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Author Topic: Having a ball drilled in ABQ  (Read 3503 times)

Rick Wunder

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Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« on: May 19, 2008, 07:36:24 AM »
I go to ABQ in June, and I plan to pick up a couple of new balls for use at the tournament(s).  I am currently in pro shop limbo.  It's a long story, but I'll try to keep it as short as possible.

My old shop recently closed.

The new shop in the center has not yet opened.

I use Turbo 2-N-1 switch grips, which not everyone carries/installs.

After my shop closed, I was planning to go to ABQ and buy the balls I needed, since I don't currently have a shop where they know my game.  Of course, the guys in the booths don't know my game, either, but I figure that they have the advantage of knowing what is working on the tournament lane conditions.

That's all well and good, but I have a friend and teammate who owns another shop, which would become my new pro shop home, but they don't do switch grips.  However, he has offered to sell me the balls I want for a reasonable price (undrilled), which helps both of us, since he would like to unload his excess inventory before summer, and I'll get the balls for a decent price.  Transporting the balls is not an issue, since the same guy drives his Suburban every year, and he takes my stuff (and that of several of our teammates) with him for a nominal fee (which is much less than shipping, but helps offset his fuel cost).

Since my friend's shop does not install switch grips, I plan to take the blank balls that I get from him and have them drilled at one of the booths in ABQ, since I know that at least some of them install switch grips.  Besides, even though I will have already made my ball choices, they would be familiar with what combinations of layout and surface prep are working best.

Now for my question:  How much (if any) grief might I get from the guys at the booths if I walk in with one or more blank balls that I didn't purchase from them, for them to drill?  E.g.  I will have a Cell, which I would take to the Storm/Roto Grip booth.  Do those of you with any experience with the guys in the booths think I'll have any trouble doing this?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.
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solid9

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2008, 03:39:50 PM »

 Take it to Beans, at the Lane 1 booth, A buck is a buck.

Raven829

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2008, 03:41:38 PM »
Rick-
  This is slightly off-topic, but I'm assuming that you're talking about Tom Carter.  I know that he's moving a shop to Hawthorne.  I know that at his shop here in Cherry Valley that they install switch grips.  In fact when I was there a couple weeks ago they were doing switch grips on about 6 balls for a guy that was going to Nationals with them.  If I've got the wrong guy I apologize.  

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BeansProShop

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2008, 05:50:54 PM »
I think all of these booths out here run them just like a pro shop. They do all pro shop services. We at the Lane#1 booth will drill anything that somebody brings in. We will also plug and redrill any companies ball. It is a business and the booths out here will not leave a buck on the table.

We are using the Grip Lock system in our booth as our interchangeable thumb.

Hammer
Storm
Ebonite

All install the Switch Grip as they sell them as well.

I am sure I can install them to as we have the 1 1/2 drill bit.

beans
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Rick Wunder

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2008, 08:53:15 AM »
Beans,
Thanks for your reply.  I'd like to stop by and say "Hello" if I can find the time while I'm there.

Raven,
Yes, the shop where I worked and had my stuff done was Striking Difference, inside Hawthorn Lanes, and that is where Tom Carter is opening up in June.  John Lee will be his driller there.  I know that they install switch grips.  I'm just not sure they'll be up and running by the time I go to ABQ.  Rockford is a bit of a haul for me.  I could go to Mark London at Deer Park, which is also a Bowler's Universe (Tom Carter) shop, but I had already made my decision by the time I became aware that they do switch grips.

The friend and teammate to which I referred is Mike Martenson at Back to Basics Pro Shop inside Woodview Lanes.  Joe Bacagaluppi is his driller.  Joe does great work, but as I said, no switch grips.

Again, thanks for the replies.
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Mike Austin

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #5 on: May 21, 2008, 06:42:35 AM »
Rick,

I would go see Beans if you are going to get blanks drilled at the convention center.  He will at least talk to you.

If you have to have Switch Grips, you might should go check out Paul Yoder's Pro Shop their in town.  Super nice guy, good bowler, I've heard a good driller.  He's inside Holiday Bowl and can watch you bowl.  Tell him I sent you, known Paul over 15 years.


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Edited on 5/21/2008 6:43 AM
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Rick Wunder

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2008, 08:57:24 AM »
Mike,
Thanks for the info.  I'll be over at Holiday Bowl for our team session with Mike Jasnau, so I will stop in and visit Paul in his shop.
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Rick Wunder

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2008, 09:46:44 AM »
quote:
Go to the brunswick booth..   My buddy Nate runs the floor there..  Very personable guy.  Also The manager of the shop Owns a shop here in billings as well Very nice guys to chat with.
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Thanks for the advice.  I'll pay them a visit.
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Jorge300

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2008, 11:17:40 AM »
quote:
Rick,

I would go see Beans if you are going to get blanks drilled at the convention center.  He will at least talk to you.

If you have to have Switch Grips, you might should go check out Paul Yoder's Pro Shop their in town.  Super nice guy, good bowler, I've heard a good driller.  He's inside Holiday Bowl and can watch you bowl.  Tell him I sent you, known Paul over 15 years.


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Edited on 5/21/2008 6:43 AM


Hey Mr. Austin,
    If I mention your name do you think he would let me use his spinner a few times? I am going to miss mine when it comes time to clean my equipment after the side tournaments and before hitting the convention center. I don't mind shelling out a few bucks tip for the use and supplies.

