Revisionist history? - The Fans Speak Out

Bowling Digest, Feb, 2002 by Eric Jay Hicks

Dedication to the game may be the key to success, but as far as I'm concerned, some pros are winning titles because of the introduction of reactive balls. Prior to their introduction, Walter Ray Williams won just six tournaments in 12 years. Then he broke loose for seven titles in 1993. He's won more than 20 titles since then, and while he dedicated himself to endless practice time, he also had the advantage of a reactive ball. Give Walter Ray the urethane or any other non-reactive ball and I guarantee his average would go into a tailspin.

Earl Anthony won 48 career titles while using several different ball types. He was at his peak when the polyurethane ball was created, and even then he was still winning titles. Then they introduced the urethane ball, and guess what? Earl still won championships. They introduced the reactive when Earl went on the Senior tour, and guess what? He still won events.

Anthony's average with the reactive was nearly 227, while his life-time average was "only" 215. That 12-pin difference proves that the reactive ball changed the face of bowling. Why do you think there are more 300 games now than there were in the 1970s and 1980s? It's so obvious. It's the reactive ball--it's as simple as that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

Eric Jay Hicks
Bernardsville, N.J.

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