RICO Layout Revealed

[BubbaRay]

Written by Joe Slowinski
Monday, 07 January 2008

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The RICO layout is certainly creating a buzz. It has been used on Tour successfully this season including by Parker Bohn in his win in Spartanburg on the Viper pattern as well as in qualifying by Diandra Asbaty during her march to winning the Great Lakes Classic on the Cheetah pattern. Much discussion is appearing on the message boards, with various amounts of accuracy. So, with the goal of providing accurate information, I went directly to Ric Hamlin, the individual credited for the layout, to get details from him directly. Ric is the Consumer Products Specialist, for the Northwest region, Brunswick Bowling and Billiards. Here is an overview about the RICO layout including when to use the layout, how-to map the bowling ball, how-to alter the layout for a higher track player. I also provide a summary of how the layout was first used and why. This is intended to present a more accurate overview of the RICO for those who want to have a better insight into this useful layout.

When to Use the RICO Layout?
The RICO is best used on more challenging patterns, longer and flatter. Ric Hamlin makes it clear that this layout has bailed-out many pro staffers on patterns such as the Masters and US Open. It is best for those who are speed dominant or have a lower rev rate. Specifically, the layout will get the ball to react sooner on the lane. These type of players tend to get too much length on these type of patterns. In addition, this is a good layout for players with a higher rev rate. For this type of player, the layout helps the ball to react sooner and smooth-out over/under ball reactions. Ric recommends that all tournament players have a ball with this layout in their bowling bag. It is very good to help bowlers get through transitions into the pattern breakdown. I tend to use the layout, as I mentioned above, on tougher patterns,”

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1.
Pin in the palm. Generally, this will be in the center of the grip. So, for most bowlers, the PIN to PAP will fit in the range of 3 ½” to 5 1/2”

2.
When choosing a bowling ball, make an effort to obtain a ball with a pin distance (PIN to CG) that is close to half the distance of the ring finger span (Ric's recommendation and what he tries to do when using this layout). Top weight should be around 2.5 to 3 oz.

3.
The CG is placed at an angle 45 degrees from the PAP, through the grip center (for a RH bowler this in the 4:30 position)

4.
Place a weight hole, 6 ¾” from the grip center. The weight hole will approximately be 1 ¼” X 2 ½”

5.
In other words, the angle created from the PAP to grip center through CG to weight hole will be 45 degrees.


NOTE: The weight hole is extremely important in this layout. In a bowling ball with a symmetrical core, this will create more asymmetry since the weight hole is drilled into the core 90 degrees from the PIN, or 6 ¾”. So, it will increase the dynamics of the reaction. In a bowling ball with an asymmetrical core, the PSA/MB is placed at a 45 degrees from the grip center. The more asymmetrical the core is, the less a weight hole will have an impact on the motion. But, when adding a weight hole, the amount of asymmetry will be increased. Thus, this will increase the overall reaction of the ball.

Watch the ball reaction as Parker Bohn III throws it in South Carolina, on TV. Parker is throwing this on the Viper pattern (37 feet). Click here to launch the Youtube video In addition, Brad Angelo used this layout in the Finals of the Windy City Classic. This was bowled on the 44 foot Shark pattern. Click here to see this Youtube video. Notice the smooth ball motion from the oil to the dry.

Altering Pin Placement for Higher Track Player:
For higher track players, there is a greater chance of the ball hitting the middle finger. Although Parker Bohn (PAP of 5 & 3/4 over and 1/2 to 3/4 up) has no such issue when using this layout. To adjust, move the Pin up on the center line the amount, the distance, of the vertical PAP coordinate. This should raise the bowtie enough to miss the finger. This should alter the layout enough to avoid flaring over the middle finger. This is particularly important for those with a high lateral PAP (5 ½” and above ½” on the vertical). Moreover, to achieve a similar result, you can move the PIN closer to the PAP (more similar to leverage) or away from the PAP (to create more length).

