April 1, 2024 Professional Bowlers Association

No longer will a tie match on the PBA Tour be decided by a one-ball, sudden death, roll-off.

The PBA announced today it would be making significant changes to its tiebreaker system. Beginning with the PBA World Series of Bowling XV, which kicks off this week in Allen Park, Mich., games tied in regulation will be decided by a “Flying Eagle Roll-off.”

The new system will call for setting the Flying Eagle trick shot up on the two competition lanes. If one player converts the Flying Eagle, they are the winner. It must be converted, in order to win, or the process is repeated.

If both are successful on the trick shot, the players will then decide the match by highest pinfall on a “one-pin” roll-off. In this scenario, each player will roll a bowling pin, as opposed to a ball, at the pins to determine their score. The higher seed will determine order of play.

“While integrity and credibility are our calling cards, ultimately the PBA is in the entertainment business, so sometimes changes like this must be made,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “After the first few times the new format is witnessed, traditionalists will get used to it. They’ll be hoping for it.”

The Flying Eagle is a difficult and dynamic shot and requires two lanes. For a right-handed bowler, the 7-pin is set up on the left lane, which the player must be on, while the 10-pin is set up on the right lane. Another pin is set up several feet in front of the head-pin on the left lane. The player must convert the 7-10 on the adjoining lanes by hitting the pin closest to them first. The pin setup will be reversed for left-handed bowlers.

Earlier this month, during the PBA All-Star Skills Showdown at Phoenix Raceway, the trick shot competition ended in a regulation tie between Hall of Famer Tommy Jones of Team Brunswick and future Hall of Famer Sean Rash of Team Storm. The tie was broken by a first-ever, “Flying Eagle Roll-off.”

Rash converted the trick to win the contest, and it was named No. 1 on SportsCenter's Top Ten Plays. On social media, Rash’s Flying Eagle conversion has exceeded one million total views and climbing.

When Clark saw the excitement generated by the Flying Eagle roll-off between Rash and Jones, he knew immediately what he wanted to do.

"This is the perfect time to make this rule change," Clark said. "Making this announcement in between the USBC Masters and the World Series of Bowling is no coincidence.

"April Fools!"