The Cheat That Built Pro Bowling Still Works
In 1960s New York, a loaded bowling ball worked because there was no inspector in the room. In 2022, the same mechanism ran undetected in USBC sanctioned competition for two years.
Scandals
Pro Bowling’s Ugliest Secret Still Threatens The Game
The PBA inspected every ball a pro threw — and never once checked whether he was trying to win. Hall of Famer Carmen Salvino wrote down what the inspectors could not reach.
The PBA Let One Man Decide Your Whole Career
Frank Esposito was the PBA regional director who blocked Ernie Schlegel from the tour for four years. He was also the owner of the alley where he had already barred him as unsavory.
The Bowling Cheating Scandal The PBA Buried Twice
In February 2022, three bowling balls failed pre-broadcast hardness testing at the PBA Tournament of Champions. The PBA banned the balls, never named the bowlers, and changed the rule. It’s the same thing they did in 1973.
Bowling’s Worst Rule Was Finally Killed. Greed Did It In 42 Days
On August 1, 2019, the United States Bowling Congress killed the only rule protecting bowling’s competitive integrity. Forty-two days later, Bowlero bought the Professional Bowlers Association.