Last night of league tonight as well. We won the first and second quarters so we are firmly entrenched in the rolloff next week. Jacob's team won the 3rd. There are 4 teams who could win tonight, plus the WC's are still up for grabs. Just not the same with you here though.
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Rick Wunder

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2008, 03:40:31 PM »
I just wanted to post a follow-up on this thread, now that I'm back from ABQ.

I can't say thanks enough to Paul Yoder for his help in laying out and drilling my two bowling balls, the Cell and the Rapid Fire.  I'd also like to thank Paul for letting me use his spinner to do some surface prep on two of my other balls.

I used the Cell for Team and Doubles, and it performed very well.  In singles, I hit a tough pair, and couldn't find anything that worked.  However, my son, who also uses switch grips, and has a span within 1/16" of mine, started throwing my Cell in game two of singles, and managed to shoot 215, 196 after starting with 134.  He got a great reaction with it, as well.

To all the others that offered advice - thanks to you, as well.  Since I didn't fly in until 10:00 PM Friday night and flew out at 8:20 AM Monday, I had no time to stop by any of the booths, so I didn't get a chance to say "Hi" to Beans at Lane#1 or Nate at Brunswick.

Actually, if the booths had been open late at night, I'd have had plenty of time to stop in, because I did spend a lot of time after bowling, having a few cold ones.  

Once again, thanks a million, Paul Yoder!

Also, not related to the drilling issue, but relevant, nevertheless, I'd like to give a big thanks to Mike Jasnau for the team coaching.  As I posted in another thread, both of our teams attended the session, and everyone was happy with it.  Thanks a million to Mike, as well!
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Debina

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2008, 03:55:25 PM »
quote:
I just wanted to post a follow-up on this thread, now that I'm back from ABQ.

I can't say thanks enough to Paul Yoder for his help in laying out and drilling my two bowling balls, the Cell and the Rapid Fire.  I'd also like to thank Paul for letting me use his spinner to do some surface prep on two of my other balls.

I used the Cell for Team and Doubles, and it performed very well.  In singles, I hit a tough pair, and couldn't find anything that worked.  However, my son, who also uses switch grips, and has a span within 1/16" of mine, started throwing my Cell in game two of singles, and managed to shoot 215, 196 after starting with 134.  He got a great reaction with it, as well.

To all the others that offered advice - thanks to you, as well.  Since I didn't fly in until 10:00 PM Friday night and flew out at 8:20 AM Monday, I had no time to stop by any of the booths, so I didn't get a chance to say "Hi" to Beans at Lane#1 or Nate at Brunswick.

Actually, if the booths had been open late at night, I'd have had plenty of time to stop in, because I did spend a lot of time after bowling, having a few cold ones.  

Once again, thanks a million, Paul Yoder!

Also, not related to the drilling issue, but relevant, nevertheless, I'd like to give a big thanks to Mike Jasnau for the team coaching.  As I posted in another thread, both of our teams attended the session, and everyone was happy with it.  Thanks a million to Mike, as well!
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Glad Paul was able to help you out!  He's our coach and our pro shop of choice.  I can't say enough great things about him!

Deb
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pin-chaser

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Re: Having a ball drilled in ABQ
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2008, 12:06:14 PM »
I wanted to validate my grip. I emailed Beans before leaving and met up with him here. I simply asked him to measure my hand from scratch not knowing anything about my current grip. After about 1 hour of talking and measuring (and learning his theories) I decided to put his grip to the test and had him drill me a new ball.

Let me say this, I come from OLD school more than 30 years ago. Longer spans, forward pitch in fingers and reverse in thumb. As well I am a bigger guy... about 250 pounds.

For me (because of alot of flesh around the base of my thumb) his grip included an 5/8 offset. Now I understand the theories of an offset but I am still not sure I buy into it.  But the bottom line difference is:

His meaurements:
4 1/8th  x 4 1/8 (5/8 reverse/away on both fingers) with an offset of 5/8 and thumb pitches of 0 forward/revers and 1/8 under palm (right).

My meausrements:
4 7/16 x 4 9/16 with (1/4th revers/away on both fingers)
thumb pitches of 3/8 reverse and 0 under palm (right).

Using the T-method of measuring his grip the difference in not so dramatic. Yes it is still shorter than my grip by about 3/16. The difference here is really tilting the fingers and substantially reducing the reverse.

My goal was to produce a consistant and clean release. When I threw this ball the ball completely fell off my hand straight into the lane. I taped up the thumb tighter (the way I like it anyway). And was able to throw it pretty well. But the ball is completely wrong for these conditions. So it has stayed in the bag.

The bottom line... Beans is not what I expected. But Beans is a great guy, spent several hours with me over 2 days. Beans is an eager teacher. Beans is a knowledgeable ball driller and very capable of helping everyone if people will approach with an open mind and willing to listen and learn. Lane #1 is lucky to have Beans on there team. Beans clearly would be a great addition to any staff and Lane #1 is lucky to have him.

BTW... I got a great deal on the ball I had drilled. Slugs, inserts, drilled and out the door for 139. And if you include all the learning and time spent I certainly won.
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