2.2 — System Defaults

2.2.1 Bowler Hand — setting your default (RH / LH)

2.2.1   setting

The Bowler Hand default setting controls whether new bowler profiles and new spec sheets are pre-filled as right-handed or left-handed. It is a time-saving convenience — nothing more. You can always change the handedness on any individual bowler or spec sheet after the fact.

🎳 What This Setting Does

When you create a new bowler profile or a new spec sheet, Spectre Cloud pre-fills the Bowler Hand field with your default. That's all it affects. It does not change anything on existing profiles or existing spec sheets — only on records you create after changing the default.

🛠️ Changing the Default

  1. Select Settings
  2. Under the System Defaults tab, locate the Bowler Hand field.
  3. Select Right Hand or Left Hand.
  4. Changes will save automatically.

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📌 Important: Handedness Exists in Two Separate Places

This is one of the most common points of confusion in Spectre Cloud. Handedness is stored independently in two places:

These two values are not linked. Changing a bowler's hand in their profile will not update any spec sheets that already exist for that bowler.

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⚠️ Why This Matters — The Oval Calculator

The oval calculator uses the handedness stored on the spec sheet itself, not the bowler profile. This is a frequent source of confusion.

A common scenario:

  1. You create a bowler profile as Right Hand.
  2. You create a new spec sheet — it inherits Right Hand at the time of creation.
  3. You later correct the bowler profile to Left Hand.
  4. The existing spec sheet still reads Right Hand — and the oval calculator will calculate accordingly.

If you notice the oval calculator producing unexpected results, check the handedness field directly on the spec sheet, not just on the bowler profile. Update the spec sheet itself if needed.

Tip: If you switch a bowler from right-handed to left-handed in their profile, take a moment to open any existing spec sheets and update the hand field there too — especially if you plan to use the oval calculator on those sheets.

2.2.2 Grip Type — Finger Tip vs. Conventional as default

2.2.2   default

The Grip Type setting controls which grip style is pre-selected when you create a new spec sheet. Choosing the right default for your shop saves time — your drillers won't need to manually switch the grip type for every new client.

🤚 What Is Grip Type?

Grip type describes how deeply a bowler's fingers are inserted into the ball:

Note: The grip type setting affects only the default pre-selection on new spec sheets — you can always override it on a per-bowler or per-sheet basis.

⚙️ Setting Your Default Grip Type

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Grip Type field and select either Fingertip or Conventional from the dropdown.
  5. Changes will be saved automatically.

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From this point forward, all new spec sheets will open with the selected grip type pre-filled. Existing spec sheets are not affected.

🎳 Which Default Should You Choose?

Shop Type Recommended Default Reason
Competitive / league-focused shop Fingertip Majority of sport bowlers use fingertip grip
Family or recreational shop Conventional Beginners and casual bowlers typically use conventional
Mixed clientele Fingertip Fingertip is the Spectre Cloud factory default and suits most shops

🔄 Overriding the Default on a Spec Sheet

Even after setting a shop-wide default, the grip type can be changed on any individual spec sheet:

Tip: If you notice your drillers frequently overriding the default, it may be worth revisiting your shop default setting to better match your typical clientele.

2.2.3 Display in Decimal vs. Fraction (0.000 vs. fractions)

2.2.3   display

The Measurement Display setting controls whether span, oval, bridge, and depth measurements appear throughout Spectre Cloud in decimal format (e.g. 4.25") or fractional format (e.g. 4 ¼"). This is a display-only preference — the underlying values are the same either way.

📐 Decimal vs. Fractional — What's the Difference?

Both formats represent the same physical measurements. The choice comes down to your shop's convention and what your drillers are most comfortable reading at a glance:

Note: This setting applies across all pitches in the spec sheet.

⚙️ Changing the Display Format

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Display in Decimal/Fraction field and select either Fractional(0.000) or Decimal(X/Y).
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

📏 Which Format Should You Use?

The right choice depends on how your shop works at the drill press.

If your drill press has digital readouts and you run them in fractional mode, stick with fractional — it keeps Spectre consistent with what you're already reading on the machine. If your readouts are in decimal, set Spectre to decimal for the same reason.

Decimal is also a solid choice for shops without digital readouts. A decimal value maps directly to your drill press handle — 0.500" means 5 full turns on the axis wheel, which makes it easy to translate from screen to press without any mental conversion.

