Bowling ball drilling layouts decide where the pro shop puts your finger and thumb holes in relation to the ball's core. The grip (fingertip or conventional) sets how the ball feels in your hand. Meanwhile, the layout, measured from your positive axis point (PAP), fine-tunes when and how hard the ball hooks. For most bowlers, a good fit matters more than a clever layout.
Grip first: fingertip vs conventional
Before any talk of bowling ball drilling layouts, the driller sorts out your grip. There are two main styles:
- Conventional: fingers go in to the second knuckle. It feels secure and is how house balls work, so it suits beginners and straight bowlers.
- Fingertip: fingers go in only to the first knuckle, while the thumb goes all the way in. The thumb leaves first, so your fingers can lift and turn the ball for more revs.
Most bowlers who want to hook switch to fingertip with their first reactive ball. Learn the release in our guide on how to hook a bowling ball.
Span and pitch
Span is the distance from the thumb hole to the finger holes. A fingertip span is longer than a conventional one because your fingers sit shallower. Pitch is the angle at which each hole is drilled. It changes how easily your thumb comes out and how much your fingers grip at release. Good pitches stop the ball from hanging on your thumb or sliding off too soon.
Thumb slugs and finger inserts
Many bowlers ask for soft finger inserts and a thumb slug. Inserts give a consistent feel and protect your skin. In addition, a thumb slug lets the driller fine-tune the thumb hole, and you can replace it when it wears. In October 2026, Malaysian pro-shop web stores listed finger inserts at RM14 to RM16 each and thumb slugs from RM35 up to about RM110.
The terms behind bowling ball drilling layouts
You only need a few terms to follow what the driller says:
- Pin: the coloured dot showing the top of the core.
- Mass bias marker (PSA): found on asymmetric balls, it shows where extra core mass sits.
- PAP (positive axis point): the point on the ball that does not rotate when it leaves your hand. Every bowler's PAP is different.
- Pin-to-PAP: the distance from the pin to your PAP, in inches.
- Pin up / pin down: pin above the finger holes or below them, nearer the thumb.
Finding your PAP
To find your PAP, the driller watches the oil ring your ball leaves after a few shots. Then they mark the centre of the ring nearest the grip and measure from the centre of your grip, for example "5 inches over, half an inch up". Bowling.com suggests rechecking every few months, since your release changes as you improve.
How layouts change ball motion
Each system for bowling ball drilling layouts writes the same idea in a different way. Storm's Pin Buffer system, for instance, uses three numbers in inches:
| Measurement | Controls | Short | Medium | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin-to-PAP | Flare | 0–2": less flare | 3–4": most flare | 5–6": less flare, more responsive |
| PSA-to-PAP | Stability | 0–2": stable | 3–4": less stable, more flare | 5–6": stable, more length |
| Pin buffer | Speed of transition | 0–2": quick, aggressive | 2–3": balanced | 3–5": slower, smoother |
Storm lists three example layouts. The 5 x 4 x 2 is its "universal benchmark" with balanced motion. Next, the 4½ x 3 x 2 rolls earlier, which suits speed-dominant players. Finally, the 6 x 5 x 3 is its weakest option, giving the most length and control.
Other systems exist too. Bowling.com notes that pro shops also use the Dual Angle and VLS layout systems, which describe the pin and mass bias positions with angles instead. You don't need to learn every drilling layout system for your bowling ball. Instead, tell your driller what you want the ball to do, such as "go longer and turn harder" or "read the lane earlier".
Strong vs weak, in plain English
Wikipedia sums up the old shorthand. Pin-down layouts are "weaker": they hook sooner with a milder backend. By contrast, pin-up layouts are "stronger" in the sense that they let the ball skid further and turn more sharply at the end. For a first reactive bowling ball on a house shot, a balanced benchmark-style drilling layout is usually the safe choice. For lane conditions, see our guide to oil patterns.
