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

$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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.