The United States Bowling Congress is unleashing its Bowling Ball Specifications Task Force.

It seems technology has rendered bowling a bit too easy, so the task force will study whether and how to rein things in through ball-performance standards.

The USBC is "concerned with the degree of influence technology is having over true player skill as a main factor for success in bowling at all levels of competition," USBC president Michael Carroll said in a statement.

There also are rumors that professionals will no longer be allowed to use gutter bumpers.

Sport bowling is a lane-oil procedure developed and promoted by the American Bowling Congress (ABC) in an effort to bring back scoring integrity to league and tournament bowling.

On a normal "house condition," more oil is applied to the center of the lane and progressively less and less to the outside boards. Therefore, when a bowler misses the target to the left, the heavier oil lessens the ball's hook and guides it to the pocket. If the target is missed to the right, the drier boards allow the ball to hook more, also sending the ball to the pocket.

Combine this area created by the oil with the explosive bowling balls on the market today and it's no wonder the scores are tremendously inflated. Many bowlers across the country now average 240 and higher. A few years ago, one bowler actually averaged 262 for a league season.

In a sport bowling condition, the oil is applied evenly across the whole lane, with only a small buildup in the center. A pulled shot (left) goes high on the head pin. A shot to the right may miss the head pin altogether, or leave a "bucket" spare. The bowler who averages 190-plus on this condition is doing very, very well.

Kegel, which was formed in 1981 by John Davis and partners, designs and manufactures lane conditioning machines and replacement parts and develops and blends chemicals used in their machines.

... Top tour bowlers such as Pete Weber, Brian Voss, Chris Barnes, Jason Couch and Steve Hoskins have visited Kegel to work on their games. But it's the league and recreational bowler who, perhaps unknowingly, benefits most from the company's research and development.

Lane machines can be programmed to apply oil in an infinite number of patterns. At most centers, a pattern that promotes a consistent path from the foul line to the pocket is best for business.

"Our machines can make lanes more consistent from day-to-day so the recreational bowler can stand in one area, throw the ball where he feels comfortable and see a good ball reaction," Janawicz said. "With bowling balls being as powerful as they are and the ability of machines to create easier lane conditions, a bowler can improve much faster than he used to."

What's more, balls have changed significantly over the years as well:

According to Charlie Finch, the owner of Charlie's Pro Shop at AMF Bradenton Lanes, modern ball technology also has a lot to do with the increase in averages.

Over the years, covers have evolved from rubber to plastic to urethane to reactive resin and particle urethane balls.

"The average bowler doesn't have a lot of rotation on the ball, but that particle is going to grab the lane a lot quicker than a conventional urethane or plastic," Finch said. "That is going to get the ball rolling more when it hits the pins rather than sliding, so you get a lot more pin action."

The bottom line for bowling tech enthusiasts is this is supposed to help attract people to the game:

When it comes to selling equipment, making it easier for someone to pick up a sport is what it's all about.

"The higher your score, the more you enjoy the game," said John Anderson, a shift manager at AMF Bradenton Lanes who carries a 184 average. "(Ball manufacturers) are coming out with a lot of new stuff to help a lot of people."