Author Topic: USBC booths - better ball driller? (Read 1929 times)

GutterLine · « **on:** February 10, 2006, 04:05:39 AM »

Good morning,

I will be bowling the USBC on Sun/Mon coming up and I plan to have someone out there re-fit me.

I need some suggestions on who in some of these booths is pretty good at fixing problems. My grip has been in a constant working state for the past few years. Every change I make causes another problem, so I'd like to get a fresh set of eyes to check it out.

TIA,
Mark

Strapper_Squared · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2006, 12:12:21 PM »

I think for the most part, most of the booths have very qualified people working in the shops. I had some work done by Dan who works in the columbia/track booth and was pleased.

S^2
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-Strapper Squared

Alias Generator

applegam · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2006, 12:12:23 PM »

Go talk to Andy at the Brunswick booth. He definitely knows his stuff.

charlest · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2006, 08:06:00 PM »

Almost every driller there is very good to excellent to great, but they are human beings. They are under a lot pf pressure as thousands of people will be asking them questions; some people will get on their nerves. Try to catch them at good times (they can get VERY, VERY busy) when they have the time to take care of you properly. Be courteous, ask questions nicely and respectfully and you'll probably walk away VERY happy.

Reminder: they won't be there to drill a ball when you go home, so take your drilling sheets (specifications) with you and try to write down notes very soon after talking to them. You won't remember it all an hour or two later.
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"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

bwlrjmp · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2006, 01:53:59 PM »

The only ball I had drilled at Nationals was at the Brunswick booth. I told the guy that the ball didn't feel right, and he did nothing about it. My mother was with me (family team) and the spare ball that she had they drill didn't fit well weather. Once we got back home I tried the ball and the thumb and span was so far off that I couldn't even come out of the ball at all. My mother's ball was the same way. We both had to have the balls plugged and redrilled. I won't make that mistake twice! The next year I got a ball and sent it home undrilled. The only person that I might go to would be Frankie May. And that's only because he was recommended by a friend of mine.
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J. Pedersen
Visionary Test Staffer

charlest · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2006, 03:15:04 PM »

quote:
The only ball I had drilled at Nationals was at the Brunswick booth. I told the guy that the ball didn't feel right, and he did nothing about it. My mother was with me (family team) and the spare ball that she had they drill didn't fit well weather. Once we got back home I tried the ball and the thumb and span was so far off that I couldn't even come out of the ball at all. My mother's ball was the same way. We both had to have the balls plugged and redrilled. I won't make that mistake twice! The next year I got a ball and sent it home undrilled. The only person that I might go to would be Frankie May. And that's only because he was recommended by a friend of mine.
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J. Pedersen
Visionary Test Staffer

One bad experience at one booth and you condemn the other 49 drillers? check my note above about their being human beings.
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"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

charlest · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2006, 07:17:22 PM »

quote:
Like I said, the guy knew his stuff but maybe he was in a rush (but had no need to be, I was in no hurry)...

Like I said, they're human; who knows what the problem might have been.

quote:

Not from personal experience but the guys at the Hammer booth the last 2 years have been great!

I hope no one thinks the rest of us are intentionally trying to steer you wrong. These guys are good or they wouldn't be there.
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"...for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise...."
J. R. R. Tolkien

DanH78 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2006, 08:33:54 PM »

I don't know the exact statistics, but most of these guys will drill more bowling balls in the 5 months the tournament is running than the average pro shop will drill in 2 years. PLUS, a lot of them also drill the other 7 months of the year. That's a lot of experience.
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What are you gonna do? Beat me with your Jesus stick?

JoeBowler · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2006, 07:19:23 AM »

If these guys had successfulll proshop operations at home then they couldn't afford to take off 4 months to go to nationals.

Most simply work for wages. I know'd one who has drilled for storm a few years who couldnt' keep a job because of constatn drug issues.

If you have a good local driller you would be well off to stay with them.

If not then you MAY make out at a nationals booth. Depending on the shift the boothe and who you happen to draw to measure and drill.

Leftyhi-trak · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2006, 04:58:17 PM »

Odd hours are a great time like fairly early in the morning or about supper time. The one thing i hear is guys who did not like the drill but used it anyways. I have them re-measure after drilling and i write it down for reference. (Serves as a double check system) With that being said I have a few of the drillers who I won't go to. I have a very flexible thumb for movement and have had a few over-span me. Usable yes but slightly uncomfortable for long blocks. Frankie is the bomb and has always had time to talk and done a great job for me. For a point of reference i asked three booths to measure my span and pitches and got three different perspectives on drilling. I went back to one booth again and got a different driller who gave me a span and pitch formulation exactly the same as a different manufacturers driller. I stuck with that answer and that ball served me well. This is not to scare people off as we have had a ton of stuff drilled for our guys over the years going and watching with many being very successful. If you have a clue about your PAP, spans and pitches before you leave its much easier to translate more information to them as points of reference.

anotherwindup · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2006, 01:07:29 PM »

I have recommended before and will again, Bill Calhoun in the Ebonite booth. This man has drilled balls for some of the best in the game. I believe at one time he was drilling for the PWBA. He is an encyclopedia of ball drilling info. I would consider him the best.

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Jason Jenkins
'05-'06 Hammer Amateur Staff
"Nothing HITS like a Hammer"

Author Topic: USBC booths - better ball driller? (Read 1929 times)

GutterLine

USBC booths - better ball driller?

Strapper_Squared

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applegam

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charlest

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bwlrjmp

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charlest

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charlest

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DanH78

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JoeBowler

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Leftyhi-trak

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anotherwindup

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