How to Adjust to Bowling Lane Patterns

Nothing is more satisfying for a bowler than to find his line, execute a perfect delivery, watch the ball glide into the pocket and scramble all 10 pins. On the other hand, nothing is more frustrating than to execute the same perfect delivery on the same line and miss the pocket, leaving a tough spare. "What did I do wrong?" you may wonder. The difference in results likely has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the pattern that is used to apply oil to the lanes. Knowledge of the process of lane conditioning and an understanding of your game will help you make adjustments when you encounter lane oil patterns that you are not accustomed to.

Instructions

  1. Lane Conditioning Process

    • 1

      Understand the history of bowling-lane conditioning. At one time, when most bowling lanes were made of wood, the purpose of lane oil was to protect the wood from damage by the friction and heat produced when a spinning, hard, rubber ball impacted the lane. Now that many lanes are made from synthetic materials and ball compositions have changed, the purpose of lane conditioning has evolved into a way to influence the way the lanes affect shots. Some oil patterns are made to help casual bowlers, while others are made to make conditions more difficult during high-level competition. Bowling centers use machines that travel down the lane and deposit oil based on the pattern the operator programs into the machine.

    • 2

      Talk with the manager of your bowling center and ask what type of pattern he uses to apply lane oil. Most centers that cater to primarily recreational or casual bowlers use what is called a house pattern, or block pattern, which concentrates more oil on the middle boards, between the second and eighth arrows, and leaves the outside boards on each side with little or no oil. This is to increase friction between the ball and the drier boards, causing the ball to "grab" the boards and move toward the middle of the lane. This means that many less-than-perfectly executed shots will still get funneled toward the pocket, resulting in higher scores, happier bowlers and more repeat business for the bowling center.

      The other popular pattern used is a Christmas tree pattern, which deposits oil from gutter to gutter but increases the amount of oil incrementally every five boards as you move to the middle of the lane, which also gets oil farther down the lane.

    • 3

      Understand there are other factors that impact lane oil conditions. At most bowling centers, the lanes in the middle of the center will get more play from open bowling during the day than will the lanes at the ends of the center. More play means oil will get carried by the balls farther down the lane than when the day started, potentially impacting the line you have to play. Also, since casual bowlers tend to play a direct line instead of a hook, the middle portion of the line might get drier, also affecting play.

    Understand Your Game

    • 4

      Practice regularly so that you can repeat your delivery consistently. Making adjustments to your line for different oil patterns will be difficult without a consistent delivery. When rolling the ball, don't target the pocket; target a point on the lane where you can roll the ball and have it break into the pocket. Note how many boards your shot normally breaks. For instance, if your normal target is the second arrow (board 10) and that ball usually winds up in the pocket (about board 17 or 18), then your shots normally break about seven or eight boards. Observe and note what your perfect delivery and line is, including your target and position on the approach.

    • 5

      Choose a ball that you can use on a variety of lane conditions. Ask the pro shop manager for advice on ball selection. Some balls have a greater tendency to hook; others have a tendency to go straighter. Unless you are serious enough about your game to carry two balls -- one that hooks for your first ball and another than goes straighter to pick up spares -- a ball with medium hook potential probably will help you be more consistent on a variety of oil patterns.

    • 6

      Wipe your ball with a towel after every shot. Residual oil on your ball eventually will cause it to react differently during the course of play. Wiping the ball after each shot not only will make your ball react more consistently, but it is also a courtesy to other bowlers because less oil is being carried down the lane.

    Adjusting to Different Oil Patterns

    • 7

      Experiment during the practice period to find out how the lanes are conditioned. If your regular line and shot finds the pocket, great! But if it comes in high or low, you'll need to change your line, either by adjusting your target or changing your position on the approach. In some cases, you might have to do both.

    • 8

      Adjust your target. For example, if you find your shots are coming in three boards lower (to the right for a right-handed bowler) than normal, pick a target three boards to the right. Make note of how the adjusted target affects your results.

    • 9

      Adjust your position on the approach if changing your target doesn't work. Aim for your regular target but move to the right or left on the approach to change the line your ball travels. Make small adjustments and make note of how your shot is affected.

    • 10

      Fine-tune your delivery by continuing to experiment with targets and approach positions until you find the combination that works on the lanes you are playing. If you are playing in a league and are alternating lanes, be aware that the two lanes may not be playing the same and that you might have to make adjustments from one frame to the next.