Are your league's lane conditions too easy?

[v33dubfox]

Hi!

I am posting this message after an hard weekend in a tournament. This weekend was one of the biggest tournament in Quebec province, with 72 teams of 4 players from all around the province, some from Ontario, some from New York and some from New Brunswick. I had a really hard time reading the lanes because the oil pattern is different from the usual house shot in leagues. We were 5 teams from the same house and none of them went in final round (18 teams in final round). Everyone scored around 20-30 pins below his average. Personnally, I have a 207 average, playing 6 games per week. I scored around 175 average during the weekend. So, my question is, is the oil pattern of the tournament too hard, or is the house shot too easy?

Thanks for your opinion!

[RobLV1]

House shots are designed to keep bowlers coming back. How do they do that? Let them score so high that they think they're good, regardless of their true ability. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you realize that a high league average on a house shot doesn't make you a top level bowler. It makes you a top level house bowler, and there's a huge difference.

[Wigman]

Tournament patterns have very little "mistake" areas, whereas most Typical House patterns have a big "mistake" area where it recovers into a Brooklyn or a Fishing Strike.

Tournaments aren't supposed to be easy, it forces you to read, make adjustments on where you set and approach and deliver. You have to have a different mindset from what you have in league bowling. That was my mistake goin' into my first tournament (it had a very short pattern, my ball would start hooking somewhere past 35 feet) had to shell out some cash to be able to a 2nd squad that made the cut.

Also tournament bowling also means a lot of bowlers eating up the lanes, which forces constant adjustments, it can play hell on your mental game.

Whenever i go to a tournament, during warm up, i throw a couple or so errant shots to find where it'll hook, i watch my opponents on where they bowl, how they deliver it, take those in account of my necessary adjustments. Also i rid myself of any emotion, find my zen, visualize what happens 2 frames ahead, bowl with confidence and find a mark/area to "eye-f***" so you'll know your ball will be rolling thru said area.

Back to the original question. Do I think my house patterns are easy? Hard to say because my house changes the volume every 3 weeks or so, sometimes every week to throw us off. Its harder when im bowling on a pattern where the ball is traveling down the midlane, 1 board from the gutter, but I like the challenge.

[Aslan]

Don't know. Only bowled in one tournament and I think it was oiled THS.

I DO think my house is easier than other houses though. Currently they have wood lanes and you have a lot of guys in the low 200s throwing speed dominant with very weak equipment. Then when we sweep in Vegas, they all throw a hissy fit because suddenly these 207 average bowlers can't break 180. I remember turing in my score for the 2nd game (for sidepot) and it was an embarrasing 135. But then I saw the score of our house pro shop guy who I took lessons from and his score that game was a 134.

I also bowled in a short league at a different house last fall and my average was 30 pins lower. Why? Well, on wood lanes, with my old style...I had a miss area to the left of 2 boards...about the same as synthetics. BUT....to the right....I had a miss area of about 6 boards (versus 2 on synthetics).

I do think conditions are easier than they used to be. Statistics regarding scoring and 300 games are fairly clear on that. And virtually everyone that I talked to that went and bowled on sport patterns (like the USBC white pattern) have sid it's a humbling experience. But I also think it's a house familiarity thing. How many people bowl tournaments? 5% of bowlers? How many bowl at multiple houses? 10%? So not only are most bowlers afraid of tougher conditions but most bowlers are like that groundhog; poking their head out, seeing their shadow, and retreating back in. Just bowling at a different center scares them.

[noeymc]

some house shots can be tough ive seen a house shot take 10-15 pins off peoples avg on another note to easy

[ALazySavage]

This can vary based on a multitude of factors; Lane Surface, Oil Pattern used, Mechanic, who you are bowling with, etc., but typically I would say that the house shot it too easy. Other than the pattern itself, the familiarity with the house shot you bowl on versus the unknown of the tournament pattern is likely the biggest factor. With most THS (typical house shot) it is pretty safe to say that when you need to adjust you move left (for a right hander) and possibly move you target as well; with some tournament patterns the adjustments may be different - moving right to avoid the line that was just burned out or to get around potential carry down (something we really don't see that much anymore).

