No need for name calling.  He's just a little mis-informed.

I don't understand what finger inserts have to do with anything.

What I'm saying is if I drill you a ball, unless you watch me, you won't know if I drill it thumb first, fingers first, middle-thumb-ring, or ring-thumb-middle. 

No need for name dropping, I've drilled side by side with and for some of the best.  To be honest I have no idea about Wes' drilling ability.  He could be a great ball driller.  But don't take for granted that just because he is a great bowler he is a great ball driller.

And I'm sure you know that, just addressing the question for the benefit of those who don't do pro shop work. 

I get chapped with people that drill in their homes and know more than those of us that do it for a living.  He's bashing pro shops for being bad because they don't do it like he does...god knows how many pro shops have lost business because he has told people this.  I deal with people like that near me.  They tell customers their ball is drilled wrong because it has an extra hole...and they average 215 so people believe them.

BELIEVE ME, I completely understand and feel your pain.  We have people coming in saying "my friend (who averages 150) says that pin down layouts are bad, because he had a ball once that was pin down and he didn't like it, so don't drill my ball like that."  We have a guy that routinely fits and drills people's balls miles off, but they keep going to him because he low balls everybody.  They inevitably come in to us to have us fix it, but apparently 30 up front and 30 to fix it is easier to swallow than 40 all at the same time . .  People treat pro shop operators like they have zero clue, and want to make sure that we don't screw up their ball, because they think they know what they're talking about.  I get it man, I really get it. 

Here's a surefire way to not get signed.

"Oh, you're already on ballreviews.com? What is your user name?"

***searching***

"Oh, you post as ------------------."

***reading posts***

"We are sorry to inform you that we do not have a spot available for our staff. Try again next year, and as always, thank you for supporting our products!"

Drilling balls is a preference. As long as the span is correct, there is no wrong way of doing it. I've drilled balls fingers first and thumb first,.... felt the same to me. Drilled for other people,... could tell the difference of what order. IMO, drilling thumb first is a little easier, but the thumb is easy to drill anyways. Centerline, thumb span cut, drill! I dont bash anyone for drilling either way, so long as you get it right.

Boasting avg has nothing to do with drilling, it means JACK SQUAT what you avg. You can avg 250 on sport patterns but, if you cant hit a line, it wont make a difference. Throwing a ball and drilling a ball are two TOTALLY different things. I've been around guys that dont bowl or bowl 1 league a week but they are some of the best in the area. It's because they do so much business, they cant bowl. 

Those who basement drill, how you stay in business and make a profit by undercutting brick and mortars is beyond me. But thats on you. Good luck and maybe it can turn into a legitimate business. A wise man told me, get paid what you're worth. If the shops in your area suck, then make money off there shortcomings in a legit way.

This is an example so I am exaggerating some to show my point. Say If someone was recommended to have a finger pitch of I dont know 3/8 inch reverse in order to relieve arthritis and joint pain. You had to make sure the span was within 1/16th of an inch on both fingers or else it would inflict tremendous pain to the bowler. Lets just say that with the position of the freshly drilled finger tips, you needed to adjust the thumb to the left to get the thumb/ring finger distance within the desired 1/16th inch range. If you move the thumb left to increase the length of the thumb to ring finger, guess what you have just done. The Finger pitch is still 3/8 of an inch reverse but not according to the new position of the thumb hole. It would be less than the desired 3/8 inch reverse and it would also have a under pitch as well.
I will never understand how drilling fingers first is even an option. I have been taught both from seminars. Honestly, You are more precise drilling the thumb first, placing the slug in the ball, and measuring off it. Over this past Thanksgiving, A guy in buffalo drilled my ball fingers first. I immediately noticed my thumb/ring finger spam was tremendously short. When I asked him to measured it, I saw it measured 5inches which is 3/8 of an inch short of my span.
I mean This guy looked like he knew what he was doing and the proshop had great reviews. After I had realized something felt completely wrong and had addressed the issue, He made the same comment. He drilled my fingers first. I told the guy I needed it fixed. SO he plugged it and you will never guess what happened next. Once he redrilled it, the thumb/ring finger was exactly where it needed to be located. It was 100% on the 5 and 3/8 inch mark, which puts my hand nice and snug up against the ball.
I have drilled fingers first. Have you ever Drilled thumb first. You might see my side. Or it may just come second nature to you since you have been do it for so long. I dont Know.

I scratch my head at some of these posts...

Hit your cuts, the rest doesn't matter.

Some guy didn't miss your span by 3/8 because he drilled the fingers first. 

He missed the span by 3/8 because he's a chop. 

I am unfamiliar with this "1/16th inch range" in which you speak.

+1, 3/8" is a lot to miss by. You sure he wasnt making a suggestion to shorten your span. He probably noticed that you maybe bend your thumb to put it in the ball and shortened it so it would go straight in. Again, dont matter how you drill it so long as you hit you lines.

I scratch my head at some of these posts...

Hit your cuts, the rest doesn't matter.

I do too Nick. I do too.

+1

Some guy didn't miss your span by 3/8 because he drilled the fingers first. 

He missed the span by 3/8 because he's a chop. 

I am unfamiliar with this "1/16th inch range" in which you speak.

I told him the Dual angle layout I wanted and my pap. He got that part correct. I told him my spans from insert to cut and if needed, where I wanted the Balance hole. Needless to say, He needed to draw it out, mark my hand, measure my span, then drill it. He was way off.
If you drill the thumb first, there is more room for error. Try it. You May see what I am talking.