# 2.3.1 Default Hole Type — Round vs. Oval

<span style="font-family: monospace; color: #6b7280;">2.3.1</span> <span style="background: #206ea7; color: #fff; padding: 2px 8px; border-radius: 3px; font-size: 0.85em; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.05em;">KEY</span> <span style="border: 1px solid #d1d5db; color: #4b5563; padding: 2px 8px; border-radius: 3px; font-size: 0.85em;">setting</span>

The **Default Hole Type** setting controls which hole type is pre-selected when you start a new spec sheet. Spectre Cloud supports two options: **Round** and **Oval**. Like all system defaults, this setting simply pre-populates the field — it can always be overridden on a per-sheet basis without affecting your shop default.

## 🕳️ Understanding Hole Types

### Round Holes

Round holes are the standard hole type used in the majority of drilling layouts. Drilled at a fixed diameter with a standard bit, they are the most common choice for recreational and league bowlers.

- ✅ Used for most conventional and fingertip drilling styles
- ✅ Compatible with standard inserts and slugs
- ✅ Faster to drill and fit for most customers

### Oval Holes

Oval holes are an elongated hole type used when a specific release technique, extra grip surface, or custom fit requires it. Spectre Cloud includes a dedicated **Oval Calculator** to determine the correct oval dimensions for each bowler — see Book 05 for full coverage.

- ✅ Provides additional contact area for certain release styles
- ✅ Often used for bowlers with grip issues or specific fit requirements
- ✅ Oval dimensions are automatically calculated by the Oval Calculator
- ❌ Requires additional measurement steps compared to round holes
- ❌ Not suitable for standard insert sizing

## 📋 Choosing Your Default

<table id="bkmrk-shop-type-recommende"><thead><tr><th>Shop Type</th><th>Recommended Default</th><th>Reason</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>General / recreational pro shop</td><td>Round</td><td>Most customers receive standard round holes — saves time on every new sheet</td></tr><tr><td>Competitive / performance-focused shop</td><td>Round or Oval</td><td>Depends on your typical customer base; oval may be more common at high-level shops</td></tr><tr><td>Shop specialising in custom fitting</td><td>Oval</td><td>If the majority of your drilling involves oval holes, setting this as default reduces manual selection on every sheet</td></tr></tbody></table>

## ⚙️ Changing the Default Hole Type

1. Open Spectre Cloud at `cloud.spectrebowling.com` and log in.
2. Select **Settings** from the menu.
3. Navigate to the **Thumb Hole Preferences** section.
4. Locate the **Default Hole Type** field and select either `Round` or `Oval`.
5. Changes are saved automatically.

[![image.png](https://wiki.spectrebowling.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/scaled-1680-/k8Jimage.png)](https://wiki.spectrebowling.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-05/k8Jimage.png)

**Note:** Changing the default hole type only affects new spec sheets created after the setting is changed. Existing spec sheets are not modified.

### Related Sections

- 2.3.2 — Default Span Type (F, C, or O)
- 05 — Oval Calculator (full book dedicated to oval hole measurement)
- 04 — Spec Sheets (creating and editing spec sheets)

**Tip:** Not sure which to pick? Start with `Round` — it's the right default for the vast majority of pro shops. You can always switch to Oval on a per-sheet basis for bowlers who need it, or update the default later as your shop's workflow evolves.