This different gets accelerated when you have a higher average and can take one frame since you become more dependent on carry. When you say you are dropping 20-30 pins think of it like this... in a typical day at league you may have a stretch of X X 9/ X = 69 + X while at the tournament you may go X 8/ 9/ X = 59 + X; the single lost strike which we could attribute to not making the proper adjustment because of not being familiar with the shot or simply the shot is harder costs you 10 pins. This doesn't assume that you potentially throw a split because of a shot jumping or skidding and leaving a 2-8-10; X 9/ 72 X = 46 + X....Assuming you bowl regularly after that point in the game, the single split that is likely caused by a late or poor adjustment is your 23 pins lost for the game.

[circlecity]

I will say they are too easy when I'm averaging 250. :)

[vdubtx]

some house shots can be tough ive seen a house shot take 10-15 pins off peoples avg on another note to easy

Yup. For me it is the lighter conditions that are my struggles. On Tuesday nights in house that is lighter volume, I average 220. Thursday night where there is more volume, I average 231. For many bowlers the opposite happens between these 2 houses.

[Aslan]

Yup. For me it is the lighter conditions that are my struggles. On Tuesday nights in house that is lighter volume, I average 220. Thursday night where there is more volume, I average 231. For many bowlers the opposite happens between these 2 houses.

It's all what you're used to and the equipment you have. There's always this one guy *%&*ing up a storm about how he wants to light the wood lanes on fire because he can't keep his ball right of the headpin. So while many of the bowlers that are speed dominant with weaker equipment can't bowl more than a 175 when we sweep in Vegas...this guy won like $450 because suddenly he was in a house where his slower speed, stronger equipment combination worked.

Thats what really motivated me to change my game. I want to be good on synthetics when they arrive this summer...and I want to do well in Vegas or at other tourneys. And chucking it 15ft at 21mph isn't going to get me there. Not with the equipment I have and my rev rate.

[tccstudent]

Yup. For me it is the lighter conditions that are my struggles. On Tuesday nights in house that is lighter volume, I average 220. Thursday night where there is more volume, I average 231. For many bowlers the opposite happens between these 2 houses.

I is it that Parick Henry said to the British during the Revolutionary Bowling Wars "Give Me Oil or Give Me Death"

[vdubtx]

And chucking it 15ft at 21mph isn't going to get me there. Not with the equipment I have and my rev rate.

The first step to recovery is admitting the problem. Congrats!! :cool:

[J Anderson]

I really don't know since my Monday league is a sport shot that changes every two or three weeks, and my Wednesday league is a second shift league that follows a league of 5 person teams with no oiling in between.

[Mike White]

I is it that Parick Henry said to the British during the Revolutionary Bowling Wars "Give Me Oil or Give Me Death"

If it were today, Pat would say "Give me hold area, or I am dead".

[v33dubfox]

Ok. I can understand that many bowlers would stop bowling if they make the oil conditions harder. In your house, do they organize weekly practice on different oil conditions so that you can get some practice on harder oil conditions and learn how to read the lane and how to understand different conditons?

[Mike White]

Ok. I can understand that many bowlers would stop bowling if they make the oil conditions harder. In your house, do they organize weekly practice on different oil conditions so that you can get some practice on harder oil conditions and learn how to read the lane and how to understand different conditons?

I'm wondering if the people who are accustomed to shooting a honor score every season will stop bowling because USBC will no longer provide them a ring.

Their other option is to switch to sport leagues where you get one ring, and additional diamonds for other 300 games.

The result might be bad for bowling (loss of bowlers) or good for bowling (bring back some integrity)

[Aslan]

I'm pissed that I finally get into bowling and they decide to take away the 11-in a row award. I mean, I don't have much of a shot at ever shooting 300…so 11-in-a-row would be a HUGE accomplishment for me. But nope...

[vdubtx]

Well, that's not the attitude to have. I shot 300 before I shot an 11 in a row. Yes, it does suck the changes the usbc has put into action, but I will still bowl. Leagues may not be sanctioned in future, but we'll see what happens. I don't bowl just for the awards, I bowl for the challenge and the comaradarie with my fellow bowlers. We have fun!

[Mike White]

I'm pissed that I finally get into bowling and they decide to take away the 11-in a row award. I mean, I don't have much of a shot at ever shooting 300…so 11-in-a-row would be a HUGE accomplishment for me. But nope...

Before you cry too much about the 11 in a row award, realize it's a fairly recent creation.
They used to have awards for 299, and 298 scores, but nothing for 297 and below.
The idea you could open the 1st frame, then strike out and get an honor score is silly.

