I use the full diameter of the ball so I can get out to about 6 feet using 1/4 sticks of pvc. I have the boys set up out in the barn working on it now. The circumference of the balls is 28" so I made some masking tape templates with 7 holes on 4 inch centers. Just stick it to the ball , turn it 90 degrees, put on the 3 other templates and you're ready for the drill press. Pre-drill with a 1/4" at about 2200 rpms then finish with a 13/16" drill at about 850 rpms to 1 inch deep. I'll have to see if the finished holes are too tight with the 13/16" bit but that was as close as I could come. I think when you do it this way you'll wind up with 26 "branches".
Chip
