Does this make any sense?

[RobLV1]

I have been having some good discussions with bowlers via email, as well as league colleagues. The subject came up of heavy oil balls vs. medium oil balls vs. light oil balls. For an article I'm working on, I have been looking at charts of a lot of typical house shots. Many of these shots feature oil ratios as much as 10:1 (ten times as much oil in the middle part of the lane as there is on the outside). As the USBC requires that there be at least three units of oil from gutter to gutter for the entire length of the pattern, this means that there can be as many as thirty units of oil on the middle part of the lane. So, here's the question: if there are thirty units of oil on the middle part of the lane, this would obviously be considered heavy oil, while the three units of oil on the outside is so little that modern balls don't even recognize that it's there, and the transitional area of heavy to light would be somewhere around ten to fifteen units, doesn't the designation of certain balls as heavy oil, medium oil, or light oil really just depend on the part of the lane the bowler CHOOSES to play rather than a "lane condition"?

[bowl1820]

I have been having some good discussions with bowlers via email, as well as league colleagues. The subject came up of heavy oil balls vs. medium oil balls vs. light oil balls. For an article I'm working on, I have been looking at charts of a lot of typical house shots.

I'm not sure what I want to say here, So I'm breaking this down into parts. Maybe the thought will come out.

Many of these shots feature oil ratios as much as 10:1 (ten times as much oil in the middle part of the lane as there is on the outside).

True, there's a river of oil up the middle of the lane.

As the USBC requires that there be at least three units of oil from gutter to gutter for the entire length of the pattern, this means that there can be as many as thirty units of oil on the middle part of the lane.

Something about this is doesn't sit right. I guess partly because your basing it on "Units" which is a old term these days. When today conditions are looked more at in terms of volume and/or length.

and the ball designations are geared toward that IMO.

So, here's the question: if there are thirty units of oil on the middle part of the lane, this would obviously be considered heavy oil,

No not obviously.

while the three units of oil on the outside is so little that modern balls don't even recognize that it's there, and the transitional area of heavy to light would be somewhere around ten to fifteen units,

What's obvious here is that the middle part of the lane has more oil compared to the 3 unit minimum that was put on the outside in this example, but it wouldn't necessarily be a "heavy oil" pattern compared to other patterns.

Since this is being discussed in units, Using the old definitions a layer of oil 100-plus units would have been considered "Heavy oil" and anything less than 50 units would have been "Light oil.

doesn't the designation of certain balls as heavy oil, medium oil, or light oil really just depend on the part of the lane the bowler CHOOSES to play rather than a "lane condition"?

I'd say no, While yes the middle of the lane has more oil than the outside, that doesn't automatically make that "heavy oil" that you'd necessarily would want to use what is currently considered a heavy oil ball on.

I'm not really happy with how I worded this, but I'll go with it.

I'm taking a guess that the idea your looking at is to maybe have players look at (and choose) balls by where their used (on the lane), instead of how they are currently being perceived to be used by the designation's currently being used to describe them (the balls) .

[KYDave]

Glad this was brought up. I've never really understood what is really considered heavy/medium/light. I can tell you when I throw a heavy oil ball if is too aggressive because it over hooks or lays down in the back. I can tell you when I throw my medium oil ball if it seems to blow thru the breakpoint and never make it back up to the pocket and want something stronger.
I guess I use the "oil designation" more to compare the balls I have versus what the lanes are actually "considered". And add to that, maybe the length of the pattern has a lot to do with it as well.
I always ask the volume and length and it seems as if it is guarded like the coca-cola recipe. "its a typical house shot". There is one center I go the guy actually knows the volume and length, but nothing else. I suppose most people don't really care? And as many places as I go, I don't think there is such a thing as typical anymore.

[1VegasBowler]

The lane conditions are all about the oil pattern from the start of the game until it is finished.

The THS while not standard on length, it is as far as volume goes. This is why so many bowlers like playing at the 10 board, and try to stay there all night. Those bowlers who have a decent arsenal can change from an aggressive ball to a less aggressive ball as the night wears on because the aggressive balls are normally a non-polished ball where they absorb the oil, so there's less carry down of the oil to the backend.

A polished ball will also absorb oil, but not near the rate as a non polished ball. Plastic and urethane don't absorb at all.

