BallReviews
General Category => Drilling & Layouts => Topic started by: nhsmoker on July 06, 2012, 09:53:31 PM
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Just looking for some info here. I am looking to buy my first ball at the pro-shop near me and was wondering what should I expect to pay for drilling? I would just call and ask but they are only open like 2 days a week and I figured I could get a fairly general idea here. Do most pro shops charge less for drilling balls purchased through them. I had asked one of the local shop workers online about the price and he said $40-50 for drilling but am unsure if he was aware that I planned to purchase through them or not. Is this a reasonable price?
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Usually, when you buy a ball at the shop, drilling is included. If you are buying a ball elsewhere and having them drill it, depending on the material the ball is made out of (plastic, urethane, resin), the price might change. That being said, $40 isn't unreasonable, IMO. But it should be done right.
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Usually, when you buy a ball at the shop, drilling is included. If you are buying a ball elsewhere and having them drill it, depending on the material the ball is made out of (plastic, urethane, resin), the price might change. That being said, $40 isn't unreasonable, IMO. But it should be done right.
So do you feel if I buy there then $40 -$50 on top of the price of the ball is too much?
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Read what DOOM has written and I think you'll see your answer!
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If you buy the ball from the Pro Shop, drilling is included in the price of the ball.
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Unless the pro shop does what is called ala carte pricing, which is showing you the price you will pay for the ball, then adding in the price for the drilling as a separate charge, then yes. If you tell us what ball it is, we can tell you if it's a good deal or a ripoff. If you're going in, and getting a plastic ball (TZone, White Dot, Maxim), and they're charging you $50 or $60, then another price on top of that, walk away. Tell us your region, and someone on here will help you find a good pro shop.
Usually, when you buy a ball at the shop, drilling is included. If you are buying a ball elsewhere and having them drill it, depending on the material the ball is made out of (plastic, urethane, resin), the price might change. That being said, $40 isn't unreasonable, IMO. But it should be done right.
So do you feel if I buy there then $40 -$50 on top of the price of the ball is too much?
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Unless the pro shop does what is called ala carte pricing, which is showing you the price you will pay for the ball, then adding in the price for the drilling as a separate charge, then yes. If you tell us what ball it is, we can tell you if it's a good deal or a ripoff. If you're going in, and getting a plastic ball (TZone, White Dot, Maxim), and they're charging you $50 or $60, then another price on top of that, walk away. Tell us your region, and someone on here will help you find a good pro shop.
I live in NH and the ball I am looking at based on their recommendations based on the lanes is either a dv8 reckless or too reckless. I will not say what pro shop because I am still unsure if their was confusion on where I will buy the ball. Not that in my opinion they will be doing anything wrong if there prices are too high it is a free market they can charge what they want and we as consumers can decide weather or not to purchase from them. Thanks for the help guys.
Oh on another note the price for either ball was $140-145 just not sure if that was drilling included or not
Usually, when you buy a ball at the shop, drilling is included. If you are buying a ball elsewhere and having them drill it, depending on the material the ball is made out of (plastic, urethane, resin), the price might change. That being said, $40 isn't unreasonable, IMO. But it should be done right.
So do you feel if I buy there then $40 -$50 on top of the price of the ball is too much?
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Well, since either of those balls are retailing for $115 online, you should ask them straight out "If I buy it from your shop, what is the price,as opposed to me buying it off the internet and just bringing it to them to drill. Pretty straightforward.
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you will pay more to bring in a ball and have it drilled.
figure 50 minimum
and then extra for finger/thumb inserts
might 70-80 by the time you are done
If you buy it from a pro shop, they should tweak it for you later at minimal or no cost
weight hole
surface
etc..
You should really let your pro shop select the proper ball for you based on your style, what conditions you will be on, lane surface, etc..
in order of importance or influence
ball core
ball cover
ball surface
drilling/layout
If you get the first 2 right, then the last 2 are minor adjustments and the purchase has a much better chance of being correct
Just because something works for your buddy or high average guy in your house does not mean it will be right for you
Ask a "qualified" professional shop, it will be a little more $$, but worth it by far
my .02 worth..................
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you will pay more to bring in a ball and have it drilled.
figure 50 minimum
and then extra for finger/thumb inserts
might 70-80 by the time you are done
If you buy it from a pro shop, they should tweak it for you later at minimal or no cost
weight hole
surface
etc..
