Commentary
Bowling on tour is not cheap I read an interesting article last week written by PBA player Tommy Delutz, Jr.
He was responding to some questions directed to him by readers of the “Bowlers Journal International.” Tom has been on the tour for 10 years, so he has been in the PBA when it was at its best, its worst, and now again at its best.
If you enjoy the game of bowling, and especially if you roll in a league or two, you probably have mulled over some questions in your mind regarding the PBA and what it must be like to be on the tour. Tom made a few comments that provide some incite.
For example, the standard cost of entry into a PBA event is $400. But then, after that, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $600 for a hotel room during you stay. Then, toss in $25 to $50 per day for food, depending on your eating habits, and you can see where it may run a player as much as $1200 for a single stop on the tour.
That is a tidy sum to invest on yourself isn’t it? And, that is just the cost of being there. How about getting there?
Traveling ends up being a big chunk of the bowler’s expense – especially if airfare and great distance is involved. Most of the players try to drive everywhere possible. So, gas prices have a controlling effect on this expense. Of course some of the pros have motor homes, but the vast majority grind it out on the road in a standard vehicle with the SUV being the overwhelming favorite.
At first thought, you’d think that was about it for expenses, but shockingly enough, the biggest is yet to come.
How about equipment? Primarily – bowling balls.
According to Tom, since lane surfaces change week to week, as do oiling distance and amount of oil used, the three or four balls a player used to carry with him from event to event in years past, is now just that-a thing of the past.
It is so different nowadays that some pros actually drill (or have drilled) as many as four balls just on the opening day of practice. Once the conditions are ascertained, he may end up drilling four or five more – each with maybe a micron’s amount of difference. The theory is that a ball that hooks two boards more or two boards less – or two feet earlier or two feet later – could make the difference in getting a check or not, making the finals or not or even making the show or going on to the next event.
It is not unheard of for a pro player to buy and drill as many as 12 balls during one tournament stop.
As Tom puts it, ” A pro often drills more balls in one week than most league bowlers would drill in a decade.”
You can see that the PBA Tour can be an expensive experience. That is also why most PBA pros have a sponsor or two to help them out.
And, how do you get one of those?
“First, become the big fish in the small pond and do damage back in your home area,” adds Tom. “Most pros have been discovered bowling in local tournaments, or in the PBA’s regional program, by a backer.”
According to Tom, if you are a good risk, a sponsor will look at you as a business investment and normally offer a 50/50 split after expenses. If you succeed over the years, that split could be as high as 90/10 in the bowler’s favor.
It all really gives you something to think about doesn’t it?
FAIRBANK: The Championship Bowling Qualifiers are finishing the week out at Fairbank. The squads on Tuesday and Wednesday will begin at 10:00 p.m.
The final night and also “Pot Game” night will be Thursday with bowling starting as close to 9:45 as proprietor Jim Matis can make it.
Remember, that last night will also have the last guaranteed spot available for the TV show in addition to the usual last night money-making opportunities.
Mark you calendar and don’t miss out on the fun.
I’ll see you on the lanes.
Gary George is the Herald-Standard bowling correspondent.