Pin position is the distance between the pin, a colored dot about 3/8" in diameter, and the center of gravity (CG), a little engraving that looks like someone's hand holding a ball on Columbia balls.  Pin length describes how far the core is shifted inside the ball.

Top weight describes how far above the midline the core is raised and is centered at the CG.

Longer pins and higher top weights tend to go longer and have more backend.  Shorter pins and lower tops tend to be a little earlier and smoother, though neither is necessarily better or worse than the other.

2-4" pin and 2-3 oz top are pretty safe.  Extreme values (0" pin, less than 1oz top or more than 4oz top and 5"+ pins) can be limited in drilling options.  I'd guess that you're not looking for something real odd, drill-wise, so I'd stick with the 2-4" pin and 2-3oz top.

SH

Edited on 2/2/2006 7:21 PM

If you keep it in box condition, shiny, it should do what you want well enough.  A higher pin (finger level or higher) would give it a little more length, but with a 2" pin, that may not have been easy with 3.5oz top.

It is better to pick a ball that is made to do what you want rather than worry about pin or top weight.  If you want something to roll early and evenly, pick something that's made to do that.  If you want longer, sharper, pick something made to do that.  Statics, including pin length and top weight, have much less influence on ball reaction than, say, surface prep and the core itself.

SH

In general, you want shiny or higher-grit finishes, higher RG values (not less than 2.5), pearl reactives.  But there are a lot of things that go into it.

Surface prep is something like 75% of the reaction characteristics of the ball, so it's more important to get something polished than higher RG or pearlized.  In Columbia's parlance, lower Hook-in-oil values will generally mean more length since the ball is skidding rather than grabbing in the oil.

The Backyard Bully is the lengthiest of the Bully line, I believe.  If you want longer still, you'll need to look at their mid-price line (or the Action Packed, but I don't think it's quite out yet and I'm not sure what it's supposed to do and it's got the same cover as your BB anyway).  The Messenger Ti Pearl, the black-and-gold one, should give you a later break than the Backyard Bully, and, being a little weaker overall, may give you an option for lighter-oiled lanes, maybe the third game of league or later tournament blocks if the BB is too strong.

Longer isn't always better.  Too long and you can easily throw it through the breakpoint, and as I said above, if there aren't dry boards to grab downlane, it'll just keep skidding.  As a complement, a different look than your BB, maybe the Action or original Bully would do the job.  Both should start up sooner and have a smoother read throughout the lane.

SH

bump

Edited on 2/20/2006 1:19 AM

depends on what you want the ball to do
that will be a factor in pin placement as well as which ball you arte buying.  I standardly get 2.5-3 oz. top weight

best to look at this for drill patterns and what best pin placement is for each type of reaction

http://www.columbia300.com/gear/drill_patterns.pdf

most commonly a 2-3 in. pin will fit most drill patterns


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Yes I am a Lefty
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