[BubbaRay]

How the RICO Layout Was Created (in Ric Hamlin’s own words)
“Although I [Ric Hamlin] have been given credit for it's so called design, how it all got started was a few years ago, Brunswick sponsored the Mini Eliminator in Las Vegas. I was part of the tournament support team. We would lay out all the balls, that were being used during the week of competition. At that time, the lane surface at the Orleans had become worn, thus making the lanes play a bit more on the difficult side, as well as a higher amount of conditioner on the lane to compensate for the worn surface. On top of that, the lane was Brunswick Pro Anvil, which is a lower friction surface and tends to create hang anyways. Knowing that this layout generally worked on tighter and/or longer patterns as well as for those that were either speed dominate, rev challenged or just needed reaction help, I used this layout quite a bit with very positive results. One of Brunswick's staffers, Nick Smith, was there and I used this layout for him. He was a higher rev player, but very speed dominate and he was impressed with the reaction, thus nicknaming the layout 'Rico' after me.”
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Successfully Used During the 2007-2008 PBA Season
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Parker Bohn, Winner Spartanburg Classic, Viper Pattern

Diandra Asbaty, Great Lakes Classic, Used in Qualifying

[PJR300]

Great explanation.... best I've seen on RICO to date. Thanks!!! Now I have to get the guts to try this one out.

One question: I would assume that the ball layout instructions is for a symmetrical weight block. I think I've heard that there are some rules on use with asymmetrical balls. True?

[Stampy79]

I am ordering a ball tomorrow to drill one, I may not use it much , but I will have it

[BubbaRay]

Great explanation.... best I've seen on RICO to date. Thanks!!! Now I have to get the guts to try this one out.

One question: I would assume that the ball layout instructions is for a symmetrical weight block. I think I've heard that there are some rules on use with asymmetrical balls. True?

In a bowling ball with a symmetrical core, this will create more asymmetry since the weight hole is drilled into the core 90 degrees from the PIN, or 6 ¾”. So, it will increase the dynamics of the reaction. In a bowling ball with an asymmetrical core, the PSA/MB is placed at a 45 degrees from the grip center. The more asymmetrical the core is, the less a weight hole will have an impact on the motion. But, when adding a weight hole, the amount of asymmetry will be increased. Thus, this will increase the overall reaction of the ball.

[BubbaRay]

I am ordering a ball tomorrow to drill one, I may not use it much , but I will have it


Stampy, you may find yourslf using it more than you think if you throw on heavy and carry down conditions.

[slap]

I had my Toxic plugged and re-drilled with a Rico drill and so far I'm impressed.

[Shifter]

THis sounds like a good layout for me to try. Lately the local alley is really laying some oil down...fairly heavy to about 40', lighter on the rails, but it burns up fast. I struggle as I have a pretty high ball speed, I get a good bit of hand into the ball...I'd rate myself not quite a cranker, but not too far from it. (powerstroker?)....

I have a hard time getting the ball to read the middle of the lane, everything I throw goes long. My best success is with the Anger (4.5 x 4.5 pin under ring ), which for tonight I hit with a 1000 abralon pad...we'll see how that goes.

What would be a good ball type to try this drilling on? Should I get another Anger?
My ring finger cut to cut is 4 7/16, PAP is 5 1/2 over 1/2 up.
So I'm looking for a 2-2.5" pin, 2.5-3oz top.

I need to do something, I'm averaging 206 now...but the slower speed bowlers are killing me. A turtle speed bowler shot 760 against me last week, and the week before a had a slower bowler shoot 727 against me.
I need the ball to read the lane sooner. I've despirately tried to slow down but it just kills my timing and accuracy. I usually get murdered the first 2 games then the 3rd game the rails really dry out and I can get the ball to break a bit sooner and score.

[BubbaRay]

Shifter what kind of equipment do you have now? You might want to try this driling on something you already have . The Anger , BWS, NMB'n , in the Hammer line will work well with this drill. This will work well if you have a high rev rate also. It will read the midlane earlier for you . I am drilling an Anger this weekend with the Rico. I will let everyone know how it worked out.

[Stampy79]

I would not use the NMB with this drilling due to the fact that the heart is NOT the MB ! Not sure how that ball will work

[Rowdy]

Shifter from your description a RICO drill should fit the bill. Just remember to get some practice time in after the redrill.

[Shifter]

Shifter what kind of equipment do you have now? You might want to try this driling on something you already have . The Anger , BWS, NMB'n , in the Hammer line will work well with this drill. This will work well if you have a high rev rate also. It will read the midlane earlier for you . I am drilling an Anger this weekend with the Rico. I will let everyone know how it worked out.

right now I have the Anger, which I hit with 1000 abralon and it helped. I shot 660 last night with it, but the shot for me is SO speed sensitive.
It sounds good, but it's very frustrating. There are probably 10-12 guys (in a 40 person scratch league) that are 185-190 bowlers with a softer speed and they're averaging 210. Meanwhile I'm a 203 average bowler averaging 206. LOL!
The softer speed guys just have a ton of room. All I need is to be a hair fast and I'm staring at a washout or 2,8-10

Guess in the grand scheme of things, I need to slow down. :) I'm guessing I'm 17.5-18mph. (I'm guessing here, it's been a long time since I was on lanes that clocked ball speed. I do remember being about 1 to 1.5 mph faster than the guys I bowled with...so I hope that sounds right)

In my bag I have:
Anger- now with 1000 grit
Doom- 4000 grit, no polish
Brunswick inferno, pin over bridge 800 grit but polished
Blue dot (spares)
also at home:
Raging inferno, label leverage (in reality, this ball is dead)
Visionary purple gargoyle (love this ball on light oil patterns)

Everything else I had, I donated to the bowling alley when I moved last summer.

