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Go to any bowling alley across the country or even around the world on regular league nights and there’s one thing that’s sure to stand out from all else. That thing? The bowling shirt.

Created to help differentiate one team from another, the bowling shirt does along with this sport as much, and sometimes even more, than the balls, shoes and even the lanes themselves. The importance of a great bowling shirt design should not be discounted.

Coming up with the perfect shirt and the perfect design for a new team or even an older one that wants a more updated look can take some time and study. The effort should include a little bit of fun and maybe some whimsy, too.

The things to consider when setting bowling shirt design styles include:

Pricing: Some custom designed shirts can get rather expensive. Before deciding upon a $75 jersey with a custom design fee that will be tacked on, consider what team members now, and perhaps in the future, can afford. There are some great options on the more affordable market.

Materials: The standard, retro bowling shirt of days gone by was made out of polyester. Offering a full collar and often a button-up design, these shirts remain en vogue today, as well. Still, some teams prefer cotton shirts that provide for better breathing or even special jerseys. Plain old T-shirts of 100 percent cotton often work well, too.

Colors: Every team should have its set colors. Before picking ones for your shirts, try and find out what other teams on the same league have used. If at all possible, come up with a different combination to help your team and its shirts stand out a little from the crowd.

Logo: This doesn’t have to be terribly fancy, but it can be a fun addition. Consider the team’s name, obviously, being in the design with something bowling related. Or, just go with a neat design for the team name. Pay attention to how many colors are used in the logo. The more colors, the more expensive the end design will be in all likelihood.

Style: This goes beyond the cut and material of the shirts. The style might be the background material coloring. Some teams really enjoy bold, bright, colorful patterns. No one says a great bowling shirt can’t be a whimsical paisley or Hawaiian design with the team’s logo on it.

Reprint ability: If team members will be come in and out or new shirts might be needed, make sure the design set is one that can be remade when it is needed. If it’s a special design, keep the art work or ask the shirt printer to do so.

A great bowling shirt design can help a team really feel like a team. This bowling league tradition is one that can be a lot of fun for those who get into creating the official design, but remember there are some major decisions that will need to be made along the way. From the price down to the colors and logo design, pay attention to details to obtain the best possible shirts to make team pride really stand out.

We’ve heard it many times before… practice makes perfect. And for good reason-it’s the truth! The best way to get better at anything is to practice; bowling is no exception. However, how you practice will mean the difference between slowly improving and supercharging your game!

Bowling Tip #1: Use the right tools

In any sport, using the correct equipment for the job you have to do improves your performance. In bowling, the ball is the most important piece of equipment you will use, so choose the right one for the job! Be sure to try out many, and select one that’s the right weight, material and finger-grip fit.

Bowling Tip #2: Are you bowling enough?

To progress at bowling, you need to bowl at least once or twice a week. The most economical way to get this amount of practice in is by joining a league. Usually, the more experienced players show up before the game to practice. This is when you can learn the most, from people committed to the sport.

Bowling Tip #3: Learn to walk the walk

While professional bowlers tend to use a 5-step approach, that’s just not suitable for someone just learning the sport. Beginners are usually more comfortable with a 4-step approach. You can practice your approach without throwing a single ball. Keep your shoulders square to the front, your head up, arm swing smooth, and your pace consistent and even.

Bowling Tip #4: Let ‘em roll

Spend time rolling the ball. A bowling ball should never be thrown. How do you tell the difference? A thrown ball will land with a loud “clunk” and then slide a few feet before beginning to roll. A rolled ball lands quietly and quickly rolls down the lane. If you find that you’re in the habit of throwing the ball, simply slow down. Try taking a slow, deep breath or two before bowling to settle any anxiety. You will hit more pins with a rolled ball than with a thrown one.

Bowling Tip #5: What you think is what you do

Spend time visualizing and analyzing your shots. Visualize your movements and your shots before you do them. If your ball goes consistently too far right, begin a little further left. You will learn to “feel” when you’ve bowled a good ball. When you do, write it down before you forget. What did you do? How did the ball feel? Where did the ball hit? Keep it for future reference so you can do it again.