[Mike White]

Well, that's not the attitude to have. I shot 300 before I shot an 11 in a row. Yes, it does suck the changes the usbc has put into action, but I will still bowl. Leagues may not be sanctioned in future, but we'll see what happens. I don't bowl just for the awards, I bowl for the challenge and the comaradarie with my fellow bowlers. We have fun!

Technically you had to have 11 in a row before you could shoot at #12.

My fear of houses full of unsanctioned leagues is the owners would be free to turn the game of bowling into something resembling miniature golf.

[Aslan]

Before you cry too much about the 11 in a row award, realize it's a fairly recent creation.
They used to have awards for 299, and 298 scores, but nothing for 297 and below.
The idea you could open the 1st frame, then strike out and get an honor score is silly.

Why is it less an accomplishment if you open in the 1st frame and then strike out versus throwing 11 strikes then choking on the last ball?

I've had a lot of near "clean" games but it is ruined by just one frame…usually the 2nd. Not sure why…but I tend to strike in the first and then open in the 2nd…then do well. It's mecha-annoying.

[Mike White]

Why is it less an accomplishment if you open in the 1st frame and then strike out versus throwing 11 strikes then choking on the last ball?

I've had a lot of near "clean" games but it is ruined by just one frame…usually the 2nd. Not sure why…but I tend to strike in the first and then open in the 2nd…then do well. It's mecha-annoying.

Well get back to me after you've struck out in the 10th a few times for a 279.

You'll notice a lot less pressure than if you try to strike out in the 10th after having the front 9.

If you're feeling too much pressure just for a clean game, 11 in a row is going to crush you.

[Low Revs]

I bowl in an old wood house and the lane conditions are extremely tough.

The "dry boards" outside are extremely slick and its actually like playing a watered down version of the USBC white 2 pattern. The pattern that they are putting out is a classic house shot pattern, but there is just very little friction to be found outside because the lanes need resurfaced.

Even playing over the middle the shot goes away so fast its ridiculous. When the better teams face each other, we usually have a gentleman's agreement to limit our practice shots in an effort to save the oil. Oh did i mention that the pins are 15+ years old too?

There hasn't been a 300 game bowled there since the early 90's, and there were no 600's bowled there in any of the fall leagues this year.

Its very frustrating, and it makes you really appreciate a synthetic house that puts out an easy shot. Everybody likes to score.

[Mike White]

I bowl in an old wood house and the lane conditions are extremely tough.

The "dry boards" outside are extremely slick and its actually like playing a watered down version of the USBC white 2 pattern. The pattern that they are putting out is a classic house shot pattern, but there is just very little friction to be found outside because the lanes need resurfaced.

Even playing over the middle the shot goes away so fast its ridiculous. When the better teams face each other, we usually have a gentleman's agreement to limit our practice shots in an effort to save the oil. Oh did i mention that the pins are 15+ years old too?

There hasn't been a 300 game bowled there since the early 90's, and there were no 600's bowled there in any of the fall leagues this year.

Its very frustrating, and it makes you really appreciate a synthetic house that puts out an easy shot. Everybody likes to score.

If the lanes are that unmaintained, how do they keep business?

I grew up on wood lanes where nobody averaged 200 for many seasons, but not even a 600. That's taking bone yard to the extreme.
After 15 years, the pins would just be splinters.

[Low Revs]

Long story short, the previous owner ran it into the ground. He passed away and it sat for a few years. 2 guys came in (1 is a wheel with the USBC) and opened it up a couple of years ago and put a little money into it, but until this fall they were going broke and about to board the door up.

Finally they got to know the right people, and business started to pick up so for the time being they are here to stay.

Used to be a thriving business back in old days. I bowled YABA there and they used to host a couple big tournaments a year. It changed ownership in around 88 or 89 and then slowly but steadily went down hill from there. Until this year, I had not bowled league there since 1999.

New pins are supposed to be here in June, but I really don't expect scores to rise that much since 75% of everybody's problem is getting to the pins.

I will continue to bowl there for a while as long as they are committed to improving conditions, as will most. It's very frustrating, but it's home. If I need to roll a few good games to get some confidence back I can make a 20 minute drive and bowl on some plastic.

[rv driver]

Here's a quote from a member found in this thread that speaks will to the "save the PBA Tour" thread:

Ok. I can understand that many bowlers would stop bowling if they make the oil conditions harder.
In the PBA thread, the thought is that interest needs to be built and maintained among kids and the general public. How can interest be fostered and maintained if "many bowlers would stop bowling if they make the conditions harder?" You can't make the sport too elitist, or the interest won't spread. The game will come off as "something for Them," instead of "something for Us."
How that translates as relevant to this thread is this: The house shots may be "easy," but that's the price that may need to be paid in order to keep people interested.

