The revised system, which will be used during the World Bowling Tour (WBT) men's and women's finals in Las Vegas on November 1 and 2, is the result of the work done by a panel of international bowling experts, including World Bowling leaders, athletes, coaches, news media and commercial bowling industry executives.

The international task force, with the additional input of Professional Bowlers Association leadership, developed the system in order to make the sport more attractive and easier to understand for casual bowling fans, the news media and the competitors.

With emphasis on winning frames, much like golf's Ryder Cup places emphasis on winning holes, the system is expected to dramatically reduce the length of time and complexity of scoring required to complete a two-player match

"We believe we have found the right balance between modernising our sport while retaining credibility and tradition our athletes and fans value," said World Bowling President and chief executive Kevin Dornberger.

"All of us involved with this project are looking forward to its introduction in Las Vegas."

Matches will involve 12 frames in which each player will throw one shot.

If one player gets a higher pin count than the other, he or she will win the frame and if both players strike, the frame will be tied.

Las Vegas will host the World Bowling Tour men's and women's finals ©Getty Images



If neither player strikes, but each has the same pin count, each player will try to convert the spare.

If both successfully convert their spares, the frame will be a tie, but if one player has a higher pin count than the other after two shots, that player will win the frame.

At the point one player has won more frames than frames remain, he or she will be declared the winner.

If a match is all-square after 12 frames, the tie will be broken using the single-frame format described above until the tie is broken.

The top three men and women in the WBT rankings were finalised over the weekend as the final stop on the 2014 schedule was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

They will now compete for a $70,000 (£43,700/€55,400) prize pool at the new South Point Bowling Plaza. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
August 2014: World Bowling appoints working group to devise "simpler" format as it eyes Olympic inclusion
August 2014: World Bowling launches new website as part of aim to unite sport worldwide
June 2014: Bowling's image crisis, and what needs to be done about it
June 2014: Bowling chiefs call for Olympics to be lengthened as part of bid for inclusion
June 2014: Trade show opens at International Bowl Expo in Orlando