A Look Back at the Most Thrilling PBA Fights of 2019

I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2019 PBA season. As someone who's been covering professional bowling for over a decade, I can confidently say that 2019 delivered some of the most electrifying matches I've ever witnessed. The energy in those bowling centers was absolutely electric, with every strike and spare carrying the weight of championship dreams. What made that season particularly special was how evenly matched the top players were - you never knew who would come out on top until that final ball rolled down the lane.

I remember sitting in the stands during the PBA Playoffs, watching Jason Belmonte and EJ Tackett battle it out in what would become one of the most talked-about matches of the year. The tension was so thick you could practically feel it in the air. Belmonte, with his unique two-handed style, was averaging around 245 throughout the playoffs, while Tackett's powerful release was generating ball speeds consistently hitting 22 miles per hour. What made their matchup so compelling was how it represented the evolution of modern bowling - the technical precision versus raw power dynamic played out frame after frame.

Looking back at the most thrilling PBA fights of 2019, the statistics alone tell an impressive story. There were approximately 47 televised matches that year where the winner secured victory by 10 pins or less. The average scoring pace across all championship rounds reached 232.6, which is significantly higher than the 221.8 average from five years prior. This tells me that not only were the matches close, but the quality of play was consistently exceptional. I particularly recall the World Series of Bowling XI finals where six different players won major titles - that kind of parity just makes for better television and more dramatic moments.

The PBA Tournament of Champions quarterfinal between Anthony Simonsen and Jakob Butturff still stands out in my memory. Simonsen, then just 22 years old, was facing elimination in the eighth frame when he strung together five consecutive strikes to clinch the match. The kid's composure under pressure was something to behold. Meanwhile, Butturff's distinctive high-backswing generated revolutions that consistently topped 500 RPMs - numbers that would make most bowlers' heads spin. What many casual viewers might not realize is how much strategy goes into these matches. Here's a quick rundown about Game 1, what to expect, and some keys to victory that I observed throughout that season: players weren't just throwing balls, they were constantly reading lane transitions, making subtle hand position adjustments, and choosing between their 5-7 ball arsenals with the precision of surgeons.

I've always believed that the best bowling matches tell a story, and 2019 delivered narratives worthy of Hollywood scripts. Take Norm Duke's victory at the PBA Oklahoma Open - at 55 years old, he became the oldest player to win a national tour title, defeating opponents half his age. His experience in reading lane conditions proved invaluable, and honestly, it was inspiring to watch a veteran outsmart the younger generation. Then there was the dramatic U.S. Open final where Francois Lavoie overcame a 35-pin deficit with just three frames remaining. The mathematical probability of him winning at that point was roughly 12%, according to the broadcast's real-time analytics.

The equipment technology had clearly reached new heights in 2019 too. I remember talking with ball reps who mentioned that the average pro was carrying about 8-10 specially drilled balls, each designed for specific oil patterns. The research and development behind these balls was evident in the way they moved down the lane - the angular backend motion we saw that year was unlike anything from previous seasons. Players like Kris Prather demonstrated masterful ball selection throughout the PBA Playoffs, consistently choosing the right piece for the right situation.

What made 2019 particularly memorable for me was the emergence of new rivalries while established stars continued to shine. The Belmonte versus Simonsen matchup during the PBA Players Championship showcased the generational shift happening in real time. Belmonte's 15 major titles at that point gave him the experience edge, but Simonsen's fearless approach made every encounter must-watch television. Their semifinal match during the PBA Playoffs featured 18 strikes between them through 10 frames - that's just ridiculous quality from both athletes.

Reflecting on that season, I think what separated the good matches from the truly great ones was the players' ability to perform under television lights. The pressure of competing on FS1 with millions watching adds an entirely different dimension to these competitions. I spoke with several players who admitted that the mental game becomes as important as physical execution during these broadcasts. The way some athletes like Bill O'Neill handled that pressure while others faltered often determined who hoisted the trophy at night's end.

As we move further from that remarkable season, I find myself comparing every new match to the standards set in 2019. The combination of technological advancement, player talent, and dramatic narratives created what I consider the golden era of modern professional bowling. While every season has its moments, there was something magical about how everything came together that year. The matches weren't just competitions - they were showcases of human determination, technical mastery, and pure sporting drama that could captivate both hardcore fans and casual viewers alike. That's the beauty of bowling at its highest level, and 2019 demonstrated this better than any season I can recall.