Who to drill your ball ...Poll Time

[NastyNate]

Who would you have drill your ball . I was looking around and I have seen that Buddies and BowlingBall.com have custom drilling if you send your specs or a ball to them .The other option is your local Proshop. or a low cost idea is to drill your own ....like a vise and a hand drill.... hmmm well not so much.

Im asking about drilling not fitting I know you need a really good proshop guy to fit you properly.

Thanks Nate

[idlehourlegend]

So the choices are Buddies, Bowlingball.com, or a local pro shop correct?

Also how are your local pro shops?

[NastyNate]

My local proshop is good but im not sure if he has moved or is out of Business I also have a good one at my local bowling alley and he's good but higher priced.

[Dave34]

I get it drilled by my local pro shop, but if I were to pick one of the online sites I would pick Buddies.

[can-ham]

Nate you missed an option which is nearest Advanced IBPSIA certified driller.

For some odd reason we are lucky enough to have one up here in the middle of no where Canada (because he took it up as a hobby after his son had to go to the hospital from a poorly drilled ball at some under trained proshop). I can't recommend enough how much he has helped my game not only with a proper fit, taking time to watch me bowl, help me with my game, getting all my measurements (pap, axis, rev-rate, speed, ect). I pay a premium for drilling, take what ever the ball costs and tack on an extra $50 (and balls are easily $100 more in pro shops here than in the states), not to mention he offers a years worth of free Revivor and resurfacing. If your proshop isn't IBSIA certified or even advanced, I would move on. If they don't care enough to get the proper training do you really want them punching your ball? Oh and they better have a DeTerminator, you'd e surprised how many balls miss their mark. And internet drilling, do you want some one who's never seen you throw drill your ball?

http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Products/product_pics/DeTerminator.JPG

If they care enough to get the proper credentials, then they should have enough pride in their work to do a good job. Not saying there aren't good drillers that aren't certified, but if they are making a living drilling balls shouldn't they get every advantage they can have???

[idlehourlegend]

I get it drilled by my local pro shop, but if I were to pick one of the online sites I would pick Buddies.

I agree, if your happy with the fit of the ball you have right now, just send it to Buddies and have them make a thumb mold for you. Send them your PAP coordinates and everything should be good. As long as you know the drilling that you want and they have your exact measurements and PAP, there isnt much that can go wrong and overall the ball would be cheaper than most drillers because of the 20$ off drillings coupon.

But if you have a good local pro shop, then I would stick with them, but they would have to have a really good reputation to get me to stick with them.

[Sin City Hammer]

K&K Bowling my local pro shop is the only place I will go to have any work done on my equipment. Never have they disappointed me when I needed drilling of anything else done before league, even if I get it done with 3o minutes to spare.

[Street Racer]

i think my local pro shop will, because.... of postage from america)

[Rowdy]

After I get through with the ProSect and a yellow grease pencil anyone can drill the ball. Just put all the holes where I tell you to. Easy.

[VmsTopGun]

After I get through with the ProSect and a yellow grease pencil anyone can drill the ball. Just put all the holes where I tell you to. Easy.

That pretty much summs it up. Given that you know your pitches, span, and layout, there isn't much advantage with shipping your ball elsewhere. The only advantage would be if any of your local guys can't/won't follow your instruchions or really don't understand how to use the press/mill that they have.

[Hammerhead1987]

I agree, if your happy with the fit of the ball you have right now, just send it to Buddies and have them make a thumb mold for you. Send them your PAP coordinates and everything should be good. As long as you know the drilling that you want and they have your exact measurements and PAP, there isnt much that can go wrong and overall the ball would be cheaper than most drillers because of the 20$ off drillings coupon.

But if you have a good local pro shop, then I would stick with them, but they would have to have a really good reputation to get me to stick with them.

Actually, the coupon has ended, unless they put it back up and I don't know about it yet.

However, I use Buddies. My proshops have closed down around me and I have no choice. I shipped them my best fitting ball, the one I got drilled by the best proshop in town before they were forced to close. They got my spans and pitches and everything else you can think of. The only thing I had to do was bevel out the thumb a bit, but that I was expecting. I am pleased with Buddies and will continue to use them. My next ball is the Jigsaw and they will be drilling it for me.

[mmcfarland300]

My local shop without a doubt. As long as my guy is in business I won't look anywhere else.

[Spare Time Proshop]

Guys you really need to start buying from your local proshops if the guy knows what he is doing and the markup isnt out of this world. Then use him..If not local proshop might go away......The online sales has really hurt the local proshops...I have customers that buy a ball online and want me to drill it for free...( almost) If you fine a proshop in your local center thats OPEN , Has a Good ball Driller and has fair price give him a shot......

[blistershurt]

I spent too much money and time finding a great driller to not go to him. I've gotten lessons from him, got all my current stuff fitted and drilled by him (and since my game has gotten much better mechanically, and since my leg has been better lately, I've been able to maintain my game at a high level for once)

[Donkey]

well up until i got the jigsaw i always had my ball drilled by a local PBA member named Ralph Brunt. i got the jigsaw drilled by the guy in the bowling alley proshop i think he messed up my span i should have just paid more :(