Don Carter: Perhaps the Greatest Bowler Ever

Slow motion of a Don Carter strike

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• bowling
• Don
• Carter

[gordon783]

Rest in peace; Loss of a great man and a great bowler, January 6, 2012

[gordon783]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[BowlerScott]

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.

[borgesmauro72]

no way

[mrgameshow01]

@generalbullmoose Just Don Carter's Magic. lol

[mrgameshow01]

Where i live, we have an entire bowling alley after him.

[20alphabet]

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.

[KaraokeJerry]

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.

[HickysBoy]

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!

[20alphabet]

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.

[steelydanbowler]

@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

[trwent]

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.