BallReviews

General Category => Drilling & Layouts => Topic started by: lefty50 on May 19, 2018, 11:08:34 AM

Title: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: lefty50 on May 19, 2018, 11:08:34 AM
Can't find this info. I remember reading somewhere about difference in reaction between wide and shallow vs narrow and deeper, but never have seen the maximum width of a balance hole mentioned...?
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: Impending Doom on May 19, 2018, 11:09:14 AM
1-1/4
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: Aloarjr810 on May 19, 2018, 11:42:12 AM
Can't find this info. I remember reading somewhere about difference in reaction between wide and shallow vs narrow and deeper, but never have seen the maximum width of a balance hole mentioned...?

Just for future reference it's in the USBC Equipment Specifications Manual:

http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/ESManual.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/ESManual.pdf)

Drilling Specifications: Holes:
"2. One hole for balance purposes not to exceed 1¼ inches in diameter. This hole may not exceed 1¼ inches at any point through the depth of the hole. (Slugs and tape will be allowed, however interchangeable devices are not allowed)"

More reading here:
Bowling Ball Balance Hole Fundamentals
The basics, some examples, and recommended best practices

https://www.bowlingthismonth.com/bowling-tips/bowling-ball-balance-hole-fundamentals/ (https://www.bowlingthismonth.com/bowling-tips/bowling-ball-balance-hole-fundamentals/)
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: lefty50 on May 19, 2018, 11:58:33 AM
Whew, that's cutting it close. My new ball for Nats has 1-1/4. We went wide and shallow to stay away from the core....
Alojar, I just found the BTM article on a Google search and have bookmarked it for review..., plus booked the spec also.

Thanks to both!
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: Impending Doom on May 19, 2018, 01:16:53 PM
Make sure there isn't a whole lot of bevel on the hole, or they might reject it because the top of the hole is more than 1-1/4
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: djgook on May 19, 2018, 04:03:52 PM
Enjoy the balance hole while you can  :-\ I had to do it ;)
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: lefty50 on May 19, 2018, 05:22:58 PM
Good call  Doom, but the bevel is minimal and I measured it to be sure. Right on 1-1/4. Had I been thinking, I would of course gone smaller and deeper, but I've preserved the core this way, so..... I'm going to go with it this way.....
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: Impending Doom on May 19, 2018, 06:45:21 PM
Just for that reason, anything that I was going to take to Nationals I would only go 1-1/8 because that extra bevel on a 1-1/4 would give me so much more of an edge. #awesomerules
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: Strapper_Squared on May 20, 2018, 06:12:14 PM
I could have had two 1 1/4" weight holes and it wouldn't have mattered...
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: tommygn on May 21, 2018, 07:45:19 AM
Just for that reason, anything that I was going to take to Nationals I would only go 1-1/8 because that extra bevel on a 1-1/4 would give me so much more of an edge. #awesomerules

+1 on that Doom.

 I never went larger than 1 1/8 X hole for any customer. Just go a 1/2 deeper, and it's all the same. I also stuck to 3/4 static to stay away from any problems in that department as an extra 1/4oz wasn't going to be anything significant. In 2 years all means nada though. Kind of wish they would allow any new balls from here on out to be compliant with the new rules as many of my league bowlers would only get a new ball every 5 or so years.

If we went back to pancake weight blocks and low volumes of oil, that's a different story for a different day.
Title: Re: Maximum width of balance hole?
Post by: lefty50 on May 21, 2018, 09:34:21 AM
Totally agreed, and thanks. I had assumed a larger maximum and my info was wrong. Glad I checked, and will be following that concept of staying safe in the future. I also agree that the rules should be allowed now... Would have been much easier.