AboutWarren 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
Question QUESTION: What is a good replacement or the equivalent ball for the Ebonite Big Time sanded?
ANSWER: Janet,
The core is duplicated in the Bash Red/Black, but without the flipblock and particle cover. What about the Big Time did you like?
As a mid-priced reactive (Big Bang XL) cover, this Bash has many of the attributes of the Big Time sanded. Let me know more and we can narrow the focus. Thanks for the questions.
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QUESTION: I like that it goes straight down the lane on third arrow from right then curves into pocket at very end. I also have the ebonite smash time and it works about the same. I'm only using a 10 pound ball and I want to go to 11 pound. I also use a conventional grip. I'm a small senior woman age(66) with a bad wrist and thumb. I bowl only about a 150 average which is fine but I leave 1 pin a lot. and spares are iffy. So if you have any suggestions please let me know.
Thanks Janet
Answer Janet,
The core in a light ball is the same as a basic entry level ball (have you ever thrown plastic?). Your Ebonite balls are probably identical inside. How invested is your ball driller in you doing better?
Your speed and light ball doesn't allow for much flexibility. A ball that needs to go long down the lane, needs to be shiny, smooth. Does the driller do anything special to the ball to get more out of it? Weight hole? Special top weight? Imbalance?
Leaving a pin is more the over-whelming weight of the pins versus the significantly lighter ball. Your angle to the pocket will help. A tighter angle, deeper on the lane, roll across the head pin, helps keep the ball's energy where it needs to be. Try a few shots from sixth arrow (third arrow from the other gutter). Adjust back toward your old line slowly to see if a better angle, comfortable shot path, is available to you.
Is there a coach you can get some tips from? Protect your wrist with a basic brace (Robby's or Wristmaster or the like). Why are the spares iffy? Rolling at multiple pins spares too much? or skidding or hooking by single pins?
Thanks for the questions. Let me know more. Good luck.
