The late Bill Taylor studied Don Carter's bowling. He noticed something Carter was doing that would undoubtedly end his career. He went to Carter with the dire warning, but was rebuffed by Carter, calling Taylor a nut. Not long after Don Carter was not competitive. Bill Taylor also warned about the juiced balls sold today, double-voided pins inflating scores, and how the BPAA's control of the USBC will destroy the game.
I read an excellent book called "Whatever Happened to Don Carter". The premise in short was that Carter's bent elbow meant he couldn't use the force of gravity to help him repeat shots. He was muscling the ball onto the lane and his success on the lanes was more of a testament to his phenomenal athletic ability than his bowling style. A slower rolling shot made sense in Carter's era with the equipment and lane conditions he played on. None of that takes away from his amazing accomplishments.
Such a unique delivery, bent elbow and all. I tried to emulate it when I was on the bowling team in college. Didn't work. :) I think his height and body strength were required for it to be effective. But what fun to watch!
The PBA elites of the 60's and 70's that continue to call him to say hello all say he doesn't come to the phone and his wife will talk for only a few minutes.
Does anyone know how Don is doing now? I guess he is 85 or 86 years old and living in Miami. Is his health still okay? I never see him in public anymore.
@leopoldmozart I saw Carter make the TV round once around 1968. That was a treat to watch, but he didn't win. I also remember reading some of an interview, in which he said that a change in the dressing/oiling on the lanes sometime in the 1960s also hurt his game: his ball would tend to either not hook enough, or hook too much, so that he lost his famous control and accuracy. I tried his style once, but didn't have enough strength in my grip and forearms.
Yes, you're right--it seems impossible to really compare between eras for many reasons. I was impressed by the 5 World Invitations titles, 4 U.S. Opens, PBA National, Master titles plus 2 ABC doubles titles and team championships with the Buds/Don Carter gloves. Some of these opportunities were not available to bowlers of later generations and during the peak of Don Carter's career, the pba had yet to be formed. But Carters 1962 PBA season was one of the best ever.
If I remember correctly, Carter stood over 6 ft and probably had great strength in his arm. Minimize the swing of the ball, and maximize accuracy. Most bowlers just are not strong enough to attempt this style? Also, didn't bending over lower wear down his knee faster?
@LibraryUser61 That's what I've heard. The long low slide was hard on the knees, ultimately putting him out of pro competition. He made it to the TV round in 1971, would have loved to have seen that live.
I was named after my uncle who was best friends with Don Carter...In fact my uncle was struck by lightening and killed while playing golf with Carter. I have an signed book that carter wrote laying around somewhere
Carter was the first to score the "Grand Slam"-winning the All-Star, World's Invitational, PBA National, and ABC Masters. By contrast to contemporary players, Mr. Carter played little hook and his game was characterized by extraordinary accuracy, a very long slide step, remarkable concentration, and of course, the bent elbow. From what I have read, his remarkable bowling accomplishments have been exceeded only by his humility.
some Don Carter info: from about 1952-1962, Mr. Carter won just about every major bowling title including 4 BPAA All-Star titles (now the U.S. Open), five World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters title, the PBA National title, six PBA tour events, and ABC team championship (Classic Division) with the "Don Carter Gloves" in 1962. He also was the first athlete to sign a $1 million promotional contract, first to roll an 800 on TV and was voted bowler of the year six times.
Two greatest bowlers- Don Carter & Earl Anthony, both had bent elbows. They won most majors & Bowler of Year . And did it in short careers.I saw him bowl in person & TV. His form,though,unorthodox looked better & worked better than anyones. Most bowlers just threw the ball he stroked it for great carrying power. The balls & conditions of his era didn't allow much hook, no one did. Imagine if he bowled with todays steroid balls.
Carter was humble & soft spoken and was a star athlete in H.S..
