System and method for providing a semi-custom-fitted house ball to a customer of a bowling center

Abstract

A system and method for providing a semi-custom-fitted house ball to a customer of a bowling center are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of house balls in a variety of weights is provided, wherein each of the house balls comprises a thumb hole sized to receive a removable thumb insert of varying sizes, and wherein at least one house ball of a given weight comprises a different finger hole drilling pattern than at least one other house ball of that given weight. In another embodiment, a method for identifying a suitable house ball for a customer of a bowling center is provided. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

1 . A system of house balls for use in a bowling center, the system comprising:
 a first plurality of bowling balls of substantially the same weight, each bowling ball of the first plurality comprising a respective thumb hole sized to receive removable thumb inserts of varying sizes and respective finger holes, wherein at least one bowling ball of the first plurality has a different span between finger and thumb holes and a different finger hole diameter than at least one other bowling ball of the first plurality; and   a second plurality of bowling balls of substantially the same weight but of different weight from the first plurality of bowling balls, each bowling ball of the second plurality comprising a respective thumb hole sized to receive removable thumb inserts of varying sizes and respective finger holes, wherein at least one bowling ball of the second plurality has a different span between finger and thumb holes and a different finger hole diameter than at least one other bowling ball of the second plurality.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls are not shaped to receive removable finger inserts of varying sizes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls are free of finger inserts. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls have a diameter less than 31/32 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls have a depth greater than 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls have a depth of 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb holes of the first and second pluralities of bowling balls have a diameter of 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb holes of the first and second pluralities comprise a component shaped to releasably secure a removable thumb insert. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of removable thumb inserts of varying sizes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a tray to store the plurality of removable thumb inserts of varying sizes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one bowling ball of the first plurality has at least one of the following: (i) a different thumb hole pitch than at least one other bowling ball of the first plurality and (ii) a different finger hole pitch than at least one other bowling ball of the first plurality. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pluralities of bowling balls have first indicia indicating weight and second indicia indicating finger hole drilling pattern. 
     
     
         13 . A system of house balls for use in a bowling center, the system comprising:
 a plurality of house balls in a variety of weights, wherein each of the house balls comprises a thumb hole sized to receive a removable thumb insert of varying sizes, and wherein at least one house ball of a given weight comprises a different finger hole drilling pattern than at least one other house ball of that given weight.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the finger hole drilling pattern comprises at least one of finger hole diameter and span between finger and thumb holes. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fingers holes of the plurality of house balls are not shaped to receive removable finger inserts of varying sizes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fingers holes of the plurality of house balls are free of finger inserts. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fingers holes of the plurality of house balls have a diameter less than 31/32 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fingers holes of the plurality of house balls have a depth greater than 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fingers holes of the plurality of house balls have a depth of 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         20 . A method of identifying a suitable house ball for a customer of a bowling center, the method comprising:
 providing, from a plurality of removable thumb inserts of varying sizes, a removable thumb insert having a size suitable for a thumb of a customer of a bowling center;   determining a finger hole drilling pattern suitable for the customer; and   providing the customer with indicia information of a house ball having the suitable finger hole drilling pattern.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising charging a fee to the customer for rental of the provided removable thumb insert. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising offering the provided removable thumb insert for purchase by the customer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining act is performed using a fitting ball comprising at least one thumb hole sized to receive removable thumb inserts of varying sizes and a plurality of finger holes of different finger hole drilling patterns. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the finger hole drilling pattern comprises a finger hole diameter and a finger-hole-to-thumb-hole span.