oil pattern question

[tracy]

one house that we bowl in the oil doesn't start till abot 3 ft down the lane from the foul line and then the other house has oil from the foul line down. what type of pattern are these?

[DanielMareina]

The new oiling machines tell centers to not oil for the first 24" to make sure if a open bowler steps over the foul line, they won't slip and fall down. Most centers don't do this though, because it causes good bowlers to have to loft the ball. Personally I start it 12" past the foul line for a medium between the two. It doesn't tell you what kind of pattern it is, but that is why some do it like that.