I don't have any pictures to illustrate what I mean just yet, so I'll try to explain as best I can.
This particular vest laces up the sides, but something I noticed from the way it originally was (with a backing behind the grommeted/lace up part) was that it would bunch horribly when I laced it up. So I never actually ended up using it. However with my new plates I find myself needing a new vest and, rather than spend the money on another one, I'm trying to make this one work. I've removed those pesky panels, and that has helped with the bunching some. But, it's still doing it enough to bother me.
Lacing it looser isn't an option as it's still not as skin tight as my old vest even when I have it laced as tightly as I can. I'm not sure if maybe it's because I need to shorten it somewhat, that line of logic being that maybe the curve into my hips is throwing it off. Would adding more grommets work (as there are only 8 total on each side of the vest, ie 4 on each flap)? If so, how in the world does one even add grommets (as I've never worked with them before)?