What a Malaysian pro shop drilling session involves
Pro shops in Malaysia work out bowling ball drilling layouts face to face. Expect the whole visit to take from under an hour to a few days, depending on how busy the shop is. A typical session goes like this:
- The driller asks how often you bowl, your average and whether you hook.
- Next, they measure your span and finger sizes, sometimes with a grip ball.
- If you own a drilled ball, they may check your PAP from its oil ring.
- They choose the grip, inserts and layout, then mark and drill the ball.
- Finally, you throw test shots and they adjust anything that pinches or slips.
Note that USBC banned balance (weight) holes in competition from 1 August 2020. So modern bowling ball drilling layouts use only the grip holes, plus any hole needed for a thumb slug. Find a shop with a drilling bench in our list of bowling shops in Malaysia.
Drilling costs in Malaysia
| Item | Price | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling a ball bought in the same shop | Often free | Sunway Megalanes starter packages, Oct 2026 (excludes inserts) |
| Drilling an outside ball | About RM50 (dated) | Local blog, May 2014; verify locally |
| Finger insert | RM14–RM16 each | Sunway Megalanes and X Proshop web stores, Oct 2026 |
| Thumb slug / switch thumb | RM35–RM110 | Same web stores, Oct 2026 |
| Plugging and re-drilling | Verify locally | No published price found |
Buying a used ball?
A second-hand ball carries someone else's holes. You will need plugging and new holes, and an old ball may have little space left. Ask the driller to look at it before you pay the seller.
To understand which ball to drill, read our guide to the types of bowling balls. For tape, inserts and grip aids, see bowling accessories.
Frequently asked questions
What does pin to PAP mean?
The pin is the coloured dot that marks the top of the ball's core. Your PAP, or positive axis point, is the spot on the ball that does not rotate when you release it. Pin-to-PAP is the distance between them in inches. Storm's guide says it mainly controls flare: short distances flare less, around 3 to 4 inches flares most, and 5 to 6 inches flares less again.
Fingertip or conventional grip: which should I use?
Conventional, with fingers in to the second knuckle, is easier to hold and suits beginners and straight bowlers. Fingertip, with fingers in only to the first knuckle, lets the thumb leave first so your fingers can lift and rotate the ball. That gives more revs and hook. Most bowlers switch to fingertip once they start using a reactive ball.
How much does it cost to drill a bowling ball in Malaysia?
Many Malaysian pro shops drill free when you buy the ball from them. Sunway Megalanes' starter packages, for example, include drilling but not inserts. For a ball bought elsewhere, the only figure we found was about RM50 from a 2014 blog, so ask your shop for its current price. Finger inserts cost about RM14 to RM16 each in October 2026.
Can a bowling ball be re-drilled?
Yes. A pro shop fills the old holes with plug material, lets it set, and then drills new ones. Sunway Megalanes' pro shop lists filling and re-drilling among its services. A ball can only take so many plugs, though, because new holes may overlap old ones, so ask the driller to check before you buy a used ball.
What is a benchmark layout?
It is a middle-of-the-road layout that gives a balanced, predictable motion, so you can judge the ball before trying stronger or weaker options. Storm calls its 5 x 4 x 2 Pin Buffer layout a universal benchmark. For a first reactive ball, ask your driller for a benchmark-style layout and change it later only if you have a clear reason.
Sources
- Storm: Pin Buffer layout system guide
- Bowling.com Knowledge Hub: positive axis point FAQ
- Bowling.com Knowledge Hub: fingertip bowling grip FAQ
- Wikipedia: Bowling ball (pin up / pin down, balance hole ban)
- Wikipedia: Glossary of bowling (pitch, conventional, fingertip)
- Sunway Megalanes Pro Shop (drilling, filling and re-drilling)
- Sunway Megalanes and X Proshop web stores (packages, insert and slug prices), read 16 Oct 2026
- Local blog on drilling an outside ball (19 May 2014, dated) — dululainsekaranglain.com; verify current rates locally
