2023 USBC String Pinsetter Report

2023 USBC String Pinsetter Report

#BowlTV #Bowling #USBC

[evilkids]

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.

[McCollum]

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

[TraumaER]

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

[RysterARCEE]

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

[tomrogue]

I'll stick with free fall pins thanks

[critterdude]

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.

[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.

[billb]

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.

[edhawkins]

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

[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.

[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.

[drwisdom]

Where I used to live there was a nice steak restaurant we would go to regularly. They had some of the best homemade blue cheese dressing, and usually over half the customers ordered it with their salads. Well, they decided to cut costs and serve blue cheese dressing they got from their food distributor. We never went there again and they went out of business within the year. Quality is important, especially if you are used to it.

[jptheredsoxfan]

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

[jasonsmith]

I work on 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 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.

[kingpinrcs]

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?

[patrickj]

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

[traviskirk]

I REFUSE TO BOWL WITH THE PINS ON STRING.

[vance]

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.

[notonyourlife]

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

[whackamole]

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.