Author Topic: Scribing the layout on a ball (Read 19470 times)

leenhouston · « **on:** August 03, 2012, 06:13:03 AM »

Would someone please explain the logic of scribing a layout into the surface of the ball, other than "it is easier to replicate the layout". I see no purpose to it other than to mess up the appearance of a ball and if it is ever re-drilled, the original scribe is now a nuisance, not help and quite frankly, any decent ball driller should be able to easily replicate a layout without having lines to copy.

I like to try new equipment so I pick up a lot of used equipment and plug and drill it myself so that I can save some money. Quite frankly, I will typically pass on a ball that is scribed.

I know it doesn't affect performance but it is a trend I would like to see go away.

If I'm missing something here, please tell me.

Rightycomplex · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:39:45 AM »

Most pro or amateur regional bowlers will scribe the ball because if you win the ball is checked afterwards. Just makes it easier for the official to be able to check the ball. Some amateur bowlers do it so that if they change something or they may want to go back to something they liked they can with having to look up their own stats. You dont normally see it otherwise. Back in the day, they used to do a "tour tip" which was a small round indentation in the ball above the fingers. I believe it was to show that the ball had be checked.

Pinbuster · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:22:18 AM »

The small shallow mill hole above the fingers was for a durometer test, to make sure the ball hadn't had the coverstock soaked and made softer.

You can easily check a balls weights without the grip being scribed.

Many feel scribing gives a finer line to hit while drilling and leads to greater accuracy in drilling.

I personally feel that you can use a grease pencil and be as accurate but to each their own.

On the PBA truck where few are paying for the balls and they are drilling lots of balls in a hurry I believe it helps in not having to keep pencils sharp, breaking them, etc.

But for most bowlers buying from proshops they don't want the scribe lines on their balls.

spmcgivern · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:29:39 AM »

I think what leenhouston is referring to is using a scribe to layout a ball instead of a grease pencil. I know what you mean if you are wanting to buy a used ball. But some may feel a pencil makes too wide of a mark thus making the accuracy of the drill less.

My driller uses a pencil for the layout but will scribe the actual layout (i.e. 60 x 5 x 40)used and make a small * on the PAP. I like that so if someone asks about the ball, I will have a reminder of the layout and PAP when discussing that ball's reaction.

Aloarjr810 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:49:17 AM »

Here's from a article about the PBAâ€™s Mobile Service Trucks

"Most pro shops use a grease pencil to mark the balls for drilling," Snellbaker says. "Scribing is much better, since it leaves a permanent record of the work and allows greater accuracy. We drill with an accuracy of 128th of an inch." Thompson adds, "Some players' feel is more sensitive, so the degree of accuracy really counts."

also when they drill balls, it's like a assembly line. The balls pass from hand to hand and pencil marks can get rubbed off.

Scribing is just a surface scratch and if you sand your balls (say changing surfaces) it will disappear.

Stan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:05:36 AM »

Quote from: Aloarjr810 on August 03, 2012, 08:49:17 AM

Here's from a article about the PBAâ€™s Mobile Service Trucks

"Most pro shops use a grease pencil to mark the balls for drilling," Snellbaker says. "Scribing is much better, since it leaves a permanent record of the work and allows greater accuracy. We drill with an accuracy of 128th of an inch." Thompson adds, "Some players' feel is more sensitive, so the degree of accuracy really counts."

also when they drill balls, it's like a assembly line. The balls pass from hand to hand and pencil marks can get rubbed off.

Scribing is just a surface scratch and if you sand your balls (say changing surfaces) it will disappear.

+1

Russell · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:11:53 AM »

The truck is not accurate to 1/128th of an inch...have friends on tour and they come back with a mixed bag of stuff that they say feels like poo. When we check stuff gets missed on a pretty regular basis.

Scribing if you're not on tour is for douchebags who want to look cool. If you know how to read a ruler you don't need a thin line. If you know which side of a grease pencil line you're hitting, or where on the line the mark is, it doesn't matter how thick it is.

If you're talking about scribing a layout...that's probably the worst idea I have ever heard. You can trace a layout backwards to find out what it is in about 13 seconds.

leenhouston · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:45:28 AM »

Quote from: Aloarjr810 on August 03, 2012, 08:49:17 AM

Here's from a article about the PBAâ€™s Mobile Service Trucks

"Most pro shops use a grease pencil to mark the balls for drilling," Snellbaker says. "Scribing is much better, since it leaves a permanent record of the work and allows greater accuracy. We drill with an accuracy of 128th of an inch." Thompson adds, "Some players' feel is more sensitive, so the degree of accuracy really counts."

also when they drill balls, it's like a assembly line. The balls pass from hand to hand and pencil marks can get rubbed off.