BubbaRay, please let me know how the RICO/Anger works!!! I'm anxious to hear your results.

1 more thing I'd like to add:
I LOVE the anger. I'd really like to have 3 of these:

1 the way I have it now
1 RICO drilling
1 with a pin high drill and some polish. (don't know why, I just would like to see what it acts like polished!)

[Shifter]

Rowdy, thanks for the reply.

If I do it, it won't be a re-drill, it will be a new ball.

[Stampy79]

One thing I have learned about a house shot and I try to keep it all in perspective. 180 bowlers now average 200 on house shots and 200 avg bowlers now avg about 205. Of course there are some that go nuts on it and avg 230 but mostly they do not go up as much as 180 bowlers ! There is a good reason for this. The THS was intended to do just that for the 180 bowlers !!!!And thats a fact. I take great pride in avg 203 anywhere I go ! I love to watch guys go to the Nationals with their 220 avg and shoot 1600 ! Oops ! What happened boys ? Must have been a bad day huh ! Every Year ? I avg 203 here , the USBC tourney and in the ABT's. SO at least I know what I avg. Most touring pros and regional players hate THS, because they cant score on them ! AT least as high as most think they should

[agroves]

I've RICO'd a couple of balls. The first was a blueberry buzzsaw. At 800 it was a beast. It rolled early and even and took that wet/dry house block out of play. Matter of fact, that was the last ball I shot 300 with...last Oct/Nov time frame.

The other ball I punched like that was a Smashtime Pearl. I didn't like this one as much. I don't think the cover was strong enough for use on heavier patterns. I've since gave it to a youth. He likes the reaction, but his ball speed is considerably slower than mine so the shell works for him.

Andrew

[Cobberz]

i really want to get a ball drilled rico...i bowl mostly in leagues but i do venture to tournaments where i could use a ball like this it seems, where my normal house equipment works, but its more of me working very hard to find a shot, from what i understand this drill pattern will pick up an earlier roll and be more of a smooth arc? i still dont really understand PAP or how to measure it, or any of these technical terms, but im assuming my proshop guy will if i ask him because he bowls the NE regionals, my proshop guy has always asked me "what do you want this ball to do?" and i just say hook lol, this was all before i got on here and started reading everything all you "educated" bowlers write, so ill probably either get my radical or smokin re drilled rico, or id like to find something else hammer to do it with maybe another BWS? or maybe a Bite? let me know what you guys think

[Rowdy]

If they're not laying down a flood of oil this drill ain't for you. RICO balls read the lane early,so you have to have a ton of oil for the ball to work with. Personally,I'd drill a Bite with an angle drill and play from the outside in if that was the case. Better chance to score well with that plan than to rely on the pattern holding up long enough to get any benefit from a RICO ball.

[Cobberz]

but it would be be a good ball say for a pba experience or sport shot league, and where they do lay down heavy oil?

[jet619]

id just like to say its a total monster...... reads great then the finish is pin shattering.... threw it on the longer sport patterns and again a monster , i just cant say enough... thinking of trying a vibe or doom rico in the future

[Rowdy]

but it would be be a good ball say for a pba experience or sport shot league, and where they do lay down heavy oil?

If you're on an oil pattern that causes your ball to "hang",or go straight no matter what you do,then yes,a RICO ball would work on that lane at that time. Remember as the pattern breaks down and a drier line opens up you'll either need to move to keep the RICO ball working or switch back to your other gear and play in the "drier" line. Choices,choices.

