Tips for Drilling a Columbia 300 Bowling Ball

When drilling a bowling ball, there are three main values that come into play: the Mass Bias Position (MB), the Center of Gravity (CG) and the Locator Pin Position (pin). Other factors that contribute to how the ball will react include the Positive Axis Point (PAP), the location of the first flare on the ball and the surface preparation of the lane, as the Bowling Fans website explains. The Columbia 300 has a high MB core and offers great versatility for drilling, depending on the placement of the MB and pin in different configurations. Left-handed drilling is mirrored.

  1. Skid/Flip

    • Skid/flip is a term in bowling that describes the ball motion as it travels down the lane. The ball will skid as it hits the lane and then it will "flip" and begin rolling at an angle toward the pocket. A long skid pattern is favorable and it depends on the coverstock and core design of the ball. The Columbia 300 site includes a PDF with layout diagrams to help determine the best hole positioning relative to the pin and MB. According to the Columbia 300 drilling layout, the pin should be placed at 5 1/2 inches from the PAP; the MB should be placed in the strong position; and a balance hole, if necessary, is best placed 4 inches from the center of the grip span--determined by the finger hole placement--on a line that passes through the CG.

    All-Purpose Ball

    • Serious bowlers are prepared to purchase several different balls, depending on lane conditions and the different ways that they might throw the ball. An all-purpose ball is used for most of the throwing, and specially drilled balls will be used, depending on circumstances. As the Columbia 300 layout diagrams suggest, the recommended drilling for the all-purpose ball will have the pin 5 inches from the PAP with the MB near the vertical axis line. The optional balance hole should be placed 4 inches from the center of the grip span on a line that passes through the CG just as in the skid/flip layout.

    Full Roller

    • According to Tips for Tenpin Basics of Grip and Roll, the full roller is a throw delivery that will result in a ball track that includes either almost all of the ball's entire circumference, resulting in a full roll of the ball with little spin. To achieve this roll, the Columbia 300 should be drilled with the pin placement 3 3/8 inches from the center of span in a 7 o'clock direction, which is about 2 3/8 inches to the left of the thumb hole. The CG will be within 1 inch of the center of the grip with an optional balance hole placed 4 inches from the center of the grip span on a line passing through the CG.

    Smooth Arc

    • A smooth arc is just as it sounds. The ball will begin with a flip/skid as in every other roll and will end its roll with a long, smooth arc--or sweeping curve--down the lane to the pins. n order to achieve the desired effect, the ball will need to have its MB near the track. The pin will be placed at 4 1/2 inches from the PAP; you still have an option of placing the balance hole 4 inches from the center of the grip span on a line passing through the CG as in the other configurations.