Tom Kelley's Bowling Pro Shop — Local services in Omaha

I went to purchase my first ball as a new bowler. I wanted something with a good hook, so an employee sold me a resin ball with a large core. I was asked which grip I preferred, conventional or fingertip, but I was not advised of any difference in performance between the two. The employee did a fine job fitting me for the ball and assisting me with picking out a bag and shoes.

The ball fit very well, but after seeing virtually no curve my first time out, I searched online to find that a fingertip grip is required to get the most out of the ball. So, less than 24 hours after it was purchased, I went back to get my ball redrilled.

A second employee assisted me with a refit. This employee was very polite and did an equally good job with the fitting. I will update this review once I pick up the refitted ball. Without asking, this employee removed any service cost from the ticket, charging me only for the material cost of the tips and resin. After expressing my concerns, they offered a refund on the cost of the resin.

When I expressed my concerns to one of the owners, they did not even pretend to care and said they did not "owe (me) a new ball." I never asked for one.

This owner told me that, by the first employee's account, I was advised of the performance difference between the two styles of grips. Obviously I was not, or else I wouldn't have returned the very next day.

After repeating myself three times, finally the mistake was acknowledged by this owner, who then downplayed the situation and brushed it off. All I wanted was some empathy and accountability; I received none, save from one employee who was neither involved with the mistake, nor in a managerial position.

I purchased a bag with space for a pickup ball down the road. I don't expect I will return to Tom Kelly's Bowling Pro Shop for that (or any other) purchase.

One star for the first person I encountered. I would have rated higher if they had owned up to the mistake.

Five stars for the second; a model employee.

One star for the third.

Average...

New to bowling as of May 2022. After a few months of consistent play with some buds, we all decided to buy our own starter kits. We all started with their Reactive package (Reactive balls, ball carrier, shoes, cleaner, and a rag) at the beginning of the summer. Reasonably priced considering all the items that were included. Drilling and sizing was fast, service was excellent, and everyone in the shop had really good insight on what to look for.

A few months later, I went back pretty much dead-set on buying a Pitch Black or Hammer ball. I discussed my goals, my skill level, and what I was looking for in a new, upgraded ball with Tom. He steered me in a direction he felt would better suit my needs, and recommended a different set of balls that would be a better fit in my arsenal. He talked about newer bowlers struggling to understand the power behind certain specialized balls, and how it would likely result in frustration. I really appreciated the extra step he took in ensuring I was purchasing something that wasn't out of my skill range and would ultimately keep me loving the game. I went with an Ebonite Aero at the time, and he was on the nose with what I was I needed based on my style and skill set. Practice played big part in better scores, but being guided by a professional and caring shop was definitely a contributing factor in my performance as a casual weekend bowler.

I cannot recommend Tom Kelly and the rest of the...

6 stars! I bowl about once a month, and never seem to find a 'house' ball that feels right or doesn't leave me without the use of my right hand for several hours after. Always seem to be designed for horse jockeys, or Andre the Giant. I was in the neighborhood and had some time to kill, so I stopped in to see what my own ball would cost. Was very pleasantly surprised to be able to pick up a ball and bag for about $80, and couldn't have been happier with the service. I didn't catch the gentleman's name that helped me, (looking at photos on the site, I'm sure it wasn't one of the Kellys) but he helped me pick the correct weight, and did the finger measure thing like a boss, and drilled the ball perfectly. We tested it out with a couple rolls on the carpet before he'd let me leave, and told me to stop back in if it didn't feel perfect after a few games. (It feels perfect, so won't need to stop in) I did speak with Tom Jr a bit (not knowing who he was at the time, but after reading his bio, regret not getting an autograph or something) and both fellas were very friendly and obviously love what they do and want their customers to have a great time, no matter how serious or recreational they are. Going into Kelly's will give you the answer to the question "Will the internet kill bricks and mortar?" This kind of service can only be had by interacting with experts. Best $90 I've spent in a long time. Now it's time to get...