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🖨️ Effect on Printed Spec Sheets & Exports

When you print a spec sheet or export bowler records, the measurements will appear in whichever format is currently active in your settings. If you share spec sheets with another pro shop or a ball manufacturer, confirm which format they prefer before printing.

Tip: If you switch formats mid-season, nothing in your saved data changes — only how it's displayed. You can switch back at any time without affecting stored spec sheet values.

2.2.4 Oval Degree Increments — 1° vs. 5° increments

2.2.4   display

The Oval Degree Increments setting controls the step size of the degree selector in the Oval Calculator. You can choose between 1° increments for fine-grained precision, or 5° increments for faster, broader selections. The right choice depends on how precisely your shop fits oval thumb holes and how quickly your drillers need to move through the calculator.

🔵 What Are Oval Degree Increments?

When calculating an oval hole, Spectre Cloud asks for the oval angle — the rotational degree at which the oval is oriented relative to the center line. The degree selector steps through available angles one click (or tap) at a time. This setting determines the size of each step:

Note: This setting only affects the degree selector in the Oval Calculator. It does not change how oval measurements are stored, calculated, or displayed on spec sheets.

⚙️ Changing the Oval Degree Increment

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Oval Degree Increments field and select either 1° or 5°.
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

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🎳 Which Increment Should You Use?

Situation Recommended Setting Reason
Precision fitting for competitive bowlers 1° increments Allows exact oval angles when bowler fit requires it
High-volume shop, recreational clientele 5° increments Speeds up entry — most recreational ovals land on a 5° boundary anyway
New driller learning the oval workflow 5° increments Fewer options reduces decision fatigue during training
Shop that copies angles from legacy paper sheets 1° increments Legacy sheets may record non-round angles that need exact matching

2.2.5 Insert Installation — STD vs. VACU grip default

2.2.5   default

The Insert Installation default controls which installation method is pre-selected when creating a new spec sheet — either STD (standard glued) or VACU Grip (vacuum-style). Setting the correct default for your shop means your drillers spend less time adjusting this field on every new sheet.

🔩 STD vs. VACU Grip — What's the Difference?

Both methods describe how finger inserts are secured inside the drilled finger holes. The key distinction is in how the insert is held in place and how the finger hole is prepared:d

Note: The VACU Grip method requires a specific two-stage drilling sequence at the press. See Mark Buffa's full walkthrough on the Spectre YouTube channel: How To Drill For A Vacu Fit!

⚙️ Changing the Insert Installation Default

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Insert Installation field and select either STD or VACU.
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

Note: This setting controls only the default pre-selection on new spec sheets. The installation method can always be changed on any individual spec sheet without affecting your shop default.

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🎳 Which Default Should You Choose?

Shop Situation Recommended Default Reason
Most pro shops — general clientele STD Standard glue installation is the industry norm for the majority of fittings
Shop specialising in VACU Grip fittings VACU Grip Saves time if VACU is your predominant installation method
Mixed clientele — both methods used regularly STD STD is more common; override to VACU on a per-sheet basis when needed

📋 Important: Select Insert Type Before Insert Size

When entering insert details on a spec sheet, always select the Insert Type first, then the Insert Size. If the Auto Insert OD suggestion is enabled in your settings, Spectre will automatically populate the outer diameter field based on the insert type and size selected.

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🖨️ How It Appears on a Spec Sheet

The installation method is recorded on every spec sheet and appears in the insert details section. This ensures your shop's drilling history accurately reflects how each ball was fitted — useful when a bowler returns for an insert replacement or a re-drill.

Tip: If you stock and sell VACU Grip inserts, noting the installation method clearly on printed spec sheets is good practice — bowlers who use VACU inserts often need to know their exact insert size when purchasing replacements.

2.2.6 Vacu Installation Increment from O.D. (1/32, 1/16…)

2.2.6   default

When fitting a bowler with VACU Grip inserts, Spectre Cloud calculates the two hole sizes required for the two-tier drill based on the insert's outer diameter (O.D.). The lower hole matches the insert O.D. so the insert seats and glues at the base. The upper hole is drilled larger than the insert O.D. — this is what gives the rubber room to expand when the bowler's finger is inserted. This setting controls the increment used when selecting how much larger that upper hole is drilled above the insert O.D.