[rotogrippro91]

yea so i know this is a hammer site but o well...the rico was invented my a brunswick staff member and so i decided to take my brunswick sidewinder the the pro shop he is currently drilling it with the rico pattern and i cant wait to try it....he has only drilled one b4 so he was willing to drill mine for free jus to get some experiance with it...u gotta love my pro shop owner

[rotogrippro91]

up date on the sidewinder with the rico drill.....it out hooks my roto cell which is drilled the most aggresive drill patter....i love this ball now

[VmsTopGun]

Here's one on an EV. Buddies July 7, Better View in photobucket

[Faball]

My pro shop used this layout for me on the first C300 Messenger (red/blue). Nothing special of a layout just common sense. Get the ball to roll early so it's smooth off the spot. Polished it can be used on medium and sanded used on heavy oil.

[Cobberz]

so outta these 3 balls, which would the RICO drilling be the most effective on? The BWS, Virtual Gravity or the Hyroad?...those are the next 3 im getting...and want to put this on one of the 3.

[Razr]

so outta these 3 balls, which would the RICO drilling be the most effective on? The BWS, Virtual Gravity or the Hyroad?...those are the next 3 im getting...and want to put this on one of the 3.

BWS hands down IMO.

[BubbaRay]

BWS but the Rico works well on alot of equipment.

[Cobberz]

and leave the cover at OOB to start?

[Thepainscoming]

no one can tell u cuz it works on every ball.

[sanit]

So,if I have my Black Widow Pearl drilled RICO,What pattern or lane condition that matches for my BWP?

[Thepainscoming]

sanit idk im not you, that all depends on your rev rate, and speed, and axis rotation and tilt. you have to figure that out.

[ashley1_scott]

When choosing a bowling ball, make an effort to obtain a ball with a pin distance (PIN to CG) that is close to half the distance of the ring finger span

I am having a blonde day, half the distance of your ring finger span.
what are you measuring, the distance between your ring finger to your thumb hole or the center of your grip.
my distance is edge to edge 3.3/4"
do i need to add the extra bit to the center of each hole
in which case it is about 5".
so am i looking for a ball with PIN to CG of 2.1/2"

[bluerrpilot]

Your measuring your span from edge to edge. But in all honesty a 2-3" pin will work just fine

[ashley1_scott]

Your measuring your span from edge to edge. But in all honesty a 2-3" pin will work just fine

Thanks Blue, only now have to choose a ball to do it to. i was thinking of doing it to (Dare i say it on here :D ) Brunswick CopperHead or SideWinder

[bluerrpilot]

I think that layout works best on medium to slightly weaker covers. I would say swarm or smash zone would work better.

[samltk1977]

Re did the holes for BWV. Decided to try Rico's for it as the pin/cg/mb placement are not suitable for anything else. (was drilled strong but I din like the reaction).

It's amazing to see how the ball react!! easy to roll and boy, did it carry!! attached are the pics. same as wat was posted. rolled 12 games with it and a avg of 189 with hi game of 232. nice!!

[Thepainscoming]

hey sam, jw who told you you coudln't do anything else with that ball?

[bluerrpilot]

Re did the holes for BWV. Decided to try Rico's for it as the pin/cg/mb placement are not suitable for anything else. (was drilled strong but I din like the reaction).

It's amazing to see how the ball react!! easy to roll and boy, did it carry!! attached are the pics. same as wat was posted. rolled 12 games with it and a avg of 189 with hi game of 232. nice!!


The X-hole should be on the MB.

Generally moving the x-hole would be vertically to move the bowtie. Moving it up the drilling angle line weakens it.

If the person that drilled this for you is the same person that said it is not suitable for any other drilling....I would find someone else to drill your stuff.

[samltk1977]

The X-hole should be on the MB.

Generally moving the x-hole would be vertically to move the bowtie. Moving it up the drilling angle line weakens it.

If the person that drilled this for you is the same person that said it is not suitable for any other drilling....I would find someone else to drill your stuff.

According to him, he's got concerns about the x-hole getting into my track if the ball flares too much. I won't blame him there, as I think I am the first in his shop that requests this layout.

It looks weak when I roll 10,10. But was quite pleaseantly surprised when it hits as the carry is very good.

Also this is the first time I am try this layout. So U mean I should re-do the x-hole? Or should I jus dull the ball abit? now its @ 4000 grit polished

[bluerrpilot]

The ball will not flare over the hole because its more than likely flaring the opposite way that it normally would(away from the thumb).

Changing the surface would depend on the conditions that you are using it on at the time.

[samltk1977]

The ball will not flare over the hole because its more than likely flaring the opposite way that it normally would(away from the thumb).

Changing the surface would depend on the conditions that you are using it on at the time.

So the answer is yes? I should redo the x-hole? coz if so I can get it for free :p

[bluerrpilot]

Just leave it alone. If the ball is working good then why change it? I was just pointing something out to try to educate