Author Topic: cracking it the bridge (Read 3955 times)

barcar · « **on:** October 03, 2011, 09:56:27 AM »

Any idea how to avoid ball cracking at the bridge?

I now have two balls that have this issue.

bullred · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2011, 06:27:31 PM »

Bar..........on all these thin shelled balls I like to take small file and file down the bridge to flat. Keeps from having direct impact on pins or anything else.

barcar · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2011, 06:29:02 PM »

I had never heard of doing that, thanks for the info

jodyk24 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2011, 08:02:56 PM »

Drillers use lateral pitches on the fingers to help prevent the bridge from cracking. My driller uses 5/16 left lateral on the middle finger and 5/16 right lateral on the ring finger. If this procedure is not used the holes will come together at the bottom of the hole and cause the bridge to crack about 90 % of the time. 1/4 bridge between the fingers is just about standard everywhere today. I use finger grips and the driller uses a reamer to taper the edges of the finger holes. I have not had a bridge crack since I started using these small changes several years ago. The only reason I am bringing this to your attention is that some drillers just don't do it. I found out the hard way a while back when I changed out my grips and looked down in the ball and the holes came together at the bottom and a big crack was already started in the bridge.

jodyk24

barcar · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2011, 07:07:49 AM »

I also use finger grips, and will have to bring this up to my driller, the last two balls I had drilled are now showing cracks.

« **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2011, 07:41:45 AM »

Some bevel will do the trick most of the time. Having said that, there is no absolute, fool proof way to guarantee the bridge won't crack. It's the weakest spot on the ball.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com">www.brunswickbowling.com

www.allstarlanes.com">www.allstarlanes.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Goof1073 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2011, 08:43:11 AM »

Are you sure about those laterals? They add up to 10/16 or 5/8th's which is smaller than the 3/4" requirement on all the manufacturer’s ball warranties.

jodyk24 wrote on 10/3/2011 8:02 PM:Drillers use lateral pitches on the fingers to help prevent the bridge from cracking. My driller uses 5/16 left lateral on the middle finger and 5/16 right lateral on the ring finger.

-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA

jodyk24 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2011, 12:24:35 PM »

All I was trying to point out is that the drillers should use a left lateral and a right lateral finger pitch to keep the finger holes from coming together at the bottom of the holes. Drillers have different ideas on how much pitch that they use some use 3/8 left and 3/8 right. Some drillers do not bevel the finger holes but as stated most use the 1/4 inch bridge. I use a 1/2 left lateral and a 1/4 right lateral but it has nothing to do with cracking at the bridge. I have a crook to the left on my middle finger. There was a time if you used finger grips the warranty was void, but I think that has just about went to the way side. I agree that there is no fool proof way to keep the bridge from cracking, but I do believe that the steps mentioned will help prevent the bridge from cracking. I have had balls crack all the way around the ball sitting on a ball rack, but the bridge was in great shape. So you never know LOL.

jodyk24

glssmn2001 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2011, 02:06:25 PM »

Not entirely true, at least in my case. 15 balls, all fingers intersect due to the performance fit and 1 cracked bridge. That is far less than 90%.............

jodyk24 wrote on 10/3/2011 8:02 PM:

Drillers use lateral pitches on the fingers to help prevent the bridge from cracking. My driller uses 5/16 left lateral on the middle finger and 5/16 right lateral on the ring finger. If this procedure is not used the holes will come together at the bottom of the hole and cause the bridge to crack about 90 % of the time.

monk · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2011, 04:19:43 PM »

This is from Power House training,

Fingertip Grip Finger Pitches:

For a right handed bowler :

Middle finger-1/8" Left

Ring finger - 5/8" Right

For a left handed bowler:

Middle finger - 1/8" Right

Ring finger - 5/8" Left

This is based on the relationship between the fingers and thumb.

Very few bowlers will require something different than these; again you need to drill what you see if that is the case.

bullred · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2011, 12:29:01 PM »

Be carefull of how you get your pitches. If you roll the ball to obtain the pitch or you just crank it over, they are different. If you just crank over to mark, I believe you will get something like 5/8 "out" on both fingers, which relates to parallel holes. Rolling the ball over to "mark" will give you less "pitch out" and start bringing the bottem of the holes together.