Been bowling for many years. Been really really good many years ago, but not so much anymore.

 Have still maintained a 205-210 average only throwing three games a week.

 This year however, an old friend of mine who had a knee replacement a few years back, has asked me to bowl with him. Thing is, the ONLY place we can get to bowl together because of our work schedule is an old dungeon built in 1957.

 It still has the ORIGINAL wood lanes, and the Brunswick “A” pinsetters. The people who are now running it love bowling, but know nearly nothing about it, and have a traveling mechanic that comes by every so often and keeps things running.

 EVERYTHING hooks early if you pitch it at all. You cant go up the boards because it starts early. If you try to swing it, it still starts early. If you back off the release to get it to push, it burns up before it makes the turn.

 Its only three games in, and I had to work hard to get to a 168 avg.   

 Tried everything I could think of, with no really satisfying results.

 Bowling elsewhere is NOT an option.

 Anybody got any experience or ideas?

 Feels like I'm bowling the Petersen every game and should just be chucking a brick at the five pin. In 15 games I've shot one 200 game, and that was throwing right up the track at almost 20 mph with an iq tour pearl, and I just cant throw it like that anymore at my age and talent level. My arm, hand, and legs hurt the whole next day.

HEEEEELLLLLLLP! 
Please?

Plastic ball with surface up the boards. Try 1000 to start, if not enough go with 500 grit. When playing outside of 2nd arrow usually a great option.

Second option I love is the Columbia Scout that was just discontinued. Pancake weight block with a mild reactive cover. Hooks more then you think it would initially, but is overall super smooth, more consistent reaction then urethane, and can handle surface adjustments well.

 That plastic ball need a core?

 Three options out there have one.

Hey  juggernaut, sounds like you joined a league at our brickyard. There is a good reason the handicap is based on 190 . In a house where the highest average for the year is 183 for all leagues you got to find a way to keep a positive attitude even more than a ball.
See you there!

Just a comment but I have never understood lots of surface on an early rolling ball where the lane makes it roll early anyway because of lack of conditioner.  Am I wrong?

Weak reactive ie. Scout pancake seems the more logical choice.  But what do I know.   

Depends on the ball and style. 1000 isnt a lot of surface especially with plastic.

Plastic @1000

Plastic at lane shine

Polish your spare ball and "suitcase", or totally kill your revs.  I have bowled on old wood lanes and they are very soft with tons of friction.  With minimal oil it complicates it even more, but think "dead hand" and your chances go up...  Good luck!

Bowling in an old wood house can be difficult.  One other thing to consider is how the down lane reaction is.  The heads may be burnt obviously causing the early reaction.  But sometimes centers will put tons of oil to hope and offset the burned heads which can lead to a lot of carry down.  Especially if everyone is throwing plastic/urethane/stuff that pushes oil.

Just keep this in mind.

Because I have run a sport league for the last 15 years or so, my perspective may be a little different. Scores are relative.

Yes, scores are relative, and no, we’re really not that far off the pace.

What is the league average like? Are there bowlers who average 230's, and if so, what are their abilities and how are they playing the lanes?

HIGHLY doubtful if there is even anybody with a 200 avg. If so, it isn’t much over.

If the high average of the league is only 202, and they look to be, or are a 230+ bowler on pristine conditions, then are you really that far off pace? Point being, maybe just focusing on the fact that you can bowl with your buddy could be enough?

Oh, bowling with him is enough. If 180 is going to be max avg for me here, that’s fine, I just don’t want to have to fight the condition to get there. Fighting the condition usually ends up being the frustrating thing, not having a lower average.

 If plastic off the corner is the way to go, and about 180 is my max here, I’m good with that, just not good with the alternative of fighting the condition all night for 36 weeks, and hurting the day after from doing so.

 Bowling league should be fun. If it were a tournament for money, well THAT’S a different story. Im not 30 yrs old anymore, and theres consequences for throwing hard all night now that I didnt have back then, and league bowling for fun isnt worth the pain.

Get a Brunswick crimson Phantom....tame up the cover + polish and put a 250 degree strong backend layout on it........here......"250 degree strong backend" layout
The next layout we will be looking at is the "250 degree strong backend" layout.
 http://wiki.bowlingchat.net/wiki/images/thumb/c/c9/412x250j.JPG/300px-412x250j.JPG

"250 degree strong backend" layout..
This layout calls for the pin to be no further out than 2" from the C.G. so a weighthole will not be needed. The pin height above the midline is to be 1 1/4" and the Pin to PAP distance is to be 4 1/2". The Mass bias is to be placed at 250 degrees. This layout caused a "herky jerk" skid/snap motion that appeared to be over-under in its first testing. What we found out is that when the shot called for a very direct line outside of the first arrow(as it was tested on the Cheetah Pattern), we were able to draw a strong skid-snap reaction and not have the ball hook early in the friction zone. When the shot forces you to play direct and you need an angular motion at the breakpoint, the 250 degree layout was very effective.

Last season I picked up a nib crimson phantom and did just this(because I could not effectively control the break and the lack of oil) . With that ball, drilling and surface, even on the wolf pattern I wasn't getting an overreaction--and actually was underreacting.

There is a 14 pounder currently on ebay here https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Brunswick-Phantom-14-lb-Crimson-Bowling-Ball/362595370487?hash=item546c5e45f7:g:jFQAAOSwjexbkWrU:sc:USPSPriority!33319!US!-1

Brad