The conditions where it concerns heavy oil on the THS is down the middle. They type of ball you choose will determine whether the ball is going to skid the entire length or make a turn to the pocket. The heavy oil ball is what you want for these conditions because they will certainly make a turn once they hit that friction, and depending on the manufacturer, it could be a smooth break or it could be a violent one.

While we all play on a THS, it's the PBA Experience leagues or any sport pattern league where the heavy, medium & light oil becomes very pronounced. That not only includes the length, but volume as well. And these patterns are no picnic! lol

And if you have previously bowled on any of the animal patterns and think you have it figured out, forget it! All of those patterns have changed within the last few months, whether it's length and/or volume.

Knowing what the pattern is is crucial to knowing what ball(s) you're going to use, and that includes the THS since they can vary from 38-42ft (here in Vegas), and there could be a few out there that are shorter than 38ft. Do you think that an aggressive, heavy oil ball is going to stay straight up the 15 board on a 36ft pattern? Ummm, nope! lol

You always have to figure when the transition is going to start affecting your shot. If you plan on playing the same line, chances are you're going to have to change, especially if there are other bowlers on the same line as you are. If you don't change your ball, you better find another line to play or your first ball is going to over react.

[J Anderson]

Knowing what the pattern is is crucial to knowing what ball(s) you're going to use, and that includes the THS since they can vary from 38-42ft (here in Vegas), and there could be a few out there that are shorter than 38ft. Do you think that an aggressive, heavy oil ball is going to stay straight up the 15 board on a 36ft pattern? Ummm, nope! lol

Knowing the pattern is just a start. It is far more important to be able to read the lane since the lane surface and topography trump the pattern every time. If you go in with a fixed idea that the pattern is 37', the ball has to exit the oil on the 6th board, you may have a hard time if the lane surface is a very hard synthetic with less friction than you're used to, or there is a dish or crown in the lane surface that either helps or hurts the ball getting back to the the center of the lane.

[1VegasBowler]

Knowing the pattern is just a start. It is far more important to be able to read the lane since the lane surface and topography trump the pattern every time. If you go in with a fixed idea that the pattern is 37', the ball has to exit the oil on the 6th board, you may have a hard time if the lane surface is a very hard synthetic with less friction than you're used to, or there is a dish or crown in the lane surface that either helps or hurts the ball getting back to the the center of the lane.

You are absolutely correct, but I wasn't going to go there only because the OP was talking about the light, medium & heavy oil balls for the conditions.

When there's a Major involved, the PBA & USBC requires that a lane mapper be used to gather all of the information you just mentioned (except for the type of synthetics of the lanes). That lane mapper is so precise it's unreal, and the host center must bring every little detail to spec.

I wondered why our USBC didn't have one of these for when we do our lane certifications until I found out what it costs! lol

[bowl1820]

FYI: For those that don't know, what a "Unit" of oil is.

A "Unit" is a measurement of thickness and is 0.0167 cubic centimeters of oil evenly spread over a 1 sq. ft. surface, which equates to a film of oil about 7 millionths of an inch thick.

A sheet of typing paper is about 400 units thick

[ChuckR]

We are talking Volumes and Patterns. The one thing missing is the oil itself. Kegal Ice and Fire are different on how they hold up and react over time. The Texas Station in Las Vegas uses a Brunswick oil that holds up better for them as they are in the basement. When that oil does transition, the shot is shot.

[1VegasBowler]

We are talking Volumes and Patterns. The one thing missing is the oil itself. Kegal Ice and Fire are different on how they hold up and react over time. The Texas Station in Las Vegas uses a Brunswick oil that holds up better for them as they are in the basement. When that oil does transition, the shot is shot.

I don't necessarily agree with that.

I play there on Wednesday nights and I can play 15-10 all night without any problems. I have also played straight up the 10 on occasion without any issues, and I use heavy oil equipment with the Ultimate Nirvana and the Vandal Smash and they are both drilled very differently.

[ChuckR]

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I don't necessarily agree with that.

I play there on Wednesday nights and I can play 15-10 all night without any problems. I have also played straight up the 10 on occasion without any issues, and I use heavy oil equipment with the Ultimate Nirvana and the Vandal Smash and they are both drilled very differently.

This MAY be true if they give you a fresh pattern. Try it Saturday afternoon after families have bowled with bumpers. Even the manager said the shot goes away after the oil has transitioned. This is not unusual for Texas, Suncoast, Gold Coast and Orleans.