Its the Center's perogative. I haven't seen too many league contracts that specify that pins be there for practice. But if all leagues and all bowlers are put under the same constrictions I guess you'd have to live with it. I don't see it as being as big a problem as lack of lane machine maintenance or consistent oiling. My center decided to change oil brand mid season. Huge difference in the shot. Nothing we can do about it. Our center has two oiling machines. We usually get the machine that puts out a worse shot because its the cordless machine. But you never know, you might get the corded machine some day. I guess since I've seen it before, its not that big a deal to me.

Erin

When I was in college, we used to throw shadow balls a lot. We had leather pins that you could hang from the rack if you had a specific pin you wanted to work on. During team practice, we would have 7s and 10s hanging and practice those for an hour. Great way to practice.

They did that to us but denied changing the oil pattern. It was just after mid season, it isn't necessarily that they changed it, but they denied changing it that bothered me more. I can adjust easily enough, but I don't like the dishonesty.

They really might not have changed it. They could have replaced parts in the oiler and it caused the condition to change.

I agree with Lefty. Just simply cleaning out the pump or resevour will change how the shot lays down. Also replacing the strippnig pad is another replacement that really affects how the same shot plays.

I think this is how it should be everywhere especially in tournies

I guess my real problem is the lack of notice. They didn't tell anyone until we were on the approaches looking at the desk and asking what was up. Also it tougher to shoot corners without the pins but I don't mind as long as we all have the same conditions.

nope, they did change it, the mechanic admitted it, the GM of the lanes wouldn't admit to it though. It was not a house shot. We found out they had a sport league and opted not to strip.

Hello,

I do understand and relate to having your warm-up/practice period changed from what you're accustomed to. When your practice pattern is altered, it can affect the way you start the first few frames in a night.

When I first started bowling tenpins, about 30 years ago, it was the policy of the bowling alley to use 'shadow bowl' for the warm-up period, where no pins were set up during practice. Since I was introduced to tenpin leagues in this way, I never really noticed in the years that followed whether pins were used during the warm-up period. The last tenpin league I bowled in, was back in around 1996, but I honestly don't remember if pins were used, although I think pins were used. I now bowl duckpins, and it's pretty common for these centers to not set up pins during the warm-up period.

One good thing about bowling with no pins is that it allows you to practice your corner pin spares a little better. When there's a full rack of pins standing, there's always the temptation to shoot for a pocket.

Roddo4

At my center we use pins during practice but when I have an off shot I will shadow bowl to find a correct line to the pocket, etc.