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

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

2.2.8 display

This setting controls the precision and format used to display pitch measurements on spec sheets and throughout the app. Pitch — the forward, reverse, or lateral angle of a finger or thumb hole — is a finer measurement than span, which is why Spectre Cloud offers an additional option here not available for spans: 64ths of an inch. The four options are 16ths+, 32nds, 64ths, and Decimal.

Note: This setting applies specifically to pitch measurements (forward, reverse, lateral, and combination pitches for finger and thumb holes). Span measurements have their own display setting — see page 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 (often under ½") and must be recorded precisely, since even a 1/32" difference in pitch can noticeably affect a bowler's feel and release. This is why 64ths are available for pitch but not for spans.

Forward pitch — hole tilts toward the bowler's palm.
Reverse pitch — hole tilts away from the bowler's palm.
Lateral pitch — hole tilts toward or away from the thumb hole.

📏 Understanding the Four Options

16ths+ (Sixteenths and halves)

Pitches are expressed as whole fractions to the nearest sixteenth of an inch, with half-sixteenth (thirty-second) values used where the pitch falls between two sixteenth boundaries (e.g. ³⁄₁₆" forward, ⁷⁄₃₂" forward). This is the format most familiar to US drillers trained on paper spec sheets and is the traditional industry standard for pitch notation.

32nds (Thirty-seconds)

Pitches are expressed consistently to the nearest thirty-second of an inch (e.g. ⁶⁄₃₂" forward). Finer than 16ths+ and uses a consistent denominator throughout — every pitch value looks the same structurally, making it easier to compare values at a glance across multiple bowlers or balls.

64ths (Sixty-fourths)

Pitches are expressed to the nearest sixty-fourth of an inch (e.g. ¹²⁄₆₄" forward). This is the finest fractional option available and is unique to pitch display — it is not offered for span measurements because span tolerances do not require this level of resolution. Useful for shops fitting high-performance or highly customised bowlers where small pitch differences are intentional and meaningful.

Decimal

Pitches are expressed as a decimal number (e.g. 0.1875" forward). 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

Open Spectre Cloud at cloud.spectrebowling.com and log in.
Click your pro shop name in the top-right corner to open the Profile menu.
Select Settings from the dropdown.
Navigate to the Display Preferences section.
Locate the Pitch Display field and select 16ths+, 32nds, 64ths, or Decimal.
Click Save. The change takes effect immediately across all spec sheets.

🎳 Which Format Should You Use?

Situation	Recommended Format	Reason
US shop — experienced drillers, legacy paper sheets	16ths+	Matches the pitch notation most US fitters have used for decades
Precision fitting, competitive or high-performance bowlers	64ths	Maximum fractional resolution — captures intentional small pitch adjustments accurately
Shop wanting consistent denominators across all measurements	32nds	Uniform format makes spec sheets easier to scan and compare
Canada or international shop	Decimal	Standard outside the US; eliminates fraction-to-decimal mental conversion
Shop using digital pitch gauges	Decimal	Enter and read the same format your measuring tool outputs — no conversion needed
New shop, no established convention	32nds	Consistent denominator is easier to learn than mixed 16ths+ for new staff

🔄 Relationship to Other Display Settings

Pitch display works independently from — but alongside — the other measurement display settings in Spectre Cloud:

✅ 2.2.3 — Decimal vs. Fractional sets the global measurement format. If set to Decimal, pitches display in decimal regardless of what is selected here. Choosing Decimal in this setting overrides the global fractional preference for pitch fields only.
✅ 2.2.7 — Span display governs span precision independently. Your pitch and span display formats do not need to match — some shops prefer 32nds for spans and 64ths for pitches.
❌ There is no per-sheet override — this setting applies shop-wide to all pitch display.

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.

2.2.7 — Display Span Measurements In: 16ths+, 32nds, or Decimal
2.2.3 — Display in Decimal vs. Fractional
4.1 — Creating a New Spec Sheet
4.5 — Entering Pitch Values on a Spec Sheet
6.1 — Drilling Your First Ball: Step-by-Step Overview

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