Big Jim's Pro Shop

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

New releases from the Storm family. Stop by to chat about them.

06/05/2026

Pro Tip Friday: How to play the lanes when people are using urethane

When you’re bowling and someone is throwing urethane, you might start seeing the lane transition differently.

🎳 Why? Urethane doesn’t absorb oil from the lane, very similar to plastic balls. So the oil from the pattern stays on the coverstock and is pushed down the lane. Urethane bowling balls, if used correctly, are sanded down to a very rough surface. So when you have a very dull ball being thrown it essentially is sanding the oil off the lane between the foul line and first 20 feet. ANY sanded ball will do that, but reactive won't push that oil further down.

🎳 How will things change when urethane is going down the lane? Differently. If you’re bowling good then you start to see your ball get lazy on the back end, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ball stopped hooking. It might be hooking earlier and is losing energy before it hits the breakpoint. The front part of the lane is getting dryer AND urethane is stretching the pattern out. Let’s say the pattern is 40 ft, if there’s urethane being thrown, it makes it more like 41 or 42 ft pattern.

🎳 What do you do? Normally, when your ball gets lazy and is hooking earlier, you switch to a weaker ball that will get through the front or move your feet. With urethane, you have to think differently. Moving your feet isn’t always the right move. You should think about balling up into a stronger ball.

🎳 It's not always bad - sometimes urethane will make the lanes easier, especially when there is too little oil. When the ball is hooking a lot and the pattern stretches, you won’t have to move your feet that much. You can stay in the same part of the lane and use a stronger ball, which will probably result in better scores.
It's about paying attention to your surroundings.

06/04/2026

One of the key elements of the physical game is a relaxed armswing, free of excess muscle tension. This week's tip gives you a drill progression to help loosen up that swing and improve your game.

For in-depth tips to improve your bowling, check out BTM's new book, "Ask the Coach," available now from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3X3TC98

06/04/2026

Paragon Fire is only a week away! 🔥
06.11.2026