Is this or should this be allowed??

[Aslan]

I bowled leagues Friday and after getting beat the first game (we always seem to lose the first game for some reason); our team mother/captain/leader came over and was saying that they (the other team) actually broke the rules because they bowled (practiced) on those lanes right before the league started.

Now, I've practiced before leagues before…and they've never put me on the lanes that we eventually bowl on because to be honest, they need to oil them and don't want people bowling on them when they're trying to oil them and get them ready for leagues. So all I can think is that the other team saw which lanes they were bowling on and requested that they bowl on those lanes.

So is this a common rule? I had never heard of it. I assume that team also didn't know.

And we ended up beating them the following 2 games and won 3 out of 4 points…so I guess if they did try to cheat it didn't really work very well. :cool:

[tccstudent]

I am not aware of that being illegal. It may be unethical. I have seen this done before. My bowling alleys won't allow this.

[vdubtx]

Unless stated in your leagues rules that it's not allowed, nothing against doing it.

[bowl1820]

I bowled leagues Friday and after getting beat the first game (we always seem to lose the first game for some reason); our team mother/captain/leader came over and was saying that they (the other team) actually broke the rules because they bowled (practiced) on those lanes right before the league started.

So is this a common rule? I had never heard of it. I assume that team also didn't know.
:

This would all depend on just what your league rules say (every team should have gotten a copy of the rules). It's a common rule a lot places.

1-If the league doesn't have a rule about bowling on the lanes you bowl on that night, you can bowl on them or any other lanes.

2-A lot of leagues have a rule that say you can't bowl on the lanes you bowl on that night a hour before the league. In that case you could bowl on them , but have to quit a hour before league starts or you can bowl on another lanes and not worry about it.

3-If a league has a rule that says you can't bowl on the lanes you bowl on that night at all. In that case you can't bowl on them , but you can bowl on another pair of lanes.

4-Now A lot of houses won't let you open bowl on the lanes once they are dressed for the league.

Now most of these are league rules and don't apply to non league bowlers.

It all depends on what your league rules state (as a side note a lot of leagues that do have it in the rules, forget to include a penalty)

Bowling on "your" pair of lanes for the most part doesn't offer any particular advantage.

If they oil after you practiced the shot has changed.

After everyone has warmed up on the pair that's like a whole game bowled, the shots changed.

[Aslan]

I checked our league rules and I didn't see anything about it.

And I didn't think anything of it because like Bowl1820 eluded to; it seems like they'd have to stop bowling on the lanes in order for the center to oil them….and I don't think the center allows anyone to play on the lanes, once oiled, before league play.

[SouthpawTRK]

If it was any kind of rule, it would have to be a house rule and not a USBC violation. The midweek league I bowl in; we are the last squad to bowl; they do not oil the lanes prior to league. There is another league right before our league, however there is at least one person in our league that is in the league the bowls prior to us. So in theory he could bowl the same lanes in both leagues. It may not seem right, but I'm sure it happens at a lot of centers.

[Geneo2u]

our alley always lays new oil for us, any non-league bowlers go to the other end of the house, since our league does not take up the whole house. They will also leave a pair of lanes dividing the two.

[Mudpuppy]

I would think this would become a disadvantage through the course of the night causing the lanes to break down sooner. People are just plain dumb and will try anything.

[CaptainXeroid]

Back in the day, I bowled in a youth traveling scratch league. The league rule was that we were not allowed to open bowl at the house on the day league competition was taking place. A few teams tried to sidestep this rule by pre or post bowling their regular league sessions before traveling league began, but for the most part it was respected. I didn't see it as a big deal, because you still had to make the shots.

[mc_runner]

Our rules are that you just can't bowl on the lanes after they've been oiled up for league play. I think it'd be fine to open bowl on them before they're dressed though. Personally, I feel that it would throw me off if it was the same lanes, subconsciously I'd probably expect the reaction to be the same.