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: Warren:
Thankyou for myRedWolf suggestions and tips,very appreciative. I bought and had my MegaFriction like an IDIOT drilled "conventional" cause being a "gripper" I "thought" I could get it to turn...whata STUPID mistake,I actually "killed" it. So,took it back and the driller plugged it and redrilled "semi-fingertip". I have enclosed (2)two photos to show you what I THINK isnt right COMPARED to the way my semi RedWolf was drilled. (ie Im a rt hander).
Why do I think this a wrong setup for a rt-hander? Shouldnt the thumb hole be a "little" off center to the right(If you turn the ball with the thumb hole pointing up like I was ready to bowl,it would of course be to the left off center)? My RedWolf NOW that I remember was "off". Next Q: Ive never had a plugged ball before,is there any "future" downfalls I should look for? Im hoping my pics I sent to you turn out and I DO apologize for not sending the stats you asked for once I got it drilled(ie maxbias,CG,PAP,etcetc).
Thanks for your undivided reponses,I just hope to end all these hassles cause ,I dunno...doesnt look right,and by looking at it,does it appear to you its setup for "strong backend"?
Thankyou,
David
ANSWER: David,
Drilled properly, a MegaFriction should have helped, even a conventionally thrown ball hook. What were the conditions like that it didn't move much?
I think what you remember was more a perception thing. Was it drilled like the picture just shorter for the conventional? Many people have a slightly longer span from thumb to ring finger. Your grip looks that way.
Your arm and hand usually impart most of the turn. I wouldn't worry about the look of the grip, if it's allowing the ball to let go of you.
Where is the weight hole in this ball? With the label over so far, I would expect an imbalance. An imbalance would need a hole to make it legal. Did the driller work off your Positive Axis point (PAP)?
How does it roll? Looks like it's set up to roll VERY early.
Semi-fingertip is a grip that is no longer used. Having your finger bend between the first and second creases (knuckles) of your fingers, is considered a semi-fingertip (and fairly painful sometimes, because the finger doesn't bend there). What do you understand the term semi-fingertip to mean?
The ball looks to be set up for early roll. Not knowing any details of how you roll (PAP, speed, rev rate, axis tilt and axis rotation, lane conditions), any comment would be a guess. Thanks for following up. Let me know more. Thanks.
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QUESTION: Follow Up: 1)The conditions were hvyoil which I did move rt a couple of boards,shooting between 1st/2nd arrow(think 5-6th board). There was no need for extra loft(Im a natural lofter,(nothing radical to put a hole in the floor). 2) My Redwolf was drilled with same fingertip long span but the thumbhole center was "just" off to the right(I thought it was to "enhance" hook(probably wrong),but it WAS my 1st ever fingertip yrs ago so I thought it was norm procedure. Guess grips fine,it does release easy. Im hoping you got BOTH my pics I sent,pic#1 if you look rt of the star by USBC logo and down abbout 3:30 on clock,the holes there(I will resend pic). As far as driller goes,I told him I wanted stats to send on the internet,but him being "swamped" with like 10balls to drill everytime I went back,it wasnt time smart to break away. Asked him to even watch me bowl when I bought it,which he was there for 3mins then walked away(oh well,my problem). With my speed she runs real well(hitting mark) and sorta just slides and barely breaks,sooo thats when I went back for FINGERTIP drill(sorry,semi shouldnt been typed).
Last remark and question. Bought new Etonic Blue flame shoes which Im 13EEE and had to settle for 13M width. It seems Warren,through research I cant seem to find Innerchangable soles WITH a wide width,can find either size(no changable) or changable(minus width). What I need is like those "house shoes"..long sliding sole instead of the "norm" short soles advertised(and house has a heel, these are flat all the way back to shoe. It acts like in slide the back 60% of rubber sole is stopping me.
Many have a "ball of foot slide"I use entire sole. I was off balance too many times when I first threw new ball. Any suggestions? Frustration is settin in concerning all the problems Im having,rather it be the ball drillings,lack of turnover,shoes stopping me in my tracks from sliding,and so forth. I really did expect to have my ball broken in and NOT worry about shoes and wantnot,and I especially dont like piling you with question after question cause I THOUGHT the least Id hafta worry about is getting used to my ball and move on to enter USBC t'neys. So Im here to say, I am very thankful again for the time you take and patience you have for our problems,I for one appreciate it ALL,but am slowly reaching giveup point(which thats not the norm me,not a giverupper). BTW,shoes arent sticking,theyre stopping me ABRUPTLY in my tracks.
Thanks,
david
Answer David,
It sounds like you slide very stiff legged (causing the heel to stop you too soon). Can you try to work a little knee bend into your set-up, approach and slide?
Let the ball swing naturally (from gravity) rather than accelerating it at any point in your armswing.
Share with your driller that you are so frustrated with his ball that you are thinking of quitting the sport. Let him know that someone volunteered to help you, since he wouldn't, but because I'm not there in town, I'll need the info on the ball. I can talk to the manufacturer for input, too.
How close to the Positive Axis point is the pin of the MegaFriction? What are your PAP co-ordinates? What was the top weight before drilling? What are the weights now? Has the ball's surface been changed?
Was this a ball the store offered, or did you get it online?
Thanks for the questions. Look forward to hearing back.
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