How does one become a Professional bowler?

[Grimthrow]

*Keep in mind I'm a complete newbie with this*

It seems to me that there are quite a few bowlers around the country bowling with a 220+ average in league. What is the reason that some of them aren't looking to take it to the next level? Is it because the "sport" lanes are that much different? Do they think they're too old? Just bowling for fun? What does it take to get on the tour?

I mean obviously with Football, baseball, etc...you are being scouted at high school, then you have college. Bowling is such an individual sport, do you have to be invited to the tour? Win specific tournaments? I'm really just curious.

[DaveAyotte]

In my opinion, it has to do with money. Tournaments get really expensive, and to follow around a regional tour to try and qualify in a few of those will take a big chunk of dough out of your pocket. Most of these people have day jobs and a family to support. So unless you have a sponsor or two - it's really not all that economical.

[J Anderson]

You should go to the PBA website and check the details, but basically there are two ways to become a Pro bowler. The first is to maintain a USBC sanctioned average over 205 for two consecutive seasons. The second is to cash in two or more PBA events.

As Dave says in his reply many bowlers who could turn pro don't because of the money. Given the expenses of PBA membership, entry fees, travel, buying and maintaining enough different balls to be competitive on all the different conditions, even successful regional pros barely break even.

[Grimthrow]

Good stuff...thanks guys. That's too bad that it's so expensive to pay and travel for tournaments. Do you think some bowler's sponsors pay for that sort of thing?

[DaveAyotte]

Sure they do. Tournament fees, Free equipment, etc. They may even give you a little bonus for placing/ winning.

[J Anderson]

By the way, PBA membership gives you discounted practice at participating centers. Last I heard was that it was capped at no more than $2 per game, though some centers may charge less. I believe that pros also get a very generous discount on equipment.

[The Mayor]

Actually, they've changed the requirements to become a member.

1. A 200 average or better for the most recent league season with at least 36 games in that league.

2. A 190 average or better in a sanctioned USBC Sport Bowling League. This is a league certified by the USBC using the PBA patterns. You can find out if there are sports leagues near you by contacting the USBC at (800) 514-BOWL (2695).

3. Cashing in a PBA Regional tournament as a non-member.

4. Be a member of the WTBA (International members only).

200 for 36 games is a joke. They lowered the standards to give more people the opportunity to donate.

[got_a_300]

Back in the late 1990's before my back injury when I was in the process of joining the PBA
you had to average at least 190+ for two consecutive seasons of 66 games or more or cash
in a tournament and back then you earned that average the hard way. Wooden lanes with
hardly any head oil and mid lanes that were fried and urethane bowling balls as there were
hardly any reactive balls on the market at that time and there were hardly any synthetic lanes
to speak of and no easy THS that a lot of people can average 200+ on nowadays.

Now back to the original post, now as for the cost of being a Pro bowler you will need some
very good sponsors, money and (or) ball wise or a boat load of your own money as it is a very
expensive endeavor to get into especially at todays prices on everything. The bowlers around
the country averaging 220+ a lot of them most likely couldn't cut it as a Pro bowler because of
the above mentioned easy THS has them spoiled. Put them on the Viper, Scorpion, Chameleon or
even the super easy Cheetah shot and a lot of them would choke because they would have no
clue as to how to play the lanes.

I'm not saying they all would choke a few might even excel on those shots and become a member
and be the next PBA player of the year. We have had a few in our center that have tried the PBA
and found out that they didn't have what it takes to play the PBA shots even though they were
averaging 230 in house they hit those PBA lane conditions and averaged something like 135 - 165.

[DanielMareina]

Anyone with a PBA card do receive bowling balls for the same price most pro shops pay to get them wholesale. It does greatly reduce the costs for bowling balls, and most the reason why people who average 220 in league don't go pro is because they aren't good enough. I know quite a few people that average around there that can't bowl on any sport pattern and average over 180. The normal person loses 30 pins off their average when bowling on sport shots. If you can't average over 205 on sport patterns, you are not good enough to make it as a regional bowler. Most of those that are regional pros also need a day job to afford to live.
As for the sponsors, exempt pros get lots of benifits, but most regional guys just get free balls, bags, and shirts and bonuses if they win tournaments. I am on the Storm Pro Shop staff, and that gets me a good amount of equipment and connections within the company. I also get more free stuff if I win a tournament or place high in a major tournament. I assume that the bowlers who earn their way in with skills at bowling probably get a slightly different contract, but along the same lines. In my center, regional pros do get to practice for free. Most centers in the area offer either 50 cent games or games for $1.

[Grimthrow]

How would I go about bowling on a sport pattern. I bowled on one last sunday because there wasn't any other lanes open and I actually bowled a lot better. Have no idea what kind of pattern specifically it was though. I only have one ball so it's not like I can experiment too much, but it was fun seeing where the ball would break as opposed to the usual league lanes.

Apparently my alley does a sport lane every Thursday and Sunday. Should I try to bowl on them as much as possible? I don't expect to ever really be a PBA bowler as I'm terrible right now...but one can strive for something...I don't really do much else with my free-time. I live in the twin cities area so there is a lot of alleys in the area. Perhaps I should check when they all have sport lanes going on. I'm just competitive is all.

[Grimthrow]

*twin cities being Minneapolis/St. Paul

[DanielMareina]

Bowling on sport shots is always a good idea. It makes you not only get to know the oil itself, but also gets people to get used to a more consistent line. Most house shots allow people to miss their mark and still get to the pocket. Sport patterns do the opposite. They help people advance their game much faster than house shots could do, although they will brooze the confidence a bit ;)

[DaveAyotte]

check bowl.com for your regional rep's information and ask them if they run any in your area. Usually there is a sport league over summers - not too many run over the winters. It's 14 weeks or so... and it's a really good experience. Although, idk if they do the PBA shots anymore because they trademarked/licensed them. They still have other sport shots though put out by Kegel, and they are just as difficult. It'll help you out with accuracy, lane reading, and spare shooting. I highly recommend checking it out.

[DanielMareina]

They did stop doing the PBA experience leagues last year, but they paid the fee again this year, so you will probably find a few centers willing to do them.

[striker12]

well bowling on the tour is up to the bowlers decistion i know a few people that have high avgs and then i know 3 people with 5-12 and 25 300s and non of them are going to join the tour notfor money reasons but because of the pressure that comes form joining the tour that might be one reason why people are not taking it up me i have been in some turnnys and theres alot of pressure it was hard but i onyl carry a 144 avg know but a 162 back when i tryed it soo im just practising know to get better

[billf]

Do the sport league. It will help you improve tremendously. Instead of having a 12 board margin of error like a house shot, you will have 2 boards. It really helps with targeting. In my area we have several guys averaging of 230 in normal leagues. All but two average less than 170 on sport patterns. My average is lousy but at least I manage to average the same in both leagues and usually higher than average in tournaments out of town. We have wood lanes (on their last cut) and a seriously dry house shot.
We do have one guy that averages over 240. I asked why he never tried going pro. He hates traveling, even hates driving on the highway. I thought he was just giving an excuse until I learned he usually has to be driven to the state tourney.

[Ball99999]

Bowling in the PBA is a huge mental game. Constantly having to estimate where to move/adjust and how to play each lane. Also it's a competition so you have to worry about other people bowling your line or even trying to take your line away from you.