Larry's Pro Shop — Local services in Portland

Based on ratings I found I decided to see Gary and Larry when getting back into bowling. They have my business for life. Below is my experience with them, which I tried to keep brief. If this is all you read I want you to know that the guys at Larry's Pro Shop are great with people and have a pride in their work which ensures you are completely satisfied with your equipment.

I started out working with Gary to get a ball that would be a good benchmark ball for my aspiring arsenal. He was very personable and didn't mind me asking all kinds of questions. After talking for a bit on what I was looking for in a ball he measured my hand and even had me throw half a dozen balls to see how I threw. The ball he picked out for me was the Columbia 300 Freeze and boy was I happy when he told me they had a used one for half price. He drilled it up while I waited and I immediately took it out to play. Amazing reaction but I digress. What really sold me was when I had to go back because my fingers would get bruised after a couple games. I called the shop and Larry answered. I told him what was going on with my new ball and he was very insistent that I come back in so he could figure it out. "No one should be uncomfortable bowling" I believe he told me. He replaced the finger inserts for free, after I managed to destroy them taking em out, and asked if I wouldn't mind bowling a bit to show him what I was talking about because in all his years he could "count on his thumb how many times" he'd heard of my issue. Larry decided to plug and redrill without finger inserts and see how I respond.

I go back in a few days but really felt I needed to write this review in the mean time (and I barely leave feedback on ebay let alone write reviews.) Larry's devotion to a guy who only bought a USED ball is impressive and I hope you...

"Wow" is all I can say about Larry! I'm only a casual bowler, not in a league, but go bowling 5-6 times a year with friends. I would be lucky if I could find ONE ball in the entire bowling alley that fit my hand well enough to not leave blisters or cramps for days after. So I decided to get my own custom ball and found that Larry's Pro Shop is the #1 rated bowling shop in the entire Portland area for a reason - he's amazing! I made an appointment for a custom measurement and fitting (he's a busy guy, so I'd recommend an appointment!) and he took painstakingly careful measurements of my hand, fingers, joints, and even how I held the ball. Larry is a rare breed of Master Craftsmen! After drilling my new ball and playing several games, I was kicking myself for not getting a custom ball years before. The fit and finish of a custom drilled bowling ball from Larry instantly makes the game many times more enjoyable, even if you're an amateur like me and just bowl for fun. A custom ball is cheaper than you'd think, and be sure to pick up a pair of your own bowling shoes while you're there. No more wearing smelly gross bowling alley shoes that 1000 other people...

You're thinking to yourself "Well I've started bowling a bunch, maybe I'll just buy a ball online. Oh, but I'll have to have it drilled and get fitted, I'll just take it to a shop? I guess?". Here's the thing - Larry is the reason you want to start at the pro shop - specifically at Larry's Pro Shop. Larry will spend the time to answer all of your questions and get your fit just right - even if you've got a weird thumb and it takes forever to figure out what fits. He can get you any ball from the major bowling manufacturers and he'll work with you after you've had a chance to try it out to make sure your ball is perfect for you. Once you realize that the prices for balls in the pro-shop include all of the above - it's a no-brainer. You're not gonna get this level of service from a website because it requires hands-on attention, and it really helps when you're getting that from a really nice guy with a quirky sense of humor to make you feel better when your fitting is taking,...