I bowl on synthetic lanes mainly and I just missed out on the transition from wood to syn where I typically bowl. However, I have no information to give about nationals because I've never been to them lol. Interestingly enough, this topic has evoked a question of my own regarding wood or synthetic. Do you prefer to bowl with wood or synthetic pins? Personally I prefer the wood pins. They not only sound much cooler when you hit them but they seem to have better pin action and carry. The synthetic pins I bowl with typically seem to just shoot straight back into the machine. A couple nights ago my lane mechanic friend took me back behind the scenes and seeing how everything works back there I definitely learned a new respect for wooden pins. Also learned to hate some of the machines and why one of my balls got a gouge in it from a stray pin in the wheel in the back.

But what does everyone else think, wood pins or synthetic?

Bowled on Twister Pins (synthetic) once a bunch of years ago around when they first came out. Sound kind of bothered me a bit, carry was OK. I've heard people comment that the Twisters carry better on light hits but can be a little strange on better hits, but I have not had the chance to experience that.

Now, what I would have been really curious to bowl with, and I don't know exactly when they were manufactured or used, would be the Magna-Pin. It was the first ever ABC approved synthetic pin. Don't know if anyone here knows what I am talking about, but it was a plastic coated metal pin that was filled with some sort of filler material to bring it up to regulation weight and also give it the correct balance. That must have been real interesting. If anyone on here had ever bowled on them, I'd be real curious to hear your input.

Mark

Generally speaking, wood lanes have a higher degree of friction than synthetics. For synthetics, in order from high to low friction are AMF HPL, Brunswick Pro Anvilane, then DBQ.

For USBC Open, its not so much there is a ton more oil, its just distributed differently on the lane. Like others have said, its best to get into a PBAX league and learn how to manage your break point.

Also take advantage of the sport challenge and team practice sessions at the tournament while you are there. They will help you get a feeling for things before you go into the main event.

I want to say that when I read the lane graph for the Open in NM, it had almost double the units of oil in the middle than when it was in Reno. I think that it was 90 units. I just check and the graph isn't on bowl.com anymore.

I personally like wood.

No preference. I stink either way.

2007 USBC Open was 40 feet, 23.25 mL of oil used with a ratio of 1:4.75.

2008 USBC Open was 40 feet, 24 mL of oil used with a ratio of 1:3.

2007 has slightly more oil in the middle and slightly less outside. 2008 had a little less in the middle and slightly more outside. This is consistent with the ratio change to go to a 3:1 sport pattern.

Thanks. I guess I was given fault info. The pattern for this year is not released yet.

http://www.bowl.com/tournaments/usbcopen/National/laneconditions.aspx

The 6 houses nearest me are all wood. Arnold Bowl, Imperial Bowl, Show-Me Lanes, Concord Bowl, Crestwood Bowl and Quonset Lanes.

I bowled in a tourney at Imperial Bowl last summer. Fun place.