Author Topic: How do PBA bowlers survive financially? (Read 14888 times)

johns811 · « **on:** January 23, 2007, 02:34:20 AM »

http://www.pba.com/stats/ytdstats.asp?Tour=1&Stype=Earnings

I was looking at what the PBA players earnings are for this season. Only the top 14 bowlers have made over 40K. Most of them under 20K. Don't these guys have to pay their own travel? Do they have to pay to enter tournaments? After taxes and expenses I don't see how they can afford it. Do they get any endorsements or salary from the ball companies?

Ragnar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2007, 10:37:31 AM »

At least some get endorsements/salary from ball/shoe/whatever companies. Some have backers.
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BrooklynSlop · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2007, 10:46:26 AM »

From what I was told, many of the guys out there who have ANY kind of sponsorship have a lot of their expenses paid (gas, hotel, flights, entry fees), which covers much of the field. But even WITH their expenses paid... It's a rough road with very little retirement prospects.
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shelley · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2007, 10:53:48 AM »

Yes, they pay to enter. Exempt bowlers pay $500 to enter each tournament (they make $1800 even if they don't make it out of the Round of 64), rabbits pay, I believe, $300 for the PTQ, then another $200 if they make it through. Maybe vice-versa for the rabbits.

They also pay for their own travel and accomodations, which is why most have roommates. Some of the more successful guys travel in a motor home to save on housing costs or to bring their families with them. WRW and PB3 both do that, I think.

They also pay for storage and transportation of equipment on the trucks, drilling from player services (there was an article on the website from one of the PS guys a few weeks ago). Of course, they don't have to use the storage on the truck if they don't want to. They also have to buy equipment unless they're on staff, albeit at a reduced cost. Staffers get equipment for free plus a salary, though few make the kind of money that Barnes, TJ, Malott, and PA (when he was with Track) make.

I've heard that it's about $30K to go out on tour for the year for travel, housing, equipment, food,... On the upside, a lot of it should be tax-deductible.

There's also the off-season which lasts about 6 months. A lot of them work in the industry in some capacity, and many own or work in a pro shop. Doug Kent owns two bowling alleys. They also give lessons and clinics, both during the off season and while touring (Jeff Carter mentions giving lessons while he's home in his blog).

They also have to pay for their own health insurance, income and payroll taxes, retirement,... It's possible that the PBA handles things like tax witholdings for them, I don't know. I would think that they'd try to get group health insurance, at least the 58 exempt guys, but I haven't read anything that indicates that's the case.

It's not particularly good money, and I wouldn't want to try to support a family
without a working spouse. If you were single without a lot of strong roots, it's doable financially, though you may not be living high on the hog.

SH

smash8-10split · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2007, 02:54:53 PM »

make jeff carter can chime in here.
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pate08 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2007, 03:30:20 PM »

quote:
Alot of them have decent contracts.

Barnes signed a 3 yr(not sure about how many yrs) $1,000,000 contract. Healthy to live on. Also.. most get equipment for free, and some get money for the random crap.

Also.. they all own a shop. Some own bowling lanes.. Doug Kent owns 2 in NY.

I think they make enough money for a family and all.. but in the end as long as they can stay above water.. it's not about the money.. but about the feeling of winning.

-Chris
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Not all of them own a shop.
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Pinbuster · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2007, 03:47:25 PM »

Most have minimal if any contract.

Mika, Bohn, Barnes, Duke, Weber get some money but I beleive Barnes contract was an anomaly.

I believe Walter Ray signed with Morich lately but no idea of value.

You get out of the top ten I would doubt they get more than $500 a month endorsement money. And the ball money for making a show is a drop in the bucket comared to what it was 10 years ago.

The ones I know do odd jobs during the off season. Wifes provide insurance and a stable income.

demo40 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2007, 03:52:51 PM »

Where else can you make $40,000 in 11 weeks?
I for one don't feel bad about how much they make.
They only bowl on the tour for 5 months. $40,000
in 5 months is very good. Plus add on whatever
their significant other makes. Not too shabby
from my view. I make $50,000 a year, not five
months. Plus, I have a house, two kids, two cars,
and two student loans to pay off. I get sick of
hearing that they "only" win $25,000 for a tournament.
That's half my yearly pay.

demo40 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:12:24 PM »

The only expense they have that might be higher than
any I have for a week is the cost to get into a
tournament (if it is not covered by a sponser). Their
gas might be higher than mine also, because I only have to
put in about a tank a week. I don't feel bad for them.
They are also making $1800 a week. They probably take home
$1200 after taxes. I bring home about $1300 every two weeks.

J_L_B · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:26:59 PM »

Let's use the bottom tier Exempt Pro as an example. Someone who gets a check every week, but doesn't make match play often.

Entry fee - $500
Last Check - $1800

Gross Profit - $1300

Estimated Expenses

Hotel for week - $300
Gas for week - $100
Food for week - $200
Equipment for week - (+ -) $100

Net Profit - $600 x 17 weeks = $10,200

The reason I use 17 weeks is because there is no guaranteed check for the Masters, Dick Weber, U.S. Open, World Championship.

That is poverty level income. I sure as hell hope the guys near the bottom of the points and money list have decent jobs during the off season....
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"You don't score, until you score......"

Edited on 1/23/2007 6:27 PM

Edited on 1/23/2007 6:28 PM

Bowler19 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:28:03 PM »

Hotel cost, equipment storage. Tourny entry is 500 so theres almost half their take home(after taxes) in entry fees. Plus they own homes and have to pay bills. and pay for health insurance and stuff it helps a bit if they are married but not all of them have a significant other.

Sure if they place and make TV it is a bonus and extran money. But they don't do that every week. there are 58 bowlers out there trying to make a living.
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michelle · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:29:37 PM »

quote:

Net Profit - $600 x 17 weeks = $10,200

The reason I use 17 weeks is because there is no guarantee check for the Masters, Dick Weber, U.S. Open, World Championship.

That is poverty level income. I sure as hell hope the guys near the bottom of the points and money list have decent jobs during the off season....

No it's not...$10.2K for roughly 4 months is not poverty level, even when you back out taxes that will be owed on that income (and schedule C is not kind in situations like this). You have another approximately eight months to account for other income.

J_L_B · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:41:06 PM »

The point is that they don't make very much during those 4 months. It equates to about $600 a week. That's about $15 an hour (before taxes) if they worked a 40 hr week.

UpTheLeftGutta · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:44:58 PM »

The one thing I have noticed is, Matt Frieburg is a regular on the PTQ circuit. I thought it was impossible until I read his article on PBA.com:

He works for the PBA setting up the tv sets every week. Now it makes sense. Apparently a few pros work for the PBA. Tim Criss? What does he do. Do they make a primo living with this?

BirwinJR · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2007, 06:03:13 PM »

Please, I would love the chance to go out there and so would most of you. I do not make a hole lot of money where I work and would love to bring home 600 a week even if it was for 17 weeks. I am a PBA member and wish I had a little help in the back pocket but, I don't.Back to my point I make around 20000 a year before taxes and stuff and still find a way to bowl 20+ tournaments a year. You do what you have to do if you want to live your dream if not go home and let someone like me have a chance.

Author Topic: How do PBA bowlers survive financially? (Read 14888 times)

johns811

How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

Ragnar

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

BrooklynSlop

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

shelley

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

smash8-10split

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

pate08

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Pinbuster

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

demo40

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

demo40

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

J_L_B

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

Bowler19

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

michelle

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

J_L_B

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

UpTheLeftGutta

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?

BirwinJR

Re: How do PBA bowlers survive financially?