This is a match between Carter and his Budweiser teammate,Pat Patterson.This was from the Championship Bowling series,it was filmed in Akron,Ohio during the mid-1960's.Calling the action was Fred Wolf and the color commentator was Bill Bunetta.
too bad his bowling ally in ft worth texas has been run down to nothing...i bowled there for travel leaue and i had a splinter of wood come and in between my shoe and my pad it was like 5 inches in i had to get new shoes and the AC doesnt work its just a big pile of shit and no one likes to bowl there
Hard rubber, lacquer coated lanes, and he still owned the pins. Same goes for Dick Weber, Barry Asher, and Carmen Salvino. The pro's and amateurs bowling with all the new technology today have it so easy it's pathetic. I don't know what happened, but all the skill was sucked out of bowling. Now it's all about throwing the ball over chairs and between their legs. Jesus christ.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain. Anyway, i agree that it's much easier to score high with today's equipment than 50 years ago. ... DUH!!! it's called adcvancement in technology. every sport undergoes some kind of transformation of this sort. GET OVER IT.
On Oct.27,1963,at the Bowl-o-Drome in North Arlington,NJ,I saw Don Carter destroy Dick Weber in a special match set up by CBS, televised after the Giants-Browns game.
Although many of Don Carter's bowling achievements were attained prior to the pba tour, in 1962 made the top 5 on pba tour stops 18 times and made the top 5 seven consecutive times that year. Before that, Don won 4 All-Star titles (U.S.Open), 5 World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters, was 6-Time Bowler of the Year,8-time Bowling Magazine First Team All-American membership, achieved ABC National League High Average 234 in 1959, First athelete to sign a million dollar promotional contract.
@gordon783 My dad grew up in Pittsburgh where bowling was popular in the 50s. I have one of his old ABC league sheets of the classic men's scratch league. Top bowlers averaged in the 180s, typical bowler was in the mid 170s. For Don Carter to average 234 with the lanes and equipment of that era he was either a space alien or made a pact with Satan.
He really was amazing. The best ever? Who can say. The best of his era, as Earl Anthony and WRWjr were in there's? Yup.
His accuracy and concentration is the great way he bowls...his track record of titles and scores over many years is the proof. He does have a short backswing though. It appears as if he pushes the ball down the lane, but he made it work.
By contrast to contemporary players, Mr. Carter played little hook and his game was characterized by extraordinary accuracy, a very long slide step, remarkable concentration, and of course, the bent elbow. From what I have read, his remarkable bowling accomplishments have been exceeded only by his humility.
some Don Carter info: from about 1952-1962, Mr. Carter won just about every major bowling title including 4 BPAA All-Star titles (now the U.S. Open), five World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters title, the PBA National title, six PBA tour events, and ABC team championship (Classic Division) with the "Don Carter Gloves" in 1962. He also was the first athlete to sign a $1 million promotional contract, first to roll an 800 on TV and was voted bowler of the year six times.
Don Carter owns several bowling alleys in Florida, and a few other states. Unfortunately, Don Carter's All-Star Lanes (Miami, FL) closed last year. It was one of the best bowling alleys ever. He must build another one here!!!
no way
borgesmauro72 1 week ago
Rest in peace; Loss of a great man and a great bowler, January 6, 2012
gordon783 1 month ago 4
Where i live, we have an entire bowling alley after him.
mrgameshow01 6 months ago
The late Bill Taylor studied Don Carter's bowling. He noticed something Carter was doing that would undoubtedly end his career. He went to Carter with the dire warning, but was rebuffed by Carter, calling Taylor a nut. Not long after Don Carter was not competitive. Bill Taylor also warned about the juiced balls sold today, double-voided pins inflating scores, and how the BPAA's control of the USBC will destroy the game.
20alphabet 8 months ago
I read an excellent book called "Whatever Happened to Don Carter". The premise in short was that Carter's bent elbow meant he couldn't use the force of gravity to help him repeat shots. He was muscling the ball onto the lane and his success on the lanes was more of a testament to his phenomenal athletic ability than his bowling style. A slower rolling shot made sense in Carter's era with the equipment and lane conditions he played on. None of that takes away from his amazing accomplishments.
KaraokeJerry 9 months ago
Such a unique delivery, bent elbow and all. I tried to emulate it when I was on the bowling team in college. Didn't work. :) I think his height and body strength were required for it to be effective. But what fun to watch!
HickysBoy 9 months ago
The PBA elites of the 60's and 70's that continue to call him to say hello all say he doesn't come to the phone and his wife will talk for only a few minutes.
