In most cases, you try to keep the CG close to the midline to avoid excess finger or thumb weight (which can always be removed with a balance hole anyway, but you don't want to force it). Longer pins mean that the pin can be placed higher above the midline while keeping the CG close to the midline. Higher pins usually give longer, flippier reactions.
Conversely, shorter pins will get placed lower to keep the CG close to the midline. Lower pins will give earlier and smoother reactions.
Total hook is not really affected, and higher or lower pins will only do so much for a ball's reaction. Putting the pin 6" above the fingers on a New Standard 2 will not make it flip. Putting the pin on the midline for an Angular One won't make it roll early. There's only so much you can tweak the reaction with pin height.
With normal top weights, 2-3oz, you can do almost anything you want with a 2-4" pin without having difficulty with static weights. You will need a balance hole for some layouts, of course, but there won't be any surprises or trickiness involved in laying it out or drilling it. Don't be afraid of a ball with a 2" pin with 3oz of top weight because you want to put it above the fingerline; even stupid drillers should be able to make that work.
SH
Edited on 8/31/2007 11:31 AM
