Not sure if anyone else has had similar problems, but it's getting to be very challenging! I bowl at an AMF for my Saturday night league, and everyone on the league seems to be having the same complaint; the oil breaks down shortly after practice. The alley has told us that the machine is working correctly, though I'm beginning to wonder what kind of oil they're using.

With my goals towards bowling, I am doing my best to correct the lane issues and not let them throw off my mental game. So far it has been a lot better over the last couple of weeks. Though there is lots of frustration from both teams on every lane.

So I guess my question is, how do you guys adjust to lane breakdown? I typically start around the 20 board and my target arrow is 12-10 board. This last weekend I moved to the 25 board and targeted the 16-15 board. I had a bit more success, though I wasn't able to keep my consistency up in the last game. Would you guys resort to throwing your spare ball if there just doesn't seem to be oil out there? Also I'm starting to think that they're behind on pen replacement as well. I've seen TONS of pocket 7-10 splits. I even had one myself two weeks ago...

It doesn't sound to me like 5 boards to move is that unusual. But you have to learn how to anticipate it. If it keeps happening every week, note when it does. Then next week you can anticipate the break down and move ahead of it.

The 7, 10s can be because the ball is not generating enough entry angle or is rolling out due to too much coverstock.

When the lanes break down and you start seeing the 7, 10s, have you tried a weaker ball and moving back right?

But when I start seeing the 4 pin stand or go down late I start anticipating moving. Then I watch my teammates to see if they too are starting to go high.

Erin

The 7-10 split happened for me at my very last shot of the night in the 10th. It did roll a bit, but seemed very square in the pocket. Obviously it must not have been, being I saw both the 4 and the 6 pens kick out to the gutter instead of slide back. I haven't tried the adjustment though, I'm guessing I could take some revs off the ball and try to let it roll instead. (Is that what you mean?)

My Saturn is my only change-up for medium/light oil. I don't really have anything for dry conditions. I'm just happy to be bowling on 29-30 this week, those are usually my better lanes at this house.

My best line seems to be start at the 17 board, putting by ball out to the 7 board, and have the reaction occur out near the 1 board. Though it gets mighty scary trying to do that consistently!

i bowl at nightingale lanes (flint,mi.)on thurdays and if i only move 5 boards in 3 games i would be heaven. its common to move at lease 10 boards.

NO, what I mean is rolling out as in lost so much energy going down the lane (making to travel too far or hook too much) for the coverstock the ball has. Or your ball speed is too slow for the same situation. The ball burns up energy and doesn't have enough at the end to impact the pins.

Erin

These lanes I am bowling in must be in an economic crunch because they are saving oil and not using it on the lanes. I have been told that they don't strip the lanes first either. The lanes are just horrible by the third game.

I start standing on 16 board and hitting the 8 board. At the end tonight, I was 2 dots left of center and rolling our to 5. I also changed balls to a less aggressive one, and reduced my revs, and came straight out of the ball. Nothing was working for me, or for that matter, anyone else on our pair.

It happens that way sometimes. It's a pain.

Ahh I see what you mean, and I must say that it certainly didn't flop in the pocket (it hit with a nice flush pin smashing explosion). I've definitely had a few flop on me, usually because I didn't stay behind the ball. My coach has been trying to get me to make more subtle adjustments instead of moving board after board, just to find a decent line. He has taught me a lot of hand positions to do before I start moving boards. Some help make the ball to go longer, some help to build revs and more hook. Some just flatten it out completely, etc... And he definitely likes me playing a further inside line, since that is usually where you'll find oil. Though he does plan to teach me different target zones, and how to play the different areas of the lane.

Personally I think it is irresponsible of a coach to teach someone at your level a variety of hand positions. Simply due to the fact that you don't have one down pat in your muscle memory yet. How can you correctly and consistently change what you don't have yet established?

Learning how to get lined up better and faster is not really up to changing hand positions, IMO. It is difficult to learn and if you don't know how to do it yourself, even harder to teach. Because I know the Bronze level course did not ever touch on lane play at all or spare shooting for that matter. Staying lined up is another issue. Learning when and how to watch your ball at the pins so that you can judge what ball might be best in that condition is also tough to learn. I would not expect someone at your level to know these things yet.

Erin

I would agree with Erin. It's not a good idea to keep changing releases when you're at where you are. Even at around a 200 average, it would still be difficult to manage. Heck, even at 220 or higher, it's not something that people do easily.

I'd say stick to one release.

I tired that before About year ago or so when i first came back after a 10 year lay off. Trying to learn multiply release. Boy did it mess my game up - i struggled. I did it because i was trying to shoot both my strike and spare ball with the same ball. But i learned i wasnt consistant and needed to learn one release and stregth that and work on being consitant with that.