and how would I go about starting to get them?
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*This space is currently available for lease.*

Edited on 3/3/2004 2:59 PM

Far away in a distant land there is a place where the ground is rich and fertile. Once a bowling ball company is happy with a new product design, they manufacture one and only one "seed ball" to plant in these blessed grounds.  Once the seed ball is planted, a ritual dance of 4 right-handers and one left-hander perform to the "bowling gods" for a plentiful harvest. After two weeks of great-wall-of-china fasting, only being allowed to bowl on reverse, short-oil patterns, the ritual performers are spent and the crop is ready for harvesting. The freshly grown balls are snipped at the base of the stem creating the "pin".  These balls find their way into proshops across the land and eventually into your bag.

Tony
http://www.allBowling.com

The reps for some of the manufacturers will sometimes have an allotment of balls that can be used for discretionary purposes.  For example, once the staffers and pro shops have been taken care of, these balls can be "seeded" in the marketplace by sending them to higher-profile bowlers within the rep's region or sales territory.  I was at a tournament last year where I was surrounded by "seeds" from one particular company.  These allotments tend to change frequently, though.  But it wouldn't hurt to get to know the reps in your area.  If they think that putting their ball in your hands will increase their sales, they'll seed you.

And as for you, Tony...I think you need to get out more often.