About Russ King Expertise 21 years in drilling balls,9 years running Pro Shop,cure grip problems,Fix approach problems,coach handicaped bowlers, certified coach instructor, coach Crankers,Tweeners,Strokers,Ex Ball Tester,A Mechanic on Bruswick machines,B Mechanic on AMF,Resurfaced lanes (Wood),change oil patterns for different ball reactions to train & test on.Hints on ways to clear/relax your mind on the lanes.
Experience American Bowling Congress 32 yrs.,PBA 20 yrs., I learned from 3 Ball Drillers & then, develped my own styles of drilling.I EXPERIMENT ALL THE TIME (THE BEST WAY TO LEARN!).
Question QUESTION: OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE HAD A GUY HERE IN TUCSON DRILLING MY EQUIPMENT. I'VE STRUGGLED OFF AND ON WITH THE WAY THESE BALLS ROLL AND THEN I COMPARED THEM TO SOME BALLS THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD DRILLED OUT TO THIS GUY. I MADE SOME MEASUREMENTS AND DISCOVERED THAT HE HAS BEEN DRILLING THEM OUT WITH MY PAP AT 4.5 OVER AND 1 UP INSTEAD OF WHAT IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE; 5.25 OVER AND .5 UP. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH THESE CRAP BALLS. IF I PLUG AND REDRILL THEM I CAN'T USE THEM FOR PBA EVENTS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM ALL. ONCE AGAIN I'M SCREWED BY SOMEONE THAT HAS NO CLUE HOW TO DRILL A BALL. DO YOU KNOW A GOOD DRILLER NEAR TUCSON?
ANSWER: ARIZONA IS ANOTHER REGION. I REALLY DON'T KNOW MANY BOWLERS FROM THAT AREA. TRY PBA.COM & GO TO THE PRO SHOP OWNER/OP. SECTION. THE PBA BOWLERS PRO SHOPS TEND TO BE BETTER KEEPING THEIR REPUTATION IN GOOD STANDINGS.
I WOULD EXPERIMENT WITH THE SURFACES MAYBE FINDING A GOOD REACTION OUT OF ONE. THEN, TAKE THE WORST ONE & TEST OUT THE NEW DRILLER.THEY CAN TWEAK A BALL MANY WAYS. DRILLING THE FINGERS DEEPER,THUMB DEEPER,AXIS HOLE,OFF-SET HOLE & SURFACES CAN CHANGE REACTIONS & MAYBE SAVING THE BALL.YOU CAN USE PLUGGED STUFF IN REGIONALS.THE PBA SITE HAS A RULE BOOK TO DOWNLOAD ON THE DESCRIPTION ON THIS.IT IS FAIRLY VAGUE. BUT YOU CAN CONTACT THE DIRECTOR FOR CLARITY.
THE MEASUREMENT IS NOT TOO FAR OFF TO TWEAK THEM.THIS IS WHY I LEARNED TO DRILL. MY THUMB WAS HAMBURG.YES! THE POTATO THING IS USED.UNTIL I LEARNED/WOKE UP & DRILLED MY OWN. MY SNAKE HEAD THUMB IS THE REMNANTS OF THOSE DAYS. BUT MY LAST BLISTER WAS DONE & GONE.EVEN AFTER 30 GAME MARATHON, MY THUMB HOLDS UP.
I WOULD ALSO RE-CHECK YOUR SPAN & PITCHES.THE BALLS WILL NEVER WORK IF YOU HAVE A BAD GRIP.
THIS IS WHY I WOULD PICK THE WORST ONE & TRY OUT THE NEW DRILLER. ASK MANY QUESTIONS. NO QUESTION IS STUPID! IT GAINS KNOWLEDGE.AND TESTS OUT THE NEW DRILLER.
DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!! IT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN YOU EXPECTED.
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QUESTION: CAN YOU STEER ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS FAR AS BOOKS AND OTHER LEARNING MATERIAL TO LEARN HOW TO DRILL MY OWN EQUIPMENT?
Answer On one of the bowlingball .coms,there are books & tapes. I think it is either BOWLINGBALL.COM OR 300BOWL.COM,BOWL300.COM. DAVE SMART HAS A TAPE.HE IS SO-SO.BUT ATLEAST YOU CAN SEE HOW IT IS DONE.
IF YOU ARE SERIOUS , I WOULD BUY A DRILL PRESS,JIG,WEIGH SCALE,1/4 SCALE,SPAN RULER & LOTS OF USED/JUNK BALLS TO PRACTICE ON.DRILLING FOR YOURSELF IS THE STARTING POINT. YOU LEARN WHAT THINGS DO & DON'T DO.I EXPERIMENT ALL THE TIME.THERE ARE DRILL PATTERNS ALSO.
THE WAY TO GET A TASTE IF THINGS IS TO ASK THE PRO SHOP IF THEY NEED HELP. I LEARNED OFF OF 3 & DEVELOPED MY OWN WAYS OF DOING THINGS.
DRILL PRESS ABOUT $400 - $800
JIG $200-$500
DO DO SCALE $500 - $1100
1/4 SCALE $40 - $75
ABOUT $250 OF OTHER STUFF
EBAY SOMETIMES HAS PRESSES,SCALES & JIGS. PRESSES CAN BE FOUND AT PAWN SHOPS.THERE ARE .COMS THAT HAVE USED PRO SHOP STUFF. THERE IN BOWLERS JOURNAL IN THE BACK SECTION.BEWARE OF TUCKER.THERE IN TEXAS & A LOT OF TIMES SELL JUNK!
