Layout 1

Ball Reaction:

Long and Strong

Suitable for:

Most Styles and Lines

Flare Potential:

Medium

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG Area. If it doesn't then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias 3 inches to the right of the thumb hole If needed place balance hole 4 inches over and 1/2 inch up and drill back to statically legal.

Layout 2

Ball Reaction:

Long and Strong

Suitable for:

Most Styles and Lines

Flare Potential:

Large

Pin Placement:

Place Pin 4 1/2 inches from PAP

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG Area. If it doesn’t then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias at a 45 degree angle to the right of the thumb hole. If needed place balance hole over on the Vertical Axis Line and 2 inches down and drill back to negative side weight. The bigger and deeper the hole is the more increased ball reaction. Remember to keep the ball statically legal.

Layout 3

Ball Reaction:

Early and Strong

Suitable for:

High Ball Speed, Low RPM, Heavy oiled lanes

Flare Potential:

Very Large

Pin Placement:

Place Pin 3 1/2 inches from PAP

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG Area.If it doesn’t then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias in line with the Pin. If needed place balance hole over on the PAP and drill back to statically legal.

Layout 4

Ball Reaction:

Strong Arc

Suitable for:

Most Styles and Lines

Flare potential:

Large

Pin Placement:

Place Pin 3 1/2 inches from bowlers center of span in an 8:00 direction

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG Area. If it doesn’t then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias at a 2:00 direction from the center of span. If needed place balance holes 8 inches from the center of span in a 2:00 direction to remove excess positive side weight. Place balance hole 6 inches from the center of span in a 8:00 direction to remove excess negative side weight.

Layout 5

Ball Reaction:

Very mild

Suitable for:

Extremely high rev rates

Flare potential:

Very Small

Pin Placement:

Not recommended with this layout

Mass Bias Placement:

Mass Bias Placements to the left of the thumb hole are not recommended because of the severe reduction in flare potential.

  Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Yes, you certainly can. With short pins, you are looking to remove the amount of static finger weight in order to be compliant with USBC regulations. We suggest that you drill your finger holes deeper than normal, deep enough to be compliant with USBC guidelines. Also, balance hole placement is important to consider when trying to have a ball comply with USBC static weight guidelines. You can position a balance hole to accomplish finger weight removal as well as side weight removal. It is important to note that the Centrex Symmetric Mass Bias Core was designed to be drilled into. You will not alter ball motion drastically by executing these suggestions.

Ball Reaction:

Long and Strong

Suitable for:

Most Styles

Flare Potential:

Medium

Center of Gravity:

As the CG area will fall close to the finger area, and perhaps above the fingers, drill fingers deeper than normal to remove the appropriate finger weight.

Balance Hole:

A balance hole may be required in order to remove the necessary finger weight. Position the hole accordingly.

Answer: No, that is not the case. Place the Pin and Mass Bias in the desired locations for the bowler. After drilling the ball, determine if a balance hole is required, and where you might like to place it. For example, if the CG is off line to the right (for a Right Hand Bowler) you may have to place a balance hole to the right along the Center line. We generally recommend that you place this hole over 4 inches and up 1/2 inch. The depth of the hole and size of the bit will be determined by the amount of weight you desire to remove. We will show 2 illustrations. 2A will be if the CG area is off to the right of center, and 2B will show the CG area off to the left. In the case of the CG off to the left, the CG will most likely end up in the grip area, thus, no balance hole required.

Ball Reaction:

Long and Strong

Suitable for:

Most Styles

Flare Potential:

Medium

Center of Gravity:

Not in Line with the Pin and Mass Bias.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias 3 inches to the right of the thumb hole.MB-CG AREA Balance Hole Area

Balance Hole In illustration 2A:

Place hole in the prescribed area in order to have the ball meet USBC specifications. You may need to drill deep with a large bit if the top weight was excessive.

Balance Hole In illustration 2B:

No Balance hole would be required.

Layout 1

Ball Reaction:

Long & Strong

Suitable for:

Most styles and target lanes

Flare potential:

Medium High

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG area. If it does not, then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias 3 inches to the right of the thumb hole. If needed, place balance hole 4 inches over and 1/2" up and drill back to statically legal.

Mass Bias Placement for HIGH REV PLAYERS:

For players that have RPM rates of 350 and greater, you need to place the Mass Bias Location in the 70 to 90 degree location.

Layout 2

Ball Reaction:

Long & Strong

Suitable for:

Most styles

Flare potential:

High

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG area. If it does not, then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias at a 45 degree angle to the right of the thumb hole. If needed, place the balance hole over on the Vertical Axis Line and 2 inches down and drill back to negative side weight. The bigger and deeper the hole is, the stronger the ball reaction will be. Remember to keep the ball statically legal.

Mass Bias Placement for HIGH REV PLAYERS:

For players that have RPM rates of 350 and greater, you need to place the Mass Bias Location in the 70 to 90 degree location.

Layout 3

Ball Reaction:

Early & Strong

Suitable for:

High Ball Speed, Low RPM, Heavy Oil Patterns

Flare potential:

Very High

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG area. If it does not, then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias in line with the pin. If needed, place balance hole over on the PAP and drill back to statically legal.

Mass Bias Placement for HIGH REV PLAYERS:

For players that have RPM rates of 350 and greater, you need to place the Mass Bias Location in the 70 to 90 degree location.

Layout 4

Ball Reaction:

Strong Arc

Suitable for:

Full Rollers

Flare potential:

Large

Center of Gravity:

The center of gravity placement may or may not fall inside the CG area. If it does not, then the balance hole location may need to be adjusted.

