Is it just me??

[ep1977]

I don't know if it's just in Vegas, but each year I'm seeing bigger and bigger differences in pairs of lanes. Yesterday in my Doubles League, I shot 207-219 on lanes 21-22, then moved to 11-12 where I shot 189-160. While my partner had a very big 255 in the third game, by the fourth game, no-one on the pair could strike on both sides. Two of us were hitting the left lane and lost on the right, while the other two were hitting the right and lost on the left. This seems to be happening more and more. Could it be that the lifespan of the synthetic lanes put in in the early nineties is reaching it's conclusion?

In my opinion most bowling centers don't properly take care of the lanes. Conditioning the lanes primary job is to protect the lane surface. Most houses only oil for leagues not realizing or caring that letting the lanes get bone dry is expediting the wear and tear process.

[Amyers]

I don't know if it's just in Vegas, but each year I'm seeing bigger and bigger differences in pairs of lanes. Yesterday in my Doubles League, I shot 207-219 on lanes 21-22, then moved to 11-12 where I shot 189-160. While my partner had a very big 255 in the third game, by the fourth game, no-one on the pair could strike on both sides. Two of us were hitting the left lane and lost on the right, while the other two were hitting the right and lost on the left. This seems to be happening more and more. Could it be that the lifespan of the synthetic lanes put in in the early nineties is reaching it's conclusion?

What you are seeing is the eventual effect of the changing topography of the lanes set in the 90's. Jeff Rigehl's has written a few articles about it. Even if the synthetic lanes themselves are breaking down evenly (doubtful) the underpinnings underneath haven't shifted even some in the last 15,20,25 years get real. The USBC's lack of enforcing at least semi annual checks on topography is a joke.

[1VegasBowler]

What you are seeing is the eventual effect of the changing topography of the lanes set in the 90's. Jeff Rigehl's has written a few articles about it. Even if the synthetic lanes themselves are breaking down evenly (doubtful) the underpinnings underneath haven't shifted even some in the last 15,20,25 years get real. The USBC's lack of enforcing at least semi annual checks on topography is a joke.

Unless major work has been done to a center, the checks are only once/year. They can start April 1st, but must be completed by August 31st each year.

Personally, I would like to see semi-annual inspections. But it is time consuming and is done on weekends early in the morning, and takes about an hour or so to complete if we have enough people. And since we have 17 centers to inspect, this is a 2 month process.

While I cannot speak for any other USBCA, I know that here in Southern Nevada, we take topography readings on every lane, at every center in our jurisdiction (along with all of the other requirements set forth by USBC).

Also understand that the inspections are all confidential as well, and we cannot release any information to anybody except for the center representative & the USBC.

When there are discrepancies from the specifications to the actual readings, the center is required to fix the issues by a certain date and has to be reinspected before the center can be certified.

There are times when I have to use 2 different balls on a pair of lanes, and there could be a host of reasons for that. Heck, I've had times when my plastic ball will take an abrupt left turn on one lane and not move at all on the other.

Could that be from the oiling machine? Could it be topography? Could it be due to transition? Your guess would be as good as anybody's for the reason(s).

[Tony]

That's assuming the dude will carry a 250 average for the full season. Not very likely.

Might drop a little but has been in the 240's for several years so probably won't drop a lot.

The other night we had another guy shoot an 840, so he might give a run at top average too....

[Tony]

So if he hits his average you have to bowl 30 over yours to beat him? Just seems a little unfair.

True, but I gave up on life being fair a long time ago so I'm not going to let losing a game of bowling bother me too much. I bowled another guy last week shot 235, 300, 255 and I shot 201 the first game and 234 the second game with 33 pins of cap and lost both ....

[Tony]

Good to see its not just me then.

I'm right there with you, shot a 612, 502 , can't wait to see what happens tomorrow !

[Amyers]

Unless major work has been done to a center, the checks are only once/year. They can start April 1st, but must be completed by August 31st each year.

