the condition this year is NOTICEABLY different than last year's condition.  The lanes start to break down quicker, in general they hook more, and the oil just seems to somehow magiclly EVAPORATE, not carry down or burn up.

This condition has taught me to play down and in.  I used to very consistently (as someone on this board called it "rediculously bellying it through the heads")  play a somewhat inside swing line, up to the pocket.  with the condition being a little dryer, and becoming more inconsistent, that line just isn't practical to play.  too many adjustments over the course of the night.

I averaged 190 till the middle of december, and ~220 since I made the decision to make a move down and in on a more consistent basis.  Most the really high games this year have come from down and in players...I've had 1 11 strike and several 10 strike games, and another guy has shot 2 300's this year (only had 1 up till this year).  THe only other guys that this condition favors are the guys that CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

Every time we play a certain team, one guy always complains about the condition wearing down after the first game and the "average" bowlers getting worse.  I just kinda turned to my bro and said "yeah, it forces you to adjust".  I think that separates the average bowler from the above average bowler.  This guy will always talk about how "yeah it saves 500 bucks a year in oil, but it turns bowlers away"... I say it brings in better competition, or will make you become a better bowler, if you have the discipline.
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Carry the 8.  be a good lefty.

thanks.

We had the game locked up long before the tenth frame, so on my fill ball I decided I'd try to swing one and see what it would do.  Mind you I had been throwing my brunswick danger zone red alert (old but consistent), and for this shot i used my columbia wicked - it swung out wide, wider than usual like it had done all year, probably got the 3 board before it started to make its move to the pocket, then absolutely hit the wall and went high-flush for a 6 pin.

I stopped playing that line because I couldn't come up to the pocket.  But I was the only lefty on the pair tonight, so maybe the lanes were dryer than usual.

But for the past 8 weeks it's been down and in for me.  I've even changed the way I shoot to my target, and really the whole shot process has changed a little...
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Carry the 8.  be a good lefty.

Actually in winter time the center has the heat on which makes the oil migrate downlane. Cooler in the center(most centers I hope) in the summer the oil does not migrate as much and the dissipates. Just based on my observations.