When it comes to bowling, there is more to it than just throwing a ball down a lane.
There are different techniques and strategies that you can use in order to improve your game.
One of the most important aspects of bowling is knowing how to properly drill your ball.
This article will give you a quick overview of how long it takes to drill a bowling ball and some tips on how to get the most out of your drilling process.
How long does it take to drill a bowling ball?
Drilling a bowling ball can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the type of drill bit you are using and what you want to accomplish.
Some bowlers choose to have more than one drilled ball so they can switch between different styles during a single game.
This is most helpful when bowling in doubles or team formats.
You will find that it is much easier to switch between different styles when the ball has the same layout as your partner’s.
How can I make sure my drilled bowling ball works best for me?
Choosing a good drill pattern and layout that will fit your hand size and throwing style will allow you to get the most out of every shot.
The two most important factors in determining the layout of the ball are pin placement and drilling angle.
Pins should be placed in a way that will allow you to easily get strikes.
If you are not able to hit different areas of the pocket, it won’t matter how comfortable the ball is.
Drilling angles can also make or break the ball.
Before you do any drilling, it is crucial that you get your hand fit.
This will ensure that the bowling ball has the perfect fit for your grip and release.
Why should I get my bowling balls drilled professionally?
Hiring a professional to drill the ball is always the best idea if you are not completely confident in your ability to drill a ball properly.
Even if you think you can do it, it will be much easier and cheaper to pay the extra money and get the ball drilled by someone who knows what they are doing.
The last thing anyone wants is their ball slipping out of their hand in the middle of a bowling game because they didn’t take the time to get their ball drilled properly.
High-quality drill bits will allow you to easily and quickly drill the ball without taking up too much of your time.
If you purchase a cheap or worn-out bit, the drilling process could take longer than expected and you could end up with an oddly shaped ball that may not even roll straight.
How much does it cost to have the ball drilled professionally?
The price for having the ball drilled can vary depending on who you use to do the drilling.
Some of the most common prices are anywhere from $10 to $50 per hole, which includes drilling both sides of the ball.
This would mean that a single bowling ball with four new holes could cost around $40-$200.
If you purchase a drill bit from a company like Storm, they will sometimes offer free drilling on bowling balls.
How do I choose the best drill bit for my ball?
Choosing the right size is very important so you can avoid ruining the ball during the drilling process.
If you purchase the wrong sized bit, it could cause your ball to be drilled improperly and the grip could end up being too large or small for you to hold onto.
Always make sure that you know what size drill bit will fit into your ball before you begin drilling.
How do I know if my drill angle is correct?
On most bowling balls, the layout must be perpendicular to the finger holes so your grip is not at an angle.
If you don’t have it perpendicular to the holes, your hand could slip out during the release and ruin your shot.
A good way to tell if your drill is correct is by using a long screwdriver or something similar that can act as a guide down the bowling ball so you can see if there are any gaps or ridges.
If you don’t have a guide, it is best to get the help of someone who does to make sure you are getting the correct angle.
What is the drilling process of a bowling ball?
The drilling process of a bowling ball is fairly straightforward and there are many different types of drills that can be used in order to drill a bowling ball.
The first step in the drilling process is marking out where your fingers will go, this will usually consist of using tape or putting some kind of marker on the bowling ball itself.
Then you need to mark where your thumb will go on the bowling ball.
This too can be done with tape or a marker of some kind.
Putting a hole in the ball is best done using a drill press or a high-speed rotary tool such as an electric drill.
If you use anything other than these two tools you run the risk of breaking your bit and even your electric drill.
Using a rotary tool has the added benefit of giving you a great deal more control over how large or small of a hole you want to create in the ball.
Once you have created your holes, you then need to plug them, this involves filling the holes that you drilled with some kind of filler material such as a plastic plug or a rubber material that doesn’t react with the resin of the bowling ball.
Then you need to sand off the excess material that you fill in the holes with and then put some wax on the ball for further protection.
What factors affect how long it takes to drill a bowling ball?
A lot of factors can affect how long it takes to drill a bowling ball.
First and foremost the quality of your bit will determine how quickly you will be able to drill the ball.
The cheaper or older bits will usually wear out before they are finished, especially when there is only one official hole in the ball already.
If you attempt to double up your holes there is a very real chance that the bit will break and you will have to purchase a new one.
Professional drillers can also save you a lot of time because they know exactly what they are doing and their rate is usually much cheaper than an amateur if you decide not to do it yourself.
If you want, you could always get a drill press or a rotary tool and do it yourself, the advantage of doing this is that you will have complete control over how large or small your hole is going to be.
How can you find a professional bowler to drill the ball?
If you do not want to go through the process of drilling the ball yourself, then it is possible to find someone else who does this sort of thing.
Most bowling alleys will have some kind of professional services that people can pay for which include having their bowling balls drill or even resurfaced depending on what they need.
You could also simply look online and search for a professional bowler near you and ask them if they will be willing to drill the ball, however, bear in mind that this may not be as cheap as it is to do it yourself.
What should you expect during the drilling process?
During the drilling process, you should expect to have to wait for a long time.
It is not unheard of for it to take an hour or more before the first hole is ready, but you also need to be patient during the entire process because if you rush through it then there’s a good chance that the ball will break and you will need to start over.
How many holes does a bowling ball need?
A bowling ball needs only one hole, and that is for the thumb of your hand.
However, there is no rule against having an additional hole on the bowling ball if you want to drill it and create a secondary hole.
This can be achieved by applying more force during drilling or by using a second bit to drill through the ball.
Conclusion
When bowling, it’s important to know how long it takes for someone to drill a ball and what the benefits are.
This article has offered you some tips on how to get the most out of your drilling process as well as why hiring a professional is always best if you’re not confident in your ability.
I hope this article is helpful.
Further reading:
What You Should Know Before Drilling Your Bowling Ball
How to Drill a Bowling Ball – wikiHow
Jerry Coleman is a professional bowler and experienced bowling blogger. He founded and owns the www.voelkersbowling.net website, which provides news and information about the sport of bowling. Jerry has competed in numerous tournaments over the years and has won several awards for his bowling skills.