[Aslan]

How that translates as relevant to this thread is this: The house shots may be "easy," but that's the price that may need to be paid in order to keep people interested.

Question: When was bowling most popular? When conditions were harder? Or when conditions were easier?

Answer: Harder.

Easier conditions have brought us casual bowlers and cosmic bowlers...and PBA matches where 2 bowlers each bowl 10 frames and the average first ball pinfall is > 9 pins. Compare that to 50 years ago when pros routinely left multi-pin spares...and splits. As a kid, I stopped watching the PBA because it was boring watching guys throw strike after strike after strike like it wasn't even a challenge.

Everyone wants to score higher. But what if you found out that your 280 average is only that high because the lanes you bowl leagues on are illegal? Would you still be proud of that 280 average? I wouldn't be. Would it be "fun"? Sure. Scoring is always fun! But a 280 is only great if it's hard to get a 280. If everyone in your league averages 290...then a 280 aint so fun anymore.

Bowling lacks "the challenge". Nowadays its like pulling teeth to get people to step outside their own center and go across town...much less enter a tournament or a scratch league. Nobody wants the "glory" of going to Reno and winning on the big stage...because they're all too afraid that if they do, and they average 165...then their little world collapses.

I have a sub on my Thursday team. I asked him to join but he initially declined. He's a bowler with 6 300 rings who used to bowl every year in the USBC open...then hurt his knee and gave up the sport because he could no longer bowl at a high level. After coming out and watching our team, he asked to be added as a sub...and now he's having as much fun as anyone on the team if not more. Why? Well, I think, because once he checked his ego at the door....he remembered what bowling is all about...the fun, the challenge. He's robbed himself of that experience for over a decade because his ego wouldn't allow him to bowl if he couldn't roll a 700 series each night. And thats sad...but thats what bowling has become.

[rv driver]

Question: When was bowling most popular? When conditions were harder? Or when conditions were easier?

Answer: Harder.

Easier conditions have brought us casual bowlers and cosmic bowlers...and PBA matches where 2 bowlers each bowl 10 frames and the average first ball pinfall is > 9 pins. Compare that to 50 years ago when pros routinely left multi-pin spares...and splits. As a kid, I stopped watching the PBA because it was boring watching guys throw strike after strike after strike like it wasn't even a challenge.

Everyone wants to score higher. But what if you found out that your 280 average is only that high because the lanes you bowl leagues on are illegal? Would you still be proud of that 280 average? I wouldn't be. Would it be "fun"? Sure. Scoring is always fun! But a 280 is only great if it's hard to get a 280. If everyone in your league averages 290...then a 280 aint so fun anymore.

Bowling lacks "the challenge". Nowadays its like pulling teeth to get people to step outside their own center and go across town...much less enter a tournament or a scratch league. Nobody wants the "glory" of going to Reno and winning on the big stage...because they're all too afraid that if they do, and they average 165...then their little world collapses.

I have a sub on my Thursday team. I asked him to join but he initially declined. He's a bowler with 6 300 rings who used to bowl every year in the USBC open...then hurt his knee and gave up the sport because he could no longer bowl at a high level. After coming out and watching our team, he asked to be added as a sub...and now he's having as much fun as anyone on the team if not more. Why? Well, I think, because once he checked his ego at the door....he remembered what bowling is all about...the fun, the challenge. He's robbed himself of that experience for over a decade because his ego wouldn't allow him to bowl if he couldn't roll a 700 series each night. And thats sad...but thats what bowling has become.
but who are the lanes "easy" for? The general public (upon whom the PBA depends for its success)? Or for the league and tournament players? Your "Joe average" roller finds the oil patterns difficult to understand and master. They're intimidated. And ultimately, the house is "for" the general public. Perhaps learning to bowl on other than the "THS" is the initiation into the more elite world of the serious bowler (who's egos are most likely the ones that need to be checked at the door)?

[rv driver]

Just another thought:
when learning to bowl (in my experience in the "old days"), one had to master one's movements. If the lanes are "too hard," not only will a beginner have to master her or his own movements, but lane conditions, as well. It's too much, too hard, too intimidating for those who just want to bowl for fun, but who still enjoy making a respectable score. For those who have already mastered their movements, the next level of challenge is to master tougher lane conditions.