This is a review of the pro shop at the Strike Zone Bowling Center at Sunset Station. I've been pretty excited about getting back into bowling, I've been studying youtube videos and taking coaching lessons every week for a few months. I believed I could handle more weight than the 12-pound hook and straight balls I've been using, so I was ready to go buy two new balls. I called Sunset's pro shop on a Friday afternoon and asked if it was a good time to come over to buy a couple balls. Ron told me he had a few things going on, but to come and he'd be sure to help me get what I needed.
When I got there, and through the several hours I spent there, I could see this was a busy day for the shop, which only had one employee on duty. The shop was rarely empty of customers all afternoon. I was patient and waited til Ron had time to talk to me, and it was worth the wait. We talked some about my bowling, the coaching, and what I had come for. I let him know that although I had been researching, I found it confusing, and I wanted his help in choosing the weight and type of ball. He had me swing a 14-pound ball, and although it was manageable, we agreed that 13 pounds was probably a better fit for me. He gave me several reasons, relating to comfort, control, etc, as well as what kinds of cores were available in the various weights. I had come prepared with my old balls and a few videos of my bowling, and he looked at the balls but preferred to see me bowl rather than watch the videos. He gave me a voucher that I took to the front desk to get two free games. While I bowled, Ron helped other customers, but observed me bowling as well. After the games, we talked some more about how the old balls were drilled, how that felt, etc. He took a lot of measurements on my old hook ball, diameters, drill angles, etc. Having seen me bowl and knowing about my bowling habits, he was then ready to recommend a new ball for me. He explained several options and told me which he recommended the most. I was there for his opinion, so I went with that. When I asked about ordering a second, straight ball, he said my current straight ball was fine, but if I wanted to match the weight, I could just pick up a used one and have it redrilled, as straight balls are much simpler than hook balls.
He gave me another voucher for two more free games, and while I bowled some more with my old hook ball, he made some alterations to my straight ball. He first explained what he thought it needed, and with my agreement he made some changes to fix the span and the angle of one finger, which had been making my fingertip numb, and he changed the thumb hole as well. He wanted me to try out these changes, as that would give him more information when it came time to drill the new hook ball.
When he was done he brought it out to the lane for me to try, and I bowled for a while with it, comparing it to the feel of my curve ball which had the same drilling as the original straight ball. The straight ball was much better after Ron fixed it. I hadn't even noticed before that the balls had been pinching my thumb, but after bowling with the ball that he fixed, it felt so smooth. When I compared the old hook ball with the newly fixed straight ball, I noticed the hook ball was really not comfortable. I'd been using it several months but didn't realize it was not so good, not until I compared how it felt to another ball that was drilled properly. If you had worn tight shoes all your life, and then one day you were given shoes that fit comfortably, that's the difference that I felt after Ron fixed the straight ball. I'm not exaggerating when I say it fits like a glove now, just comfortable as can be.
He also showed me how to use tape in the holes, and scribed the center position for the thumb hole so I would always know where to line up new tape. He also told me some things he liked about my bowling style, and gave me a couple tips to help improve my game.
Suffice it to say, I was extremely impressed with the help that I got from Ron, especially considering it was a busy day in the shop. Not only did he help me choose a good weight and type of ball, but he also taught me some new things. When I got home, I researched the ball, and I'm impressed with this choice. All the reviews on this ball are glowing, and the description of how it handles under various lane conditions sound like the perfect ball for me. I can't wait to get it and see if it makes the difference in my game that Ron predicted.
I highly recommend that you go see Ron when you have time to spend, and work with him to check out your ball and bowling style. You're sure to come away with improvements all around. Plus, he's just a heck of a nice guy who enjoys helping people, and he's good at what he does.
Side note: this was the first time I had bowled at Sunset, and I loved the lanes. The oil was good, and the people at the desk were friendly and helpful. read more