Welcome bowler’s to another tip of the week presented by yours truly.  Bowling season is fast approaching and manufactures are releasing new bowling balls.  So how do you, the consumer know what bowling ball you should purchase this season?  The answer, all of them!  Of course I would say that since I am in the business of selling bowling balls, but seriously I am also in the business of education.  So again, how do you know?  This week I will I would like to give you a few things to think about when you are purchasing a bowling ball.  Heck maybe you may buy two, three or four…. Well it was worth a shot.  

We are expecting 25 new bowling balls at or near the beginning of the season.  This may seem like a lot. However four or five years ago one company might have released that many new balls.  Manufacturers are definitely cutting back their production on bowling balls to help with the shelf life which in turn helps the customer make a better purchasing decision.  Today consumers are likely to spend more time researching new equipment with the help of the internet.  Along with the convenience it is amazing the amount of detailed information you can find on the Web.  Some people in our industry think the internet is a bad thing for Pro shops.  I tend to feel differently on this subject.  I like the fact that the customer is so involved in their purchase and much better informed about the product and their options.  While bowlers may have an idea of what they are looking for, my job as pro shop operator is to make sure that the customer gets exactly what they need to be a better bowler.  So what is it that you need?  Do you need a ball for heavy oil?  Are you a once a week casual league bowler, or are you the so called weekend warrior?  All these factors come in to play.  In fact, we as Pro shop operators need to know what bowling center or lane surface you are bowling on. Which ball will work for you? 

Bowling balls are becoming far more advanced with core and cover stock technology.  It’s more important then ever to make sure that you match up the right combination to your game.  Let’s take for example a bowler who is looking for a more aggressive bowling ball for oily lane conditions.  Some of you might already have a ball or two in mind.  But let’s first think about the bowler and their bowling style.  If you have high ball speed, and a high rev rate, the bowling ball of choice will definitely differ then that of a bowler with slow ball speed and a high rev rate.  This is where you still need your Pro shop operator to help you make a wise choice. We need to put all of the facts together to help you choose the best ball for your money.  The First step is to figure out what category are you in.  Do I have fast, medium or slow ball speed?  What is my rev rate? Are you a low rev, medium rev, or high rev player?  Next think about the lane surface that you bowl on.  Do you bowl on wood, or synthetic?  All of these have implications when purchasing a new bowling ball.   

The second tip is to look at what you currently have. What is that bowling ball or balls currently doing for you?  Sometimes taking a step back and looking at your current line, will definitely help in your decision on what you think you still need.  You may find that you have a good arsenal, and you just simply might need a plastic ball for your spares.  You may see that you have too many of the same type of bowling ball and need to venture out of your comfort zone.  Maybe you feel that the bowling ball weight is too heavy for you and you think that purchasing a lighter weight may help.  

Most importantly, whenever you go into your local pro shop to purchase a new bowling ball, please remember to bring in what your current ball or balls.  By bringing in what you have, the pro shop operator can understand a lot.  Seeing what you currently have can help make a better decision when drilling comes into play.   So remember, classify yourself on ball speed. Classify yourself on rev rate.  Do some research and bring your equipment into the pro shop (or email me). By doing these few simple steps, and the help of your pro shop you will make a better decision when spending your hard earned money.

T.J. Yeip is the Manager of GLC Bowling and the Lead Technical Advisor. He is an IBPSIA Advanced Certified Member and former PBA member. You can email your questions to him personally at thomas.yeip@glcbowling.com