You should really let your pro shop select the proper ball for you based on your style, what conditions you will be on, lane surface, etc..
in order of importance or influence
ball core
ball cover
ball surface
drilling/layout
If you get the first 2 right, then the last 2 are minor adjustments and the purchase has a much better chance of being correct
Just because something works for your buddy or high average guy in your house does not mean it will be right for you
Ask a "qualified" professional shop, it will be a little more $$, but worth it by far
my .02 worth..................
Dave is spot on here with the pricing. That's basically the same as what my shop charges me. However, if you do a lot of business with the shop owner, you can get discounted prices in many cases (though I will still give extra when that happens because of consistently good service).
Although, there was something that I noticed at a big shop near me recently. Without naming this shop, if you buy the ball from them and have them drill it, it is actually lower in price than just buying a blank ball. A blank ball is charged as much as 40-70% more. A perfect example is when I went in this place 2 years ago to look at some equipment. A Storm VG Nano was running around $200 with drilling included. However, if you did not want that shop to drill, fork over $270 for it...
Needless to say, I don't do business with that shop at all since they can't take you on a lane (not in a bowling center), and will not find PAP if you don't know it.
As for choosing equipment, I also agree with Dave that core and cover are important to look at first. Surfaces can easily be adjusted, and layouts can always be tweaked. But if a cover and/or core does not match up, it's not going to be pretty.
A perfect example is when I bought a 505T from Dave several months back. That core and cover were a perfect match for my game, and I knew everything I needed to before paying him. It is still the benchmark for my arsenal. All I did was talk with my shop to tweak a layout prior to drilling and it's been exactly what I was looking for.
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i wish I had a bought a few more 505t
the 503t has a higher dif and is a foot sooner according to Mitch
im sure the right guy can compensate for this.
Im also hoping the 912T is the real deal, the 900 series has been a bust so far
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just called a few minutes ago and asked them for the price on a too reckless drilled and was told $235 with two inserts. It seems like the price keeps going up. I am going to check at another shop but there are few in my area.
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40-50 is normal. My proshop normally floats prices around there.
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here is where you have the cost difference
check out this link http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/DV8/10066/Too-Reckless.html
$115 and free shipping
but you will need to know the proper pin distance and top weight that is preferred
with thumb and finger inserts + tax, you are at 210 probably.
I would get a price point in mind, go to your pro shop and have them stick to it
chances are that a ball at a lower price point will be just fine
unless you have to have that ball.
I just drilled the black/silver cyclone, was under $100 drilled
awesome strong piece and at a great price
Most of us don't need that ultra high performance expensive ball for THS league play. Its the sport shots and tournaments that the higher talent level bowlers know how to use the upper performance (and upper price point) equipment.
One of the guys I turn to for help locally, he bowls regionals and lots of tournaments, knows alot about many brands, cores, covers, etc..
lays out his own equipment..
He absolutely swears that the pursuit and pursuit S are awesome and will have several of each one.
Would I like to get a few, you bet, but my sport league and THS league won't make me much better with that equipment, I'm 200 ish in the sport league and 225 in THS league.
More expensive equipment won't change that much if any..
My current track and some EBO stuff is fine and none of the equipment I bought was more than $150
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here is where you have the cost difference
check out this link http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/DV8/10066/Too-Reckless.html
$115 and free shipping
but you will need to know the proper pin distance and top weight that is preferred
with thumb and finger inserts + tax, you are at 210 probably.
A few points the 235 was without a thumb insert and we have no tax here. That being said the price doesn't bother me if it is fair but I don't like the fact that the price has changed on me in less than a week. Being that this will be my first ball I have no idea about pin distance or top weight but figure this ball will not be perfect for me due to the fact that I need to develop proper mechanics and develop my own style.
maybe this isn't the right ball for me I have no idea I just told the pro shop that I wanted a ball that I can learn with that won't hold me back. I want something I can grow into not out of. They said it plays very well and where I don't have much of a style right now It would be as good as anything else.
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I don't about the rest of you but $235 for a Too Reckless is a bit steep in my mind. I retail that ball at $170 drilled with grips, slug extra....Online shops have it at $115 shipped. Now I believe in getting paid for my services, but that's a lot to me. I retail my high end stuff at $215-$230 drilled, the Too Reckless is a mid range piece.