Personally, I would like to see semi-annual inspections. But it is time consuming and is done on weekends early in the morning, and takes about an hour or so to complete if we have enough people. And since we have 17 centers to inspect, this is a 2 month process.

While I cannot speak for any other USBCA, I know that here in Southern Nevada, we take topography readings on every lane, at every center in our jurisdiction (along with all of the other requirements set forth by USBC).

Also understand that the inspections are all confidential as well, and we cannot release any information to anybody except for the center representative & the USBC.

When there are discrepancies from the specifications to the actual readings, the center is required to fix the issues by a certain date and has to be reinspected before the center can be certified.

There are times when I have to use 2 different balls on a pair of lanes, and there could be a host of reasons for that. Heck, I've had times when my plastic ball will take an abrupt left turn on one lane and not move at all on the other.

Could that be from the oiling machine? Could it be topography? Could it be due to transition? Your guess would be as good as anybody's for the reason(s).

The annual check USBC currently mandates is only a spot check that doesn't require inspection of the lanes as a whole. When this rule was originally written lanes were wood and resurfaced yearly so something missed wasn't a huge deal it would be taken care of at the next resurface. That doesn't happen in the modern era with synthetics. The allowances are ridiculous anyway allowing for 40/1000 of variance over the entire lane but the entire lane is never inspected and differences as little as 2/1000 have been shown to effect ball motion. Something tells me we can do better than a standard set in 1939 for dealing with an entirely different type of surface

[RobLV1]

Unless major work has been done to a center, the checks are only once/year. They can start April 1st, but must be completed by August 31st each year.

Personally, I would like to see semi-annual inspections. But it is time consuming and is done on weekends early in the morning, and takes about an hour or so to complete if we have enough people. And since we have 17 centers to inspect, this is a 2 month process.

While I cannot speak for any other USBCA, I know that here in Southern Nevada, we take topography readings on every lane, at every center in our jurisdiction (along with all of the other requirements set forth by USBC).

Also understand that the inspections are all confidential as well, and we cannot release any information to anybody except for the center representative & the USBC.

When there are discrepancies from the specifications to the actual readings, the center is required to fix the issues by a certain date and has to be reinspected before the center can be certified.

There are times when I have to use 2 different balls on a pair of lanes, and there could be a host of reasons for that. Heck, I've had times when my plastic ball will take an abrupt left turn on one lane and not move at all on the other.

Could that be from the oiling machine? Could it be topography? Could it be due to transition? Your guess would be as good as anybody's for the reason(s).

What you failed to includ is the fact that when a lane is out of compliance at one point, readings can be taken three feet up or three feet back that will cancel out the "out of compliance" area if either is O.K. Six feet is an awfully large area to find one spot in compliance in my humble opinion. Since lane inspections to certify 300 games were discontinued years ago, lane inspections have become a joke.

[NewToBowling]

My series usually hover around 600 (590, 595, 598, etc). Problem is the individual games usually aren't close. 230+180+180, etc

[1VegasBowler]

The annual check USBC currently mandates is only a spot check that doesn't require inspection of the lanes as a whole. When this rule was originally written lanes were wood and resurfaced yearly so something missed wasn't a huge deal it would be taken care of at the next resurface. That doesn't happen in the modern era with synthetics. The allowances are ridiculous anyway allowing for 40/1000 of variance over the entire lane but the entire lane is never inspected and differences as little as 2/1000 have been shown to effect ball motion. Something tells me we can do better than a standard set in 1939 for dealing with an entirely different type of surface

We make our checks at 15, 30 & 50ft. And I agree that the entire lane should be checked, but unfortunately this is literally back breaking. Being bent over for 20+ lanes for 60ft would be a killer.

Until they can come up with a machine that can take those reading for 60ft, we have to make due with what we have.

While there are a lot of things I could say that would be negative, I have to be very careful as to what I say and how I say it. Being on the local USBC Board of Directors and with other agreements that I have, I can't say things that I did in the past, and I hope you can understand.

I've always been outspoken and will certainly give an opinion. But I have to choose my battles appropriately now.