Scribing is just a surface scratch and if you sand your balls (say changing surfaces) it will disappear.

This sounds like a great BS sales pitch...

I do not believe there is ANY WAY anyone drills to 1/128". That equates to .0078" The scribe line is thicker than 1/128" alone so that statement patently false. And those scratches as they call them are typically pretty deep and you really have to strip A LOT of ball away to get rid of them, I know, I've done it before.

Anyway.. just a pet peeve of mine.

spmcgivern · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:46:48 AM »

My driller doesn't scribe the layout with the lines and all. He simply puts the "60 x 4 x 40" very small near his fingers. And if you are in the proshop, yes, you can retrace the layout quickly, but not necessarily away from the shop. I don't do it to my equipment, but can see some benefit. To each his own. It isn't up to me to decide if what another person does is a bad idea or not.

Rightycomplex · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2012, 10:51:20 AM »

Lol, +1 @russell.

Was trying to say that w/o so many words.

@Pinbuster

Thanks, i remember the mill hole just couldnt exactly why.

Most ppl who scribe balls are on staff anyways, not your avg hojoe's. Meaning, they're not going to be trying to move they're equipment on br.com. As i said you dont really see it. Its doesnt really affect reaction but it makes the ball look like poo if you move the drilling.

JustRico · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2012, 05:33:56 PM »

the original reason why bowling balls are scribed, was at PBA & mega-bucks events, for the simple matter of the lines don't get wiped off. And the only way they may be more precise is if the person putting the lines on the ball are precise....
I have personally drilled over 200 (216 to be exact) in a one day spread and there is no way I could have drilled them without scribe lines...
In a normal shop (and there are very few in the world that do the volume) they should not need to use scribe lines unless the person wanted them.

charlest · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:01:46 PM »

Quote from: JustRico on August 03, 2012, 05:33:56 PM

the original reason why bowling balls are scribed, was at PBA & mega-bucks events, for the simple matter of the lines don't get wiped off. And the only way they may be more precise is if the person putting the lines on the ball are precise....
I have personally drilled over 200 (216 to be exact) in a one day spread and there is no way I could have drilled them without scribe lines...
In a normal shop (and there are very few in the world that do the volume) they should not need to use scribe lines unless the person wanted them.

Once again, Thank you, Rico, for the relative truth.

bhsbigcountry · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2012, 02:19:24 PM »

It is used more as a way to prevent the pencil marks from smearing especially on the truck. A good friend of mine worked on the truck for a year. As many balls as he drilled it was like an assembly line. He did not move (other than rest room) the drill press for 14 straight hours. He drilled ball after ball. And with reps and bowlers passing in and out pencil marks would get smeared and wipe off. Aside from that its a personal preferance. I have my stuff scribed but thats just me. Some drillers in my area have pencil marks that you can hit and still be off by an amount that I can feel.

And as a side note the guys on the truck dont pay for balls they are free you pay for the drilling. Plus on the truck they put 3 or 4 holes in it and thats it. If you want an oval of fingers or thumb its an extra cost per oval per hole. They dont install the its or the switch grips so the difference in feeling comes from the person working them out.

MJH · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2012, 02:55:49 PM »

+1 for Rico for your more precise explanation concerning this subject...

He applied the layout, scribed AND drilled 3 of my pieces at the Megas (and this is back when he worked for Brunswick, as well when Big B sponsored the Mini hosted at The Orleans).

Rico... still need that layout you did on that Radical Inferno,

JustRico · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2012, 03:37:07 PM »

Do you still have the ball? And yeah that was 10 yrs ago.....my memory ain't so good

Author Topic: Scribing the layout on a ball (Read 19470 times)

leenhouston

Scribing the layout on a ball

Rightycomplex

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

Pinbuster

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

spmcgivern

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

Aloarjr810

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

Stan

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

Russell

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

leenhouston

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

spmcgivern

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

Rightycomplex

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

JustRico

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

charlest

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

bhsbigcountry

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

MJH

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball

JustRico

Re: Scribing the layout on a ball