I kind of like the idea of making 200 a great score again.

My ideal condition would be 30' of oil and flat. If you throw it good, you are going to score.

Bowlers won't accept a tough condition because it will screw up their fun on league night. Scratch bowlers don't like it because their fragile ego's get bruised. The ABC won't do a thing about high scoring because they deny that the problem even exist! Last year some guy booked 246 in my association he must be really good!!!
Later, Bowlerdude

It would really make my day if my league centre decided on a lane condition and stuck to it, instead of confusing the hell out of me every three weeks by changing it. I feel sure that although AMF Australia say they stipulate the lane condition for their centres, it changes each time the lane guys change their shift!!!

There is a new league play called Sport Bowling. This is where very challenging oil patterns and shots are put out on the lanes delibertly to see how bowlers step up to this challenge.

Other then looking for this type of league, you can find a travel league that moves from house to house in a broad area each month. Or you can join a league in a different house known to have a "difficult" shot.

Once you are at the level where you are looking for this type of challenge, I think you stop asking these types of questions. I'm still adjusting to the lane conditions of the two houses I bowl in. I find them both challenging enough.

Erin V

My ideal lane condition is one where all the lane equipment works and where there are no problems. :rolleyes:

haveing bowled in both traveling leagues & now in a "difficult" shot league.....we actually change the shot each round....I would have to stick with the difficult shot over the travel league.....

....while going from house to house will definately improve your game and give you a truer average then bowling on the same house shot each week, you are still on another "house shot"....just not your own. The challange of having a very small margin of error is what makes the sport condition a real test of ability.....

ours is currently 37', buffed to 38'.....flat across the lane.....we only have ONE person averaging 200 (201).....and he's one of th etop regional players in our area....

I'm very thankful that the league Mario is bowling is NOT an official Sports Condition league, given the news that they will "adjust" averages from the test leagues approximately 20 pins higher.

I think ALL sanctioned leagues should move toward the more difficult shots, and those who want to score on the adult version of bumpers should pay a reduced sanction fee and NOT be eligible for awards--except maybe the ones that come from the gumball machines.

I disagree that ALL leagues should be required to use the same "tough" condition. I DO agree that awards should definitely be linked to the condition being bowled on. The ABC/WIBC has tried and is trying tiered membership and I think this is a step in the right direction. I do believe that the tiers need to be more defined with bigger differences in cost and awards. The ABC/WIBC CANNOT control and dictate everything when it comes to lane conditions, they and US the bowlers have to rely on the PROPRIETORS to do what's right. Unfortunately this isn't always the case. But that's where I think all bowlers can help by putting pressure on proprietors to clean up their centers and to help put some integrity back into the game for those wanting the "sport" condition but leaving room for those that are interested in the "recreational" side of the game. Until we learn to coexist, both sides will continue to suffer.
Gary Sparks
Asst. Professor Bowling Industry Management
Vincennes University

Gary,
I couldn't disagree with you more, the side that loses is BOWLING as long as the ABC allows super soft totaly walled up lane conditions everyone suffers! Bowling has been dying a slow death ever since the BPAA put a gun to the ABC's head and demanded what was then called LDD (Limited Distance Dressing). Scores have progressively increased and the integrity of this once great sport has suffered irreparable damage that is unless the ABC decides to show some courage and take some steps to fix it!

Just my two cents worth.

Later, Richard

[ 02-25-2001: Message edited by: Bowlerdude ]

Bowlerdude, I don't disagree that the ABC buckled under to pressure from the proprietors at the time, but that just reinforces my opinion that its the PROPRIETORS, and I don't mean the BPAA, that are going to make this change. The ABC doesn't say you HAVE to put out an easy condition, its just what most of the proprietors do under the disguise of saying they are going to lose their bowlers if they don't, and that is an opinion I STRONGLY disagree with. Too many proprietors take the easy road to lane conditioning and maintenance and no mandate or rule from ABC or whoever is going to change that right now. They have shown this over and over again through the years. Until the bowlers step up and start speaking up it will continue.

Gary,
The ABC sanctions most bowling centers and those centers must comply with the guide lines that the ABC sets forth on lane conditions. Unfortunatly those rules regarding lane conditions make it easy for bowling proprietors to wall up their lanes, ie the three unit rule. There is no rule regarding how much oil can be applied to the center of the lane. As it stands now bowling centers are certified once a year and anything that happens to the lanes after they are inspected is ok. There is no post inspection for honor scores! If bowling center propietors had to comply to more demanding lane patterns they would be more likely to comply if they risked losing their sanctioning. This is the way it used to be admittedly there were some problems then but if you bowled an honor score chances were that you earned it!
Later,Richard

Inspections are still required if there is not one on file within a 30 day period prior to the honor score being shot. The inspector has another 30 days to do the inspection which is different from the old days when it had to be done that night or the next day prior to any bowling on the lane. The big problem with lane inspections and certifications in general is the lack of trained personnel to perform the job. Most associations dont have anyone who has been actually trained and certified to do these. Just doing inspections doesnt solve the problem and I still go back to my other point that there is nothing preventing proprietors from putting MORE than 3 units on the outside boards now. Just because ABC says that's the "minimum" doesnt mean a center that wants to use more outside for a more challenging condition cant do so.

Just a little FYI here about the rule on oiling. The rule states:

a. If dressing is used, it shall meet WIBC/ABC specifications and must comply with the following:

Dressing must be distributed from edgeboard to edgeboard for the entire predetermined distance down the lane (for example, and without limiting the distance 35-40 feet from the foul line). Following any application of dressing, in the dressed portion of the lane there shall be a minimum of three (3) units of dressing at all points on the lane surface.

So, a legal shot of less then 3 units is possible (and would be unfortunate, too). In addition, a legal shot could also be 3 units across for 10 feet down the lane. Notice how the ABC uses the words "if" and "predetermined".

[ 02-28-2001: Message edited by: Skipper - The Rocket ]