Bowling lanes are
primarily conditioned to protect the lanes. Most lanes are conditioned
with a specially developed oil for bowling center use. Most of these are
made from medical grade mineral oil and may have some extra additives to
increase it's surface tension and durability. Cleaners with solvents or
lower amounts of "solids" which creates more inconsistency is
no longer in use by most centers.
The lanes must be conditioned often since most oils begin to evaporate
as soon as they are applied to the lane. Some new oils have been
developed to last longer, and remain more consistent throughout the day.
However, they can only be applied with very expensive and highly
technical lane conditioning machines.
Glacier Lanes and other better bowling centers are constantly
carefully evaluating the lane conditioning process and procedures to
provide our customers with more consistent lane conditions. However, the
number of people that bowled on the lane, types of balls used, overhead
lighting, the porosity of the wood or the synthetic lane, humidity, and
temperature of the center also effect the conditions to some degree.
The pattern or the position of where the dressing is applied is also
very important. The condition of the lane's surface can also become an
important factor. All of these factors explained above play an important
role on the ball's reaction with the lane once it leaves the bowlers
fingers. |
| Consistency must be achieved first. |
Before attempting to
adjust to conditions, you must have a consistent delivery and release.
Do not attempt to adjust if you do not:
- Have an accurate, consistent arm
swing.
- Have a properly timed arm swing with
your foot movements.
- Have mastered your release, and it is
the same every time.
- Have a straight approach, without
drifting more than 3 boards to the left or the right.
Once these factors are consistent, its time
to start considering the condition of the lane and how to adjust. |
| Types of Conditions |
Oily, Medium, and Dry are the three basic types of lane
conditions that you can encounter. The oilier the lane the more
the ball will skid before it begins to roll and then hook. If the lanes
are dry the ball will skid less, roll and then hook much earlier
and more than it would on an oilier lane.
- Oily Lane = Less Hook
- Dry Lane = More, earlier Hook.
|
| How to Adjust |
There are two basic
rules for adjusting to lane conditions: Move in the direction of the
Error or Take advantage of the conditions.
Move in the direction of the Error
If your ball is consistently missing to the right, move to the right in
the stance. If your ball is consistently missing to the left, move to
the left. You should move the same amount of boards by which you missed.
It is important to use the same target out on the lane and open or close your shoulders in relation to your target.
For right-handed bowlers, open your shoulders when you adjust to the
left, and close your shoulders when you adjust to the right.
For left-handed bowlers, close your shoulders when you adjust to the
left, and open your shoulders when you adjust to the right.
It is important to remember, to continue to walk strait to the
foul line even though you may be moving to the left or the right.
Take advantage of the conditions
When taking full advantage of the conditions you should play a hook game
when the lanes are dry, or play a straight game when the lanes are oily.
A hook ball is nearly impossible, when the lanes are very oily just as a
straight ball would be difficult when they are very dry.
|
|
