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About Warren Friedl
Expertise
20 Years Pro Shop Owner/Operator, 17 Years Bowling Center Operator (Manager/General Manager), Certified Coach since National Bowling Council and YABA days. Also Dick Ritger and USA Bowling Bronze certified. International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) Charter member, IBPSIA Certified, IBPSIA "On Lanes" Certified, 2 Time Member of the IBPSIA Board of Directors and Past Secretary/Treasurer, Small Shop columnist "Pro Shop Operator" Magazine, contributor to "Bowlers Journal International" magazine, editor of IBPSIA NET NEWS weekly e-newsletter, editor of "The Bowling Tree" blog and webmaster of www.revbowl.com.

Experience
20 Years operating Revolutions Pro Shops in 2nd Largest bowling ball market in the country, Chicagoland. 17 Years in Center operations as Marketing Director, Asst. Manager or General Manager, becoming GM in every Center I worked.

Organizations
American Bowling Congress/USBC Member since 1976, bowling 50 years. International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) Charter and continuing member (18 years), 2 time member of IBPSIA Board of Directors, former Secretary/Treasurer. US Bowling Coaches Association (Bronze Coach) Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Publications
“Bowlers Journal International” and “Pro Shop Operator” Magazines. Chicago Bowler, Windy City Bowling News, Centennial Lanes.com, The Bowling Tree Blog, IBPSIA.com and IBPSIA Net News (e-newsletter).

Education/Credentials
IBPSIA Technically Certified. Multiple Seminars from AMF, Brunswick, Columbia, Circle, Ebonite, Hammer, Mo-Rich, Storm, Track, Dexter, Etonic, and others. Kaploe and Davis Bowling Marketing training. Certified with the Young America Bowling Alliance (YABA) and the National Bowling Council (NBC) as a coach in 1982. Other coaching credentials include: Dick Ritger Level One, Dick Ritger Coaching Coaches, and USA Bowling Bronze Level.

Awards and Honors
Created and executed Promotions highlighted in Bowlers Journal Magazine and included in the “150 Promotions for Bowling Centers” organized by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA). First Pro Shop featured in Bowling Industry magazine, for customer service and merchandising, October 1996. Identified “One of the best ball fitters in the country” by then Track, Inc. President Del Warren, September 2005. Tournament Promotions lead to top performance in center, or for center hosted events including: Chicago City Championships, US Open Qualifiers, Amateur Bowlers Tour.

Past/Present Clients
Presenter at the IBPSIA National Convention. Presenter at Bowling Proprietors Association Management School

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Bowling - Bowling

Expert: Warren Friedl - 10/27/2009

Question
Hi! Iam 82 years young and have been bowling for over50 years,in my younger years I have had averages of 189-195. about 15 years ago I started having trouble an my averages dropped down quite a bit and I could not figure out what was happening.
I was diagnosed with having Parkinsons disease and of course this effects your balance. What I wanted to ask if there is anything I can do to help me Like a shorter approach,crouching down, using a lighter ball, my ball is 15 at the present I really feel good throwing it without any problem.I don't expect to get back to a high average but I would like to inprove it some. I have dick ritger tape (the perfect strike feeling)
Any advice you can give me I would appreciate it very much. Ken

Answer
Ken,
Hows your ball speed? Without knowing more info, i can make some generalizations of what effects players as they age (like have effected me).

First, ball speed changes how a ball hooks and how soon, so your path to the pocket and spare game needs to change to allow for the change in speed (subtle movement at the backend of the lane turns what looks like a pocket hit into a soft 10 or solid 4 or 4-9).

Second, if you play with a senior group or senior league conditions are sometimes different than with a regular evening league. Most centers don't make much on senior programs, so some centers don't oil, or special oil patterns to benefit players with less speed and allowing a straighter path to the pocket don't usually happen. So often the slowest (seniors and kids) players (with today's modern bowling balls) must overcome their ball reaction instead of utilize it.

Third, your physical strength needs to be complimented by a good fit. Dragging out a ball that was fit for you twenty years ago won't fit the way it needs to, so gripping the ball becomes unnecessary (often helping regain ball speed).

Lastly, the modern bowling center puts out such an easy shot that it punishes the lack of speed in players that have some game (ability to lift and turn the ball). So while bowlers are leaving leagues in droves, centers are trying to lure young two finger bowlers that have ball speed but little else because "easy" conditions are fun if you don't have to really aim, and can twist up a 10 or 12 lb ball and get it to the headpin.

So, if you can give me some specific idea why your average has dropped (worse spare game, not striking much, ball hooks too much or too little), I can try to suggest some adjustments. thanks for your questions, good luck, I look forward to hearing back from you.

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