Who walks into a bowling alley empty handed?
Most of us do. We rent shoes, their orange and green panels announcing loudly they belong to the alley. And we spend more time at the bar choosing which draft to order than we do in considering the ball we’ll roll.
Because as long as the ball isn’t too heavy and the finger holes fit, we’re good, right?
Nope. The holes in a customized bowling ball are based on three metrics that have nothing to do with the size and relative placement of the bowler’s fingers and thumb.
First, the pin and center of gravity must be considered.
The pin marks the spot where the core of the ball is suspended. The center of gravity is marked with a small mark, normally near the pin. The location of the holes in relation to these metrics will affect the ball’s trajectory.
Second, the track of the ball is determined.
The track is the ring of oil that appears on the ball after it’s rolled down the lane. It shows where the ball contacts the lane during the bowler’s shot. The track will flare (or not) based on the bowler’s roll coupled with the radius of gyration.
Third, we find the positive axis point.
Using the track as a reference, we can determine the “axle” of the ball, which is a point equidistant from the oil track. This axis point is affected by the bowler’s release and is different for everyone. The pin, the track, and the positive axis point together allow a ball driller to place the holes.
Creating proper motion.
A properly drilled bowling ball must address the specific metrics of the bowling ball and the bowler’s personal rolling technique. If you are serious about knocking 34 pounds of pins down with a 10-15 pound ball, the ball you use should be drilled for you specifically.
Luckily, most of us walk into our local bowling alley to share pizza and beer with our family and friends. The stakes are low, and the fun factor is high.
Where else are you choosing a house ball?
Stock photography, generic footage , and white label content are like the house balls: they’re built for durability and universality, not performance. You don’t have the ability to control the energy of messaging with pictures of people you don’t know and footage of ambiguous scenery (even though you might be paying a premium for them).
There’s a reason that serious bowlers use customized bowling balls: they provide the ability to control the results. There’s a reason that customized messaging, whether it’s image, video, or the written word, is always more effective than off-the-shelf assets. If the messaging isn’t specific to you – will the people you’re talking to even listen?
We’re listening. We’d love to drill that custom bowling ball for you (metaphorically, of course).
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