What to do in an annoying disco bowling alley?

[Golophei]

Hi everyone

I am locating in NYC and there are many many annoying poor conditioned "Disco/Lounge bowling alley" that are built for celebrities and star struck kids. These places never ever oiled the lanes nor cleaning them.

My problem is my company and friends always pick these place for Christmas/B-day parties because they are very hip. I am always on the spot light because they know I am in a league and my average is on the low 200.

It is impossible for me to play in these lanes because they are 100% dry even a house ball can produce a big rediculous hook. Help!!!??? What would you guys do without ruining the fun and without having to looking sucking badly??

All my coworkers are completely noobs that don't know zip about bowling and they expect to see me scoring 180+. They will not care nor understand the lane condition blah blah! It is really frustrating and annoying! I would really rather just sit there chatting, eating pizza without having to bowling. However, I would ending up come across as pretentious, snobbie, all talks but no walks....etc

Am I screwed?????

[J Anderson]

Short answer: YES!

Longer answer: Play every shot like you're trying to make a one pin spare. If you have a plastic ball for shooting corner pins, use that for every shot and play around to find out what line you have to play to hit the pocket. If you don't have a spare ball, you will have to adjust your release to give you less revs, way less axis rotation, as well as throwing with more speed and maybe even lofting the ball a bit.

Either that or say, "it wouldn't be fair to bowl against you guys normally, so I'm going to bowl with my non dominant hand with an alley ball and rental shoes." And just have fun and laugh at yourself.

[kev3inp]

If not a spare ball, something for really light oil. My Slingshot works great on that condition. You may need to break your wrist back to kill some revs, but when you get used to it it's hard to go back. Spare balls will get you to the pocket, but don't really drive through the pins.
On edit:
I almost forgot. To make 180+ all you really have to do is make your spares. Don't give away the pocket and leave makeables and you're golden. You can also point it off the corner and throw straight at the pocket with no hook and not do too badly.