How to Bowl on Dry or Oily Lanes

Lane conditions will vary each time that you bowl. It will either be oily or dry. If the lane is dry, your ball will hook to the left if you are right-handed, and to the right if you are left-handed. On oily lanes, your ball will miss to the right if you are right-handed, and to the left if you are left-handed.

Instructions

    • 1

      Throw a practice ball before beginning your first game of bowling and watch where the ball goes to determine the lane condition.

    • 2

      Change balls if you own your own balls and have more than one. House balls are plastic. Plastic balls will skid on oily lanes. It is best to use a Reactive Resin ball when bowling on oily lanes. Reactive balls will grip the oily lane better and will not hook as much. Plastic balls are the best choice when the lane is dry.

    • 3

      Adjust your start position to accommodate the lane conditions if you do not have more than 1 bowling ball to choose from.

    • 4

      Move your start position to the right if you are right-handed and are bowling on an oily lane. Move your start position to the left if you are left-handed and the lane is oily.

    • 5

      Step to the left for your start position if you are right-handed and are bowling on a dry lane. Adjust your start position to the right if you are left-handed and the lane is dry.