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 I've bowling in a league for about 2 years now, my average last year was 108 and this year its 134. Im using the same ball, a gamebreaker which I love, my dad tells me to bend my knees and get lift on the ball, while my coach tells me to follow through and keep my shoulders square. I have tendency to drop my 14 pound ball,its definitely to heavy, but I've gotten the thumb hole fixed twice and I constantly get blisters. Any tips?
Answer Jake,
Sounds like the ball still doesn't fit well. What do you weight? More than 130? If so, weight is probably OK. If you're lighter, the weight may be a little too much.
Both coach and dad are offering good advice for a newer bowler. Work on the suggestions, one at a time. Trying to do four things at once is a problem. When you've rolled the ball enough that a change in your game doesn't feel strange (30 to 50 practice shots), you are changing the muscle memory and unlearning a less desirable action.
The ball needs to fit better, it should let go of you! If you have to grip so much, it's not fitting well.
Some drillers have limited opportunities to learn from top people. Your hand, flexibility, size, moistness/or lack of, all effects your ability to let the ball roll off your hand.
Your driller tried twice to fix the problem, let them know you still have a problem with the hole. If possible, get the fit (spans, pitches, hole sizes, etc.) and I can try to help with what's going on.
I am not being critical of your driller, but as an IBPSIA trained driller (getting the combined knowledge of hundreds of ball drillers, ball manufacturer's reps, tour reps, etc.), I've seen a lot (here in Chicago), been exposed to even more from my peers, and can help or know someone that can.
