First time getting tangled for me.

Considering this place has been in business for 77 years and still uses above-ground ball returns, it's vintage. It is what it is. I'm not the owner, don't know the reason why they went to string.

I had to look it up because I'd never seen it before, but string based pin-setting has been around since 1963. If this place's system is that old, I'd call that 'vintage'. String setters are much cheaper than the fully mechanical systems - the equipment is like 1/10 the cost, they're much more reliable, cost of repairs and parts is minimal (tangles and most repairs can be resolved by anyone), and no need for heavily trained techs to fix them, and the electricity costs to run the machines is also minimal.

@@kindablue1959 Cheaper doesn’t mean better. Switching from Free Falls to Strings is like you don’t know how to fix your normal car or too lazy to set up your Halloween Decorations and the stupid solution you got is go buy a Tesla or Inflatable Halloween Decorations. Free Fall Pinsetters are reliable as long as you clean and take care of them, otherwise its your fault for neglecting them. Strings have been been only used for 5 Pin and Rubber Duckpins, that’s why they’re “vintage” that way. Bowling Pins aren’t made to have anything attach to them ever since Tenpin Bowling first existed

@@PinoyBowlerGS92 I never said it was better. But cheaper to the alley owner could mean the difference between staying in business or not. I've read about the cost of maintaining the fully mechanicals, and it's much higher - you often need to hire a trained tech to do the work, and there are like 10x as many parts that wear. And as I said, their monthly electric bill is much higher too. I don't own an alley, so I can only go by what's commonly published. The pros and elitists can argue about the experience differences all they want, while the non-pros in a small town can still have some fun.

That's USBC's problem to deal with.