Cost of drilling

[NewToBowling]

Question is about cost of initial drilling and subsequent drillings using same specs from initial drilling.

Ok, so PSO charges $50 for drilling (add $20 for slugs and grips). This $50 includes them watching you bowl, finding your PAP, measuring your hand and flexibility and drilling the ball. So he puts this all in your spec sheet. Sure, $50 sounds reasonable for what they do.

But what about follow up drillings where he all he does is take out your spec sheet and drills according to what it says. They shouldn't be charging $50 for any subsequent drillings if all they are doing is drilling and not re-measuring.

Is my thinking off? They could actually make a killing if they went with the model of $50 for initial drilling, $25/$30 for any drillings after that if only going off spec sheet. I'm certain people would be more willing to buy balls every 6 months if that were the case.

[billf]

If they would make a killing by charging less then they would. Given a cheap press is $7,000 and bits average a few hundred EACH all while most are not making more than $20 from the ball sale, squat on accessories, etc. I'm surprised they don't charge more. In fact I started bowling in 2005 and the cost is the same. While everything else has increased drilling hasn't. As the internet sales have increased taking sale away they have adapted, cut margins as thin as possible to just try and stay in business.

Now to your original question. Watching you bowl, get PAP, measure, etc. is a free service unless it is otherwise posted for measuring, finding PAP, etc.

[billf]

Oh and as you become friendlier with your PSO you will start seeing more discounts.

[Amyers]

Would $20 off really make you buy more balls? I know it wouldn't me if I need/want one I go buy it. If I don't I don't. An amount less than it takes me to feed the family at Mcdonalds isn't changing my mind on if I should purchase something or not.

In my opinion for a truly gifted knowledgeable PSO $50 to $60 is a steal for some of the idiots that are out there that only try to sell you the latest greatest hook monster and are still doing label drills and wouldn't know a dual angle number if you wrote it down for them it's highway robbery.

[NewToBowling]

It's psychological. Advertising "half off" drilling if we already measured your hand and have specs is a good selling point and probably would generate more sales.

[billf]

But you're not seeing the difference in the "measuring" and the "drilling". So you're ok with $50 drilling of subsequent balls as long as you're charged $100 for the initial that included the measuring?

[billf]

In my opinion for a truly gifted knowledgeable PSO $50 to $60 is a steal for some of the idiots that are out there that only try to sell you the latest greatest hook monster and are still doing label drills and wouldn't know a dual angle number if you wrote it down for them it's highway robbery.

Amen!!!!!!! These label drillers that you speak of, they have hurt the entire bowling industry especially the pro shops and yet as long as they pay the annual dues keep their certification. It's a joke.

[NewToBowling]

But you're not seeing the difference in the "measuring" and the "drilling". So you're ok with $50 drilling of subsequent balls as long as you're charged $100 for the initial that included the measuring?

Well they set the market at $50 for drilling and measuring and all the other things that happen at initial drilling. The hard work has been done already. And to me the hard work is the measuring of the hand, getting the accurate pitches and spans so it fits like a glove. Once that's done if that same customer wants another ball drilled up 2 months later he doesn't need to be remeasured so a simple "drilling" should be less.

[billf]

Ok.....when you go into the pro shop and the sign says the price for drilling a blank, plugging, grips, etc..
How much does it say to check PAP, measure hand?

[NewToBowling]

Ok.....when you go into the pro shop and the sign says the price for drilling a blank, plugging, grips, etc..
How much does it say to check PAP, measure hand?

So you're saying checking PAP and measuring hands are free. Try going into your pro shop and ask them to check those for you without getting a ball drilled. Heck, they're so secretive about the spec sheets many won't give them to you and even hide it from view when they are writing down the measurements.

I'm paying for them to measure my hand and drill. I understand it is their work and I don't expect to receive a copy of the spec sheet. But if they aren't going to measure me each and every time there should be a discount. That's all I'm saying.

You might say of course not, there is no need to measure your hand each and every time you want another ball drilled. My thoughts exactly. So I've already paid you to measure my hand, now just drill it again with my spec sheet. Less work for you means less money out of my pocket.

Just makes sense. Of course their margins are so thin this model probably doesn't work. But hey, logically it should work that way.

