PBA Tour player Keven Williams recently shared an open message on social media questioning why bowling continues to resist change while other sports have embraced evolution.
In his post, Williams asked why bowling is often compared to “the old days,” when scores were lower, equipment was simpler, and different styles dominated the lanes. He pointed out that nearly every major sport has seen steady growth in performance numbers over the past decades, and bowling should not be treated differently.
Williams compared bowling to sports such as basketball, football, golf, baseball, and tennis. He highlighted how scoring averages, throwing speeds, and distances have increased in those sports since the 1990s. According to Williams, higher numbers are now accepted as part of natural progress, driven by better training, improved technology, and greater access to information.
“Why is it that bowling won’t accept evolution/change like other sports?” Williams wrote. He added that bowling has also changed in many ways, including higher rev rates, advanced ball technology, modern oil patterns, updated lane surfaces, and easier access to knowledge through social media.
Williams acknowledged that the game looks different today, but stressed that this does not mean the sport is worse. Instead, he argued that higher scores reflect better athletes competing with better tools, similar to what has happened across the sports world.
“Why cant we accept scores are just higher in today’s game?” he asked, calling for a more open mindset toward modern bowling.
The post quickly gained attention within the bowling community.
