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Author Topic: Purchasing a ball at the nationals  (Read 3556 times)

okfixer

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Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« on: February 13, 2010, 02:48:20 AM »
I am thinking about bringing only one ball to Reno, and getting a ball drilled at the Stadium just for the tournament. I would hope the staffers there would be able to drill up a ball to meet the pattern the tournament has laid out.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, what where the results?
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Russell

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2010, 11:39:38 AM »
The people that run the booths are very knowledgeable...many are top notch drillers and experts of the highest caliber.  However they won't know anything about you....or how you throw it...or what you actually want the ball to do.  Getting a ball drilled there is only for people that want something really new they can't get at home yet, or they know exactly what they want and how they need it layed out.

My recommendation is to ask your local driller beforehand and talk to people who have gone already.  Remember what works for you isn't what works for everyone else....and the guys in the booth are only as good as the information you give them.
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60bowler

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2010, 03:17:39 PM »
Don't look for a big discount there.  You will pay the same there as at home.
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Cbjdc

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2010, 04:03:57 PM »
OKFIXER.  I purchase a power swing at nationals last year after shooting 485 in team event with my own equipment.  I took the ball over to the 40 frame game for practice and proceeded to shoot 710 and 690 in doubles and single.  

Did I get what I wanted? Yes.  Did it cost more? yes Did I make money and offset the cost? yup.  Would I do it again? If it meant cashing again, absolutely.  

And while some folks will say it costs a bit more to purchase a ball.  I got the ball at 220 plus 40 dollar cash back on a gift card they had going.  I am planning on using that card to purchase a Total Bedlam.  So I will end up paying 300 total dollars for two balls (avg 150 per ball including drilling)
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700Virgin

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2010, 04:14:35 PM »
Agree 100%

quote:
The people that run the booths are very knowledgeable...many are top notch drillers and experts of the highest caliber.  However they won't know anything about you....or how you throw it...or what you actually want the ball to do.  Getting a ball drilled there is only for people that want something really new they can't get at home yet, or they know exactly what they want and how they need it layed out.

My recommendation is to ask your local driller beforehand and talk to people who have gone already.  Remember what works for you isn't what works for everyone else....and the guys in the booth are only as good as the information you give them.
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Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"
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DanH78

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2010, 04:32:28 PM »
quote:
The people that run the booths are very knowledgeable...many are top notch drillers and experts of the highest caliber.  However they won't know anything about you....or how you throw it...or what you actually want the ball to do.  Getting a ball drilled there is only for people that want something really new they can't get at home yet, or they know exactly what they want and how they need it layed out.

My recommendation is to ask your local driller beforehand and talk to people who have gone already.  Remember what works for you isn't what works for everyone else....and the guys in the booth are only as good as the information you give them.
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Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

+1
And it is for the people that don't have a pro shop in their area that they trust.  

I've known several people over the years that have gotten stuff drilled at the tournament, never a complaint when it comes to fit or layout.  And I know a few guys that only buy one or two balls a year, and they always wait for their trip to the tournament to do so.
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r534me

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2010, 05:37:31 PM »
quote:
OKFIXER.  I purchase a power swing at nationals last year after shooting 485 in team event with my own equipment.  I took the ball over to the 40 frame game for practice and proceeded to shoot 710 and 690 in doubles and single.  

Did I get what I wanted? Yes.  Did it cost more? yes Did I make money and offset the cost? yup.  Would I do it again? If it meant cashing again, absolutely.  

And while some folks will say it costs a bit more to purchase a ball.  I got the ball at 220 plus 40 dollar cash back on a gift card they had going.  I am planning on using that card to purchase a Total Bedlam.  So I will end up paying 300 total dollars for two balls (avg 150 per ball including drilling)


I think it depends on whether you are missing something from your arsenal at the time you are there.  I bought a ball at the Nats in Reno and proceeded to donate when it came time to bowl.  It's my own fault I couldn't do anything with it.  I just wanted to point out the opposite could happen as well.  

A lot depends on the bowler's skill and preparation.  I didn't have either at the time.
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025900

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2010, 06:42:40 PM »
A friend of mine, Mark Anderson was working at the shop in  the stadium.  He is a top notch driller if he is still there.  Drilled my equipment in Maryland until he moved west.
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Aloarjr810

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2010, 07:17:18 PM »
I got ball at the hammer booth at a past National.

The thing that got me was I handed the guy a copy of my grip sheet.
he looked at it and asked whats this.

He said it didnt make sense, like what did "cut to cut" mean.

So he just threw it down and copied my grip off one my other balls. Now it fit good, but still it was odd.

My friend had a ball that the scale room said had too much finger weight. So he went to the hammer booth also. they ran a drill bit down thru both finger holes, about 6"-7" deep. The ball passed the scale then, but never worked again just went straight.
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Balldoctor

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2010, 08:16:25 PM »
Wow, 6 to 7 inches deep? That must have some BIG BALL.
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Aloarjr810

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2010, 08:34:10 PM »
quote:
Wow, 6 to 7 inches deep? That must have some BIG BALL.
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Well should have said "it looked like it was going that deep",but it was over 4" at least. it was deeper than my thumb hole and thats 3". They was drilling a well in that ball.
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Edited on 2/13/2010 9:37 PM
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Aloarjr810
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agroves

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2010, 10:49:27 PM »
I had a poor experience my one and only time having a ball drilled at Nats.  The span was long, the finger pitches were 1/4 off, the thumb was way too big.  


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completebowler

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2010, 11:03:24 PM »
quote:
I had a poor experience my one and only time having a ball drilled at Nats.  The span was long, the finger pitches were 1/4 off, the thumb was way too big.  


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Proshop Operator
North Bowl Bowling Center
www.northbowlspokane.com
ctwings10--"Here's the problem with any retail service - You can't fix stupid."


Yeah I was gonna say I have had some poor experiences with fit and feel by operators out there. My thinking has always been that they are not overly concerned with return business.....better to get you out the door and move on to the next customer as it is high volume out there.

Just mt .02
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gunbunn19g

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2010, 02:03:03 AM »
I was there last year but never really speant much time at the booths.  Do they only highlight new products that are out/ coming out, or do they also have some older stuff that might be harder to find back home?
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r534me

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Re: Purchasing a ball at the nationals
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2010, 06:09:18 PM »
They definitely have some older stuff available for sale at the Cashman.  I guess it would depend on the shops that show up.
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