Can a THS pattern have medium oil?

**Hammer** · 10-30-2016, 06:44 AM

I went bowling league for the first time Saturday after a year and a half layoff. I was using a urethane Blue Hammer ball with a 2000 grit surface. The place our league bowls now is called Lisle Bowl. I know the pattern in this house is 42 feet long. My Blue Hammer ball would hook maybe one board using the one to ten board area and when it got to the back end of the lane it didn't go into the roll phase it kept sliding. What is up with that? When I bowled in other houses with this ball I had no trouble hooking it using the areas I just talked about.

I talked to other folks on our league and they say that they have a hard time making their ball have a better reaction going down the lane. When we bowled at the Brunswick house my Blue Hammer had no trouble hooking throwing it direct between the one and ten board. In this place I had to find a spot that was like throwing a straight ball to hit the pocket for a good count. This was not good for me because I am used to hooking my ball to the pocket. So it was a frustrating night. My three games were a 113, 124 and a 95. OUCH! Evidently I have to build up my strength so when I reach the third game I can post my shot better.

The last time I bowled league was May of 2015. My average was 178. Most of my scratch series were 500 or better. Last night I felt like a beginner. I noticed when I was done bowling my ball felt like it was covered with a thin layer of Vaseline. I am definitely going to bring my reactive resin ball with me the next time. I was thinking about getting a new ball that is made for medium oil. Did any of you folks here bowl on a THS pattern that was medium oil instead of dry? Can a THS patternhave oil on the one to ten board area?

**1VegasBowler** · 10-30-2016, 09:14 AM

Normally they don't have oil that far outside. That area usually has more oil on Sport shots.

The first possibility, is, whomever set up the oiling machine punched in the wrong pattern.

The second possibility, is, the machine is not working properly.

Finally, it was done on purpose. Doubtful, but possible,

We had an oiler here in Vegas that was putting water down on the lanes for a while. Talk about nothing in your arsenal working for a while was an understatement! lol

Next time, I'd bring something reactive just in case it happens again. You can tell by the reaction(s) of your equipment during warm ups.

**ep1977** · 10-30-2016, 09:18 AM

THS are slightly different in different houses. 1 of the houses I bowl oil from 5 to 5 on there THS while most of the others oil 9 to 9 or 10 to 10. If your ball was covered at the end of the night you should try wiping it down with a leather shammy before every shot.

**fordman1** · 10-30-2016, 09:44 AM

They have to put down much more oil than they did when your blue hammer was the ball of choice. The new stuff is made to hook no matter how you throw it.
Maybe your center is doing it on purpose. A.H's.
Maybe they don't know how to do it correctly. Dumb A.H's.
Even buying a new hook monster may not help.
That is the way it is today. Every body thinks the lanes are either too oily or too dry.

**RobLV1** · 10-30-2016, 09:58 AM

The only thing that makes the THS typical is that there is more oil in the middle than there is on the outside. The length and volume can vary tremendously. Even with small variations, different balls may be required in different centers. Urethane will not work on many, many house shots unless you have a whole lot of hand.

**Stormed1** · 10-30-2016, 10:17 AM

Also keep in mind that lane surface has an effect on ball reaction too.Thee twwo centers I bowl in are different lane surfaces. The center that hooks the most actually has more volume than the center that is Pro Anvilane

**bowl1820** · 10-30-2016, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Hammer

Did any of you folks here bowl on a THS pattern that was medium oil instead of dry? Can a THS pattern have oil on the one to ten board area?

Yes, you can have oil on the one to ten board area on a THS that area is not stripped dry. There's is supposed to be at least a minimum of 3 units of oil (which is like nothing) from edge board to edge board per USBC rules.

Something to remember the phrase "Typical House Shot" (THS) is not referring to any one particular pattern. It is mainly just a catch all term for any easy pattern that usually has a high inside to outside ratio of oil, that the house uses most of the time.

You can easily have a THS with more oil on 1-10 than another house does on their THS.

**Hammer** · 10-30-2016, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by ep1977

THS are slightly different in different houses. 1 of the houses I bowl oil from 5 to 5 on there THS while most of the others oil 9 to 9 or 10 to 10. If your ball was covered at the end of the night you should try wiping it down with a leather shammy before every shot.

I always wipe my ball off with a microfiber cloth before each shot.