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6.1.2 Step 2 — Create a blank spec sheet for the ball

Step 2 — Create a blank spec sheet for the ball

6.1.2   workflow

 

With the bowler profile saved, the next step in the first-ball workflow is creating a blank spec sheet for the ball you are about to drill. The spec sheet is where all of the fitting data lives — span measurements, pitch values, oval cuts, layout, and drilling notes. Creating it now, before any measurements are taken, means you have a structured form ready to fill in as you work through the fitting. Nothing gets written on a scrap of paper and transferred later.

📋 What a Spec Sheet Is

A spec sheet in Spectre Cloud is a detailed drilling record tied to a specific bowler and a specific ball. It captures everything needed to drill that ball accurately — and everything needed to replicate or reference that drilling in the future. Each spec sheet belongs to exactly one bowler profile and represents one ball in that bowler's drilling history.

  • ✅ A bowler can have any number of spec sheets — one per ball drilled, past and present.
  • ✅ Spec sheets are stored permanently in the bowler's history. Previous drillings remain accessible even after a ball is retired or re-drilled.
  • ✅ Spec sheets can be cloned — if a bowler is having the same ball re-drilled or a second ball drilled to the same specs, an existing sheet can be duplicated and adjusted rather than started from scratch.
  • ✅ Spec sheets are linked to the bowler's Arsenal — the ball drilled on this sheet will appear in the bowler's equipment list once the sheet is complete.

🖥️ Creating a Blank Spec Sheet on Desktop

  1. Open the bowler's profile by finding them in the BOWLERS list and clicking their name.
  2. Inside the bowler profile, locate the Spec Sheets section.
  3. Click + New Spec Sheet.
  4. A blank spec sheet form opens, pre-linked to this bowler's profile.
  5. Enter a ball name or identifier in the Ball field — for example, the ball's brand, model, and weight (e.g., Storm Phaze II 15lb). This is the primary label used to identify this spec sheet in the bowler's history.
  6. Select the span type for this drilling: Full Span (F), Cut to Cut (C), or Oval (O).
  7. Leave all measurement fields blank for now — you will fill these in during the fitting. Click Save to create the blank sheet, or proceed directly to entering measurements without saving first.

📱 Creating a Blank Spec Sheet on Mobile

  1. Tap the avatar icon to open the bowler list and navigate to the bowler's profile.
  2. Tap the Spec Sheets section within the profile.
  3. Tap + New Spec Sheet.
  4. Enter the ball name or identifier and select the span type.
  5. Tap Save or proceed directly to measurement entry.

📱 Tip: On a tablet at the drill press, keeping the spec sheet open on screen as you measure means you can tap values directly into the form without needing to remember or write them down. Spectre Cloud saves automatically as you work — there is no risk of losing data if you navigate away briefly.

🎳 Choosing the Span Type

The span type determines how Spectre Cloud measures and records the distance between the thumb and finger holes. Select the type that matches how your shop measures spans — this choice affects how the Oval Calculator interprets the measurements you enter later.

Span type Code How it is measured When to use
Full Span F From the back edge of the thumb hole to the back edge of the finger hole Standard measurement for most fingertip and conventional fits
Cut to Cut C From the near edge of the thumb hole to the near edge of the finger hole Used by some fitters and fitting systems as an alternative standard
Oval O Measured to the centre of the oval cut on the finger hole Used when the oval is the primary span reference point

📌 Note: If you are unsure which span type to use, Full Span (F) is the most common choice for fingertip drilling and is the default in most IBPSIA-aligned fitting workflows. Match the span type to however you physically take the measurement — consistency between how you measure and what Spectre Cloud expects is what matters.

📌 Naming the Spec Sheet Well

The ball name or identifier you enter at this stage becomes the primary label for this spec sheet everywhere it appears in Spectre Cloud — in the bowler's spec sheet list, in their Arsenal, and on printed spec sheets. A clear, consistent naming convention across your shop makes it much easier to find and reference records later.

  • ✅ Include brand, model, and weight as a minimum: Hammer Black Widow 2.0 14lb.
  • ✅ Add a surface finish or note if relevant: Roto Grip Hustle PBA 15lb — 2000 abralon.
  • ✅ For re-drillings of the same ball, add a date or sequence number: Storm Proton 15lb — redrill 2.
  • ❌ Avoid vague identifiers like Ball 1 or New ball — these become meaningless as the bowler's history grows.

🔄 Using Clone Instead of New — When It Applies

If the bowler is having a second ball drilled to the same or very similar specs as one already in their history, cloning an existing spec sheet is faster than creating a blank one. The clone copies all measurement and pitch values from the source sheet, leaving you to update only what has changed — typically just the ball name and any minor adjustments.

  • ✅ Use clone when drilling a second ball to the same layout and fit.
  • ✅ Use clone as a starting point when a bowler wants minor changes to an existing fit — adjust from the clone rather than re-entering everything.
  • ❌ Do not clone when the bowler is being fitted from scratch — start with a blank sheet so there is no risk of carrying forward outdated values.

For this first-ball workflow, a blank spec sheet is always the right starting point. The clone workflow is covered separately in Book 04 — Spec Sheets.

▶️ What Comes Next

With a blank spec sheet created and named, you are ready to move to Step 3: taking the bowler's hand measurements and entering them into the sheet. The spec sheet is now open and waiting — every measurement you take in the next step has a field to land in.

  • 6.1.1 — Step 1: Create the bowler profile
  • 6.1.3 — Step 3: Taking and entering hand measurements
  • 6.1.4 — Step 4: Setting span and pitch values
  • 04.x — Spec Sheets: creating, cloning, and managing spec sheets
  • 07.x — Arsenal: how spec sheets link to a bowler's equipment list

✨ Tip: Get into the habit of creating the spec sheet before picking up the measuring tape. Having the form open and ready as you measure the bowler means nothing gets missed — you work through the fields in order rather than trying to remember a set of numbers while reaching for a pen.

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