Now that the new fall/winter season is upon us, quite a few bowlers go to their favorite pro shop to buy a new bowling ball to get ready for league play and tournaments. Choosing the right bowling ball can be a difficult process if you are not sure what to get, given there is so much from which to choose. Since there are so many different coverstocks, core configurations, and layouts, you might think that the chances of getting the proper ball are almost impossible.
Well, to ease the minds of those out there, it really is not all that difficult. It is just a matter of knowing some simple information that can aid your pro shop operator in getting you fitted properly into the correct ball.
There are so many different bowling balls on the market today, ranging from the new "particle technology" to plastic that making the best-educated choice is difficult. Add to that the number of companies making bowling balls and the number of balls they introduce each year, and it makes the list of bowling ball choices staggering and complex.
There also are the many ways that a bowling ball can be drilled with regard to layout (position of the pin and center of gravity in relation to the bowler’s grip).
Although ball companies may slow down their process of introducing new bowling balls, the difficulty in choosing a particle, reactive resin, urethane, or plastic ball (for a few adults) is a tough one, especially when spending your hard-earned wages.
As someone who works in an International Bowling Pro Shops and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) pro shop, I have witnessed the dilemma that many bowlers face when buying a new ball. Some of these bowlers come into the shop and say they want to buy a ball, look around and see all the choices, and then turn to me and say, "But I do not know which one."
This is where I have to ask some questions to which some bowlers do not know the answers: Where do you bowl? What bowling balls do you currently use? Do these balls perform as you would like? What type of layout do you have on them?
To my surprise and theirs, they did not expect these types of questions. This is not to fault these bowlers for not knowing the answers; they may not have thought it was necessary or maybe they have not been exposed to such questions.
The most important factor to me when I realize they are not sure what to buy is to find out if they are trying to get a ball that works on a particular condition or at a center where they bowl. More times than not, this has been the area with which the bowlers needed help.
This is not to say that all bowlers are in this dilemma; some know what they want as soon as they walk in. However, even in some of these cases, once I find out more about where they bowl and what they currently use, I can give them more options and, most importantly, explain to them why I recommend certain bowling balls.
The best advice I can give when you go into a pro shop but are not sure what to purchase is to have an idea of what lane conditions you bowl on. Does your current equipment hook too much or not enough?
It also is important to have one or two of your bowling balls with you so that the pro shop technician can see the layout of the ball(s), where your track is located, and most importantly, the coverstock (dull, shiny, or pearlized). This will greatly enhance his knowledge of what you are trying to use, and he can make a more accurate suggestion regarding what ball to purchase.
Without knowing this data, your pro shop operator, unless he knows how and where you bowl, is trying to help you without enough background information. The result is that he may not be able to suggest the proper type of bowling ball for the condition with which you have trouble.
In some cases, he will point you in the proper direction, but it is safe to say that he is mostly guessing, and that, in my opinion, is not a sound way to do business. Remember: You are paying for the bowling ball and the technician’s expertise.
Does your pro shop operator ask the questions I have listed? How much time does he spend trying to learn about your game so that he can provide you the best and most up-to-date information?
When I deal with a customer and learn more about his abilities and what bowling balls he uses, I try to offer options regarding not just one but several types of bowling balls that I know will fill the void in his equipment. Some bowlers swear by a specific manufacturer, while others simply have a certain amount of money budgeted for their new bowling ball.
Once I suggest to a bowler what bowling balls are best, based on my knowing the information listed above, it is important to let him know why I made these suggestions.
Next, by allowing the bowler to know what I think is the best way to lay out his ball, he can learn more and feel as if he is not in the dark all the time. By educating him about why bowling balls react as they do and how certain drillings can benefit his game, he will leave the shop convinced he made the right choice and more than likely will come back again.
Additionally, this educational process only further improves this great sport by getting information to people who need to know. I am not saying that all bowlers care about layouts and ball reactions, but you never know until you try to inform them.
While dealing with your favorite pro shop, it is important to ponder whether you actually are learning more about bowling equipment. I know that a pro shop technician can select the right ball for you and drill it to match up as much as possible to the condition on which you are trying to improve. However, are you taking away anything from your conversations?
Sure, the technician can provide the ball and the layout, but if you do not know when to use it and when to put it back in the bag, you can easily fall into the trap of staying with a ball too long.
You have a right to know the capabilities of each ball in your bag and when to make changes. The best place to gain that knowledge is through your IBPSIA pro shop operator or certified instructors who have an understanding of bowling equipment.
What all of this means is, Are you satisfied with the service and feedback you get from your pro shop operator? This does not mean you should walk away if you are not satisfied. Instead, you should try building a stronger relationship with that shop so that both sides can know the necessary information to make the most accurate assessments possible.
If this does not work or if you still are not satisfied, my suggestion is to get a second opinion from another pro shop and then compare. It is just like shopping for other items: Shop around and try to get the most information and service for your money.
In conclusion, there are a lot of different bowling balls on the market today consisting of different coverstocks and core combinations. To get the ball you need, it is important to have an understanding of where you are when you walk into a pro shop and where you want to be when you walk out.
If you need a ball for lanes with heavy amounts of conditioner and nothing in your bag hooks enough to give the reaction necessary to throw strikes or get to the pocket, there are balls specifically designed for that type of condition to help you overcome that particular problem.
The same goes for lanes that have little conditioner and everything you own hooks too much or is not controllable. There are balls designed for that condition that can be drilled in a certain way to meet your needs.
The last thing I would want bowlers to have after talking with me about getting the right bowling ball for their needs is the same knowledge about bowling equipment that they had when they first walked through the door.
Bowlers, it is your money, and you are not only shopping for bowling equipment but also for information to make you smarter. Too much information can be confusing, but no information, in my opinion, is unacceptable.
If you can utilize some of the ideas and concepts I provided in this article to ask better questions, please do so. I believe there is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to your money and bowling needs.
Until next time, take bowling one shot at a time, make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.
Lewis Twine Jr., NCABA’s 1992 scratch all events champion and a USA Bowling Silver Level and Dick Ritger Level 2 certified instructor, offers individual instruction sessions at AMF Waldorf.