Expert: Chip Aki - 6/22/2007

Question
I was just wondering, with all this talk out here about PAP, when you get a bowl drilled does it change your PAP depending on your lane condition and what you what the ball to do on that condition?         
     I wanted to find out my PAP, so I went to the lanes asked the ball drill guy to help me find my PAP.  The ball was layed out wrong but the fitting was great.  So,I throw my ball and he measured it.  It was 4 3/8.  I was like cool.  So I asked him to drill the ball to hook harder and place the core at 70 degrees tilt.  He tried but moved my PAP out to 5 3/8.  Will this matter?

Answer
You PAP should be taken off of a bowling ball with the least flare potential.  If you have a plastic spare ball, that would be best.
The PAP will not change based on the ball or the layout.( stronger cores move it some).
Layouts use the PAP to get the pin,cg, and the mass bias in the best position for each bowler based on the reaction they are looking for.  Most of the newer balls are strong enough that if you get the layout within an inch of the optimum, you would be fine.
My PAP is H 5 3/4 and V 3/16.  I use the info on every ball I drill for myself.

Good luck,
Chip