Bowling rolls out new scoring system to attract Olympic interest

Revolutions, the number of times a ball rotates as it hurtles towards the targeted pins, are a vital part of professional bowling. Now, the game that provided the backdrop for countless first dates for generations of Americans, is taking the first steps towards a revolution of a different kind.

In a move that is ultimately aimed at grabbing the attention of the International Olympic Committee, a new scoring system is being tested at this weekend's World Bowling Tour finals. If it sticks, it could change the face of the game.

"We have had an image problem," said Kevin Dornberger, president of World Bowling, the sport's international governing body. "Not enough people understand the way the game is scored and that can make it boring for them to watch."

So, for this weekend at least, it is out with the old formula of 10 frames and an accumulated score up to a maximum of 300, and in with a new set of rules that borrows heavily from the kind of golf scoring used in events such as the Ryder Cup.

In the Tour finals, held at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas on Sunday, matches will effectively become a frame-by-frame showdown, with each bowler initially rolling a single ball per frame.

If a player outscores their opponent, they win the frame and go "one-up", like in match-play golf. If both hit a strike, each gets a half. If both hit, for example, an eight, each competitor would attempt to complete their spare, with the higher scorer taking the frame. Matches tied after 12 frames continue until there is a winner.

The format is designed to increase suspense, speed up the game and offer greater broadcast appeal, all factors seen as vital to have a shot at Olympic inclusion.

"That would be huge for us," Dornberger told USA TODAY Sports in a telephone interview. "People still see it as a recreation where you have a few beers and it is a wonderful social experience.

"But there's also an elite competitive side and being in the Olympics would open up incredible opportunities in terms of visibility and appeal."

The IOC has recently shown favor to sports with simple, time-efficient formats. Last year, wrestling was axed from the 2020 Olympics before being reinstated following several changes from its complicated format.

Bowling's only Olympic spot was as an exhibition sport in Seoul in 1988. Its earliest chance of inclusion would be in 2024, with the bidding process to start next year.

Some bowling purists are loath to alter a system imprinted into its history, yet with luring television and sponsorship dollars ever more competitive, there is a growing sense change is necessary.

"Like with anything, you are going to get some top players (who) hate it," said Sean Rash, ranked second on the WBT this season, and who will take on Australia's Jason Belmonte for the right to meet top-ranked Mika Koivaniemi of Finland in the title game of the men's event. "They have had success with the old way, so they're not going to want to change.

"But you have got to look forward. The Olympics would be incredible for bowling. We have to deal with it, see the big picture and go out there to win no matter what the format."

This weekend's change is only a test, and Dornberger said it could be used in other events depending on how it is received. But the fact it has been implemented for a major event is a clear signal of intent from bowling's hierarchy.

"The tactics will need to be a little different," said Koivuniemi. "If you are a player, like me, who is generally strong at getting spares, you might be at a disadvantage. It is a challenge."

Dornberger's challenges are different but no less taxing. "We are facing changes in society," he said. "Today people want things at a faster pace and we are trying to tap into that."