Note: This setting only applies if your shop uses VACU Grip installation. If your shop drills exclusively STD (glued) inserts, this setting has no effect on your workflow.

Important: This setting requires the Auto Insert OD auto-suggestion to be enabled in order to work correctly. If Auto Insert OD is turned off, Spectre Cloud will not automatically calculate the upper hole size and this increment setting will have no effect. See Settings → Auto-Suggestions to confirm it is enabled.

📐 What Is the O.D. Increment?

The O.D. increment is the step size used when selecting how much larger the upper hole is drilled relative to the insert O.D. — the amount by which that value increases or decreases with each click or tap. Spectre Cloud offers four options:

⚙️ Changing the VACU O.D. Increment

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Vacu Installation Increment from O.D. field and select 1/16", 3/64", 1/32", or 1/64".
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

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Note: Like all system defaults, this setting controls only the pre-selection on new spec sheets. The increment — and the resulting upper hole size — can always be adjusted on a per-bowler, per-sheet basis directly on the spec sheet, the same way auto-suggestion values can be overridden after they populate.

🎳 Which Increment Should You Choose?

Situation Recommended Increment Reason
Most bowlers — standard VACU fitting 1/16" The industry standard for VACU installation — full expansion room, natural rubber feel
Bowler wants slightly less springiness 3/64" Marginally tighter fit with a more controlled feel
Bowler prefers a firmer insert feel 1/32" Reduced expansion room, noticeably less rubber flex
Bowler wants minimal rubber springiness 1/64" Tightest fit — the insert has very little room to expand

📌 Important: O.D. vs. Hole Size

The insert O.D. and the two drilled hole sizes work together in a VACU fitting:

Tip: If you switch insert brands, check the new brand's recommended upper hole size specification. Some brands require more or less expansion room than others — switching brands is a good time to revisit this increment setting.

2.2.7 Display Measurements in — 16S+, 32ND, Decimal options

2.2.7   display

When entering a span measurement on a spec sheet, Spectre Cloud presents a dropdown list of selectable values. This setting controls the spacing and precision of the values in that list — coarser settings show fewer values and less scrolling, finer settings show more values with greater precision. The available options are 16S, 16S+, 32ND, and 64TH.

Note: This setting applies specifically to span measurements. It controls what appears in the span dropdown list on a spec sheet — it does not affect how other measurements such as bridge width, oval dimensions, or hole sizes are displayed.

📏 Understanding the Four Options

16S — Sixteenths

The dropdown lists span values spaced in sixteenth-inch increments (e.g. 4", 4 1/16", 4 1/8", 4 3/16", 4 1/4"…). Values are displayed as simplified fractions. The fewest values in the list — fastest to scroll through. Suitable for shops that measure and record spans to sixteenth precision.

16S+ — Sixteenths with half-sixteenth notation

The dropdown lists the same sixteenth-inch values as 16S, but adds a + value between each pair — representing a half-sixteenth (one thirty-second). For example: 4 1/16", 4 1/16+", 4 1/8" — where 4 1/16+ is a shorthand way of expressing 4 3/32". This gives 32nd-level precision in a format that is easier to read and say out loud than a thirty-second fraction.

32ND — Thirty-seconds

The dropdown lists pitch values spaced in thirty-second-inch increments — the same resolution as 16S+, but displayed as simplified fractions throughout rather than using the + shorthand notation. The list will contain the same number of values as 16S+, just expressed differently. Choose this option if your drillers prefer to read standard 32nd fractions over the + notation.

64TH — Sixty-fourths

The dropdown lists span values spaced in sixty-fourth-inch increments, again displayed as simplified fractions. The most values in the list, requiring the most scrolling. Best suited to shops that fit to sixty-fourth precision or work with bowlers who require very fine span adjustments.

⚙️ Changing the Span Display Format

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Display Measurements in field and select 16S, 16S+, 32ND, or 64TH.
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

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🎳 Which Format Should You Use?