20alphabet 10 months ago
Does anyone know how Don is doing now? I guess he is 85 or 86 years old and living in Miami. Is his health still okay? I never see him in public anymore.
trwent 1 year ago
@trwent He has a facebook page, but I don't know if it's really him who operates it. I hope he is still doing alright. I love these clips :D
steelydanbowler 11 months ago
@leopoldmozart I saw Carter make the TV round once around 1968. That was a treat to watch, but he didn't win. I also remember reading some of an interview, in which he said that a change in the dressing/oiling on the lanes sometime in the 1960s also hurt his game: his ball would tend to either not hook enough, or hook too much, so that he lost his famous control and accuracy. I tried his style once, but didn't have enough strength in my grip and forearms.
LibraryUser61 1 year ago
Yes, you're right--it seems impossible to really compare between eras for many reasons. I was impressed by the 5 World Invitations titles, 4 U.S. Opens, PBA National, Master titles plus 2 ABC doubles titles and team championships with the Buds/Don Carter gloves. Some of these opportunities were not available to bowlers of later generations and during the peak of Don Carter's career, the pba had yet to be formed. But Carters 1962 PBA season was one of the best ever.
gordon783 1 year ago
If I remember correctly, Carter stood over 6 ft and probably had great strength in his arm. Minimize the swing of the ball, and maximize accuracy. Most bowlers just are not strong enough to attempt this style? Also, didn't bending over lower wear down his knee faster?
LibraryUser61 1 year ago
@LibraryUser61 That's what I've heard. The long low slide was hard on the knees, ultimately putting him out of pro competition. He made it to the TV round in 1971, would have loved to have seen that live.
leopoldmozart 1 year ago
I was named after my uncle who was best friends with Don Carter...In fact my uncle was struck by lightening and killed while playing golf with Carter. I have an signed book that carter wrote laying around somewhere
dsstress 1 year ago
He would've liked the recent pba's plastic ball tournament
slingblade65 3 years ago
my favorite bowler ever.
GUnit20002006 3 years ago
Carter was the first to score the "Grand Slam"-winning the All-Star, World's Invitational, PBA National, and ABC Masters. By contrast to contemporary players, Mr. Carter played little hook and his game was characterized by extraordinary accuracy, a very long slide step, remarkable concentration, and of course, the bent elbow. From what I have read, his remarkable bowling accomplishments have been exceeded only by his humility.
gordon783 3 years ago
Yes, it was Pat Patterson, a Carter mate of greatest team ever the BUDWEISERS.
Before PBA, bowling was all about teams & Carter led 3 different teams to several National Titles.
hawk9030 3 years ago
some Don Carter info: from about 1952-1962, Mr. Carter won just about every major bowling title including 4 BPAA All-Star titles (now the U.S. Open), five World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters title, the PBA National title, six PBA tour events, and ABC team championship (Classic Division) with the "Don Carter Gloves" in 1962. He also was the first athlete to sign a $1 million promotional contract, first to roll an 800 on TV and was voted bowler of the year six times.
gordon783 3 years ago
Two greatest bowlers- Don Carter & Earl Anthony, both had bent elbows. They won most majors & Bowler of Year . And did it in short careers.I saw him bowl in person & TV. His form,though,unorthodox looked better & worked better than anyones. Most bowlers just threw the ball he stroked it for great carrying power. The balls & conditions of his era didn't allow much hook, no one did. Imagine if he bowled with todays steroid balls.
Carter was humble & soft spoken and was a star athlete in H.S..
hawk9030 3 years ago
This is a match between Carter and his Budweiser teammate,Pat Patterson.This was from the Championship Bowling series,it was filmed in Akron,Ohio during the mid-1960's.Calling the action was Fred Wolf and the color commentator was Bill Bunetta.
bigtee61 3 years ago
too bad his bowling ally in ft worth texas has been run down to nothing...i bowled there for travel leaue and i had a splinter of wood come and in between my shoe and my pad it was like 5 inches in i had to get new shoes and the AC doesnt work its just a big pile of shit and no one likes to bowl there
TNTcom13 3 years ago
They mention "Patterson"...I wonder if that's his old Budweisers teammate Pat Patterson?
generalbullmoose 3 years ago
Hard rubber, lacquer coated lanes, and he still owned the pins. Same goes for Dick Weber, Barry Asher, and Carmen Salvino. The pro's and amateurs bowling with all the new technology today have it so easy it's pathetic. I don't know what happened, but all the skill was sucked out of bowling. Now it's all about throwing the ball over chairs and between their legs. Jesus christ.
mordanai 3 years ago
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain. Anyway, i agree that it's much easier to score high with today's equipment than 50 years ago. ... DUH!!! it's called adcvancement in technology. every sport undergoes some kind of transformation of this sort. GET OVER IT.
