While pundits like to point to ultra-forgiving oil patterns and high-tech bowling balls as the primary culprits in bowling's scoring explosion of the past 30 years, there's another factor that also plays a key role in scoring: bowling pins.

On Tuesday, the United States Bowling Congress announced a new specification for pin permit renewals.

While the specification does not address the "scoreability" of pins, it is intended to assure specific lines of pins utilize the same materials in their construction from one production period to another.

"This specification will confirm that the materials within an approved pin do not change from year to year," said USBC Vice President-National Governing Body Neil Stremmel. "This includes the pin coat, clear coat and pin base material."