Spectre Academy
Learn to run a pro shop
Spectre Academy is our online class suite for bowling. The Pro Shop Certification track is seven classes and a final exam, in order, from the bowling ball and the lane to milling and drilling, with a test out that goes straight to IBPSIA.
How it is put together
Spectre Academy is the school. The Pro Shop Certification track is the credential.
Spectre Academy holds every class we teach. Inside it sits the Pro Shop Certification track: seven numbered Pro Shop classes taken in order, finishing with a Final Exam. Complete all eight and you have been taught how to run a pro shop, from the bowling ball and the lane to cutting a thumb hole and running the business.
Intro to Bowling sits outside the track. It is there for people who are new to the sport and want to understand the game before anything else.
It started with the how to videos
The how to videos on the Spectre YouTube channel kept getting the same reply in the comments: this is great, but where do I learn the rest of it? Spectre Academy is the answer. Every class mixes presentations, videos and quizzes, so you read a little, watch a little and then prove you followed it.
The Final Exam covers all seven classes and closes the track. Pass it and your test out submission goes directly to IBPSIA.
The classes
Eight classes, in order
The three marked with a price are paid individually or as part of the $750 Pro Shop Course Bundle. The rest are included in the track at no extra charge.
#1 The Bowling Ball And The Environment
$20
Bowling ball basics, core dynamics, coverstock, lane oil and patterns, the lanes, and the phases of ball motion. No tools required.
#2 Bowler Variables
$80
Finding and measuring the bowler’s PAP, axis rotation and axis tilt, and ball speed and rev rate.
#3 Layouts
Learning to draw the principal layout systems, understanding the numbers, and layout considerations and recommendations.
#4 Fitting the Hand
$650
Fitting basics, measuring using tools, and measuring oval thumb holes.
#5 Drilling the Bowling Ball
The drill press, drilling the ball, and balancing bowling balls.
#6 Ball Maintenance Services
Surface repairs, resurfacing, knicks, detoxing, insert changes, and ball plugging, both quick plug and slow plug.
#7 Business
Shop cleanliness, product and price display, in-shop customer experience, marketing, and client communications.
Final Exam
Cumulative, covering all seven classes. Pass it and your test out submission goes directly to IBPSIA.
The track
How the Pro Shop Certification track runs
- Classes #1 and #2. The bowling ball, the environment and bowler variables. No tools needed.
- Class #3. Layouts: drawing the principal systems and understanding the numbers.
- Class #4. Fitting the hand, with basic measurement tools in hand.
- Class #5. Drilling the bowling ball on a real drill press.
- Classes #6 and #7. Ball maintenance services, then the business side of running a pro shop.
- Final Exam. Cumulative across all seven classes. Pass it and your test out goes directly to IBPSIA.
Who teaches it
Instructors
Mark Buffa
IBPSIA Certified Master Instructor and USBC Silver Coach. Mark has represented Canada nine times.
Tye Rose
Team Canada Coach and a writer for BTM Magazine. Tye is the former proprietor of Gold Medal Proshop.
Frankie Catanzariti
Pro Shop Operator at Buffa Distribution, with more than ten years of pro shop experience.
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Learn to run a pro shop. The full Pro Shop Course Bundle is $750.
Watch
See it in action
The rest of the suite
Where Spectre Academy fits
Finish the track and run the shop on Spectre Cloud and Spectre POS. Teaching as well as drilling? Spectre Coach handles lessons and video. Reference material lives in the Spectre wiki.