4.3.2 The four span types: F, C, O, H
4.3.2 concept
Spectre Cloud supports four span types — Full Span (F), Cut to Cut (C), Outer to Cut (O), and Hole to Hole (H). All four measure the distance between the finger holes and the thumb hole, but they differ in where the measurement begins and ends and whether the inserts are included. This page defines each; for entering them on the sheet, see 4.3.1.
📐 Full Span (F)
The complete measured span — everything included, inserts and all. Also called the complete span.
- ✅ The most common convention; IBPSIA fitting charts generally assume Full Span.
- ✅ Describes the bowler's actual reach with their grips installed.
- ✅ Required input for the Cut to Cut auto-suggestion (needed on both fingers).
📐 Cut to Cut (C)
Full Span minus the thickness of the insert — the span measured to the actual drilled cut, before the inserts are accounted for. Useful when drilling thumb-first, so you don't subtract the grip thickness by hand.
- ✅ The one span type with an auto-suggestion — Autofill Cut to Cut (2.6.9).
- ⚠️ Not the same as the PBA truck's "Cut-to-Cut" — that is Hole to Hole (H), below.
📐 Outer to Cut (O)
For interchangeable thumbs — measured from the inside of the female portion of the interchangeable to the cut of the finger's outer-diameter hole.
- ✅ Lets a bowler with an interchangeable thumb use a new ball by locking in their own male inner sleeve — no new thumb to drill.
- ❌ "O" is Outer to Cut, not Oval — an oval is a hole shape (Book 05), a separate concept.
📐 Hole to Hole (H)
Biggest hole to biggest hole — for example, a 1 1/2" thumb to a 31/32" finger. A purely physical, edge-to-edge measurement of the largest openings.
- ✅ This is what the PBA services truck calls "Cut-to-Cut."
📊 The Four Span Types
| Full Span (F) | Cut to Cut (C) | Outer to Cut (O) | Hole to Hole (H) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Complete span, inserts and all | Full Span minus insert thickness | Inside of the female interchangeable to the cut of the finger OD hole | Biggest hole to biggest hole (e.g. 1½" to 31/32") |
| Inserts included? | Yes | No | Interchangeable sleeve | N/A — hole edge to hole edge |
| Primary use | General fitting; the default reference | Thumb-first drilling | Interchangeable thumbs | Quick physical reference; PBA-truck workflows |
| Auto-suggestion | — | Yes (2.6.9) | — | — |
Related Sections
- 4.3.1 — Entering span measurements (F, C, O, H)
- 4.3.3 — Ring finger 5/16" rule
- 4.1.1 — Acronyms: F, C, O, H
- 2.6.9 — Autofill Cut to Cut
- 05 — Oval Calculator (oval hole shape — distinct from span type O)
Tip: Full Span is the lowest-friction default — it's the complete measurement most fitters work in and the input the Cut to Cut auto-fill depends on. Reach for Cut to Cut when drilling thumb-first, Outer to Cut for interchangeable thumbs, and Hole to Hole when you want the biggest-hole-to-biggest-hole reference the PBA truck calls "Cut-to-Cut."