Bowling Tip #6: What if I can’t be at the alley enough to practice?

Any smooth surface with a long, clear distance is suitable for practicing your approach. It’s not safe to practice the release, however, as a bowling ball will easily roll straight through walls if you miss your target! Not to mention you’ll ruin the surface of your ball. When practicing at home, mark your foul line and arrows in masking tape or other material that will not damage your floor. Also mark where your toes need to be for each step. Practice your approach until it’s second nature.

You can practice your arm swing outdoors with a bucket of water with a small hole at the bottom. The water drops on the ground will mark the path of your arm and the direction the ball would go. It’s a good way to see if you arc around your body when you bowl and which direction your arm is going. This can be a very enlightening experience.

Bowling Tip #7: Don’t spare yourself the trouble

It’s a very good idea to practice picking up your spares. A bowler who can consistently pick up his spares can easily hold a 180 average without getting any strikes. It’s especially useful to practice bowling at the 7-or 10-pins by aiming at them and bowling across the strike zone (the “x” on the lane) from the opposite side of the lane.

By practicing these bowling techniques on a regular basis, you’ll be honing the skills that will help you improve your bowling game!

Buying a fishing reel isn’t difficult, but it does require a little bit of thinking and consideration about what you will be using the reel for exactly. Different kinds of fishing and different kinds of fish require different reels. This article will give you 7 key pointers on buying your next reel so that you get exactly the one you need.

1) good grips You want to be sure that the are non-slip grips on both the hand-crank and on the arm of the reel (where you non-cranking hand rests). This ensures that when your hands get wet (which they will), you can still have solid control over the reel and don’t have to worry about it slipping out of your hands.

2) ball bearings Ball bearings are one of the most important parts of any reel you buy. Basically put they control 2 things, 1) the smoothness of the retrieve, and 2) the stopping speed of the reel. Essentially, the more ball bearings you have in the reel, the smoother the retrieve will be. Two is common in low end reels, 3-4 in mid-range reels, and 5 or more in top end reels. The other factor that ball bearings influence is how much the reel spins backwards after you stop winding in your line. You want this to be as little as possible since it affects your control over the line and lure. One simple test is to simply reel in a little line, and let go of the crank handle. Now pull line out of the reel. If the handle turns backwards, you will have less control. More ball bearings means that this ‘unwinding’ is reduced – which is very important.

3) line capacity You need to check the line capacity of any reel for 2 key bits of information. First, the maximum lb. test the reel will hold, and then how many yards/metres of line can be put on the reel. You want to have a reel that is designed for the line weight you are going to use. Trying to put 20 lb. test line on a reel designed for 6 lb. test will only give you headaches.

4) type – level wind (baitcaster) or spinning

The type of reel you use affects the type of fishing you will be doing. Reels are designed for different purposes and produce different effects on the lures and bait that you use. If you are fishing large plugs and bait style lures, which are commonly used with bass fishing, a baitcasting (or levelwind) reel is probably what you’re looking for. These reels don’t produce too much action in the lure, and allow very accurate casting control. Spinning reels on the other hand are designed to transfer action into the lure from the reel, and are used commonly with trolling, and casting spoons and spinner type lures.

5) type of fishing/size of fish

This relates back to point #4. They type of fishing you plan on doing is important, but so is the size and type of fish you are going after. Different species are not only different in size, but also in their overall strength and fighting attitude. Basically a 3 lb. musky will react differently than a 3 lb. smallmouth bass and as a result different reels could or should be used. Likewise if the areas you fish are loaded with underwater hazzards and structures that will snag hooks, you may want to get a sturdier reel than if you always fish in open, clear waters.

6) Size and weight

This isn’t overly critical as most reels are within a few ounces of each other in weight. However if you’re going to be out casting all day long on a regular basis a lighter reel can be a reel blessing. The same holds true if you’re buying a reel for your children. Be sure to try it out on a rod in the store to see how it feels. Then make sure that it feels comfortable and you are able to reach the casting mechanisms and tension controls easily and without having to make awkward stretches.

To learn more about fishing reels and especially Penn Fishing Reels, take a moment and visit our site at http://www.penn-fishing-reels.com