PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

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PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Mo Pinel »

I'm posting this as an interesting story. Two week's ago, Chuck Gardner, Brunswick's PBA Tour representative and my good friend, called me to ask for assistance in designing a layout for his players for the Math Roth PBA plastic ball tournament. Each player was given two Mark Roth plastic balls to use for the tournament. These balls were provided by OnTheBall Bowling for the tournament. They were traditional, pancake weight block, polyester balls. I told Chuck that I'd consult my CAD expert, MathIsTruth. Steve did the CAD work and modeled the drilled plastic ball. We were trying to design a layout that would maximize the diffs. of the drilled ball. After some detailed work, we discovered we could maximize the diffs. of the drilled ball by placing the center of the pancake weight block 4" from the PAP, 45* to the VAL and placing the balance hole at the intersection of a line drawn from the center of the bowler's grip thru the center of the pancake weight block and the VAL. At first, Steve and I thought the center of the weight block should be placed 3 3/8" from the PAP to maximize the diffs. WRONG ANSWER! Because the low RG axis moved right when the ball was drilled (contrary to what some uneducated individuals think), we found that placing the center of the weight block 4" from the PAP resulted in maximizing the diffs. of the drilled ball.

The results are in! The winner, amateur Brian Zeisig, and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. both used the layout. Can I say conclusively that the results were because of the layout? Absolutely not! That would be absurd! But, do I think that the layout played a part in the results? I think so, but you decide for yourself. You can see the video about the ball layout and the interview with the champion on the home page of pba.com and clicking on the white Xtra Frame arrow. Enjoy!

The point of this story is that thorough research and collaboration between interested parties can bear fruit and yield positive results. Great work, Steve and good job, Chuck! I'm glad I could help.

Yours truly,
Mo
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Slap »

OUTSTANDING information Mo! Thanks for posting this
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by magicmike »

That is very interesting Mo, thanks for sharing the info.
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by FBM357 »

I was just listening to Xtra Frame where Chuck Gardner gave props to Mo for the layout.

Good stuff Mo!!!
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by RevZiLLa »

It's nice when a plan comes together!
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Mo Pinel »

Dummy, me, forgot to post the diffs. of the TV layout!

Undrilled ball: .000 intermediate diff.; .026 total diff.
TV layout (drilled ball): .011 intermediate diff.; .024 total diff; .45 diff. ratio

I feel better, now!
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Revkiller »

Mo Pinel wrote:The point of this story is that thorough research and collaboration between interested parties can bear fruit and yield positive results. Great work, Steve and good job, Chuck! I'm glad I could help.

Yours truly,
Mo
It's nice to know that there are people in the industry who will help for the sake of helping! Great job Mo.
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by ferocious »

Nice work guys. You worked it like true scientists! You made an assumption to start, did the experiment, and were open minded about the results of the experiment! It's exciting when things turn out NOT as expected in science. :o
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Mo Pinel »

ferocious wrote:Nice work guys. You worked it like true scientists! You made an assumption to start, did the experiment, and were open minded about the results of the experiment! It's exciting when things turn out NOT as expected in science. :o
Thank you so much for your kind comments. Anytime I can impress you is a good day in the life of Mo Pinel! And by the way, your color choice is very appropriate.
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by RevZiLLa »

Mo Pinel wrote:Dummy, me, forgot to post the diffs. of the TV layout!

Undrilled ball: .000 intermediate diff.; .026 total diff.
TV layout (drilled ball): .011 intermediate diff.; .024 total diff; .45 diff. ratio

I feel better, now!

So your goal was to maximize Diff and thereby create more friction by exposing clean ball surface. The finger holes push the low RG axis away from themselves, so the pin needed to be placed farther from the PAP than 3 3/8 to achieve 3 3/8 after drilling. This added extra hook.

You also achieved a moderate Int-Diff and a pretty high diff ratio; how did that affect ball motion?

