180, as in anything, there are good ways to do something, and there are..... the other ways. Each league will be set up differently, and, I guess, it depends on how the lane wants to do it.

The USBC does have a recommended procedure. But, there is nothing mandatory in explanation or the how to side.

My first PBA session had the local Pro and the House Laneman in attendance each night. The Laneman gave each of us an oil pattern chart, and explained it fully. The local Pro talked with us as to how best to play the lane and what various Pros do on each patter. Other leagues in my area actually have Pros running the PBAX league. A couple of them bowl, but the successful ones actually had the Pros walking the lanes where you could ask questions, get help reading the lanes, and get suggestions. They were also available afterwards for personal assistance.

The leagues run with a Pro in attendance were the most successful ones, and have grown in participation. Many, who just threw bowlers on the lanes and said GO, have failed.

It is advisable that any one you partake in have some instruction with them. That way you benefit the most on the condition and with a watchful eye looking over you. Remember, this is to be a learning experience for you. You will learn faster with instruction, rather than by trial and error.

There is a oil graph that they provide and that the only information that will provide you how to attack the lanes. But every bowler is different.

Short oil, you play outside part of the lane. Heavy oil, you play inside apart of the lane.

There is a link on oil graph reading somewhere on the net but I think BTM cover it too not too long ago.

But if you worked with a oil machine or watch one. You can get an idea where the oiling and the bluffing is happening if the sounds are noticeable.

bowl.com also has info on the patterns

http://www.bowl.com/sportbowling/pbaExperience_indexBowlers.aspx

They also have a good feature article right now on why the patterns play different at different centers.
http://www.bowl.com/sportbowling/articleView.aspx?i=14798&f=12

I'm beginning to think that you can have too much information.

Just get up there and bowl!

Watch your ball reaction and adjust from there. This used to be one of the skills of the game.

Whatever next. Now it's internet telling you how to attack the lanes!

What happens if you try the way intenet says that you're supposed to and it doesn't work?

I agree. Go out and read the lanes. Half the time the internet tells you how to take on the lanes, but it never really works, at least not for me. There are simply too many assumptions and variables to consider and it's easier to read the lanes in practice and as they transition. And if you can't read lanes then a PBA league might not be for you because the patterns transition fast, again at least for me. However, if you want to develop the skill then I really can't think of a better pplace to do it.

I appreciate all of the advise.. I am really looking forward to giving this a shot. Our league starts this coming Monday and I have had the opportunity to practice on all of the shots. I was doing really well on the shorter patterns. I started struggling on the scorpion and the shark. It took 4 games to find a decent line on the shark. But once I found a good line I rolled a high game of 191. My coach was watching me bowl on these patterns and he was very optimistic. He told me that it seems that I actually bowl better on the sport shot. He seems to think it is because I concentrate more on repeating shots. It also helps that I have been practicing my spares.

He did make the suggestion that I buy a stronger ball for the longer patterns. So I followed his suggestion and purchased an Ebonite NVD.. I just hope he wasn't just trying to make a sale and duped me over. I am very gullible when someone that is mentoring me makes a suggestion. I tend to do what they say.

The NVD should indeed help you out on the longer patterns. I don't think he duped you.