If your old equipment isn't hitting the pocket like it used to, redrilling a bowling ball might be the easiest way to breathe new life into your game without spending a fortune on a new core. It's a common move for bowlers who've changed their release, adjusted their span, or even picked up a high-quality used ball from a friend. Instead of letting a perfectly good piece of reactive resin gather dust in the garage, you can take it to a pro shop and have it tailored specifically to your hand.
Most people think that once a ball is drilled, that's it—the layout is permanent. But the truth is, bowling balls are incredibly resilient. As long as the coverstock is still in decent shape, you can plug those holes and start from scratch. It's a bit like getting a suit tailored; sure, you could buy a brand-new one, but if the fabric is great, why not just make it fit your body better?
Why would you want to redrill anyway?
There are a handful of reasons why you'd find yourself standing at the pro shop counter asking about a redrill. The most common one is a change in your physical hand structure. Over time, your span—the distance between your thumb and finger holes—can change. Maybe you've developed some swelling, or perhaps your grip has just evolved as you've become more experienced. If the fit is off by even an eighth of an inch, you're going to feel it. You'll find yourself squeezing the ball, which leads to a messy release and a lot of unnecessary muscle tension.
Another big reason is performance. Every ball has a "layout," which is the orientation of the holes relative to the ball's internal core and the "pin." If you've changed how you throw the ball—maybe you've increased your rev rate or changed your axis of rotation—the old layout might be fighting against you. Redrilling a bowling ball allows you to reposition those holes to better match your current style, helping the ball hook earlier, go longer, or snap harder in the backend.
Lastly, there's the secondhand market. You can often find high-end, top-tier balls at garage sales or online for a fraction of their original price. They were drilled for someone else's hand, obviously, but for a small fee, you can have them plugged and redrilled to fit you perfectly. It's the smartest way to build a diverse arsenal on a budget.
The process: What actually happens?
When you drop your ball off, the pro shop operator isn't just going to start drilling new holes immediately. First, they have to "plug" the existing ones. This involves cleaning out the old holes and filling them with a specialized two-part epoxy resin. This resin is incredibly dense and durable, designed to bond with the ball's material so it doesn't pop out when it hits the lane or the pin deck.
Often, they'll try to match the color of the plug to the ball's coverstock. While it's rarely a perfect match—especially with those crazy swirl patterns—a good shop can get it pretty close. Once the resin cures (which usually takes about 6 to 24 hours depending on the type of plug used), the excess material is cut down and sanded until it's perfectly flush with the surface of the ball. At this point, the ball is basically a blank slate again.
Then comes the "re-measuring." This is the most important part. A good driller will measure your hand, check your flexibility, and maybe even watch you throw a few shots to see your PAP (Positive Axis Point). With that info, they'll map out a new layout. They'll mark the spots, put the ball in the press, and drill fresh holes. You'll usually get new finger inserts and a thumb slug too, which makes the ball feel brand new.
Is it worth the cost?
You're probably wondering if the price of redrilling a bowling ball is worth it compared to just buying a new one. Generally, a full plug and redrill will cost you anywhere from $30 to $60, depending on your location and the complexity of the job. When you consider that a new high-performance ball can easily run you $200 or more (plus the cost of the initial drilling), the savings are pretty obvious.
However, you have to look at the "life" left in the ball. If the coverstock is completely "died"—meaning it's soaked up so much oil that it no longer creates friction—then redrilling it is kind of like putting a new engine in a car with no tires. You can try to "bake" the oil out or resurface it, but eventually, every ball reaches its limit. If the ball still has some life and the surface looks healthy, redrilling is a fantastic investment.
Does it change how the ball hits?
This is a bit of a debated topic in the bowling community. Some purists argue that every time you drill into a ball, you're removing a bit of the core and changing the physics of the weight block. While technically true, for 99% of bowlers, the difference is totally imperceptible. The epoxy resin used to plug the holes is specifically formulated to have a similar density to the ball's outer material, so it shouldn't create a "clunk" or a weird wobble as it rolls down the lane.
In fact, a redrill usually makes the ball hit better because it actually fits your hand. If you're comfortable and your release is clean, you're going to put a better roll on the ball. A perfectly fit ball that has been redrilled will almost always outperform a brand-new, expensive ball that doesn't fit quite right.
Things to watch out for
While the process is pretty straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, there's a limit to how many times you should redrill a single ball. Every time you plug and drill, you're messing with the integrity of the shell. Most pros suggest not doing it more than two or three times. After that, the ball becomes a bit of a "swiss cheese" situation under the surface, which can lead to cracking.
Speaking of cracking, that's the biggest risk. Because the plug material and the original ball material expand and contract at slightly different rates when the temperature changes, you might see some small stress fractures around the holes over time. To avoid this, try to keep your redrilled balls in a climate-controlled environment. Don't leave them in the trunk of your car on a freezing night or a boiling hot afternoon.
Also, make sure you trust your pro shop guy. A bad plug job can leave air bubbles in the resin, which can cause the ball to chip or the plug to fail. A great driller will take their time to ensure the bond is solid and the surface is smooth.
The psychological boost
Don't underestimate the mental side of this. Bowling is a game of confidence. If you're standing on the approach worried that your thumb is going to hang up in the hole, or that the span is stretching your hand too thin, you're already in trouble.
When you go through the process of redrilling a bowling ball, you're essentially resetting your relationship with that piece of gear. You know it's been measured specifically for you. You know the layout is designed for your current game. That peace of mind allows you to focus on your target and your footwork rather than your equipment.
At the end of the day, your gear should be an extension of your arm. If it feels like a heavy rock you're just trying to get rid of, something is wrong. Redrilling is the bridge that gets you back to that effortless, "butter" release we all strive for. So, if you've got an old favorite that just isn't doing the job anymore, give it another chance. A trip to the pro shop might be all it needs to start racking up those strikes again.