Wednesday, December 8, 2010

PBA Spare Shots: New “Arsenal” Feature on ESPN Telecasts Explains Players’ Ball Strategies

by Bill Vint December 8, 2010 06:18

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s ESPN telecasts from the World Series of Bowling have unveiled a new “Arsenal” feature to help viewers understand players’ bowling ball selection strategies.

During the practice session of each PBA Tour telecast, the name of each bowling ball model a given player is using is documented and assigned a “hook rating number” between 1 and 10, with 10 being the ball that will hook the most. 

During the actual competition, a graphic will appear for each player, with the ball he is currently using and its “hook rating number” highlighted.

“Reporting on every player’s bowling ball arsenal and attaching a hook rating to each of the balls is one of the most significant enhancements to this year’s PBA telecasts,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark. 

“By outlining and describing the players’ equipment alternatives, the feature not only lets the fans at home inside the players’ bowling bags, but helps them better understand the reasons behind the critical decisions made on every show.”

The “Arsenal” feature also provides color analyst Randy Pedersen with a reference point when a player changes from an aggressive ball to one that hooks less, or vice versa, and makes that transition easier for a viewer to understand.

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