How to Measure for Bowling Ball Holes

Bowling is a great game enjoyed by a wide range of people, but if you really want to take your bowling game to the next level, you will require a personalized ball. A personalized ball will have finger holes drilled to match your hand, and will thus allow you to throw with much greater control and accuracy. Before you can get a personalized ball, however, you will need to measure your hand.

Things You'll Need

  • Internal calipers
  • House balls
  • Ruler
  • Pen and paper
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Instructions

  1. Holes

    • 1

      Go to your local bowling alley or pro shop and politely ask if you can try out a few of their balls.

    • 2

      Try out different balls until you find a hole on each that fits your ring finger, middle finger and thumb comfortably. The holes should be just large enough that they are not snug.

    • 3

      Insert the calipers roughly 1/2 inch in to each of the correct sized holes. Expand the calipers until it is touching either side of the hole, and then remove the calipers.

    • 4

      Measure across the bottom of the calipers with the ruler to find the hole diameter. Record this measurement and repeat the process for each of the holes.

    Span

    • 5

      Determine what grip you want to use with your bowling ball, as the type of grip you use will determine the length of the span between either finger and the thumb. If this is your first ball, and you are relatively new to bowling, then the conventional grip will better suit you.

    • 6

      Try out various house or pro-shop balls until you find one that fits your chosen grip style comfortably. Find either one ball that fits the middle finger to thumb span and the ring finger to thumb span comfortably, or two balls, each of which fits one span comfortably. The span is the distance between the thumb hole and either finger hole.

    • 7

      Measure the distance between the finger holes and thumb hole with the calipers.

    • 8

      Measure the distance between the bottom points of the calipers for either span, and record these measurements.

    • 9

      Take your measurements to a pro shop or bowling alley that drills bowling balls, and have them drill your ball, based on your measurements.