Just my 2cents worth
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Totally disagree with that statement, rememeber that pro shop is a business and the more you spend, the more they make.
No way do you need to spend that much money.
there are many options out there for far less than that
If there are other pro shops, call around and ask what they recommend for your situation, don't tell them how much you can spend, see what they say.
IMO, there isnt any equipment really that you "grow into"
from the first shot you throw with it, it will be the same
It will be "YOU" that will grow, not the equipment
You could buy 2 balls for that price, and you will need more than one to be better at this sport
A $50 spare ball is just as important as a decent strike ball, maybe more important.
Get better at spares and your scores will go up.
rule of thumb for spares is to throw straight at every combination with the exception being double wood (2-8 or 3-9)
Another huge important investment would be a coach, would have paid me dividends if I had done it sooner
Practicing bad habits will get you nowhere fast
Learn proper technique and then practice those and you will be on a much faster track to higher scores and more fun.
It just depends what you want to get out of it, If you want to go and have fun occasionally, maybe bowl a league, and your happy with 150, 170 or so
then buy a 150 ball, enjoy yourself
If you want to go further, it will take work, coaching is a a much more valuable investment than expensive equipment
again.....only my .02 worth of nearly 40 years in this game
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$235 for the Too Reckless is definitely steep, especially for a midrange ball. The shop I go to sells it at $169.95.
$235 would be the territory of the Nexxus, Defiant, VG Nano, Droid, 912T, etc.
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I felt like that price may have been too high. I will look into another pro shop, there may be one or two more within an hour drive. I was really hoping this would have worked out this place is where I will bowl as it is only 15 minutes from home and I had talked to the shop guys about one of them coaching me so it seemed like it was going to be a good fit. The price jump just has me feeling uneasy. just to reiterate I was told at the shop $140-145 depending on inserts, I didn't think about drilling till I got home so I e-mailed the shop and told them I was just in there and was quoted 140-145 for the ball and asked about drilling he said 40-50 depending on inserts so 190-200 max (his words) whether or not the first price included drilling it is far short of the $235 I was quoted tonight. I will re-consider the shop I use and also the ball if some of you think it may be more than I need to start.
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My pro-shop does not include drilling, because there are so many variables with the drilling. How many holes, inserts, thumb slugs, switch grips, etc..
The prices are comparible with balls purchsed via the internet.
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$235 for a DV8 Too Reckless? Run away as fast as you can......and don't ever go back!
That ball should be $185 or less (and probably closer to $170).
The fact that you have talked to the pro shop 3 different times and gotten 3 different prices should tell you something about the way they do business.
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I'll second the recommendation for the Cyclone, it's a great ball for the price. At your level of development it's all the ball you need. -- JohnP
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I just talked to another pro shop about an hour from me. This guy said the price for that ball is $169 including drilling inserts are $10 extra seems much better. They did suggest that I come in first and let the manager watch me bowl to give me recommendations for a ball. He said he can sell me any ball on his wall but that may or may not be the right ball for me and they would like the opportunity to find the right ball for me. This is the kind of service I think I need. On another note this shop had been recommended to me by a friend that bowls fairly regularly at both bowling alleys, he said they are much better at both service and getting the best fit to his hand.
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Sounds like a solid plan. Personally, if this first guy was going to try to talk you into a DV8 ball (From what I've seen, seems like a solid company to use), I was shocked that he wouldn't have tried to put you into a Misfit. It's their entry level ball. That would have been more logical. The higher the price doesn't always mean it's better. It usually just means it's harder to control. Personally, depending on what the guy carries, I would go either any entry level reactive ball. Ebonite Cyclone, Brunswick Slingshot, 900 Global Hook, Storm Tropical Heat, etc.
Good luck in whatever decision you make, and keep us posted!
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I know many on here have the OPs interest in mind, but no one should recommend actual bowling balls when no has seen him bowl. For all we know he has high speed and no hand. Or the house shot is a slicker than what others are used to. Recommending a Slingshot might be the same as plastic for this bowler and his style.
I can see trying to keep him on the cheap, but we don't know anything about his game. Keeping the comments on what types of pricing you have experienced on the same or similar equipment (original intent) is great.
