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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

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Bowling > Bowling > Entry level?

Bowling - Entry level?

Expert: Warren Friedl - 11/6/2009

Question
My girlfriend has wanted to get into bowling and getting her own ball.She has only really thrown a house ball. She is willing and wanting to learn how to throw a fingertip ball. I was going to surprise her with a ball for christmas, but I don't know what type of ball to get. For the weight i think she wants a 12, maybe 13lb ball. She doesnt want a ball that hooks hard, but maybe a slight backend motion. I was looking a couple of bowling balls, such as the tropical storm, Columbia Freeze and the Ebonite Tornado. Any thoughts or ideas?

Answer
John,
Thoughtful gift but be careful. When venturing into a performance grip, especially when utilizing a performance ball (even an entry level performance ball), you add elements that will magnify any inconsistency that can be very frustrating.

When first rolling a "tip" your delivery isn't always perfect and that leads to the ball being harder to control. Add in changing lane conditions, inconsistent ball speed and rev rate and the ball might be spraying all over the place (hooking, not hooking,).

If your girlfriend has achieved even a modest level of success with house balls, she may not be able to depend on her experience to help understand what's happening when she rolls the new ball. House balls don't do much and force you to be somewhat consistent directing them downlane.

You might want to consider getting here some lessons with the new ball so she gets off on the right foot and gets some basic set-up and footwork/approach guidance making it easier to control the new ball. If the ball comes with the baggage of frustration, she may not improve quickly enough, for it to be really appreciated. But, help her roll it better and she's on to quicker success and positive experiences.

Thanks for the question. Good luck with her gift and bowl well.

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