Here is the lane condition that I am getting mad at bowling with. It's tough but it got to be the weirdest condition I ever played. Yes, it a reversed rolls but interesting enough, I think it a reverse crown roll or so on.

The center got a new machine after replacing the 20+ years old machine that was far from working good last year. It’s the newest AMF oil/stripper machine, which is the first of it kind in Canada. Anyway, I was told by the manager that AMF provided a ‘lack there of’ of a manual to set up the oil pattern. So AMF Technicians where called in to program it and they didn’t know how operate it. Duh! Hehe.

Anyway

I know the oil pattern that the manager trying to use as a fair condition but it is no where near the condition of the year before was.

It’s a crown pattern that goes 30 feet down with 10 feet buff. The problem is as agreed with a lot of high revs bowlers and some of the top bowlers in the house are the following.

- First game is like playing on a pair of fresh lane but after the 3rd frame. You can feel that you’re playing the 3rd game. The lanes are broken down

- You can play the same line for 2 frames then your ball either goes out of bound or goes off Track to the Brooklyn side.

- We have gone to less aggressive balls including house balls such as old Hammer, etc.. Some bowlers have thrown the ball over the head to get a better shot but I have seen a lot of weak hits but I don’t complain or make it my concerns. I can’t play that way that those in the know want to do it.. Not worth killing my arm or throwing myself off balance.

- Suggestion was to use the 4th and 5th arrow. It can be helpful midway to the second game.

So, I have taken the wildest guess that I’m playing a short reverse crown roll condition with 30 feet of really dry wood and 30 feet of thin oil in the middle, both first 5 boards are out of bounds. Oh yeah, the lanes are wood so it’s normal for the oil to absorb the oil.

I have read the other post regarding reverse rolls condition. I’ll try those ideas but no guarantee that I’ll get them to work.

Input would be nice.

Richie

Sounds to me that the type of oil may not be sturdy enough to hold up long. But honestly, it sounds perfectly normal to me considering you are playing in an old wood house with feathered heads. When was the last time they cut and recoated the lanes?

You have to get that ball through the heads. You can do this by going to more skidding equipment. Lofting as you've seen. Generating more side roll on the ball will also assist in clearning the heads. Targeting further down the lane, will help clear the heads.

We have a little 10 lane house in Gilroy CA. Its very homey, small town and everyone knows everyone. But up until last year, they had the driest old feathered out heads you've ever seen. Despite good lane maintenance the day came when the wood lanes had to go. I've moved away, but from what I understand there's now a house full of bowlers that are struggling with flooded heads on synthetics. They'll work it out, but I'm hoping I can get over there maybe this weekend and give the lanes a shot.

Erin