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Author Topic: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs  (Read 4976 times)

Snakster

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Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« on: April 24, 2015, 01:06:00 PM »
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people who ask them....

So at the risk of exposing myself, here's a question I've wondered about for some time. Every consumer bowling site sells blank thumb slugs and I've often wondered why.  Do that many people actually drill their own thumbs that they would be buying blank slugs?  Finger grips I can understand because it is not difficult to remove old ones and glue in new ones.  But thumbs?

And are people changing their thumbs that often that somebody would buy a 10-pack of them?  How would one even go about learning how to do such a thing?

Again I probably sound dumb asking, but I need this to stop bugging me. (yes I have issues)
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billdozer

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2015, 01:09:56 PM »
I drill 10+ balls a season.  My PSO (unfortunately) charges me $23 bucks for thumb/finger grips per ball on top of drilling.  He also doesn't carry power ovals (the in between lifts) so I buy my own and its a tenth of the cost.  Not to put down a shop but in my local shop that's their markup but I honestly can't afford to pay 230 just in slugs and grips...
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Cobalt Bomb

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2015, 01:12:37 PM »
There are also a decent number of "garage" drillers that drill for friends and family, but lack the business name to obtain product from wholesalers.
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2015, 01:37:28 PM »
Billdozer,

Your shop doesn't charge to install a slug you bring in?
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northface28

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2015, 04:37:03 PM »
Quote from: billdozer on April 24, 2015, 01:09:56 PM
I drill 10+ balls a season.  My PSO (unfortunately) charges me $23 bucks for thumb/finger grips per ball on top of drilling.  He also doesn't carry power ovals (the in between lifts) so I buy my own and its a tenth of the cost.  Not to put down a shop but in my local shop that's their markup but I honestly can't afford to pay 230 just in slugs and grips...

You spend over $2k on balls a season but leave no room for your proshop guy to make money on grips and slugs? Wow.
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Azaelv

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2015, 08:44:45 PM »
Quote from: northface28 on April 24, 2015, 04:37:03 PM
Quote from: billdozer on April 24, 2015, 01:09:56 PM
I drill 10+ balls a season.  My PSO (unfortunately) charges me $23 bucks for thumb/finger grips per ball on top of drilling.  He also doesn't carry power ovals (the in between lifts) so I buy my own and its a tenth of the cost.  Not to put down a shop but in my local shop that's their markup but I honestly can't afford to pay 230 just in slugs and grips...

You spend over $2k on balls a season but leave no room for your proshop guy to make money on grips and slugs? Wow.

IMO i would do the same, its 230 I don't need to spend, and maybe personal preference on brand and feel in slugs?

Its like whenever you purchase something from bowlers deals they give you a 5% coupon, ofc you will you use it in you next purchase, 5% you dont need to spend, IdIdk if I made my point
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billdozer

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2015, 09:22:41 PM »
Quote from: northface28 on April 24, 2015, 04:37:03 PM
Quote from: billdozer on April 24, 2015, 01:09:56 PM
I drill 10+ balls a season.  My PSO (unfortunately) charges me $23 bucks for thumb/finger grips per ball on top of drilling.  He also doesn't carry power ovals (the in between lifts) so I buy my own and its a tenth of the cost.  Not to put down a shop but in my local shop that's their markup but I honestly can't afford to pay 230 just in slugs and grips...

You spend over $2k on balls a season but leave no room for your proshop guy to make money on grips and slugs? Wow.

They dont carry my grips,  what am I supposed to do. 

WOW.

The guy has drilled probably 30 balls for me, not once has he offered to say hey, u always use neon yellow slugs/power ovals...let me order your size.  They aren't hurting for business apparently, or he doesn't care.  We are decent friends and he'll sub on my team every now and then. 

U aren't JLS, dont be trying to go JLS on me, sir! :)

I also bring them new business, from out of town, as they do a decent job.  I consider a customer who brings in business to your shop a good customer.

WOW.

Also I dont spend 2k a year. 

