Pin and Top Weight

[MICHAEL]

When ordering a bowling ball, how important is Pin location and top weight. My question being, should a person when ordering a new ball, request ( certain pin locations, and top weight?)

Can someone explain the advantages vs disadvantages??

[bowl1820]

When ordering a ball a 3"-4" pin length is a standard range and it will let you use most layouts.

Different pin lengths can make it easier to use different layouts. Too Short/Long distances can limit layout options.

Some drillers like to use-
Short pin lengths for pin down layouts (pins below the fingers) layouts.
Long pin lengths for pin up layouts (pin above the fingers) layouts.

Top weight is just weight to compensate for weight loss when the holes are drilled. The Average top weight ranges from 2-3 oz.

I like around 3"-4" pin length with about 2.5-3 oz. top wght.

[Jaescrub]

Will top weight affect much? And how will it affect roll?

[MICHAEL]

A driller needs to order a ball that will fit the bowler.... since it does limit the drilling in some cases! HUMMMMM,,,
I have always purchased one out of the pro-shop! AND they have never had a problem drilling one to suit my style of bowling.....

[Mike White]

A driller needs to order a ball that will fit the bowler.... since it does limit the drilling in some cases! HUMMMMM,,,
I have always purchased one out of the pro-shop! AND they have never had a problem drilling one to suit my style of bowling.....

It helps to have a plan before selecting the ball to be drilled.

If I intend to drill a asymmetrical ball, for a right handed player, with a large Pin to Pap, a small drill angle, and a large val angle,

I look for a ball that after placing the pin, and psa, I want the CG to be close to the center of the grip, so i don't need a balance hole.

If however I plan to add a balance hole, I try to get a ball such that the CG will end up well right of the grip center line.

That allows me to drill a balance hole without exceeding the limit on side weight.

[bowl1820]

Will top weight affect much? And how will it affect roll?
Top weight was said to have a similar effect as finger weight, the ball will go longer down the lane and snap a bit more on the backend.

But This brings up the old static weights issue's which have been beat to death over the years.

Today top weight and the other static's are considered to have very little to nothing to do with ball motion, other things like surface, RG, Diff. etc. have been shown to have more of a effect.

So as long as the ball meets the rules regarding static weights you'll be okay.

[Jaescrub]

Thanks Bowl!! I was looking at a ball my wife wants and she had asked me the same question and I had zero answer

[RobLV1]

According to the USBC's own ball motion study, top weight and thumb weight ranked below humidity within the center in terms of affecting ball reaction, and side weight ranked just above it. Regardless of their own results, the USBC stubborly refuses to get rid of their static weight requirements referencing tests that found that 8 oz. of static weight imbalance had an impact on the ball reaction of a ball thrown at 14 mph with a rev rate equivalent to Jason Belmonte's! In their other test they found that balls with very high static weight imbalances tended to fall off of the conveyer below the floor as they came back to the ball return. Oh the lengths that buraucratic organizations will go to, to avoid change.

[mc_runner]

This is probably a dumb question but I'm wondering - if I buy a ball off a pro shop shelf is there a simple way to determine the length of the pin?

[MICHAEL]

Yes, they will have the box, and it gives the spec's!!

[mc_runner]

Ah, thanks Ice! I will pay attention to the box next time :p

[tccstudent]

Well around here everything on display has no boxes around to get the specs off of and if you asked to see the box it may or may not still be around to get the specs off of.
To determine the pin length just measure from the pin to the cg takes about a second.

[dnhoffman]

This makes no sense. Shops stack balls in their boxes because... Boxes don't roll. Unless "around here" carries no actual stock besides their display.

[tccstudent]

This makes no sense. Shops stack balls in their boxes because... Boxes don't roll. Unless "around here" carries no actual stock besides their display.

Around here we take them out of the boxes and place them on a display shelf. So you can see the ball instead of a box. The extra stock is kept in the back room where you dont actually see them.

[MICHAEL]

That way when they are drilling the balls, they know the weights, ect. Every one of my 15 balls, came with the original box, that I assume the driller looked at to help with his determination of how it might be drilled. The boxes all clearly have the balls, information.
I am not a driller like Mike White, or even several of my friends around here that do, but I guess the info would be important. I will have to ask James this Thursday!