[billf]

I have several times. Never had one not check my stuff for free and have always got a copy when I asked. This past summer my PSO checked three people's PAP and pitches and not one bought a ball at that time. Two have since becaue they like how he treated them and this is even with him being 35 miles away.

Not sure where you're at but those are your specs, not theirs. I even carry a spec sheet with me to tournaments in case I need/want another ball while there. I don't know if somebody in your area is drilling at their house and doesn't know how to fit and is stealing business he doesn't deserve or what but it does sound a little suspicious to me.

[bowl1820]

Drilling Costs vary across the country and just depend on the PSO, I've seen shops that charged more for Fitting and drilling and less for just drillings once they had your fit on file or if you brought in your grip specs.

Also shops that charged less for "standard" drills and more for "Advanced/Pro" drills.

and places that charged basically a set price.

Some places league bowlers get a discount vs someone just off the street.

Also like bill said as you become friendlier with your PSO you will start seeing more discounts. My old proshop gave me discounts, some freebies of stuff and since I had to come along way to see him, he would try to wait on me before a someone else.

[NewToBowling]

I have several times. Never had one not check my stuff for free and have always got a copy when I asked. This past summer my PSO checked three people's PAP and pitches and not one bought a ball at that time. Two have since becaue they like how he treated them and this is even with him being 35 miles away.

Not sure where you're at but those are your specs, not theirs. I even carry a spec sheet with me to tournaments in case I need/want another ball while there. I don't know if somebody in your area is drilling at their house and doesn't know how to fit and is stealing business he doesn't deserve or what but it does sound a little suspicious to me.

Your experience differs from mine. Guess mine are a bit "off".

[billf]

I've had a lot of fit issues in my ten years bowling. The callous on my thumb looks more like a tumor to some. In that time I would call or stop by various pro shops and ask questions. If they seemed like they were clueless or uncaring then I would move on. I've had 6 different PSOs check my fit and drill me a ball. Bob Kelly at Gold Approach in Kettering Ohio was the only one to get it right. Now my callous is a third of the size in less than a year.
I bowl with the local PSO. Great guy but didn't keep with the times. When he saw how clean the ball was coming off he asked to see it. He knows my whole story. Turns out he bowled with Bob in the 90s, went to the shop and they talked. Our local guy bought a new press (spans and pitches are all the same now) and has been learning about dual angle layouts. He still feels the average league bowler doesn't need more than a label drill so either myself or his apprentice (head coach of hs team and center manager) will do the layouts.

[NewToBowling]

Guess a good driller is worth their weight in gold. I don't plan on buying too many balls and my thumb has no callouses now that I opened up my thumb hole so my fit is good.

[Amyers]

So you're saying checking PAP and measuring hands are free. Try going into your pro shop and ask them to check those for you without getting a ball drilled. Heck, they're so secretive about the spec sheets many won't give them to you and even hide it from view when they are writing down the measurements.

I'm paying for them to measure my hand and drill. I understand it is their work and I don't expect to receive a copy of the spec sheet. But if they aren't going to measure me each and every time there should be a discount. That's all I'm saying.

You might say of course not, there is no need to measure your hand each and every time you want another ball drilled. My thoughts exactly. So I've already paid you to measure my hand, now just drill it again with my spec sheet. Less work for you means less money out of my pocket.

Just makes sense. Of course their margins are so thin this model probably doesn't work. But hey, logically it should work that way.

My shop is different on this too, He checks my youngest daughters measurements every other month and only charges 8 bucks when we have to redo it because she is growing so fast but my guy would give me the spec sheet if I asked him for it too. So it varies from shop to shop.

[fokai73]

After being established, most PSO may lower the cost, or may not. Some regulars, at the place I frequent, get their equipment drilled for $30-$35 with finger inserts and sleeve for IT. $45 with inserts and thumb and $40 with just the thumb slug. All others over $50 to $60.

Likewise, it is also the bowlers responsibility to know their specs too. Especially after getting more than 3 balls drilled by the same shop. Why? Some drillers will charge clients a lot of money to have balls drilled, but they can be off by 1/32 to 1/16 off for example. I've had a shop drill three balls and all three were off. And if the shop don't use sharp wax pencils
to draw lines RUN and RUN FAR AWAY!!!