I usually get clearanced out stuff online for $100 or less. 
I get 4 from have a ball leagues -through the shop
I buy at least 2-3 a year from the shop...and I buy my dad a ball for Xmas or his birthday every year.  Probably less than $1500

I am a business student, and my gf is a psycho budgeter!

Quit your bellyaching over a thumb slug.  Haha
« Last Edit: April 24, 2015, 09:25:07 PM by billdozer »
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kidlost2000

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2015, 09:31:43 PM »
For snakster

They aren't like finger inserts in terms of being replaced after X number of games ect.

Usually it is for putting into a new ball or something being redilled for which you will need a proshop or someone with a press to drill up for you. They also sell thumb inserts with pre-drilled hole sizes in them......but once again you will need to install it by the previous means unlike finger inserts.

If you order your bowling balls and other equipment online and know what you are doing and choose to save some money by spending $2-5 for slugs and grips vs proshop cost it can save you some cash in the long run. Depending on how much equipment you get drilled.

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Ken De Beasto

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2015, 09:38:45 PM »
thats why you guys gotta be like me run no slugs or finger inserts!!!! hahaha cheapo alert.
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billdozer

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2015, 09:39:58 PM »
Quote from: Ken De Beasto on April 24, 2015, 09:38:45 PM
thats why you guys gotta be like me run no slugs or finger inserts!!!! hahaha cheapo alert.

Lol idk my pitches are not perfect.  No pain but if I bowl a TON of games I get a ingrown middle finger nail on the left side of my right bowling hand.
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Ken De Beasto

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2015, 09:44:27 PM »
Quote from: billdozer on April 24, 2015, 09:39:58 PM
Quote from: Ken De Beasto on April 24, 2015, 09:38:45 PM
thats why you guys gotta be like me run no slugs or finger inserts!!!! hahaha cheapo alert.

Lol idk my pitches are not perfect.  No pain but if I bowl a TON of games I get a ingrown middle finger nail on the left side of my right bowling hand.

then you gotta ask your self do you wanna pay with $$$$ or pay with skinn hehehe. i honestly love the switch to no slug or inserts. just slap some white tape on fingers and thumbs then it feels like normal.
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Snakster

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2015, 07:22:15 AM »
Quote from: kidlost2000 on April 24, 2015, 09:31:43 PM
For snakster

They aren't like finger inserts in terms of being replaced after X number of games ect.

Usually it is for putting into a new ball or something being redilled for which you will need a proshop or someone with a press to drill up for you. They also sell thumb inserts with pre-drilled hole sizes in them......but once again you will need to install it by the previous means unlike finger inserts.

If you order your bowling balls and other equipment online and know what you are doing and choose to save some money by spending $2-5 for slugs and grips vs proshop cost it can save you some cash in the long run. Depending on how much equipment you get drilled.
Thanks, I figured someone would get around to answering the question sooner or later.  ;)

I could see myself finally making the observation on grip size and buying a bunch of those. But I'm certain I'd screw up a thumb. Plus the whole buyin a drill
press thing.
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charlest

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Re: Stupid Question of the Day - Blank Thumb Slugs
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2015, 08:04:42 AM »
Snakster,

Not sure if this jives with what kidlost said, but

I recently started drilling my own balls with a KMT jig. Of course no matter how much I practiced I screwed up the span on the first one, which was, thankfully, on a plastic spare ball.  So I bought a pack of clear solid slugs in the size I use. plugged the thumb hole, sanded it even with the surface and redrilled the thumb hole in the right spot. It was easy because I normally use a predrilled oval insert for the thumb. My predrilled insert and the solid slug are the same diameter, 1 1/8".

Also,I know my old driller had several customers that had him start with a clear solid slug in the thumb hole and then he drilled and ovaled the thumb hole in the slug. The customers want this in order to give their thumb the same surface and the same feeling in every thumb hole. If they just drilled into the ball, every resin,  every filler and every core feels different from ball to ball both within the same manufacturer and going from one manufacturer to anther.
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