Pro Shop Information

Looking for a new bowling ball? Pro shop service is part of the entire package at Beverly Lanes because equipment is important to a bowler. New bowling balls from all major manufacturers can be ordered and drilled for your hand in usually less than a week. Bowling shoes, bags, and special wrist supports (besides those immediately available behind the desk) may also be ordered.
Our staff can take care of replacing worn finger grips, installing thumb grips, plugging and redrilling holes as well as a myriad of other grip. Frequently you may find great buys on high caliber bowling balls, particularly in the 15-16 lbs. range.
Bowling ball fitting and drilling at Beverly is done primarily by Lyle Zikes. Les Zikes has also measured thousands of hands over the years. Beyond that, junior coaches Roxanne Brod and Chuck Halfpap, and Tony Dussel are also well versed on pro shop information. With that in mind, here are many of the frequently asked pro shop related questions that are posed to us at the center:

What type of bowling ball works best on your lanes?

There is not a specific type of ball suited primarily for Beverly Lanes, or for any other center, for that matter. The technology of bowling equipment has made leaps and bounds so that today's options include a wide range of cover stocks (affecting surface friction) and interior weight blocks (influencing roll or skid). What works well for one individual could be detrimental to another.

So how do I figure out what will work best for me?

We attempt to help you do that by seeing you bowl and/or asking question about your game. The key is to determine your skills, your aspirations and, perhaps with some pocket book considerations, create a good equipment match.

How much does a new ball cost?

The range is from about $55 to $240. But the highest priced ball is not automatically the best match, particularly for a fairly new bowler. In general, lower priced balls hook very little, if at all. In that regard they are good for spares. Balls priced on the high end have more elaborate core designs and cover stocks that are enhanced by resins and/or particles. They are designed to provide more hook, more hitting power an increased strike percentage. But no matter how high the price tag, no ball will go into the strike pocket on its own. The player still needs to exhibit shot making and lane play skills to take advantage of the technology.

Please provide specifics. What brands and labels do you like?

Fair enough. We'll list some specific bowling balls, their general prize range (including drilling) and some hints about the type of bowler each suits the best.