[bowl1820]

So you're saying checking PAP and measuring hands are free. Try going into your pro shop and ask them to check those for you without getting a ball drilled. Heck, they're so secretive about the spec sheets many won't give them to you and even hide it from view when they are writing down the measurements.

"Guess a good driller is worth their weight in gold" is exactly right. That's why if there's more than one around, you shop around and ask questions of them and their customers to pick the right one.

Of the Pro-shops I've been in over the years, I've never seen one that wouldn't give you a copy of your spec. sheet if you asked for it.

Even at the Nationals, I got ball drilled and they just took the specs off one of my balls and gave me a copy of the spec as they had measured them.

I've been pretty lucky with the shops around here, The PSO's stayed pretty updated on drilling techniques, equipment, charged reasonable prices, I got some discounts and freebies. If they weren't busy (and sometimes even if they were) they'd let you sit there and pick their brain.

The one I always bought my equipment at here before he retired and I changed shops, if we were talking and I just happen say I thought something was off with my grip he'd say got your ball with you? let me see it. He'd check it and my hand whole ball of wax, "What do I owe you? Nothing."

The young guy I go to now is not much different, he helped me out even before I ever bought anything from him.

You got find a good shop and if you cultivate the relationship with the PSO right, It'll payoff in many ways.

[Blomer]

I am assuming you talking about drilling a ball that you didn't buy there? I just recently bought a Haywire and the prices of drilling was included in the ball cost. This is a guy who does all the measuring and asks what your looking for it to do as well as look at my other balls so it fits in. But when I brought in a ball that Igot elsewhere then the cost was about $60 including grips and slugs. When I bring a ball in he did before he usually will replace everything for pretty cheap!

[DRomano]

My PSO, the only one here between Las Vegas & Salt Lake City is a retired former 2 shop owner. He does not own his shop, he gets 15% of the shop profit & all the fees for drilling. He charges $40 to measure & drill a new ball not purchased at his shop which he keeps 100%. He is very thorough & precise. The first ball he drilled for me was about 3/16ths short on span, he plugged & redrilled the thumb for free, then he drilled my new DV8 Ruckus Schizo.....

[billf]

Guess a good driller is worth their weight in gold. I don't plan on buying too many balls and my thumb has no callouses now that I opened up my thumb hole so my fit is good.

Where were you getting a callous? How and where on the hole did you have to open it up? Chances are either the fit or your grip are incorrect. I say this because it is estimated that 80% of amateur bowlers have a thumb hole that is too large.
For mine the span was stretched slightly (was too relaxed) and a pitch change which allowed a SMALLER hole to get rid of the pain and callous. Opposite of what most of us would expect without the proper knowledge.

[NewToBowling]

Where were you getting a callous? How and where on the hole did you have to open it up? Chances are either the fit or your grip are incorrect. I say this because it is estimated that 80% of amateur bowlers have a thumb hole that is too large.
For mine the span was stretched slightly (was too relaxed) and a pitch change which allowed a SMALLER hole to get rid of the pain and callous. Opposite of what most of us would expect without the proper knowledge.

Callous was on side of thumb (outer). I narrowed it down to too tight a thumb hole and turning my hand too early before thumb had released from ball.

Now that the ball has been opened up no more issues. Callous free. Thumb has no soreness or pain. You wouldn't be able to tell my thumb from someone who doesn't bowl.

I had mentioned this to my PSO a few times and he said the thumb should be tight. It was so tight it made a whoosh on every release. And I don't clench the ball because I grew up bowling thumbless so never put thumb in house balls.

When got another ball went to him and told him to open up the sides as I was developing callouses. After that and a few more tweaking of the hole I'm now callous free and my thumb releases fine. Just a few adjustments with tape from natural swelling, etc.

I like my thumb holes loose and my fingers with grips extremely tight. Tight to the point where I almost have to force my fingers in.

[Jessiewoodard57]

My PSO tends to give me great prices on the new balls I have purchased from him so much so that I always tell him to make sure he is profiting from the sale. He also charges $50 to drill which includes inserts and slugs. Recently I wanted to buy a used 14# ball from him to make sure I could handle the change in weight before I actually started replacing all my 13# equipment. (I bowl from a power chair so my ball speed is all arm) The man went into his OWN ball bag pulled out a 14# Storm 2 Fast plugged it and drilled it for me and charged just $50 !!