The latest promotional tool on the PBA Tour appearing on the "CBS Sports Spectacular" is the new gold bowling pins.

A number of opinions have emerged from bowlers on the tour as to the advantages and disadvantages of the new pins which were introduced by Brunswick on the opening Spring Tour stop and will be a mainstay for the tour on both CBS and ESPN.

Two key points the pros have discussed about the pins are the characteristic changes—four ounces heavier and gold in color.

"I like the heavier pins because you get a truer carry, and it doesn’t penalize the better bowlers," said Norm Duke. "Lighter pins give the bowlers with less talent more of an advantage because sometimes pins fall which should remain standing with certain hits since they fall more easily.

"I wish the PBA would use the heavier gold pins all of the time because they still use the white, lighter pins in the regular blocks before the TV finals. Games for bowlers would be more consistent if they did.

"I think the gold pins should be lighter in color because it’s hard to see the pins in the back when it comes to judging rack arrangement."

Said PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss: "I agree the pins should be lighter in color because they would be easier to see in a whole rack, and they would look much better on TV. They are too dark now on the tube.

"Concerning their weight, since we all bowl with the same weighted pins in the respective blocks, I don’t think the weight makes so much difference as long as the weights are not mixed in a given block."

Parker Bohn III, who currently is the PBA’s hottest bowler, thinks the new pins are one of the reasons he’s winning.

"The heavier gold pins now reward you for a well-executed game more frequently, and it cuts down on the luck factor," Bohn said. "If you don’t hit the pocket solid on the first ball, you get a nine count more often instead of a strike."

The gold pins will be part of the PBA’s televised finals forever, according to Tournament Director Kirk von Krueger, who says the pins also will be used on all future ESPN telecasts.

von Krueger noted that the ESPN format will remain the same—the traditional top-five and 90 minutes. It will be arena style, with the fans boxed in around a two pairs of lanes and a constant noise level will still be in effect.

BWAA member Richard Kolb is a syndicated columnist.