Do you like Woods lanes better?

[The KingPin]

So some houses still have wood lanes and some people like them and some do not.

So what is your take on it and which do you like?

:)

[The Bowling Guru]

I have only bowled on wooden lanes once in my life, but I found it very easy to find a line, since it is basically imbedded in the lane surface. If you look, you can see where most bowlers play, as indicated by wear on the lane, and that will give you an idea of where you should play as well. However, I couldn't open up the lane as much as I can on synthetics, but it was good practice for my straight game :)

[Iceman]

Totally agree, I used to love wood lanes, easy to see the shot. But since our house went to synthetic, I frown when I go into a house with wood, (loses confidence before i even shoe up) because I remember how easy it is to open the shot on synthetics like already posted. They don't break down as much as wood does or as fast.

[Jord_84]

our house had wood lanes all through high school, so I bowled on them every day.
after I was done with high school, we made the switch to synthetic. I'm still learning how to adjust on them because I was so used to the wood lanes. I'm thinking adding a more aggressive ball to my arsenal will help. My poor little t-road solid just slides on those lanes when they put down heavy oil.

I'm starting to lean more toward favoring synthetic.

[ThongPrincess]

My home center was the last to go synthetic in the immediate area. I had no problem with the wood lanes. I am not sure where there are any wood lanes anymore.

[11 in a row]

So some houses still have wood lanes and some people like them and some do not.

So what is your take on it and which do you like?

:)

i bowl on wood in my local center and i would prefer to bowl on synthetic lanes cause the shots more consistent longer as compared to wood..

synthetic lanes...the best
wood lanes the least but thats what i roll on....

[jmainville]

alot of the houses in my area are still wood, but slowly switching. I like wood a little more becase i feel I can read the lane easier and I get a cleaner reaction. I like bowling on wood at my home house and then going to a tourney where they have synthtic, everything gets a litle easier at the tourney because I have to make myself more consistant on the wood. When synthetic was first introduced to our area league bowlers would call it the "fun house" because everyone could play well there, put it anywhere right with a bit of hand and it comes back to the 1-3...so, i prefer wood with wood approaches. i HATE synthetic approaches (to sticky)

[bowl1820]

I'll go with what I don't like and that's old wood lanes with a guardian overlay. Mendes synthetic approach's (unless they changed them) they have a texture to them and Back when I had Linds shoes they wouldn't slide on them, that's why I went to dexters they would work on them.

Synthetic lanes with wood approach's are about the best combo.

[11 in a row]

every other house/center has synthetics but us.....oh well.

[ebowler]

As i said in my introduction to the site, I started bowling again back in January. Prior to that it was 30 years ago, when I was about 20. Our local house is 30 years old and still has wood, so I had only bowled on wood since I got back into it. I'm told they resurfaced them 18 months ago so they are not in bad shape.

Well, we bowled on synthetic last Sunday, and I have to tell you, we did not like it. The approach was sticky, and I had a hard time reading the lane as we bowled. I started with a 220 and ended with a 123. my score slowly went down over the seven games we rolled.

I guess I just have to practice more on the synthetic lanes, as I'm sure our house will be upgrading sooner or later. When they do, I hope the keep the approach wood.

[Strike Domination]

I like synthetics the best, then AMF HPL's(I believe there's a couple kinds, I like the darker ones) the best. Wood is okay but there's just too much friction potential. More than anything, I prefer the Pro Anvilanes.

[stretch86]

i bowl in 2 different leagues my one league is on wood the other is on synthetic. i prefer the synthetic because i dont have to put as much speed on the ball. the wood lanes i have a problem with consistency because of the speed i have to put on the ball, to keep it from hooking across the house.
synthetic ball old- track storm 16#
wood ball- zoom plastic 14#

[ebowler]

I guess I'll have to get more time on the synthetics. I went last Sunday and did a little better, after slowing it down and rolling a little straighter.

I'll be on wood in the summer league, so I don't want to get to comfortable on the synthetics.

[jaws1945]

I grew up with wood lanes, and now there are few, if any houses remaining that have them. Eventually they will all disappear. With insurance costs there will never be any more built. I miss the sound created in a wood house when the ball hits the pins, the smell of the old houses, etc. It brings out alot of memories. The game has evolved, however and with technology today, the equipment surpassed the lane surfaces totally giving the game a different look and appeal.

[ebowler]

I just can't get used to the sound of the ball hitting the synthetic lane, and then no sound as it rolls toward the pins.

jaws1945, what do you mean because of Insurance cost..........

[JerseyJim]

I've bowled exclusively on wood lanes up till a few years ago, when I started bowling in my friend's company league which is on synthetics. Adjusting to changing conditions on wood is much more instinctive for me. Usually it's a 2-1 or 3-2 move to the left as the night progresses, or a switch to less aggressive equipment. With synthetics I usually have problems adjusting. Most of it is trying to determine whether the lane is burning out, or I'm hitting carrydown, That being said, I average about the same on both surfaces, but I'm a lot more consistent on wood.

[jaws1945]

I just can't get used to the sound of the ball hitting the synthetic lane, and then no sound as it rolls toward the pins.

jaws1945, what do you mean because of Insurance cost..........

I was talking about fire insurance. The wood surfaces used a lacquer based oil to cover the lanes which is highly flammable. The new oils used on synthetics do not pose the significant fire hazard. The insurance companies raised the cost of insurance for owners using the oil and that put a strain on proprietors.

[lefty]

Wow, i didn't know there were such a thing, they all look like wood to me......

[MH1313]

Yeah lefty, the wood lanes typically have a darker yellow color to them. synthetics are more whitish or a lighter color. I grew up on wood lanes, and then switched to synthetic after high school. I bowl fine on both, some shots are just easier than others though.

[manningm]

KP,

I learned to bowl on wood lanes. I will always have a sentimental feeling about them. I now bowl at house with synthetic lanes. I think that wood lanes require more knowledge of shotmaking because each lane has it's own individual characteristics. This is not so with the newer synthetic lanes. I just like to bowl so it does not matter me whether the surface is wood or synthetic.

Mike Manning