Bowl Like the Pros

Advice, experimentation and excitement abound at BLTP clinics

Chloe got a front-row seat to hear and see 2006 Qubica AMF World Champion and USBC Silver coach Diandra Asbaty address the crowd. Parts of earlier Bowl Like The Pros events were videotaped for the Programs channel of bowlTV – check it out on the USBC Programs / Info channel on bowlTV.

Ten-year-old Chloe Johns started bowling in a league just two years ago, but she's taking the fast track to improve her game and learn more about the sport. This year she and her dad Ed participated in a USBC Bowl Like the Pros clinic held at Western Bowl in Champaign, Ill.

Bowl Like the Pros clinics provide bowlers with on-lane, one-on-one instruction from top professional bowlers and USBC-certified coaches. The program, which can be hosted by bowling centers across the nation, provides an opportunity to get high-level, personalized instruction from some of the game's top stars.

USBC Silver coach and former pro bowler Kim Terrell demonstrates hand position techniques with Chloe John as her dad looks on.

Chloe and other participants at the Champaign Bowl Like the Pros event had the opportunity to receive instruction from championship players Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Kim Terrell and Diandra Asbaty along with former Professional Bowlers Association star Bob Learn Jr. and Denny's PBA Tour exempt player Jeff Carter.

While BLTP clinics are open to those of all ages and abilities, the Champaign event was especially popular with kids and teens.

Chloe competes in Western Bowl's Preps League on Saturday mornings, so she was able to learn from some of the sport's best right at her "home" center.

Both Chloe and her dad looked at the event as a source of inspiration.

Chloe and her dad collected autographs from Bob Learn Jr., Diandra Asbaty and other professional bowlers/coaches.

"We follow the PBA and women's bowling pretty closely," said Chloe's dad, Ed John.  "It's not once-in-a-lifetime, but it's not often you have a chance to get the attention from these great bowlers. We were thrilled to have this opportunity to have the clinic here so we could meet them."

"Basketball and bowling are my favorite sports," said Chloe, who holds a 96 average and hoped she could get some good advice for an upcoming Pepsi zone qualifying tournament at Western Bowl. "But I want to become a good bowler and I learned a lot.  The pros were all so nice and helpful. It was awesome."

At BLTP events, participants can be involved as much as they like says Dale Niemela, who administrates the program for USBC.

"You can come just to watch and get autographs, or you can get intense one-on-one instruction and have your game video taped and analyzed," Niemela said. "The program offers something for everyone."

An audience volunteer had second thoughts about participating in Bob Learn Jr.'s trick shot demonstration while cameras caught it all on tape. See other trick shots on the USBC Programs / Info channel on bowlTV.

All BLTP clinics feature popular bowling trick shot exhibitions performed by the pros. Audience participation in on-the-lanes stunts makes the special demonstration of skill and entertainment up close and personal.

BLTP clinics can involve multiple centers in a community, Niemela noted. "In this Champaign-area outing, we scheduled three centers in one day and we can do that without comprising the program at each center."

The proof was in the fact that nearly 400 bowlers - mostly youth - participated in the Illinois program.