How to SHOP FOR YOUR FIRST BALL
Informative article reproduced from the TECH CORNER column of Mark Lewis published by American Bowler Magazine (August 2001)

ARE YOU GETTING TIRED of hiding your favorite "House Ball?" You know, that one special ball that you have found that you can strike with? Of course, that "special house ball" is not getting any younger. Plus, your hand is starting to change shapes and colors from trying to hold on to that "special" ball that had to be drilled for someone with a shorter hand who weighed 100 pounds more than you. In fact, you may have considered putting both of your thumbs in the thumbhole just to see if that might help.

It's time to get your own bowling ball and stop sharing one with everyone else in town. When I say it's time to go "shop" for your first ball, I DON'T MEAN a department store or sporting goods store. I'm talking about paying a visit to your local pro shop where you can get a bowling ball measured to fit your hand by a professional ball driller, not by someone who sells fishing tackle, bicycle helmets, treadmills and maybe a bowling ball once a month.

As you look at the wide selection of new balls displayed on the pro shop wall, the first question you can expect (after "hello") is "Do you know what you are looking for?" Don't worry if you are unsure. You should work with the pro shop operator to explain some basic facts about your game:

• Where do you regularly bowl league?
• How often do you bowl?
• What type of ball do you throw? (Straight, small hook, medium hook, big hook, etc.)
• How long have you been bowling?
• How heavy is the ball you've been using?
• Bowling ball maintenance, plugging and resurfacing
• How fast do you throw the ball? (Fast, medium, slow)

Even after many of these questions, you might expect the pro shop operator to ask to watch you bowl. This can let the pros see for themselves how you deliver the ball so they can make a couple of suggestions on what ball would be best for you. For your first ball, a good idea would be a mid-priced ball with good performance (no need to get that racing car yet, A.J.). In addition, they will most likely talk to you about whether you would like the ball to be drilled with a fingertip grip or with a conventional grip.

The conventional grip is the same as that used in most house balls, where the fingers are inserted up to the second knuckle. A fingertip grip is just that, where the fingers are inserted only up to the first knuckle.

With that done, the operator will look at your hand to take measurements of your hand, thumb and fingers to properly drill the holes. Each person's hand is different in size, shape, length, and how it functions. They are going to measure three things:

• THE SPAN - This is the distance between the finger holes and the thumbhole. They will see how far that distance should be from thumb to the middle finger and the thumb to the ring finger. These will usually not be the same distance.
• THE HOLE SIZES - This is literally the size of your thumbhole and two finger holes.
• THE PITCH - This refers to the angle of the holes that will be drilled in the ball. The pro shop operator will look closely at your hand to see how it works. How flexible is it? From those observations they will angle the holes in the ball to match your hand and give you a comfortable feel with this ball drilled just for you.
  

A final thing to consider is that you may be able to add a pound of weight with a ball fit to your hand instead of that loose-fitting house ball.

Congratulations. You're on your way to a more consistent delivery and improved score.

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MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR BOWLING BALLS
By Larry Cook, Technically Certified Pro Shop Professional

Modern bowling balls are constructed with coverstocks of polyester (plastic), urethane, reactive resin urethane or micro particle urethane. Each type of coverstock requires maintenance in order to ensure good performance.

Polyester (plastic)
Currently produced plastic balls have low friction, harder coverstocks that require little maintenance in comparison to the other types of coverstocks. They can be maintained by simple cleaning with mild detergents and polish.
There are a number of good cleaning/polishing products made specifically for bowling balls and available from your pro shop. Heavily-tracked plastic balls can be restored by resurfacing.

Urethane
Since most urethane balls have more open pores and tend to glaze in the track area, it is necessary to clean them with abrasive pads on a ball spinner or resurfacing machine.

The desired finish can be obtained by using the correct pad and/or polish. Most urethane balls can be prepared for consistent performance by following the above procedure two to three times a season.

Reactive resin urethane
Reactive resin balls have tacky surfaces and open pores. They attract dirt and oil more readily than traditional urethane balls. In order to keep the crisp, like-new performance they require more maintenance.

About 30 to 40 games, these balls will be oil-soaked. Removing the oil will restore good ball movement at the back end. This process should be done by a pro shop professional with the proper equipment to eliminate the risk of damage and loss of ball warranty.

Reactive resins also glaze or become rough in the track area necessitating resurfacing the entire ball and bring it back to the desired surface finish.

Micro particle reactive resin
As the name implies, these balls have microscopic abrasive material in the coverstock. This material is more durable than reactive resin, thereby allowing for longer times between resurfacings. Most particle balls require special sanding materials, such as cerium oxide discs, for effective resurfacing and polishing. These balls also become oil soaked, needing the same process of oil removal as reactive resin urethane balls. Visit your pro shop after every 30 to 40 games for needed service and continuing good ball performance.

Other ball maintenance tips

• Do not subject your ball to extreme in temperatures. Leaving the ball in your car during hot or cold weather can cause damage that will not be covered by warranty.
• Wooden Lanes cause different wear than do synthetic lanes. Wood creates track scratches, while synthetic cause glazing. Both conditions require resurfacing of the ball for consistent performance.
• Ball surfaces that match up with lane conditions play a huge role in performance.
  

See a pro shop professional who has been technically certified by IBPSIA for help in maintaining long-lasting, high-level performance of your equipment.

Note: IBPSIA Member Larry Cook of Pro Am Sports in Boise, Idaho provided the content of this guide for publication so that other IBPSIA Members also may use it as a tool in serving customer.

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UGLY THUMB
By Jun Trasporto, Technically Certified Pro Shop Professional

In the 2003 July issue of Bowling This Month (BTM) magazine they started a contest for the "Ugliest Thumb in Bowling". They selected and published 4 photographs of these ugly thumbs each month. You don't have to look too far to find a bowler with a thumb that looks like an anvil fell on it…. You know, a swollen, balloon-like appendage that does not seem like it belongs to the rest of the hand. They come in all shapes, sizes and conditions: blistered, callused, knotted, bruised and bleeding. Others have nails that look like they have been through a meat grinder. What causes this problem? Well, in 99 cases out of 100, this condition materializes from one of two no-nos: improper pitches and/or a poor hole configuration. By and large, the span, the length and flexibility of the thumb, skin texture, and the nature of the bowler's release determine proper pitches. When it comes to determining the right thumb hole configuration, you have three basic options:

1. Oval the thumb hole. Keep in mind, your thumb is not round; it is oval-shaped. With today's technology a mill/drill ball-drilling machine can drill any oval combination easily and consistently. If this system is not available;

2. Install oval thumb sleeve/insert or;

3. Drill the thumb hole one size (1/64") larger and use tape or an insert to reduce the hole's size front to back.

During the four months that BTM ran this contest, lots of home remedies for the "Ugly Thumb" were sent by the readers. But only once that the suggested remedy pertains to fitting. If you have this problem - and before you do even more damage to your thumb - the best remedy is to consult an expert ball-driller quickly…. Preferably, an IBPSIA-technically certified pro shop professional.

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