Bowling Ball Drilling Layouts

Professional drilling instructions and layout guides for symmetrical & asymmetrical bowling balls from all major brands

Professional Layouts

Detailed drilling instructions from Brunswick, Storm, Motiv, and more.

Expert Guidance

Learn from professional bowling coaches and certified pro shop operators.

All Skill Levels

From beginner-friendly layouts to advanced tournament configurations.

Bowling Ball Drill Sheets and Layout Instructions

Access professional drilling layouts and instructions for all major bowling ball manufacturers. Each brand has specific recommendations for their core designs.

Brunswick Layouts

Professional drilling instructions for Brunswick’s symmetric and asymmetric bowling balls.

Storm Layouts

Complete drilling guides for Storm’s innovative core designs and ball technology.

Motiv Layouts

Expert drilling recommendations for Motiv’s performance bowling ball lineup.

Featured Drilling Education

Bowling How To's & Coaching Tips Bowling News Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Storm Bowling Ball Videos Surface & Layouts

Storm | Pin Buffer Layout System For Bowling Ball Drilling – Part 1: PIN-to-PAP Distance
March 19, 2021

DECISIONS DECISIONS There are many decisions that need to be made after purchasing your newest bowling ball. All of them are pieces of a puzzle that fit together properly to create good ball motion. The Pin-to-PAP distance is going to be the first and one of the most important decisions that [...]

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Drilling Performance Bowling Balls – Pro Tip Friday with MDM Coaching
August 21, 2020

Pro Tip Friday with Mike Moore I’ve been working in pro shops for over 15 [...]

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Storm | Pin Buffer Layout System For Drilling Bowling Balls – Part 2: PSA-to-PAP Distance
March 19, 2021

Confusion The preferred spin axis (PSA) on an asymmetrical ball is one of the most [...]

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Storm | Pin Buffer Layout System For Bowling Ball Drilling – Part 3: Pin Buffer Distance
March 19, 2021

  Pin Up vs. Pin Down WHAT SHOULD I DO? “Should I drill this ball [...]

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Complete Layout Library

Explore our comprehensive collection of drilling layouts and educational content for bowlers of all skill levels.

Radical Bowling Ball Videos RadiGal Bowling Ball Reviews

Radical Results Bowling Ball With Max Flip and Short Pin Drilling Comparison – RadiGal
May 25, 2021

Christina Lamoureux – RadiGal shows two different drillings on a Results 

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Bowling Ball Videos Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Storm Bowling Ball Videos

Storm Parallax Bowling Ball Drilling & Layout Comparison – Pin to PAP
March 22, 2021

  For this comparison test, I selected three different layouts each with the same pin [...]

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Bowling Ball Videos Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Storm Bowling Ball Videos

Storm Parallax Bowling Ball Drilling & Layout Comparison – PSA to PAP
March 22, 2021

  Steve Kloempken | USBC Hall of Fame   For this article, the second in [...]

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Bowling Ball Videos Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Storm Bowling Ball Videos

Storm Parallax Bowling Ball Drilling & Layout Comparison – Pin Buffer Distance
March 22, 2021

  This article is the third and final part of our three-part series where we [...]

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Bowling Ball Videos Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Storm Bowling Ball Videos Surface & Layouts

Storm Axiom Bowling Ball Layout Drilling Comparison
March 19, 2021

For this comparison test, I selected three different layouts each with the same pin to [...]

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Bowling Ball Videos Storm Bowling Ball Videos

Storm Incite Bowling Ball TESTED – Layouts | Surfaces | Drillings
March 18, 2021

  MARCH 17, 2021    ✔️0:03​​ – 39′ Oil Pattern ✔️0:56​ – 44′ Oil Pattern [...]

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Basic Bowling Tips Bowling How To's & Coaching Tips Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Buying Guides MDM Coaching with Mike Moore

Conventional Grip VS Finger Tip Grip Bowling Ball Drilling By MDM Bowling Coaching
March 19, 2020

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Bowling How To's & Coaching Tips Bowling Tips & Coaching Articles Lane Play & Lane Patterns MDM Coaching with Mike Moore Surface & Layouts

Pin Down Bowling Ball Drilling Layouts & When to Use by MDM Coaching
April 3, 2020

Last week, we started talking about the difference between pin up and pin down bowling [...]

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Professional Drilling Services

While these layouts provide excellent guidance, nothing replaces professional fitting and drilling from a certified pro shop operator.

Why Professional Fitting Matters

  • Custom Hand Measurements: Proper span, pitch, and finger hole sizing
  • Personal Analysis: Your unique PAP, tilt, and rotation measurements
  • Layout Customization: Drilling specific to your style and lane conditions
  • Equipment Matching: Building a complete arsenal for different conditions

Find a Pro Shop

Looking for professional drilling services? Use our pro shop locator to find certified operators near you.

Find Pro Shops

💡 Remember

Every bowler is unique. Your positive axis point, tilt, and ball roll are unlike anyone else’s. Professional analysis ensures your equipment works perfectly for YOUR game.

Understanding Drilling Layouts

A drilling layout is the specific placement of finger holes and thumb hole on a bowling ball relative to the ball’s core and weight block. The layout determines how the ball will react when it encounters friction on the lane.

Symmetric Balls: Have uniform core shapes and require layouts based on pin-to-PAP distance and pin-to-CG relationships.

Asymmetric Balls: Have uneven core shapes with additional mass bias markers, requiring more complex layout considerations.

  • PAP (Positive Axis Point): The point where your ball’s axis of rotation intersects the ball’s surface
  • Pin: Marks the top of the weight block in the ball
  • CG (Center of Gravity): The ball’s balance point
  • MB (Mass Bias): Additional marking on asymmetric balls

Pin Close to PAP (3-4 inches): Earlier hook, smoother transition

Pin Far from PAP (5+ inches): Later hook, more angular backend

Pin Distance affects: Length, backend reaction, and overall ball motion shape

Getting Started with Layouts

If you’re new to drilling layouts, here’s what you need to know:

🎯 For Beginners

Start with manufacturer-recommended layouts for your skill level. Focus on consistent release and form before experimenting with advanced layouts.

⚡ For Advanced Players

Work with a certified pro shop to analyze your PAP and develop custom layouts for different lane conditions and oil patterns.

Important Safety Note

⚠️ Drilling bowling balls requires specialized tools and expertise. Always have your balls drilled by certified professionals to ensure safety and proper fit.

Ready to Optimize Your Equipment?

Use these professional layouts as a starting point, then work with a certified pro shop to customize your drilling for maximum performance.

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