Author Topic: Drilling requests (Read 1816 times)

charlest · « **on:** February 09, 2006, 11:20:26 PM »

I am putting this in Miscellaneous because this is not about how to drill a ball. This concerns the number of requests I have seen over the past 6 months or so in just about every forum.

{rant mode on}

To my mind, even though drillings seem to have more of an effect than they used to have,
UNLESS
1. you are averaging no lower than about 220 in every league AND every tournament you enter,
OR
2. you want to learn about drillings to become a driller (in which case ballreviews is not the place to ask; go to the IBPSIA website),
OR
3. you know for a fact that your driller is an absolute moron and he will drill the ball the way you ask (in which case, you should probably find a new driller),
OR
4. You have a ton of money and loads of time to waste playing with new balls and new drillings,

THEN
A. stop worrying about how to drill your new toy,
B. let your driller worry about it or just drill everything one way, (label or use just one drilling. (NOTE: I didn't say, "label leverage".)
C. buy 3-5 BALLS (for example: a spare ball, a pearl resin, a solid resin or a sanded particle pearl, and a solid particle),
D, go practice, get a coach and bowl, bowl, bowl in every league, every tournament and every house within an hours drive of you.

When you average 220 everywhere, then worry about how to finesse the lane condition with specific purpose balls. Heck, I'd bet 95% of those who do average 220 or better do not have a clue about drillings and COULD CARE LESS HOW THEIR BALLS ARE DRILLED.

In other words, if you really want to learn to bowland to score well, get your priorities in order. First things first.

If you want to play games, fine.

{rant mode off}

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"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

chitown · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:40:01 AM »

Great post Charlest.

Ragnar · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2006, 12:05:13 PM »

About drilling:
1) I buy (as most will know) mostly used stuff. I almost always just have it redone to fit me with the layout that is on it when I get it.
2) When I do buy something new, or very rarely on a used piece, I'll come in here and ask questions about various drillings just because I'm curious and want to see how they work for me.
3) I have balls with pin up, pin down, cg in, cg out, 315, modified Rico, some other stuff and ya know what? With darn few exceptions I can't honestly tell you that the drill pattern makes 2 whits of difference in reaction. Certainly not enough to matter to me, house hack that I am.
4) Will I continue to mess around with layouts/ drill patterns? Almost certainly. Unlike those who think the holy grail of bowling is to be found in their next new ball, I'm hoping to find it in a magic layout. This is one reason I buy mostly used stuff - it makes my search for the magic layout much cheaper.
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"I do desire that we may be better strangers." Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)

Laybzz74 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2006, 12:11:34 PM »

Sounds like me, "Rags" ... BTW, I'm surprised that the BR Moderators haven't asked you to change your name yet (I had to change my quote cuz I had "damn" in it !!!

--------------------
Man, I LOVE this game !!!

Robb in O'Fallon, IL (near Scott AFB)
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM

DukeHarding · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2006, 01:32:06 PM »

quote:
quote:
My typing speed is getting slower and slower...to match my ball speed.

What's a little jerking of knees between friends, right?

SH

Makes life worth living....

--------------------
Duke Harding
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bowling Coaches Web Site Link

When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynijf unir cevinpl!

charlest · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2006, 07:58:29 PM »

Elitist? Wow, do you have the wrong guy!

Regarding this subject:
There is no magic drilling.
However, there is "magical" execution and there is "magical" lane play.

I've said all I'm going to say on the matter,
--------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

Edited on 2/10/2006 8:46 PM

stanski · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:00:45 PM »

I think you (charlest) are overlooking the fact that many here have a lot of discretionary income and just happen to like bowling. Maybe its just me, but I really get excited when I get a new bowling ball. It is definately worth the $100 or so for a new ball when i know that nothing else will get me as excited as buying that new ball. Now granted, I don't ask for advice on here, but i'll tell you what if i hadn't asked for advice/asked questions, i never would have the knowledge that i do today about layouts, ball selection, mechanics, and proper lane play.

Saying that there is a "magic threshold" or that "people who average under 220 won't be affected by the layout of a ball" is just nonsense. Checking out some of the recent good bowling performances from various men's tournaments, I notice that an average bowler, having hardly an above average day, finds that they have the perfect matchup just because of the ball that is in their hands. In some cases, it might actually cause them to win the tournament.

On a yearly basis for league bowling, you are probably right: your average probably won't increase but marginally at a certain house unless you are SEVERELY at a dissadvantage with your current equipment. This can all change if you just happen to match up amazingly to a certain condition with a certain ball (i've seen it happen, even had it happen to myself where in a summer league, I averaged 235+ just because of how well i matched up in that house with only one ball).

