In the world of bowling, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) plays a pivotal role in setting standards for equipment and competitions. String bowling, a variation of the traditional game, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, leading many to wonder: is string bowling USBC approved?
The answer is yes. As of August 1, 2023, the USBC has certified string pinsetters and string pin bowling as an independent category of equipment and competition. This decision was the result of comprehensive research carried out by the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee. The committee analyzed various aspects of string pinsetter systems to ensure they met the USBC's standards for fairness, safety, and consistency in gameplay.
The journey to this approval was not instantaneous. In 2020, the USBC initiated research on string pinsetters. Initial findings were made public in December of that year, followed by another research report in September 2021. These early studies helped the USBC understand the performance differences between string pinsetters and traditional free - fall pinsetters. Based on the results from the latest round of research in 2023, the USBC was able to finalize the approval process.
One of the key elements of the final specifications was reducing the string length to a minimum of 54 inches. This adjustment was made to standardize the performance of string - pinned lanes and to bring them in line with the USBC's overall vision for fair competition. USBC's lab data indicates that the strike percentage on string pin bowling will be 7.1% less than when using free - fall pinsetters. This difference could result in average score differences as large as 10 pins or more. However, despite this variance, the USBC determined that string pin bowling could be a legitimate and separate category of competition.
Manufacturers, too, played their part in the approval process. For example, Funk Bowling's popular string pinsetter was among the first machines to meet the USBC's high standards and receive approval. Alex Funk, president of Funk North America, expressed pride in his company being at the forefront of this new certification, highlighting the hard work his team put in to meet the USBC's requirements.
This approval by the USBC opens up new opportunities for string pin bowling. Venues that install USBC - approved string pinsetter systems can now host official USBC - sanctioned tournaments and events. For bowlers, it means that they can compete in string pin bowling competitions and have their scores and achievements recognized within the broader USBC framework. It also provides a sense of legitimacy to a format that was previously on the fringes of traditional bowling competitions.
In conclusion, string bowling has indeed received USBC approval, but as an independent category separate from traditional free - fall pin bowling setups. The USBC will continue to monitor and conduct additional testing, with the aim of determining whether string pin bowling averages can be used in the same way as free - fall or if a conversion system can be developed. This ongoing research will further refine the role of string pin bowling within the USBC - regulated bowling landscape.