BowlerScott 3 years ago 4
On Oct.27,1963,at the Bowl-o-Drome in North Arlington,NJ,I saw Don Carter destroy Dick Weber in a special match set up by CBS, televised after the Giants-Browns game.
rentslave 4 years ago
Although many of Don Carter's bowling achievements were attained prior to the pba tour, in 1962 made the top 5 on pba tour stops 18 times and made the top 5 seven consecutive times that year. Before that, Don won 4 All-Star titles (U.S.Open), 5 World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters, was 6-Time Bowler of the Year,8-time Bowling Magazine First Team All-American membership, achieved ABC National League High Average 234 in 1959, First athelete to sign a million dollar promotional contract.
gordon783 4 years ago
@gordon783 But how many bowlers competed in 1962?
TheAmpad 1 year ago
@gordon783 My dad grew up in Pittsburgh where bowling was popular in the 50s. I have one of his old ABC league sheets of the classic men's scratch league. Top bowlers averaged in the 180s, typical bowler was in the mid 170s. For Don Carter to average 234 with the lanes and equipment of that era he was either a space alien or made a pact with Satan.
He really was amazing. The best ever? Who can say. The best of his era, as Earl Anthony and WRWjr were in there's? Yup.
leopoldmozart 1 year ago
Perhaps NOT!
jztoon 4 years ago
Thanks, this really helped me in my 3D animation class. (I had to make a bowling ball hit some pins.)
YaoiHuntressEarth 4 years ago
man, he looks retarded with that hooked arm :D i guess you can do all the faults in the book and still be good if you can repeat yourself.
Riddikc 4 years ago
I wonder how on earth he got anything behind the ball with that delivery!
generalbullmoose 3 years ago 2
He had a very strong follow through. I remember him bowling an 800 series on TV.
phredl 3 years ago
@generalbullmoose Just Don Carter's Magic. lol
mrgameshow01 6 months ago
do you know what brand of ball that is???!!
jjcoolioz 4 years ago
The old hard rubber, EBONITE
mj23greatest 4 years ago
what is so great about the way he bowls? :S
i dont like it at all!
mor16dayan 4 years ago
The BEST THERE IS, THE BEST THERE WAS, THE BEST THERE EVER WILL BE! It's not how you knock the pins down, but how many!
mj23greatest 4 years ago
His accuracy and concentration is the great way he bowls...his track record of titles and scores over many years is the proof. He does have a short backswing though. It appears as if he pushes the ball down the lane, but he made it work.
thiswilldoblue 4 years ago
man his arm swing was as low as Vespi's except he had 10 times less hook on the ball lol.
Riob420 4 years ago
By contrast to contemporary players, Mr. Carter played little hook and his game was characterized by extraordinary accuracy, a very long slide step, remarkable concentration, and of course, the bent elbow. From what I have read, his remarkable bowling accomplishments have been exceeded only by his humility.
gordon783 4 years ago
some Don Carter info: from about 1952-1962, Mr. Carter won just about every major bowling title including 4 BPAA All-Star titles (now the U.S. Open), five World Invitational titles, the ABC Masters title, the PBA National title, six PBA tour events, and ABC team championship (Classic Division) with the "Don Carter Gloves" in 1962. He also was the first athlete to sign a $1 million promotional contract, first to roll an 800 on TV and was voted bowler of the year six times.
gordon783 4 years ago
I was reading a bowling periodical that my grandpa bought in the 60s and it said that DC also had 83 verified 300s.
blakfloyd 4 years ago
Don Carter owns several bowling alleys in Florida, and a few other states. Unfortunately, Don Carter's All-Star Lanes (Miami, FL) closed last year. It was one of the best bowling alleys ever. He must build another one here!!!
Joelomite 4 years ago
weird arm swing
bowlinman 4 years ago
Very cool! Any idea what channel this was on?
odiedude 4 years ago
One of the greatest of all time.
fadi114 4 years ago
A rare sight to see a clip of the great Don Carter...do you have any more of him ?
thiswilldoblue 4 years ago
Sorry; this is the only clip I have.
gordon783 4 years ago
Do you have any clips of Lou Campi??
phredl 3 years ago