“Tom Reid was my bowling coach, boss and mentor for four years. Whether working with elementary schoolers, teenagers or senior citizens, Tom had insight and tips for all groups. After more than 40 years of competitive bowling, Tom knows the one piece of advice that will change your game.
Tom’s manual, “A Good Way to Bowl”, exemplifies the best parts of Tom’s approach. There are many good ways to bowl - this is just one of them. Cornerstones of Tom’s philosophy are sports visualization and mindfulness. It doesn’t matter what just happened, whether it was a gutter ball or a turkey (three strikes in a row) - be present for the shot you’re taking now.
“Make a good shot” and “one more” are phrases you’ll hear at the lanes, along with a lot of high fives. Bowling is individual and a team sport - and supporting your teammates while staying focused is all part of the game. Tom says “the difference between a 90 and a 190 is picking up your spares,” and bowling is a game of inches where every pin counts.
Whether you’re new to the sport or a veteran looking to level up, Tom’s expertise and attitude will benefit any bowler open to improvement.”
— Jessy Bradish, former student and employee
“Tom’s love for bowling is contagious. What was originally a 1 credit course became a sport I loved, a job I valued, and a source of enjoyment for years to come. He’s able to present the big picture and help you find your own unique path to bowling success.”
— Josh Gallagher, former student and employee
“Tom’s pride and enthusiasm for the Oberlin College Lanes was contagious. I’ve never been a manager, but I can imagine it’s difficult to motivate college students to perform well, especially without being a helicopter boss—Tom evoked, sometimes effortlessly, a care for the job and for the lanes that required no supervision. Working for him felt more like working for something, like we were responsible for preserving an important piece of Americana. But it was bigger than that because bowling became, through Tom’s guidance, an analogy for an enlightened lifestyle—one that required letting go of the things you love, and being conscious of the necessary tiny adjustments. To this day, I still think of the invisible obstacles of everyday life as today’s oil pattern. Working for, bowling with, being coached by Tom—all were a practice of consideration, thoughtfulness, and inclusivity, qualities I think are at the heart of Oberlin College Lanes.”
— Paris Gravley, former student and employee
“I’m eternally grateful for Tom and everything he has taught me about bowling, providing stellar customer service, and life. He is extremely dedicated to the sport, his students, his employees and his costumers. One of my first jobs was working for Tom at the Oberlin College Lanes, and I have taken the lessons he taught me to every job I’ve had since: to be organized, to be helpful, to be patient, to keep things facing in the same direction, but above all else to be kind. Everyone Tom encounters is treated like a friend. If you are presented with the opportunity to work with Tom, whether he is improving your swing or mentoring you on customer service - TAKE IT. I’m a better bowler, service provider, and person because of my years working for and with Tom Reid.”
— Lola Lorber, former student and employee
“When I started working with Tom Reid I was struggling to cash in regionals. Two years later I was bowling for a major title and became a national touring pro shortly after. Tom changed the way I bowl, the way I think and the way I approach life. He’s one of a very few coaches who understands all facets of the game. He works with your mind just as much as your body. Most importantly, Tom Reid is not just my coach, he’s also my friend. He cares about his students and his reach goes far beyond the lanes.”
— Chris Loschetter, pba champion
“I’ve known Tom Reid since I was 9 years old and Tom has been my coach for 17 years. Tom has been nothing but kind and supportive, both in bowling and personally! Tom is patient with each student, listening to what each person has to say. Tom is able to transfer knowledge to his students in a way that is meaningful to that individual. Because of Tom’s flexibility, communication skills and focus on fundamentals, Tom can coach any style or age, new to the sport or a professional bowler. After a lesson you will always walk away with something to practice. One thing I love about Tom’s coaching is the use of analogies to teach. Building confidence in your game is key to success and no question Tom is number one at doing so. Tom has a passion for the game that is infectious. Tom inspires you to be a better bowler and an even better person. I’m honored to call Tom my coach and my friend! To quote Tom, “Good luck, good bowling and have fun!””
— Erin Loschetter, former ncaa national collegiate champion and junior team usa member
“Tom is a brilliant coach. He is very talented at individualized instruction - he guides the bowler to what will work best for them rather than making them match his preferred technique. He takes the time and energy to make sure you understand the reasons behind everything, which makes it much easier to make adjustments on the fly (and ignore bad advice from other bowlers). He also coaches the mental aspect of the sport and can give you the tools to remain calm and focused in stressful situations on and off the lanes. He really knows his stuff!”
— Ian Martin, former student
“Through coaching with coach Tom, I learned to place more value on the mental aspects of the game of softball. I witnessed it pay off as our high school girls experienced more success, and have continued to incorporate much of his philosophy into the Oberlin High softball program. ”
— Josie Martin, Oberlin High School Varsity Softball coach
“When I was in high school, I attended a basketball camp that focused on the mental game. It was inspiring, life changing. The following years I spent in sports and then the years I supported my kids through sports, I never came across another program that focused on the mental game. Until Tom Reid coached my daughter’s summer softball team. He dedicated one practice a week to the mental game, team building and so much more. Tom also ran a Good Sportsmanship badge for my Girl Scout troop that focused on teamwork and the psychology of the game. Tom Reid is an amazing person, coach and an inspiration to young minds!”
