Thanks, and a VERY valid question. Obviously, I would not spend the resources to develop this tool unless I thought it would improve the industry and that people would value it. Some factors which motivated me:
a) If ovals are the right way to fit bowlers, it is hard to think of a more accurate and efficient way to measure ovals than this
b) The existing tools are only good to +- 1/16th. Even experienced drillers often miss with the existing tools, especially holes with dual pitch (I have done blind tests to confirm this)
c) Efficiency and accuracy are the objectives. Even a few minutes saved per customer can be valuable, especially when you have customers waiting. When he sees you pick up a classy tool and precisely match his existing grip, you solidify a customer
d) I readily admit that an experienced driller can use rulers, calipers, and gauges and get pretty close...maybe close enough. But he will not be more accurate, and he will certainly take more time if he measures carefully.
I am already finding that new shops will not want to spring for both digital calipers and gauge sets when they can get state-of-the-art Digital Gauge. Is is less an issue of "I am experienced, so I don't need the gauge," as it is, "I can't be in both shops at the same time. How can I get this less experienced person to measure the parameters reliably and accurately."
For example, what usually sells our digital scale is not its ease of use, superior accuracy, or the fact that they use it at the tournaments. Instead, is is: "My wife/employee/new-person can use it...and they used to take forever on the do-do."
At Expo in Orlando I got to hear a lot of feedback...almost all very positive. One very experienced person said that the biggest problem in his shop was getting his employees to match pitches of interchangeable grips. If the pitches are not close to perfect, then the grip does not install flush on the new layout. He said they had to redo many grips because of this. The fact that this new gauge has the necessary range and accuracy was what sold him.
Thank you for your question, it is an important one. I genuinely struggle with it on a regular basis, on all the products we choose to develop. Development and quality manufacturing is expensive, so we choose carefully. It is my personal goal to successfully address at least one bowling technology issue each year, and I believe we are having an impact. Some of our tools are approaching the 1000 mark!
As you might imagine, we also have other things in development...stay tuned!
Regards,
Doug
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Dr. Douglas G. Frank, President
Precision Analytical Instruments, Inc.
www.ToolsForAnalysis.com
