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Author Topic: Maybe you know what caused this...  (Read 1642 times)

another300

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Maybe you know what caused this...
« on: September 18, 2007, 07:36:19 AM »
For the last 4 weeks since my winter league started the transition from game to game was pretty significant and I was just starting to figure it out.  Then this last night (Monday night scratch) the lane conditions stayed pretty close to the same all night.  I was anticipating the change and trying to force the ball the first game and a half.  Then finally I changed balls, played the lane as if I were just starting and found something.  I only needed to move about 2-3 boards.  What caused this?  
The lanes didn't play like they had more oil, they played like the oil didn't get "used up" or absorbed by the bowling balls.  It stayed on the lane and moved down very little.  
A change in temperature?  We were in the 100's to mid 90's by the time we begin bowling but this week the high was low 90's and were in high to mid 80's when we started bowling.
Did the center use different oil?
I'm just asking to see if I need to adjust to this new oil transition or expect the more drastic one from when the league started.
Any idea's anyone?
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Dan Belcher

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2007, 03:38:53 PM »
Well, that's a possibilitiy -- different weather can make a big difference in how the oil reacts I've found.  Pairs of lanes closer to the doors dry out faster.  When it's humid or rainy, oil doesn't seem to dry up as fast.

Or you could have just been on a pair of lanes that isn't the same as the others you've been on previous weeks.

shelley

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2007, 03:42:04 PM »
Who were you bowling with?  I'm sure it's your same team, but what about your opponents?  I have nights where only one or two guys is playing the line I am and other nights where everyone is playing it.  Bowl with the fogeys and their 80-grit, 15 year old Blue Hammers and watch 'em suck the oil off the lane.  Bowl with the plastic drunks and watch 'em create infinite hold on the 15-20 boards.  Some nights you have to adjust more than others.

SH

another300

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2007, 03:57:25 PM »
Hmmmmm, I was watching bowlers to the right pair and left pair of me and they had about the same hold as our pair of lanes did.  But we did only have 8 bowlers that night.  And actually we didn't have a lot of big hook bowlers.  So from previous nights, it was about the same amount of bowlers playing pretty close to the same line.  Our bowler missing was a lefty so it didn't really affect me/us if he is there or not.
Well then maybe it was weather.  I like not having to adjust 8 boards throughout the night.  2-4 board adjustments would be great.
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novawagonmaster

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2007, 05:52:35 PM »
1st and 2nd week at our house was quite different as well. Second week was cooler and not as dry. Lanes were longer and did not change much.
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bstone

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2007, 06:06:58 PM »
could have been a maintenance problem with the lane machine that was corrected or started prior to bowling. sound like you were pretty lucky to have lanes that stayed consistent...
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2007, 03:28:35 AM »
Air humidity can have a huge impact, on the back end as well as on the buffed areas. My home alley (in a basement) plays very different with climatic changes, either from the season but also with the amount of people in the house. Even the lanes which are closer to the entrance (wher rfresh air comes in and some wind gusts) play slightly differently from the adjacent lanes!

Another thing that might have changed is the oil's viscosity. You might ask the staff if they changed the oil or the brand they use. Even with the same pattern applied, a new oil can change the way a ball reacts and how the lane changes with time and traffic.
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another300

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Re: Maybe you know what caused this...
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2007, 10:16:01 AM »
quote:
Air humidity can have a huge impact, on the back end as well as on the buffed areas. My home alley (in a basement) plays very different with climatic changes, either from the season but also with the amount of people in the house. Even the lanes which are closer to the entrance (wher rfresh air comes in and some wind gusts) play slightly differently from the adjacent lanes!

Another thing that might have changed is the oil's viscosity. You might ask the staff if they changed the oil or the brand they use. Even with the same pattern applied, a new oil can change the way a ball reacts and how the lane changes with time and traffic.



I'll ask the staff if they changed oil brands.  I kinda like that I only have to make smaller adjustment thru out the night.  I hope it stays the same for a while.
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