The bottom line is that people like to obtain knowledge. People like to be able to go into there doctors saying "I want xxx drug because i have a friend that recommended it." No matter how much we complain, or how much we tell people that they have no where near the knowledge basis to self prescribe drugs, we have to deal with the fact that they will not care. So, i think it is our job as bowlers to either 1.. let them ask there questions and offer suggestions and explain exactly why we are giving them suggestions, or more often 2. ignore them and let the thread die a horrible death with 100 views and no replies.

Now, I will not give advice to people that do not fully explain what they want out of the ball and truthfully give there stats. But, i see no problem in increasing their knowledge if they are willing to learn with the understanding that I am giving them general advice (a lot of times i will use such terms as "longer pin distance, closer to midline" rather than exact specifications).
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stanski

Mike Austin · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:55:12 PM »

Charlest- great post. I tell people all the time, that the most magical layout in the world doesn't mean squat if a person can't get the ball off his/her hand the same way twice in a game.

I try to read my customers. Some are like Stanski with the income thing, they just like getting new toys. Most of them don't care about the layout either, they leave it up to me. Some need some guidance, some help with their game.

"The people that are able to take advantage of the superific layouts are out bowling for a living." -MikeA to many customers

Get the grip right so the ball will come off the hand consistently. Get surface right so the ball will match up to the bowler and the lane condition. Practice, learn more...
--------------------
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
Drilling and Tech Advice BirdDogbowling.com

Driller to many "Stars" and Tony Melendez too!

"So Many Balls, only ONE drill press!!"

stanski · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2006, 12:50:03 AM »

quote:

Get the grip right so the ball will come off the hand consistently.
--------------------

i think that is the most crucial thing that you stated, that I forgot to mention (if they are asking for drilling advice, they often say they go to a bad driller which means that they aren't measured correctly). I've seen too many bowlers just tell a pro shop "match it up to my old one" when they have hugely stretched spans, huge callouses on their thumbs, and are complaining constantly about pain in their wrist. If more bowlers on here spent the time to properly learn how to even hold onto a ball (I can't tell you how many people i see that bend their thumb), they would improve tremendously.

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stanski

charlest · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2006, 06:14:42 AM »

quote:
I think you (charlest) are overlooking the fact that many here have a lot of discretionary income and just happen to like bowling. Maybe its just me, but I really get excited when I get a new bowling ball. It is definately worth the $100 or so for a new ball when i know that nothing else will get me as excited as buying that new ball. ....
--------------------
stanski

Stanski, stanski, stanski,

After all these years here, I think you'd know my rantings better than this.

Look at item #4. You missed it. I think it covers "discretionary income".
--------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

charlest · « **Reply #25 on:** February 11, 2006, 06:18:08 AM »

Mike Austin,

Thanks.
That's all I was saying.I tried to exclude the proper ones in my preface. I've seen so many 150-200 average bowlers here on ballreviews and locally worrying more about the {expletive deleted} drilling than their bowling, as indicated by that average on a house shot. Then I expanded it to many 200-220 average because I know this situation applies to too many of them also.
--------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

stanski · « **Reply #26 on:** February 11, 2006, 08:31:40 PM »

::stanski resumes hitting himself with a baseball bat::

Obviously I completely skipped over that part charlest, my apologies. Please skip over that part of my post in the same manner i skipped over your post.
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stanski

Slopsurprise · « **Reply #27 on:** February 11, 2006, 08:46:01 PM »

quote:

OR
4. You have a ton of money and loads of time to waste playing with new balls and new drillings,

--------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

I raise my hand proudly!!! Why do I like all of these balls and new drillings, becasue I can! LOL!!!!!
--------------------
Nothing hits like a Hammer!!

Yea.....nothing hits that bad!!!

Edited on 2/11/2006 9:34 PM

Author Topic: Drilling requests (Read 1816 times)

charlest

Drilling requests

chitown

Re: Drilling requests

Ragnar

Re: Drilling requests

Laybzz74

Re: Drilling requests

DukeHarding

Re: Drilling requests

charlest

Re: Drilling requests

stanski

Re: Drilling requests

Mike Austin

Re: Drilling requests

stanski

Re: Drilling requests

charlest

Re: Drilling requests

charlest

Re: Drilling requests

stanski

Re: Drilling requests

Slopsurprise

Re: Drilling requests