I work as a manager in a Bowling centre in London, U.K., and I bowl in a league as well.

Straight to the point, "why do some of the league bowlers always Moan?", they moan about everything: not enough oil, too much oil, no backend, oil too shot, bad pin-carry, apporach too sticky, bar close too early, music too loud...............etc. anything they can think of, and never their faults!!

True, some of the things that they say is right, but I believe that if you are a good enough bowler, then you should be able to adjust to the lane condition and still score. What really piss me off is when some avg.160 bowlers come and talk nonsense to me just as I am about to throw a shot..........  

If you average 200+ then fine, moan all you want, but an avg. 155 smart-ass? Come on!!!!!!???  Give me a break!

Unfortunately, my game is not very good, avg.170, so I can't use my game to do the talking for me, and because I work there as the manager as well, I can't be rude and tell them to SHUT UP, so I guess I just have to put up with it then! Catch 22.

Thanks for listening, and I want to bowl like Tommy Jones!!


ps, I can't play when there's carry down, so what is the best ball to get?
    Lanes: 39ft, Mid-oil, loads of carry down, Synthetic
    Me: mid ball speed tweener, mid rev

pps, a Fear Factor costs £190 here in UK, about US$350, this is just mad!!!  even a Maxim costs £55, about £100!!  You people in the US are so lucky!


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Charlie 'I can't stand it' Brown


PDW, Del Ballard Jr., Tim Mack, Tore Torgersen, Randy Pedersen, Tommy Jones

I'm rooting for all of you!!!

Hey CB,

It's human nature.  How long have you been in the business?  I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to it.  I own a shop and wherever I go, when I'm trying to bowl, I'm always asked to fix bowlers loose grips, open thumbholes, look at a tiny little scratch the lanes just did, what ball is good for this, what ball is good for that, what am I doing, what am I not doing, can I buy some rosin, tape, ez slide, nu skin and any other little thing you could think of.  I have a machine in my bowling center with all these things in there but they still have to come ask me when the shop is closed and I'm trying to enjoy myself and bowl.  Not all of these bowlers are even my customers!  But I'm the Pro Shop guy who can do it all and focus and average high or I stink!  So I'm in the same boat you are...I can't be mean or tell them to go away or I'm labeled a jerk.  You're not the only one who gets this...

In regards to a ball, I'd suggest a Track Phenom Unleashed.  It can overpower the mids and store quite a bit of energy for the backend.  

Tommy was my teammate in the Calcutta Tourney in Medford Or before the show in Jan.  Great guy..turns the ball real nice too.
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Pro Shop Staff
Vise Grip Staff

There are few complaints I will voice and I think they are valid:

1). Bad approaches. If the the approach is too sticky then you will have bowlers breaking out the powder or if they are too slippy they use rosin. A bad approach can cause some bowlers injury.

2). No oil: I mean nothing. Having oil on the lanes is part of the game. Whether there is a little or a lot.

3). Pinsetters breaking down.

4). Balls coming back with large scratches and chunks taken out of them.


On the oil issue: I finally saw lanes being checked. I was talking to the guys and they tell me the rule is this: Where there is oil there must be at least 3 units. Thats all they have to check.