Kevin Dornberger has formed an Alternate Bowling Scoring System working group tasked with helping the sport engage with non-bowling spectators.

It is hoped a simpler format "will lead to a path to inclusion in the Olympic Games".

Dornberger added: "Our current scoring system is very confusing to people who do not know anything about bowling, and we need to take a hard look at the possibility of adoption of an alternate scoring system.

"Every aspect of the format and scoring of our events is up for review.

"We need a scoring system for spectator and TV presentation that cannot lengthen the process, must be understandable by literate people, and preferably have more wins and losses than once every 20 minutes, without destroying the credibility of the sport."

The sport of bowling is eyeing up a place on the Olympic programme, and it is hoped a simpler format will help achieve that ambition ©Getty Images for DAGOC



At the sport's World Championships, a traditional format and scoring system is used, with bowlers and teams bowling traditional 10-frame games with six games of qualifying leading to
one-game semi-finals and finals.

The working group formed includes the vice-president of the Saudi Bowling Federation, Dr Mohammed Alathel, the vice-president of the Chile Olympic Committee, Veronica Rajii, and Australian national team coach Andrew Frawley.

Athletes, media and commercial bowling industry executives are also among the members.

It is hoped the group will come up with an initial recommendation by December 1 that will be presented to the World Bowling Executive Board.

The first chance for any changes to the rules of the sport will be in November 2015 at the World Tenpin Bowling Association Congress.

Any detailed suggestions or opinions about scoring can be sent directly to committee co-chairman Michael Hamberg, the former chairman of the Swedish Bowling Federation, at [email protected].