— Shannon Miller, Friend and fellow coach
“Tom Reid was my bowling coach for two years and my boss for one. As I write this, it has been about 13 years since my last interaction with Tom. Even after all that time, he still stands out in my mind as one of the finest people I’ve ever known. He is kind and compassionate, eager to listen and slow to judge.
He’s also a phenomenal teacher. I grew up playing all manner of sports, and Tom was unlike any other coach I had. He was a guide, not a taskmaster. He worked with you to set your own goals, and then he helped you to achieve those goals. He welcomed all with open arms, and he dedicated himself to helping each individual student be the best bowler they could be. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a coach who cheerleads and praises regardless of performance. He is an avid student of the sport, and behind his gentle demeaner is an unparalleled understanding of the technical aspects that help one to become a successful bowler. His coaching goes beyond the physical mechanisms of bowling well. He helped me to develop my own bowling IQ, taught me how to adjust my game as circumstances demand and how to self-evaluate and continually improve.
I don’t bowl as much as I once did, but when I do I still hear his advice in my head. More importantly, I still use the lessons I learned from him (lessons he may not have realized he was giving) on how to move through the world, maximizing my positive impact, seeing the valued individual in every person, and striving to do no harm. My life is richer for having worked and bowled with Tom Reid.”
— Ted Olds, former student and employee
“I’ve watched Tom coach a seasoned PBA champion preparing for a tournament and give an impromptu 30-minute lesson to a first time bowler whose only desire was to beat their friend in a match. Tom treated both with a level of care, respect, and patience that I have yet to see paralleled in the coaching world. His love of the sport is evident in every action he takes, and enough simply cannot be said about his ability to impart some of that love (and, in truth, stupendous bowling advice) to every bowler he interacts with. Tom often says that ‘there are a lot of life lessons that will improve your bowling, and a lot of bowling lessons that will improve your life.’ A lesson with Tom is most certainly the latter.”
— Eastman Presser, former student and employee
“Tom worked with me to create goals that were accessible to me at my experience level. With Tom’s coaching my spare game was on a level unlike anything it had been before.”
— Jack Ratner, former student and employee
“Being Tom Reid’s daughter, exceptional manners were instilled in me from an early age. I was taught to be friendly, courteous, and respectful of everyone I met. When I got my first customer service job at age 17, he taught me the importance of being timely and dependable, using open-handed gestures rather than pointing, and greeting everyone with a smile. I continued to work in customer service through the remainder of my teens and early twenties, and always kept my father’s lessons in mind. When I got promoted to manager of a highly regarded San Diego cafe, my excellent customer service skills were highlighted as the main reason why. I try to emulate my father’s warmth and positivity in every customer interaction I have, and go above and beyond to meet people’s needs, just as I know he would. Having Tom Reid as a father has given me a step up in life and provided me with an impeccable role model. My father not only provides incredible customer service to everyone he comes across, but also provide people with the tools to do the same. And you’d be a fool not to use them.”
— Miriam Reid, daughter
“Tom taught me not only how to bowl, but also how to be a good teammate, student, athlete, and employee. The skills I learned while working for and coaching with Tom—focus, diligence, positive thinking, and so much more—have served me well in my career as well as in bowling. ”
— Emma Rowan, former student
“Tom Reid has been my coach for over 20 years since I was 5-6 years old. He has made it possible for me to experience the joy and competitive nature that bowling brings to my life.”
— Griffin Sabelli, Nation's eighth highest average among collegiate bowlers (215, 2013-2014)
“Tom is amazing, focusing on physical and mental aspects of the game that build strength, consistency and improvement. He is a coach, mentor, guide, guru... with wisdom that goes well beyond bowling.”
— Robb Stolberg, former student
“There is no other coach that could even begin to compare with Tom Reid. He has been our children’s coach for over 4 years now and we wouldn’t consider going anywhere else. His knowledge and love for the sport come only second to his kindness and understanding. If you’ve been looking for a coach that is knowledgeable and can make you excel above the competition, you need not look any farther then Tom Reid. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
— Kari Taylor, youth bowler parent
“Bowling with Tom Reid changed my life. Maybe it was my impressionable age, but his bowling courses at Oberlin gave me not only the physical skills to be a better bowler, but the mental skills to deal with frustration, set attainable goals, and explore the benefits of mindfulness both on and off the Oberlin college lanes. Personal coaching sessions were exhilarating, as Tom could consistently pinpoint a small change in my technique that would yield surprising improvements. Any bowler would be lucky to have Tom as a teacher!”
