Expert: Chip Aki - 12/14/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To c
Question -
Dear Chip,  well this is pretty cool I was just looking around for some info on drilling balls and seen your name and knew this was the place. My name is matt conley my family and I use to run a bowling center in Herrin IL, "Herrin Bowl".I remember you,I think you might have bowled there in some of our Top Gun or other tournaments.Anyway Iam working at a bowling center in Arizona as a GSX technician, my boss is wanting me to drill balls for them at their new pro shop,we have an old gil mac now,Iguess my question is that all you need or should we look into some newer equiptment.I was also wandering what other tools I might need to get started.      thank you  Matt Conley  
Answer -
Yes, I bowled in Herrin quite a bit.  I havent been back in years though.  I live in Lexington KY now.

Gil Macs are not my favorite drill press, but I know people that love them.  I guess it is whatever you get used to.  They will work just fine as long as they do not develop a lot of play in them.

What kind of bowlers do you have in your area?  Are there other pro shops?  Do you have a lot of high average bowlers there so you would need to drill exotic layouts?

If you answer those, I will give you some insight on equipment.  A bowling supply company could help you out as well.

Nice to hear from you.

Chip          dear chip.    iam working in sun city west arizona,it is a 30 lane house with leagues all day every day except sun. anyway it is a retirement community with several good bowlers ,I  wouldn't expect exotic patterns but you never know.          there are no pro shop around the area that i am aware of ,so i expect it should go over really well.oh yeh what about  some training through IBPSIA, or kegel.          Thank you Matt.

Answer
I would check with your bowling supply company.  Most of them offer some type of pro shop training.  Their classes would be cheaper and would be a good place to get started.  If you or your company can afford Kegel or IBPSIA, I am sure the training would be much better.  I am just not sure if the cost would be worth it.  I was a member os IBPSIA for a long time, but, at lest at this point, there is no value to having their logo on your pro shop window.  Plus, when I went to their national convention, there was not really any training.....just a commercial to get you to pay for their 2 day and week long sessions.

Also, if you attend a training session with your supplier, they will be able to show you the basic tools you would need and would probably have them on hand.

Good luck,
Chip