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I just talked to another pro shop about an hour from me. This guy said the price for that ball is $169 including drilling inserts are $10 extra seems much better. They did suggest that I come in first and let the manager watch me bowl to give me recommendations for a ball. He said he can sell me any ball on his wall but that may or may not be the right ball for me and they would like the opportunity to find the right ball for me. This is the kind of service I think I need. On another note this shop had been recommended to me by a friend that bowls fairly regularly at both bowling alleys, he said they are much better at both service and getting the best fit to his hand.
The other shop that was $235 for the Too Reckless and gave you other prices for it also...don't go to them. They would probably do a half assed job getting you set up only to make you spend more money to plug/redrill the ball in the future. Or worse yet- have to sell it and get a different ball because it is wrong for you in the first place.
Now the service that the second shop is offering is what you should expect from the get go. All of the better shops will do exactly what this second shop is doing. They will take the time to watch you bowl, suggest balls that will work best for you, make sure the fit is good, and be priced fairly. That's because they are truly interested in you as a bowler and customer, and want to earn your business the right way. Plus, word of mouth is always good. That's how I found my current driller because the word of mouth was very favorable. 7 balls later, no complaints whatsoever and all 7 work exactly the way I want them to.
Now spmcgivern is right in saying that the Too Reckless or Cyclone may not work exactly for what you need. Go into the shop with an open mind and know that you may end up with a suggestion from Storm, Roto Grip, Brunswick, Track, Hammer, Ebonite, Columbia 300, 900 Global, AMF, Lane #1, or any of the other brands out there. This is because the good shop operators (like the second shop that wants you to come in and bowl) can match cores/covers well with what they see in your game. It will also save you from a lot of headaches later on.
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Totally disagree with that statement, rememeber that pro shop is a business and the more you spend, the more they make.
The bolded statement is not necessarily true in the pro shop business, especially when specifically talking about bowling balls. In most of the good pro shops out there, the higher end equipment will be marked up the same or sometimes less dollar amount than the lower end or even plastic balls, mainly because they just cost too much to buy.
That being said there are shops out there that would rather see the $220-230 go into their register than make the customer happy. Just wanted to avoid any confusion between the two situations.
Either way. $235 for a Too Reckless is high.
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I told the second shop to totally disregard the too reckless price question and just give me an honest opinion on some choices. he told me if I wanted to be at a particular price point let him know and he would only recommend balls in that range or below. I told him I was less concerned with price point and more concerned with getting into the right ball so that I may improve and not get frustrated. I have an appointment on friday to work with the owner of the alley and pro shop.
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Sounds like you have found the right place
- recommended by someone in the "know"
- good first impression on the phone
- watch you bowl first is the proper 1st step
- "earn" your business is the way to satisfied customers
good luck
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The first shop just sent me an e-mail about the too reckless saying the price was $165 with everything including inserts. I have decided though that do due the price runaround I am not using them. I will pay a little more and go to the one that is farther from me. I figure that way I will have a better shot at finding the right ball for me.
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The first shop just sent me an e-mail about the too reckless saying the price was $165 with everything including inserts. I have decided though that do due the price runaround I am not using them. I will pay a little more and go to the one that is farther from me. I figure that way I will have a better shot at finding the right ball for me.
The first shop just wants you to drop money so bad at this point that they are trying anything to get you in the door. The second shop that is farther out I believe will take good care of you.
Let us know how the second shop works out and what you decide to buy.
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I pay 70 bucks to get mine drilled so 40 to 50 would be a great pice for me. I have to pay extra for grips and the It System install.
My local proshop has gone to the practice of pricing their balls without drilling included. Then adding it to the price depending on what you need . Obviously a drill with no grips and thumb slug would be far less than my drill.
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I ended up ordering the columbia freeze hybrid with finger inserts but no thumb slug (It isn't drilled yet) the shop owner said at this point spending more is not going to be worth it and that the freeze line or ebonite cyclone is where he felt my money was best spent. I also saw some shoes I may buy. The shoes were etonic tour masters one of the shop workers bought them and tried them a few times but they didn't fit well so he is selling them for $60 That seems like a good deal with all the extra soles and heels.
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Sounds like you made out well with the second shop. The Freeze Hybrid from what I have seen is a very nice piece to work with a core that has proven to be effective. It is also known to give good control at the same time.