What differance is there between the New alleys, and Wood

[MICHAEL]

I am going to check out that old church bowling alley with wood lanes. Is it ok to use the newer balls on the wood? I think they oil the lanes with a mop...
anything I should know before going over to bowl on lanes? thanks in advance!!

[Davec13]

I bowl on real wood lanes with all new equipment and don't notice a difference.

Be prepared for lower scores than you are used to though, old wood lanes are less forgiving than synthetic (IMO). Especially if they mop the oil on there will be some area of heavy oil and then real dry spots. Also don't loft your ball unless you wanna anger the owner and risk getting tossed. A lofted ball will dent the wood and it's not cheap resurfacing lanes.

[DanielMareina]

Wood lanes create more friction than synthetic lanes. This means a little more hook usually. I seriously doubt they oil with a mop, but oil will make more of a difference than the lane condition. Best of luck!

[MICHAEL]

thanks again!! This website has been a huge knowledge base for me to go to!!!! I love the game of bowling, wish I would have had the time when I was younger,, but holding two jobs, and family life didn't leave me much time!!! Thanks guys!/gals

[MICHAEL]

It amazes me HOW MUCH punishment the new lanes CAN TAKE! I bowl monday league where there is a guy,, I call Fred Flintstone!! Throws the ball up maybe 10 feet, and PLOW... makes a huge noise when it lands!! There is a lady I think that learned to bowl from him that does the same thing on his team... (((YOU HAVE NO idea how bad I want to ask him were he leard his bowling style!!!!! He is about 50 years old ,,, no reason why he coulden't keep it closer to the ground, and maybe keep Frost from forming due to altitude!!! GEEEEEE This guy/gal would not last long at all on a wood alley!!!!! I can't believe it dosen't destroy the new ones!! Or does it.

[Davec13]

Wood lanes create more friction than synthetic lanes. This means a little more hook usually. I seriously doubt they oil with a mop, but oil will make more of a difference than the lane condition. Best of luck!


I'm fairly certain mopping the lanes is an "old school" term. I know my local lanes had their machine break down during a tournament. The only way of oiling the lanes was walking the gutters and spraying oil on then "mopping" it even. These are real old lanes and there are three generations that work there with the forth generation running around. Mopping is what the first owner called it when I asked him about it.

Here is a snippet I found in an article that mentions mopping.


In times past, the prevailing thought was that, "the only purpose for oil is to protect the lane." With wood lanes, that was a good theory since oil would be absorbed into the boards as it was placed on the lane. There were really no bowling oil patterns and maintenance men who dressed the lanes used spray cans to apply the oil and then dragged a mop-like device up-and-down the lane to spread the oil evenly. The oil was generally sprayed from the foul line through the end of the pin deck with how much oil being applied left entirely up to the maintenance guy. The only variance in the bowling oil pattern was which direction the man dragged the broom - from the pin deck to the foul line, or vice-versa.

[MICHAEL]

Davec13, very,, VERY interesting!! I get a kick out of hearing information like you gave us!!! Wow has bowling come a looooooooong way since the mop-like device days!!
I am a history buff. and get a kick out of stories about the history of bowling!! thanks!! Great Post

[eugene02]

i certainly wouldn't want to see my bowling alleys here using a mop >_< super uneven oiling pattern!

[jaydee]

The oil is going to breakdown quicker on the wood lanes, and probably won't see as much carrydown latter in the set. Synthetics tend to hold the oil better.