Mass Bias Placement:

Place Mass Bias at a 2:00 direction from the center of span. If needed, place balance hole 8 inches from the center of span in a 2:00 direction to remove excess positive side weight. Place balance hole 6 inches from the center of span in a 8:00 direction to remove excess negative side weight.

Label Leverage

Hook Style:

medium hook, arc backend

Lane Condition:

Medium to heavy oil with a hooking track, fresher backends, great for slower ball speeds and minimal axis rotation.

12:00 LEVERAGE

Hook Style:

maximum hook, sharp breakpoint

Lane Condition:

Medium to heavy oil blend, open up the lane.<

REV LEVERAGE

Hook Style:

large hook, controlled backend

Lane Condition:

Medium to heavy oil with carrydown, good for players with low tracks, maximum axis rotation, and faster ball speeds.

AXIS LEVERAGE

Hook Style:

medium hook, controlled backend

Lane Condition:

Medium to heavy oil with fresher backends or spotty backends where predictable hook is most important.

MEDIUM RG - STRONG

Hook Style:

large hook, sharp backend

Lane Condition:

Medium oil with carrydown, plays well inside of a defined oil line, great for medium to maximum axis rotation and above average ball speed.

MEDIUM RG - ARC

Hook Style:

small to medium hook, arc

Lane Condition:

Light to medium oil with hooking ball track, wet/dry conditions, great for players with slower ball speed, minimal axis rotation, or stronger revs.

HIGH RG - ARC

Hook Style:

small to medium hook, late revs, arc

Lane Condition:

Light oil with hooking ball track, dry conditions, great for players with slower ball speed, minimal axis rotation, or stronger revs.

HIGH RG - STRONG

Hook Style:

small to medium hook, late revs, sharp backend

Lane Condition:

Lighter oil with carrydown, great for players with slower ball speed, medium axis rotation, or stronger revs.

LOW RG - ARC

Hook Style:

small to medium hook, early revs, arc backend

Lane Condition:

Lighter oil, wet/dry conditions.

LOW RG - STRONG

Hook Style:

small to medium hook, early revs, strong arc backend

Lane Condition:

Light to medium oil, wet/dry conditions, lower track players, faster speed, medium to maximum axis rotation.

Full Roller

Reaction:

3 3/8" from grip center

Lane Condition:

Medium to heavy oil, maximum hook

Reaction:

1 1/2" from grip center

Lane Condition:

Medium oil with carrydown.

Information on the 3 Piece Core

    The 3-piece, full-size core has been an industry staple throughout bowling's history. The original core construction of a bowling ball was a single density sphere. Technology evolved and a weight mass was placed inside the upper edge of the core to counterbalance the weight that is removed from the top half of the ball during the drilling process, creating top weight. Although there is not a limit on top weight in an un-drilled ball, the USBC restricts the amount of top or bottom weight in a drilled ball to 3 ounces. Ebonite's upper limit on top weight in an un-drilled ball is five ounces and lower limit is one and one-half ounces. The upper limit on lighter weight balls is on a descending sliding scale to reflect the density differences on the core weight. This ensures that the drilled ball will be within USBC specifications for top/bottom weight.

    A higher density polyester compound is poured into the core mold and is allowed to harden before the lower density material, which makes up the rest of the core, is added. This high density weight mass has the same round contour as the core on one side and is flat on the other side. Appropriately, the name "pancake" has been assigned to this weight mass. Bowlers found a stronger hook potential when the pancake was introduced to the core construction. The amount of top weight in an un-drilled ball can be altered by varying the density of the pancake material or by increasing its thickness. Higher top weight creates a ball reaction that goes further down the lane and has a stronger backend hook. Lower top weight causes an earlier breakpoint and a smoother hook pattern. The center of the top weight is signified by a mark called the center of gravity. It is called "CG" for short.

    Moving the CG above the center of span, towards the fingers, creates finger weight. This increases the skid characteristics of the ball. Moving the CG below the center of span, towards the thumb, creates thumb weight. This causes an earlier breakpoint. Moving the CG to the right of the center of span (to the left of the span for left-handers) creates positive side weight. This increases the overall hook. And moving the CG to the left of the span (to the right of the span for left-handers) creates negative side weight. This reduces the amount of hook. The USBC limit on finger, thumb, positive, or negative weights is 1 ounce.

    The 3-piece, full size core is higher in RG and low in RG Differential. The higher RG creates a delayed breakpoint. The low RG differential results in an easy to control, lower hook potential. The 3-piece core is best for drier lanes, slow ball speeds, and those who like to play a straighter line to the pocket.

    Choosing the proper ball construction and surface texture for your bowling style and lane condition will be the most important decision you and your pro shop operator will make. Choosing a drilling layout will alter the ball's characteristics within its performance parameters to fine-tune the overall reaction. Drilling layouts will not produce ball reaction without proper mechanics from the bowler and proper surface texture.

CG Locations

Optyx Polyester Balls

Between the lower legs of the X

Maxims

Center of bullseye

Gyro Series

Center of bullseye

Bud Ball

Center of bullseye

Yankee Doodle

Center of "swish" above the Ebonite

Hustler Balls

Center of bullseye

Quasar

Center of bullseye located 90 degrees from Ebonite "swish" on the colored stripe

Shamrock

Center of bullseye

Tornado Warning

Center of bullseye

Garfield & Odie Balls

Center of bullseye

Layout 1 & Only! Label

Ball Choice:

All top weight

Reaction:

Delayed breakpoint, moderate backend on light to medium oil Suitable for.