Bottom line, I want to check pitches in all of my equipment. Please do not respond with" Go see your driller". After having five balls done by the same person and only one that feels right, I want to see what's going on for myself. I already have a span gauge...

Without letting this degrade into a pro shop discussion, I would like feedback on two devices that recently came to my attention:

- Ace Mitchell set of 21 inserts ($30)
- Master #786 ($55-60)

I know that the Jonell are the best choice, but I seriously cannot see spending $200 just to check periodically. I can see spending money on either of the above choices to have a device that allows me to periodically spot check what I have.

It is my understanding that the Master uses a rod that must sit exactly in the middle of the bottom of the hole. The Ace Mitchell seems a little more bare bones, and I'm curious as to exactly how accurate it can if apparently all you do is rest the insert on the surface of the ball.

Constructive feedback appreciated as always.
L50.

Righty, with all due respect and appreciation, I don't want a "go see your driller" post. Jeez... There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with wanting to see how close my gear is... Please, do me a favor and put me on your ignore list.

Righty, with all due respect and appreciation, I don't want a "go see your driller" post. Jeez... There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with wanting to see how close my gear is... Please, do me a favor and put me on your ignore list.

Let's say you buy the gauges and check all your gear, then what?  You're going to know they are wrong (assuming they are).  What are you gonna do then?  I'm also assuming you don't have the equipment to fix them....So you're going to have to go to some shop or another to get them fixed, no?  So why bash a poster on here for giving you the most LOGICAL advice?  Sure you can spend the money on some pitch gauges to "check them once in a while" but unless you have the stuff to fix them, it's a waste of time and money.

Personally, if your driller can't hit pitches, you need a new driller JUSTSAYIN.

I can uderstand Lefty wanting some pitch guages as I have wanted a set of Jonnell Guages for years to check my pitches or a set of Perfect Pitch guages as a second choice, but just couldn't justify spending that much money for no oftener than they would be used.

The reason I would have liked to have had my own is because of all the years I have been bowling which is approx 40+ off and on, "almost every" driller I ever had regardless of where I lived, when questioned about the pitch in a finger or thumb hole, gave the appearance that he didn't like being questioned. When I did question the driller anyhow, sometimes he was right and sometimes he was wrong. And I have had some drillers that were wrong when checking the pitch, would move the pitch guage slightly to make it look like it was right because they didn't want to admit they drilled the pitch wrong.

Since I don't like to fuss with drillers as most drillers I have ever had don't like being questioned about their work regardless of whether it is pitches or span or whatever, thus I always hated to ask the driller to check the hole knowing he wouldn't like being questioned. That is why I always would have liked to have had my own set of guages so I could check the holes myself and if off, it was easier for me to either take the ball back to him or take it to another driller to have fixed.

I am sure there are some of you that will say it wouldn't bother you to be questioned and I am sure it wouldn't, but as said above, I have always found more drillers that resented being questioned and shown they were wrong than those that didn't mind.

Whether that is Lefty's reason for wanting his own pitch guages or not, I don't know but that has been my own personal experience and I can't speak for others here.

To answer your question, the Ace Mitchell. It goes deeper in the hole giving you a truer measurement. The Master 786 is better constructed but from the looks it depends on the cone-like shape that sits in the top of the hole which can be misread due to beveling. Good luck on whatever you decide.