Marking Boards on the Approach?

[thomasdgeorge]

Hi everyone,

I bowled in a sweeper last night and one bowler was marking where to stand on the approach in pencil with an "X."

Is this an accepted action? If so, I think I should be keeping a pencil in my bag for this very purpose.

What are your thoughts?

In my opinion, it could give someone an unfair advantage if he marks the lane because without a mark he may make a mistake on where to stand.

[J Anderson]

Hi everyone,

I bowled in a sweeper last night and one bowler was marking where to stand on the approach in pencil with an "X."

Is this an accepted action? If so, I think I should be keeping a pencil in my bag for this very purpose.

What are your thoughts?

In my opinion, it could give someone an unfair advantage if he marks the lane because without a mark he may make a mistake on where to stand.

I've heard that pros do this when they find that the dots on the approach are on the wrong board on a given lane. Of course PBA rules are slightly different from USBC rules so it might not be okay for the rest of us. And the bowling center manager could claim that you're defacing the approach and ask you to stop.

As far as being unfair, I don't see anything wrong with it since bowling alleys have plenty of pencils and any one else would be free to make their own mark.

[dnhoffman]

Why..exactly? I just remember " 24-12" or 20.5-10"

[thomasdgeorge]

Thanks for your replies. Anyone else have any info on this subject?

[classygranny]

Hope that pencil has an eraser! A good eraser! What about lane transition and adjustments. Last Friday, I would have had so many pencil x's I wouldn't have known which one was the correct one.

[billf]

Fair? Yes so grab a pencil if you're so inclined.
Legal? I can't find anything saying either way.

[Greenday]

Rule #12 for USBC rules discusses defacing lanes. "The application of any foreign substance on any part of the approach that detracts from the possibility of other players having normal conditions is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, talcum powder, pumice and resin on shoes, and/or soft rubber soles or heels that rub off on the approach."

So technically, if you want to stretch it, it'd be breaking that rule.

[thomasdgeorge]

Thanks guys. I don't think that graphite will really change the approach much, so I am not sure if Rule #12 would apply. Nonetheless, he certainly didn't erase the x marks he was adding to the lanes.

[J Anderson]

Thanks guys. I don't think that graphite will really change the approach much, so I am not sure if Rule #12 would apply. Nonetheless, he certainly didn't erase the x marks he was adding to the lanes.

Was he adding more marks as the lanes transitioned?

[thomasdgeorge]

No he wasn't, but probably still easier to use the "x" as reference (far left) than the left most dot.