Cost of drilling

[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.....