Situation Recommended Format Reason
Shop measuring to sixteenth precision, minimal scrolling preferred 16S Fewest values in the list — fast to navigate
Shop wanting 32nd precision in a readable format 16S+ 32nd-level precision expressed in a shorthand that is easier to read and communicate than thirty-second fractions
Shop recording spans in thirty-seconds, prefer standard fractions 32ND 32nd increment with values shown as simplified fractions — familiar and clean
Precision fitting, competitive bowlers, very fine adjustments 64TH Maximum precision — use when sixty-fourth resolution is needed

🔄 Relationship to the Global Measurement Format Setting

This setting works alongside the global Decimal vs. Fractional display preference set in 2.2.3. The option you choose here controls the spacing and values in the span dropdown list. If your global format in 2.2.3 is set to Decimal, span values will be shown in decimal form regardless of which option is selected here.

Tip: If your drillers find the span dropdown list too long to scroll through comfortably, switch to a coarser setting. You can always fine-tune an individual span value on the spec sheet after selecting the nearest available value from the list.

2.2.8 Display Pitches in — 16S+, 64TH, Decimal options

2.2.8   display

When entering a pitch value on a spec sheet, Spectre Cloud presents a dropdown list of selectable values. This setting controls the spacing and precision of the values in that list — coarser settings show fewer values and less scrolling, finer settings show more values with greater precision. The available options are 16S+, 32ND, 64TH, and Decimal.

Note: This setting applies specifically to pitch measurements on spec sheets (forward, reverse, lateral, and combination pitches for finger and thumb holes). It does not affect span measurements or any other values. Span measurements have their own display setting — see 2.2.7.

📐 What Is Pitch?

Pitch describes the angular tilt of a drilled hole relative to the centre of the bowling ball. It is expressed as a distance measurement — the amount of offset at the surface — rather than as a degree angle. Pitch values are typically small and must be recorded precisely, since even a small difference in pitch can noticeably affect a bowler's feel and release.

📏 Understanding the Four Options

16S+ — Sixteenths with half-sixteenth notation

The dropdown lists pitch values spaced in sixteenth-inch increments, with a + value added between each pair representing a half-sixteenth (one thirty-second). For example: 3/16", 3/16+", 1/4" — where 3/16+ is a shorthand way of expressing 7/32". Values are displayed as simplified fractions. This gives 32nd-level precision in a format that is easier to read and say out loud than a thirty-second fraction.

32ND — Thirty-seconds

The dropdown lists pitch values spaced in thirty-second-inch increments — the same resolution as 16S+, but displayed as simplified fractions throughout rather than using the + shorthand notation. The list will contain the same number of values as 16S+, just expressed differently. Choose this option if your drillers prefer to read standard 32nd fractions over the + notation.

64TH — Sixty-fourths

The dropdown lists pitch values spaced in sixty-fourth-inch increments, displayed as simplified fractions. The most values in the list, requiring the most scrolling. Pitch tolerances are finer than span tolerances, which is why 64TH is available here but not for span measurements. Best suited to shops fitting high-performance or highly customised bowlers where small pitch differences are intentional and meaningful.

Decimal

The dropdown lists pitch values in decimal format (e.g. 0.1875"). No fractions are used. Preferred by shops using digital pitch gauges or calipers that output decimal readings, and by Canadian and international shops where decimal measurement is standard practice.

⚙️ Changing the Pitch Display Format

  1. Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
  2. Select Settings from the menu.
  3. Navigate to the System Defaults section.
  4. Locate the Display Pitches in field and select 16S+, 32ND, 64TH, or Decimal.
  5. Changes are saved automatically.

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🎳 Which Format Should You Use?

Situation Recommended Format Reason
Shop wanting 32nd precision in a readable format 16S+ 32nd-level precision expressed in a shorthand that is easier to read and communicate than thirty-second fractions
Shop recording pitches in thirty-seconds, prefer standard fractions 32ND 32nd increment with values shown as simplified fractions — familiar and clean
Precision fitting, competitive or high-performance bowlers 64TH Maximum fractional precision — captures intentional small pitch adjustments accurately
Shop using digital pitch gauges or calipers Decimal Enter and read the same format your measuring tool outputs — no conversion needed

🔄 Relationship to Other Display Settings

This setting works alongside the other measurement display settings in Spectre Cloud but applies only to pitch values on spec sheets:

Tip: If your drillers work from a printed pitch reference card or pitch gauge that uses a specific format, match this setting to that format. Eliminating the mental conversion between the card and the screen reduces errors during fitting.