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Going to the local bowling alley probably does not include thinking critically about the lane conditions and the amount of oil they feature. Without oil, your bowling ball would spark before it reached its destination, resulting in burn marks. Bowling alleys use oil not only to maintain safe lane conditions but also to improve or challenge your game. Learn more about the relationship between oil and bowling lanes.

Why Oil & Lane Conditions Matter in Bowling

Uneven Applications

Bowling lanes never receive smooth, even oil coatings. Oil “dressing” mainly concerns the middle of the lane with the sides left dry, which means little to no oil in bowling-speak. Heavier applications down the middle of the lane stops the ball from skidding so it can still glide down the center. Balls, therefore, have fewer chances to “hook” and spin out on lanes with heavy applications down the middle. This is ideal for beginners who are having problems with gutter balls.

Various Patterns

bowlingWhile the heavy-oil-down-the-center pattern is a standard lane application, there are many other ways oil is applied to affect lane conditions. The most popular oil applications according to North American Bowling News include the Chameleon, which features heavy oil at the beginning of the lane. It forces players to select which lanes they want to focus on. The Cheetah pattern features heavy but short applications at the beginning of the lane that eventually spread out on the sides. It challenges players to use the dry spaces near the gutters to obtain the perfect shot. These and other oil patterns dramatically change how the bowling ball glides down the lane.

 

Familiarizing yourself with standard application patterns and watching how your ball react during the first few frames is key to a winning game. Perfect your game at South Lanes Pizza, the La Crosse, WI, bowling alley and pizza joint known for great food and exceptional service. A full restaurant as well as a bowling center, you will also enjoy wonderful specials here, such as 40-cent wings on Tuesdays. Call (608) 788-1303 or visit the website to learn more about specials and services. Like the establishment on Facebook for the latest news and events.

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