Bowlers from beginners to experienced league players depend on their equipment to improve their scores and increase the amount of fun they have while bowling. Most people don’t have the time or the opportunity to try all the balls available to see which one is best for them. It's also hard to know what a ball is going to do before drilling when you cannot try out the ball first. Whether you are just starting out or looking for the ball to win the next tournament, a pro shop professional can help make your game more comfortable, higher scoring, and more fun.
The first question asked by people buying their first ball is usually what weight they should use. Many people want a ball lighter than what they should use because their experience with ‘house balls’ has left them with tired and sore hands. A proper fit will allow the bowler to use much less gripping force to hold the ball, allowing a heavier ball to be used for more games with less wear and tear on the bowler’s hands. At Strike Zone, we have slings that allow the bowler to see the weight of a ball without the grip, allowing the bowler and the professional to separate weight issues from grip issues.
The next element we look at is what ball or type of balls would best help the bowler. For a recreational bowler a polyester or entry-level reactive urethane ball will usually work. They come in many bright colors, and can be fitted and drilled for the bowler for less than $100.
A serious league or tournament player may carry an arsenal of 3-6 balls for competition. We try to observe every player on the lanes before we decide what would help them the best and usually give the bowler 2 or 3 choices. This allows the customer to pick a favorite color or brand of ball from the selections.
The fit of the bowling ball is a crucial step in the process. An incorrect fit can leave a bowler with cuts or calluses, and will make their hand tired or sore quickly. We take 10 to 15 minutes measuring hole size, span (distances between holes), and pitches (angle of the holes). A bowling ball should stay on a bowler’s hand with a minimum of grip pressure, allowing gravity to control the release at the bottom of the swing. It's critical to have an experienced, certified pro shop operator work on your ball.
Strike Zone Bowling Center is an IBPSIA (International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Assoc.) member pro shop. The manager has been drilling bowling balls for more than 15 years, including 2 years for the United States Bowling Congress, Open Championships. He is also a 5-year member of the PBA. We offer you the chance to take advantage of a highly qualified driller with the best prices in the area on all ball lines.
