Did you just get yourself a fancy bowling ball? Well, then it’s time to get it drilled. But how much does it cost to drill a bowling ball? Well, after a big expense, buying a new bowling ball, it is normal to be concerned about the cost of getting it drilled. Besides, it’s unavoidable. You can’t use your ball without drilling it, can you? So if you’re looking for some answers, you have come to the right place. We will give you an estimation and you can set your budget according to that. So without further ado, let’s talk about the expense of bowling ball drilling.
How much does it cost to drill a bowling ball in Pro Shop?
You can often find bowling balls that come pre-drilled. When you purchase those balls, they will have the standard finger hole layout and there will be no additional cost for the drilling process. But the chances of the layout going with your hand are improbable. That’s why you need to have your ball customized and drilled as per your choice.
If you want to get it done in a bowling pro shop, the professional operator will charge you a certain amount of money for the entire process. Usually, it should be between $20 to $50. This type of cost is applicable when you don’t buy the bowling ball from that shop. But if it is like you purchased the ball from the pro shop and now want it to be drilled, then the pro shop operator will charge you around $10 to $20 only. If you’re not a pro bowler and just a recreational player, then you can be lucky to enjoy the basic bowling ball drilling price which is between $30 and $50.
Most places charge this much, but of course, the drilling cost can go up to $70 too. However, that depends on the customization and your bowling ball coverstock type and hole configuration. Do remember, different places charge different prices, so this is just an average estimation. Moreover, professional drilling and standard drilling are pretty different from each other. You have to decide what you want for your bowling ball.
Is there any extra cost involved in drilling?
If you are to be super safe side, you can add drilling protection by adding some bucks. Do you know what drilling protection is? It is basically an insurance policy for the protection of your bowling ball that allows you to have a replacement for your bowling ball in case it gets damaged or cracked during the drilling process. Many companies or pro shops don’t want to take responsibility in case your bowling ball gets cracked during the drilling process. This protection cost is also encouraged if the drilling doesn’t go as you thought it will. This completely wrecks a bowling ball and makes it unusable for playing. That’s why drilling protection ensures drilling safety for your bowling ball if things go south. But if your bowling ball cost include drilling protection costs, you will not bear any extra cost.
So, this drilling protection insurance act as an extra cost that is involved in drilling. Usually, pro shops charge between $5 to $20 to cover the cost of the ball you will get as a replacement. They are not really bound to give you the exact one, but the higher the cost of your drilling protection, the higher the chance of you getting the exact replacement bowling ball.
Besides the drilling protection, there can be some extra cost if you want to add some additional features. For example- getting thumb slugs or finger inserts. If you’re lucky, you may find pro shops that offer these extra features included in their drilling costs.
So, there you go! These are some of the additional costs or charges that you encounter which will impact your bowling ball drilling costs.
How to Save Your Money?
If you don’t do your research right, you might end up spending a lot more on your bowling ball drilling than you should have. The best way to save your money for the ball drilling purpose is to find the pro shop that offers the best deal. The retail shop (online or offline) from where you bought your bowling ball offers the bowling ball drilling service. One of the best ways to get a good price is if you drill your ball from there. This is because they will either charge you only a few bucks ($10-$20) or best-case scenario, it will be free of any extra charge and the cost will be included with the bowling ball’s price.
There are some companies that offer the ball drilling service at a low price if you’re a beginner and want a standard configuration. If you customize it a little, the cost will be up by $5 or $10 only. Bit it shouldn’t be more than $30 in total.
Things are different if you have a pro-level expensive bowling ball and looking for a professional drilling and re-drilling service. You surely don’t want the ball to crack or be nicked during the drilling process, do you? So get it done by a professional bowling ball operator who has years of experience. The cost will be comparatively higher, but it’s way less than buying a new bowling ball for sure.
Another best way to save your money and not getting scammed is to do your own research. There are many professional operators that charge as low as $20 whereas others can charge $70 for the same service. So browse the internet, visit from site to site, go from shop to shop, and learn how much they are asking for the service. Go with the shop who seems to offer the best price for their quality service. Last but not the least, if you have all the equipment at home for bowling ball drilling, then you can just do it yourself and not spend a penny.
Is it worth it to get custom drilling/fitting for a cheap ball?
A cheap entry-level bowling ball doesn’t cost more than $80. Whether you want to custom drill or fit it, that’s up to you. Generally, the pro shops offer some great deals to beginners. Plus, the plastic or polyester balls are easy to drill. So the cost shouldn’t be more than $25. Anything more than that isn’t worth it.
Conclusion
So do you now have an idea regarding the bowling ball drilling? If you do, you know what you have to! The key is to research and find out which shops ask what price. Once you select the deal of your choice, go ahead and take your bowling ball there and get it drilled. Once that is done, get set rolling!
