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: Greetings Warren. Before I begin with my question, allow me first to say thanks, for taking your time to provide us with your knowledge in this sport. It's people like you that helped this sport grow to where it is now.
Now that that's out of the way.... LOL, here is my question. I am a lefty that is currently bowling on house lanes using a black widow bite middle track. Most of the times when I hit the pocket, I tend to leave a lot of 7 pins. I play around the first arrow upto 2 1/2 arrows depending on the lane condition with medium to high speed with a fair amount of revs. Is it due to these reasons? 1. The lanes are getting drier and that my ball is reacting sooner? 2. Do I have to change the axis of my release, adding more side roll? 3. Do I have to change my ball to a ball that skids then flips? A brunswick rattler perhaps? 4. Can I use the same ball (BWB) but move to the left a few boards or maybe move back a few inches so that the ball would hit higher into the pocket?
Also, my finger tends to swell after I bowl. Is it because I pull to hard with my fingers? It's usually the middle finger. Currently this is how I release the ball. I hold the ball slightly tilted to the right. On my swing my wrist is flat not cupped. Then upon release I slightly break my wrist and flick forward creating a scooping motion. Could this pose as an issue? Is this an incorrect way of releasing the ball?
Another thing, I noticed that the oil marks on my track tend to come close to my thumb hole. Should I change the drilling on my ball from middle track to high track or maybe low track?
Kindly let me know your thoughts.
Thanks again in advance for your help.
ANSWER: Richard,
You didn't mention if you leave a solid 7 or if the 4 pin is rattling around (laying in the flat gutter) next to the seven leaving a weak 7.
Some of the reasons you suggest are possibilities. #1 if the strong surface of your ball is causing it to roll too soon, adjust the surface #sand smoother or add a bit of polish#. #2 Your tilt is bigger than optimum, so a stronger release will cause the ball to hook earlier moving you more inside. #3 I don't think the ball is the culprit. #4 Definitely moving should help, but move right and/or back.
A swelling finger is probably a fit issue #torque/pitch/hole size#. Talk to your driller and have them suggest solutions.
Your track is a reflection of your release. Your pitches #and span length# may urge you around the ball more or less. Unless you have a specific fit for a specific roll, how you roll it causes the axis tilt and axis rotation #position of track on the ball).
Thanks for the question. Please follow-up with more info, and let me know if the above suggestions help.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Warren. I'll keep all your advice in mind the next time I bowl. As for the corner pins, they're usually ringing 7s. Most of the time the messenger pins go around them. BTW... if I didn't want to change the surface of my BWB so that I can use this ball on oily lanes, do you think the Brunswick Rattler would be a good ball to use on drier lanes, specifically house league lanes? Also, you mentioned that my tilt is bigger than optimum. Does this mean that I should change my release? I usually position my hand at my desired release all the way through (thumb pointing to 1 0'clock). So moving it from 1 to 2-2:30 to create more side roll won't change the fact that I leave 7 pins?
Answer Richard,
The pin that should knock out the seven is the four. A messenger pin would be something else from the rack being hit over into the 7 (usually the head pin, bouncing off the right sideboard/kickback and shooting back across the deck).
I'm afraid that holding the ball as you describe, with the ball track as you mention, you're over turning the ball at the bottom of your swing. Track shouldn't be as far away from the fingers. What position is the thumb after you release the ball? Are you looking at the back of your hand?
Try the thumb/10 O'clock hand position and don't turn the ball at release. Check out the track, it should be higher to your fingers. The change in ball roll should be stronger, so you'll need to move right a little.
Let me know how it works. Thanks for the questions.
