


Wow, you guys are pulling ridiculous theories out of your asses.

1) Pinsetters have NOTHING to do with it. The PBA started televising in the era of mechanical pinsetters
2) The bowlers would SWITCH LANES ANYWAY. Whether bowling one frame at a time, 2 at a time or a string of 10, they would still switch lanes each time. So that is also a pile of fetid dingoes kidneys.
3) It DOES NOT ADD SUSPENSE nor does it allow 2 opens vs 2 strikes. The frames are staggered. Bowler A starts and bowls 1 frame. Bowler B then rolls frame 1 and frame 2. Bowler A then throws 2 and 3. B then throws 3 and 4, etc. They are always in the same frame with each other. One bowler is NEVER 2 frames ahead of the other or behind the others.
4) It it done SOLELY for convenience, nothing more. As pros strike 60%+ of the time bowling one at a time would have them constantly hopping up and down
5) If you have no clue what the hell you're talking about, just say so. Making up inane garbage about pinsetters and grooving on a certain lane makes you look like an idiot.
 

theknight571

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,896
2
81
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Originally posted by: theknight571
Perhaps it stems from the time when pins were reset manually.

Alternating lanes gave the pinsetter time to reset the other lane, while not holding up the game.


BINGO!

Plus it forces the bowler to deal with two different lanes each turn, not allowing them to get in a groove on their preferred lane.


And I think they have kept the format because it adds some suspense to the match, and provides for bigger swings. Two strikes vs. two open frames can provide one helluva turnaround.


Wow, you guys are pulling ridiculous theories out of your asses.

1) Pinsetters have NOTHING to do with it. The PBA started televising in the era of mechanical pinsetters
2) The bowlers would SWITCH LANES ANYWAY. Whether bowling one frame at a time, 2 at a time or a string of 10, they would still switch lanes each time. So that is also a pile of fetid dingoes kidneys.
3) It DOES NOT ADD SUSPENSE nor does it allow 2 opens vs 2 strikes. The frames are staggered. Bowler A starts and bowls 1 frame. Bowler B then rolls frame 1 and frame 2. Bowler A then throws 2 and 3. B then throws 3 and 4, etc. They are always in the same frame with each other. One bowler is NEVER 2 frames ahead of the other or behind the others.
4) It it done SOLELY for convenience, nothing more. As pros strike 60%+ of the time bowling one at a time would have them constantly hopping up and down
5) If you have no clue what the hell you're talking about, just say so. Making up inane garbage about pinsetters and grooving on a certain lane makes you look like an idiot.


Hey.... I worked hard on my Pinsetter and Beer theory... be nice. AND I did it without calling anyone names. :p
 

Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
1
81
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
5) If you have no clue what the hell you're talking about, just say so. Making up inane garbage about pinsetters and grooving on a certain lane makes you look like an idiot.

You do realize that the people you are referring to were qualifying their statements with "I'm guessing" or "Perhaps"? So it appears to that they did make it known they weren't sure.