Expert: Chip Aki - 9/25/2006

Question
I ordered a ball yesterday, and the guy in the pro shop asked what kind of pin I wanted. I didn't know there were different pins in a bowling ball. I thought they were all the same. What are the different pins, and what difference do they make in the ball reaction?

Answer
Balls are considered pin in if the CG to Pin distance is 1 1/2 inches or less and pin out of the distance is 2 or more inches.
Pin out balls provide a greater variety of drilling options, but pin in balls are not bad either.  A pin in ball will tend to read the dry of the lane a bit sooner than the pin out.
I use both, but it is easier to create different ball reactions with the pin out balls.

Good luck,
Chip

I look for balls with the pin 2-4 inches for most customers