How many here drill their own stuff and even have a machine to get the oil out? I think it is getting to the point that just us regular people are finding ways to do the stuff ourselves. Even online shops are now doing drilling. Do you feel bad for the pro shops that are not online?

You would trust someone to drill your ball when you aren't even there to see what they are doing?  Or how would they check out your hand to see if the thumb feels ok or the grips are ok?  How about beveling, how would a driller know how to bevel your thumb?  Local pro shops may not be the ideal place to buy your shoes and bags, but they are needed for ball services.  Enough said.  OK Dr. Boos?
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Toodles

The cheaper jigs require more experience and attention to detail but work great. Got one of the jigs and a set of bits off ebay a few years ago for $200 shipped. Went to lowes and got the press for another $200ish. Drilled roughly 150 bowling balls since then without problem

Used drill bits aren''t expensive and getting them sharpen are cheap. When drilling for your self in most cases you only need a few bits any ways not a whole set.

Then when you factor in that you can get many balls that have been out for a little while very cheap the savings adds up. I can get many NIB 15 bowling balls from Brunswick Morich and others for $75 or less shipped to the house. Not to mention many newer released bowling balls for around $125 or less shipped to the house. Compared to $170 to $225 in the proshop before taxes. I would say it is a very worth while savings for some, not for all.

If you don''t know what your doing this isn''t how you go learn.
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" men lie, women lie, numbers don''t "

Edited on 1/29/2010 11:46 AM

Do I feel bad for pro shops?  Yes, but some hurt themselves.  For example at the center I bowl at, if you want a Storm VE, it's going to cost you $250 PLUS grips and a slug!  When I got my Cell Pearl he was selling it for $235 plus grips and slug, I bought the ball from Tekneek for $105 shipped I think.  I wanted to give some business to the center I bowl at so I had the guy at my center drill it and it cost $90 for everything!  I was shocked at the cost of the drilling with grips and slug, but I still saved $40.  Of course I ended up getting the fingers pluged at a different center because the span was "whack", lol.  So I pretty much refuse to give him any of my business.

As for doing "stuff" ourselves.  I think drilling our own is a bit extreme unless you have a shop, but yes we do a lot ourselves now.  Ball spinners are pretty cheap now for a personal unit.  We have methods for oil extraction and some even built their own "revivor" ovens out of things like food dehydrators.  I resurfaced two balls already since I got my spinner.  I just need to do a couple more and then it's pretty much paid for.