The inspiration for today’s blog is on of our twitter followers Dustin Roberts. He asked “What kind of ball would you recommend for a new bowler starting out?” We understand that when you get serious about bowling the products and options can be overwhelming. Each ball company puts outs many new balls a year and a new bowler has got to find that confusing. Are they improving on something that didn’t work or can I go with an older ball that seems to look like its going to do what I need? So, here are some tips for ball selection in general.
Archive for the ‘Bowling Balls’ Category
Your First Bowling Ball – Choices, Choices Ouch!
Thursday, February 9th, 2012Oh, Where, Oh, Where Is My 300 Too?
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
After Jason Belmonte’s 300 game, inevidably a lot of people have that goal fresh in their mind. It was thrillling to watch but just how elusive is a 300? How and when and how many times has it been accomplished? Jason was amazing and it is not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination, but really how often does that perfect game happen in an alley near you? Is there a club on the board or list at your Bowling Alley? Are you in that club? If you are – congratulations. If you aren’t yet, then dream the dream and one day..right?
So let’s get down to those brass tacks. What is an official 300 game? It is genereally considered official when the game is recognized by a major bowling organization such as the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), the United States Bowling Congress, the Amateur Bowling Tour (ABT) or the British Tenpin Bowling Association. That organization will then inspect the lane after the 300 is thrown and call it official. These organizations all have a commemorative game ring. Just like the Superbowl! Most of us don’t end up with a fancy ring but instead are given a trophy or plaque and better than all, bragging rights for a very long time at our local alley.
Kindness Begins With Me
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Minding your P’s and Q’s is just a huge part of life right? Being polite gets you a long way with most people. And using your best bowling manners make the lanes fun for everyone. Its not even like it’s hard either. Most of the unwritten rules are just common sense. But when they are practiced by everyone, there is no greater place to be!
Ok, so you enter the alley. Right away there are some things to remember. First, you will need to make sure you know the rules of the alley. They may do things different from other alleys you’ve played in, so take note. Rent the shoes! You have to wear them because “real” shoes leave marks on the approach. You could fall, squeak, and distract others. If you do this as a hobby or go more than 3times a year – buy some of your own shoes! They aren’t expensive and they fit you foot! Look at our blog Fashionista in the Alley for tips.
Historical Bowling – Blame or Celebrate the Egyptians?
Monday, January 9th, 2012
We are sure that by now you are just loving your new equipment. As you watch your numbers go up – take time to appreciate the history of this great game. It goes back a long way and really did you know we have the Egyptians to thank? In 5200 B.C., the Egyptians used stones for bowling balls, playing a game that was perhaps very similar to the one we enjoy today. When bowling became widely appreciated in America at the turn of the 20th century, bowling balls were most likely made out of wood or hard leather. Rubber bowling balls were introduced in 1906, and were the standard until the 1960s and 1970s when the emergence of plastic allowed for the production of plastic bowling balls.
In the 1970s, people began experimenting with the hardness of the bowlingball. Improvements in plastics allowed for the production of balls of different densities, which gave the bowler more choice in performance style and substance. PBA member Pat McCune advanced the sport considerably when began using a variety of chemicals to soften balls in his garage.
Don Carter – a bowling gentleman
Friday, January 6th, 2012
We are all saddened to hear of the passing of the great Don Carter. He died at his home in Miami on Thursday night. He had just returned home from a stay in a Miami hospital where he was fighting pneumonia. He was 85 years old.
ESPN today described him as: “bowling’s original superstar. He became his sport’s most recognizable name when bowling was a fixture on TV. Carter became a leading force in the formation of the PBA in 1958. He was voted Bowler of the Year six times, served as the PBA’s first president and became a charter member of the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975.”
Crafty Old Bowling Balls!
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
This Christmas your family is going to get a real treat. New bowling balls! Personalized in every way. Weight, style, drilled for each individual and your hobby will take on a new excitement. Now, what do you do with the old bowling balls that just cannot be thrown any more? They are cracked and almost don’t even make it down the lane. What do you do? Do not throw it away!
For the crafty bowlers amongst us, there are tons of cute and clever ideas for “recycling” old balls into garden decorations, sculptures and even furniture!
One of the easiest ways to resurrect your old bowling ball is to simply give it a nice coat of some bright, water-repellent paint. It doesn’t take any extra artistic skill to paint on some oversize eyes and facial features, and voila, you have your very own Bowling Ball garden gnome! Just stick it in your yard or in a flower planter and be prepared for the amused chuckles of your admiring neighbors. (more…)
Why Bowling.com?
Monday, November 21st, 2011So, we were thinking. You as customer have a lot of choice out there. You and your partner need new bowling equipment. You are both tired of feeling like the ball is really to blame. You’ve stopped here at bowling.com and are even checking out our blog. Thanks! But why should you stop with us? Why wouldn’t you point your mouse towards another search?
We would love to think that you would want to buy from us at bowling.com because we are the best at what we do. And you appreciate the best. We strive every day to provide you the best service, pricing, and equipment possible. We know this game is important to you. We are passionate about it too. We feel we succeed when we receive wonderful testimonials complimenting our service. Dawn H. took the time to write to us and had this to say… “I would like to say thank you for the great service your company has provided and thank you to the customer service staff. They were all very helpful and pleasant to talk to. It is so refreshing to have such good professional service.” Only some of the others are listed on our website.
Pearl or Solid, What’s your Pleasure?
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011Brunswick introduces their precious Pearl. Just like a pearl, it has gone though an aggressive fine tuning. They start with a core that is unique to every ball and yet you can still use standard drilling techniques. And we can talk all about the how it maintains a great continuation even up to the back end and obliterates the pins, but what you really want to see are the testimonials. Will this ball do what the product description claims? Will using it help you win your league? Even though one of your team members really is getting on your nerves because of their “whatever” attitude? You have to make up the points somehow. Want to really know if the Pearl or the Solid is for you?
Take a look at this video, yes it is promotional and put together by Brunswick, but the candid shots are compelling. The people they interview know what they are talking about and could be at any of our alleys. Then once you are convinced, visit us at http://www.bowling.com/products/brunswick-nexus—p-f–solid.htm to shop for your Nexus Solid or, http://www.bowling.com/products/brunswick-nexus—p–pearl.htm for that beautiful Pearl. Happy shopping and then happier bowling!
Bowling Mecca… Kentucky?
Monday, November 14th, 2011
As you watch your ball hit the pins for a strike do you ever contemplate where the pins and the other equipment are made? The answer for 50 per cent of bowling balls and 150,000 pins a year is the beautiful town of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Ebonite International has made its home right there in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. It is the Mecca of the bowling world. They are a major “umbrella” corporation. Similar to other umbrellas, like Ford Motor Company or The Gap, Ebonite International owns many different brands that you will recognize and maybe would have thought were even each other’s competition. These brands like, Hammer Bowling, Columbia 300, Track, Dyno-Thane, Power House and Robby’s,
Long-time WIBC board member & bowling ambassador Joan Feinblum featured on “Here’s To Your Health.”
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011Joan is a former Vice President of the Women’s International Bowling Congress. She has over five decades of service to bowling. Joan discusses how her bowling league teammates got her through the most difficult hours of her battle with breast cancer, the relationship between breast cancer and bone health, and much more. Click the video above for more on Feinblum’s inspiring story about the important role bowling has played in her life. There is nothing like the friendships and inspiration of that can come from bowling.