Was surface roughness constrained by the PBA, or were you able to recommend an optimum surface too?
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Mo Pinel »

RevZiLLa wrote:
So your goal was to maximize Diff and thereby create more friction by exposing clean ball surface. The finger holes push the low RG axis away from themselves, so the pin needed to be placed farther from the PAP than 3 3/8 to achieve 3 3/8 after drilling. This added extra hook.

You also achieved a moderate Int-Diff and a pretty high diff ratio; how did that affect ball motion?

Was surface roughness constrained by the PBA, or were you able to recommend an optimum surface too?
With total diffs. that small, flare was not the big priority. There wasn't going to be much flare anyway. Diff. ratio was the priority to get the ball to transition faster and read the pattern firmer and increase carry percentage. Higher diff. ratios shorten the hook zone and help the ball to transition more easily. Some of the other layouts flared more, but did not transition as fast. Comprendez?
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by buffa325 »

Hi Mo,
Congrats on yet another outstanding achievement.

What size and what depth was the hole?

How would this perform on the international short patterns using older urethane balls such as u-dots?
Thanks
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by Mo Pinel »

buffa325 wrote:Hi Mo,
Congrats on yet another outstanding achievement.

What size and what depth was the hole?

How would this perform on the international short patterns using older urethane balls such as u-dots?
Thanks

I know the hole was 3" deep and the smallest necessary to make the statics legal. There were a few balls used successfully. They had different sized holes based on what each ball required.

Nothing wrong with trying it with older pancake weight block urethane balls. Let me know how it works.
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by J_w73 »

Good job Mo.. Good to see you guys get the props that you and your team deserve.
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by MeNoRevs »

I think Steve deserves a raise! :) Great Job Steve, and Mo!

Also I know how much Chuck values your expertise and friendship. At the Brunswick C System 2.5 seminar, we couldnt go a couple minutes without a "MoIsm"

A question though...

I talked to a Multi title PBA player about his opinion on the Plastic ball tournament. An interesting opinion came from him. The PBA tried to push this tournament as "everyone has the same ball, let the skill of the bowler come out on top" but who said that one person's ball did not have more mica in it than someone elses? Wouldn't that cause more more friction, therefor a earlier hook zone?
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by rmack »

MeNoRevs wrote:I think Steve deserves a raise! :) Great Job Steve, and Mo!

Also I know how much Chuck values your expertise and friendship. At the Brunswick C System 2.5 seminar, we couldnt go a couple minutes without a "MoIsm"

A question though...

I talked to a Multi title PBA player about his opinion on the Plastic ball tournament. An interesting opinion came from him. The PBA tried to push this tournament as "everyone has the same ball, let the skill of the bowler come out on top" but who said that one person's ball did not have more mica in it than someone elses? Wouldn't that cause more more friction, therefor a earlier hook zone?

Hi Meno,

Just my observation, but the tournament was conducted with viz-a-balls. I am sure Mo will correct me here, but I think they are "solid" polyester, no mica.

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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by rmack »

oops, forgot to tip my hat!

Good work as always Steve & Mo! :ugeek:
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by JohnP »

Mo Pinel wrote:
I know the hole was 3" deep and the smallest necessary to make the statics legal. There were a few balls used successfully. They had different sized holes based on what each ball required.
Nothing wrong with trying it with older pancake weight block urethane balls. Let me know how it works.
Would the same answer apply to entry level reactive resin balls with pancake blocks and/or pancakes with a flip block? -- JohnP
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by MattCosta7 »

JohnP wrote: Would the same answer apply to entry level reactive resin balls with pancake blocks and/or pancakes with a flip block? -- JohnP
Might depend on the densities of the materials in the core and cover to be exact?
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Re: PBA Plastic Ball TV Winner's Layout

Post by J_w73 »

So would you say that this layout would create the most dynamics in a plastic pancake core ball over your previous recommendation in this other post?

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=229&p=1991&hilit=plastic#p1991" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have also heard of a pin/cg at 3 3/8 from the PAP and then a weight hole 9" from center grip through the cg. I heard these created a stronger plastic pancake core ball also.
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