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: Bought a new Storm Virtual Energy and after 5 games developed a blood blister on the inside of my thumb tip, (next to my index finger). Went back to the pro shop and he flared out he thumb hole slightly and said to try it. Bowled last night and still felt discomfort. The ball has thumb inserts and finger inserts. At times the finger inserts feel tight. Have not bowled in a long time, maybe need to adjust. Any ideas on the thumb blistering would be appreciated.
Thanks
ANSWER: Al,
Span could be too short or you have too much reverse pitch (not enough forward??). Too much gripping.
The tight fingers could be a little swelling, since you haven't bowled in a while.
What kind of thumb insert? Oval? Tapered? Slug? Is it tight or loose? Let me know. Thanks for the questions.
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QUESTION: The thumb insert is a slug and it also feels snug at times. I have used powder to insure that the thumb releases smoothly. I'm not sure about the reverse pitch. I've heard of it before but do not know what it means.
Al,
Reverse pitch is a description of one of the angles that your thumb can be drilled.
Picture the center of your bowling ball, below the center of gravity. That point is the reference point for all the angles of your finger or thumb holes. If the hole is drilled directly toward the center of the ball, it is considered zero pitch. If the hole is angled to the left of the center it is considered left (lateral) pitch, likewise right of the center, right pitch. If the hole angle is toward/and past the center it is considered forward pitch, likewise not hitting the center would be considered reverse pitch.
I've include a crude graphic, hopefully it helps. Thanks.
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