i have 3 local AMF houses to choose from.
spare time: wooden lanes that are well-maintained, and generally it is a nice place to bowl. they have some good people running the place now, and i am pleased to bowl there.
AMF fun fest: this is a real rathole. it sucks. the lanes are genuinely crowned. they have no pro shop, 2 or 3 leagues all week, the oil man there sucks. the going laugh is "if you want to go somewhere that only a spareball can strike, go to fun fest.". it's no joke: the best way to strike is to chuck your spare ball at the pocket. the carrydown is horrendous, since they strip the lanes only 2 times a week, but oil every day. so, no real middle area. if your ball goes outside of 5, you are screwed. no 'up the 5' bowling here!!! the ball will rev up, and make a straight shot into the 7 pin (10 for you righties, LOL) down the 5 board. it is the WILDEST thing i have ever seen, watching my ball try to climb uphill...
AMF showplace (euless): new lanes, new pins, new lane man, new attitude... this equals an amazing shot (38 feet, flying backends, dry 7 to gutter), consistent ball reaction, and a PBA Pro/Am. my hat's off to Euless, the place is totally different than last year. they had old, dried out wood lanes and the oil man was throwing out a high-volume reverse block every day. thank god for the change.
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i don't care who makes it, how much it costs, or how sexy the ball looks. can i carry the 7 and level the deck with a $60 ball?
bring on the Lefty uprising!