So frustrated, could playing on oil-free lanes be the problem?

[Ball99999]

Ok local AMFs have Mon-Thurs unlimited bowling from 8-12. Apparently they have league right before, at least when I went tonight. I got there tonight around 9:30 and bowled til 12 like I usually do. But really I think the lanes were empty of oil by the time I got there. I mean usually at my local college alley I'll see some oil on my ball, yet still get good hook on my first medium oil ball (Damage 14lb) so I'd have to assume that was medium oil. Tonight, no oil on my ball except some tracks but nothing like a coating. I was able to, with some hand, hook my Tzone at least 15 boards. Throwing it straight still got it to hook 5-7 boards. There must literally have been NO oil.

But anyway the Misfit, my strike ball, never went straight. It just basically started rolling as soon as I set it down. I had a TINY bit of success when I learned how to loft it. I mean tiny tiny.

The main problem is ball speed. I just can't figure out why a big guy like me who eventually held the ball as high as my head on the pushaway and even tried literally running in the approach still only got 13-14mph max. I'm going to have to assume it's because of too much friction? I can't be THAT bad can I?

I feel like I REALLY improved my form, especially tonight, on the approach. I finally learned how to slide (I think giving myself MORE room behind the line, not less, gave me more mental comfort room), went from a 4 to 5 step approach (to help ball speed) which I think helped timing. I improved my average. Apparently, with barely trying, I can easily score 150+. High was 193 but very close to breaking my first 200. So I think being in the 150-200 range on a condition that just sucks makes me more confident. It's been some months since I played on oil apparently but I specifically remember being able to just roll the ball of my hand, it going straight and then hooking at the end. I miss that. I just never found the pocket tonight either. I was as far left as the ball return let me go too. I tried everything, just nothing worked well except throwing it straight.

In another thread I said I hate my Misfit (still might lol). I wonder if it's because I've only bowled on these unlimited bowl nights late at night and it's just not designed for NO oil.

I think if I want to continue bowling and enjoy it I'll have to stop going to Tin Man nights and join some leagues. This is ridiculous.

[J Anderson]

The main problem is ball speed. I just can't figure out why a big guy like me who eventually held the ball as high as my head on the pushaway and even tried literally running in the approach still only got 13-14mph max. I'm going to have to assume it's because of too much friction? I can't be THAT bad can I?

Friction does slow the ball down a lot. Your 13 mph is probably leaving your hand going at least 16 mph. Also the speed readings at the alleys are based on the straight line distance from foul line to pin deck. If your ball has a big hook the distance it actually travels is longer so its actual speed is higher than indicated.


I think if I want to continue bowling and enjoy it I'll have to stop going to Tin Man nights and join some leagues. This is ridiculous.


By all means join a league or two. Don't feel that you have to wait until you're good enough. You may make some good friends and find experienced bowlers willing to help you improve.

[Hampe]

Yep....Bowling on super dry lanes really limits what you can work on. If you hook your spares instead of throwing a straight shot, you're even more limited on what you can work on. I usually try to avoid the alleys when I know they will be super dry.

[Greenday]

Super dry lanes are more frustrating for me than super oily lanes. I feel like I have to change my approach and throw a LOT more for those dry lanes and it's tougher to be consistent.

[RoccoRock]

I have done those AMF all you cam bowl a few times this summer. I do it at my home lanes, and the oil is fine. It's a big place, i don't use the lanes the leagues were in, so there's still some oil there. I tried a different place one night, and oil was only a myth at this place. It's much smaller, so the lanes had to have been used by a league. Like you, there was no oil track on my ball, there was actually scuff marks fom the friction! I thought it was gonna destroy my ball. I ended up pulling out my 14 pound spare ball and using that for strikes as well. Racked up a few really good games doing that. I will never go back to those lanes for that unlimited bowling again, I'll stick to my home lanes.

[billf]

When the lanes are that bad just work on hitting your target and forget the score. It will get you more comfortable playing each dot to arrow. Dry lanes suck, in my opinion.