Information Overload - Looking at Bowling Balls

[Major_A]

Back story: My grandfather used to own a bowling alley when before I was born and shortly after I was born (1980). So suffice it to say my entire family can bowl. Growing up I used to go bowling with my grandmother after school (I think it was $1.25 a game). I bowled in a league for as long as I can remember up until I was 15 and bowling was for nerds. A few years later after I realized that bowling was in fact fun I was back in a league with my mom, friend and sister. We did this for a few years then quit because it got too damn expensive. So from about 1999-Present I think I've went bowling maybe 5-6 times.

Last month for my brother in law's birthday my mom bought him a new bowling ball. So I guess the plan is to get the gang (my mom, step dad, myself, sister, brother in law and their kids) bowling again. I did have a bowling ball but threw it out several years ago, didn't think I'd need to lug around 16 pounds any longer.

So now I'm looking at bowling ball stores, manufacturer's sites, and really bad reviews. There are bowling ball "fitters" but I have no idea what half the stuff means so I don't know if it's recommending me the right ball or not. This isn't like going to the local pro shop and hitting a few clubs to see what you like. They can't exactly drill me a ball so I can test it out.

So I have a few questions if anyone knows the answers:
1) Anyone here bowl and can point me in the direction of a good ball?
2) Is it worth my time going to the local bowling pro shop and talking to the person there?
3) If you do bowl what are the lane conditions where you bowl? Seems to me that the lanes are getting drier and drier. I guess it costs the alleys too much to oil the lanes. Is this assumption correct?

[vbironchef]

I used to belong to a league. I did have my own ball and shoes. I would go to your local brunswick lanes and ask the pro there. At my age now I think I would throw my arm out rolling a 16 lb. ball. I don't have any input on the conditions of the lanes where I live because I just don't bowl enough to tell the dif. It's fun once in a while as long as I can have a few beers while bowing.