Gary James Bowling Supplies — Local services in Jersey Village

I live in Lake Charles, LA and on August 27, 2020 our one and only bowling alley was destroyed in Hurricane Laura. After almost a year and half and millions of dollars, it finally reopened in early November 2021. The pro shop has not reopened, so there isn't a place in Lake Charles to buy and have a ball drilled.

My old ball badly needed to be replaced so I started my search in Beaumont, TX. After reading the reviews of places in and around Beaumont, I wasn't impressed so I started looking at places in Houston. Once I came across Gary James Bowling Supplies and saw he had a five star rating, I started reading review after review.

I called Gary on a Saturday and talked to him and to let him know I would be making the 2 1/2 drive on the following Tuesday to buy a new ball. I left early so I would be the first customer that day when he opened. I asked him to give me some pointers on the things I was doing wrong and he replied that he wasn't a coach. He watched me bowl a game and did give me some pointers, changed up my approach, told me how to hold the ball and a couple of other things. After my game, we went into his shop and he measured me for the ball. He took every conceivable measurement and then some. After drilling the ball, he had me throw some soft throws in the shop to see how the ball felt and released from my fingers. He made a few small adjustment and sent me on my way.

Here are my scores with my new techniques and ball. First three games not good because I was doing things new to me in trying to break my bad habits. I bowled 89, 115, and 116, about what I was bowling before I went to Gary but much worse than before the hurricane hit. The next time I went bowling, bowled four games, 155, 124, 164, and 132. Although I still don't feel natural with the new approach and techniques, but the more I bowl, the better I will feel about Gary's tips.

Thanks Gary for taking care of my bowling needs and the tips you gave me. Although going to you was a seven hour day for me, it was worth...

There’s a lot more to getting the right bowling ball these days than just picking a weight and color. I was very comfortable with my old trusty 16# urethane ball. I normally bowl 130-140 games consistently. But over the years I got more and more tired of trying to get that ball to hook on oil. I decided it was time to finally upgrade my ball. I walked into the pro shop and was greeted by Gary James. I admitted I didn’t really know where to start, and his selection was amazing. I needed help navigating all the latest stats to get matched up to the right ball. After watching me throw a few frames with my old urethane ball, he took me back to the shop and handed me another ball. I threw 3 strikes right off the cuff. I stood there, holding this ball (that wasn’t mine) with my mouth wide open. The back-end action was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Back in his shop, I scanned the wall at all the various balls for sale. Gary showed me the ones that closely matched the one he gave me to try. I picked out a new Storm Match Up pearl, and that’s when things really got interesting.

I had no idea there was so much more involved than just getting the ball holes to fit my hand. He measured tracks on my old urethane ball, and using my hand, he took countless measurements. He explained all the dimensions, the pin, the weight block, and how the tracks on my old ball helped determine where to drill. He knew what it took to make everything come together, and he explained it as he went along. I had a lot of questions (this being my first reactive ball) and he was very patient. He had the new ball ready to go within an hour! I immediately walked over to lane 19 and threw a 210 game (see attached)! This ball was tailored perfectly. I cannot say enough about the excellent level of service I received. I can’t wait to go back and have my wife pick something out. -Wayne...

I remember his shop being off of 1960 and me being FASCINATED by the engraving machine. My dad has been coming to see Gary for YEARS and when it was time for me to get my first ball at 7 years old, who else would we go to! I still have that ball and when I started bowling again, I broke that sucker out and sure enough, I needed to get my finger holes and span widened a bit. Gary was at a tournament that day, so he was not there the day I went in to get my ball re-drilled, but Jared was great!

With my dad's advice, my husband, brother, and I purchased brand new bowling balls that needed to be drilled for the first time and where did we go? All together now... GARY JAMES BOWLING SUPPLY! Gary was in the shop this time and drilled all of our balls, put in inserts, and made sure we were all happy before we left! We went ahead and bought some bowling shoes while we were there :) I mean, if you are going to start bowling again... you need to do it right!

Gary has since relocated from his 1960 location and is now inside Copperfield Bowl, which is GENIUS! Anytime a bowler needs anything, what better way to go see a pro inside a pro shop! Gary has the little things you need to make your game more comfortable and just in case you needed a new ball, he has those too!

After getting our balls drilled, we took them out for a test run and any adjustments that needed to be made, we just walked right back over to Gary and he helped us make those adjustments!

I definitely recommend Gary James Bowling Supply to fix you up! He definitely bowled a 300 with me and my family (that is a perfect game for all of you non-bowlers...