Expert: Warren Friedl, Pro Shop Owner/Operator, - 10/8/2009

Question
when starting to lay a bowling ball out, how do you find the vertical axis line on a assummetic and summetic ball? Is the pin, cg, mass bias suppose to be in a straight line thru each other?

Answer
Richard,
Finding the VAL, on a ball, means mapping for the pin buffer, mapping for the Mass Bias (MB)(on a marked asymmetric) or figuring where the MB would be (on a symmetric ball). When you have an idea where you want the above, deciding what pin distance you want, determines the PAP location. When you have established the PAP location, the horizontal co-ordinate (creating a line) extended up and down becomes the VAL (the VAL reflects your PAP co-ordinates, nothing to do with the core -symmetric or asymmetric).

The pin, cg, mass bias are ideally going to fall inline or close to inline, but often when the cover material is injected into the ball mold, the core might shift a little causing the CG to end up out of line.

Thanks for the question. good bowling.