I bowl in 2 different leagues, one is an all wood house and one is synthetic.  I have no problem staying in the pocket on the synthetics for an entire set.  In fact, when I go there to practice I can bowl 8-10 games and stay in the pocket the entire time.  I might have to change balls a but I can find a shot.  

My problem is in the all wood house.  The league I am in is a second shift.  I usually have no problem the first game but problems start by the begining of the second game.  I try moving more and more left but I just can't keep the ball from jumping on the backend.  I have been trying not to switch balls but lately I haven't had a choice.  So I switch to a less agressive ball and that usually gets me through the rest of the second game.  By the third game I am lost!  The lanes just don't hold up.  I have a urethane ball I can switch to but it takes me a few shots to get lined up with it, and that is unexceptable during a league.  I have began to realize that swinging the ball in this house is whats killing me.  I need to learn how to play a tighter line to keep the ball in the oil longer.  The outer boards get too fried as the night goes on.   What I need to learn how to do is play the middle of the lane.  That is the shot the best bowlers in this league play.  The problem is that when I go to practice the lanes aren't anything like the way they are on league night.  So I can't practice the shot I need to learn how to play.   I am tired of throwing a 220, then a 200, then a 160!  Does anyone here have any suggestions?

Your analysis sounds about right on as far as what you're trying to do in reaction to the lane breakdown.

My suggestions - in order of what I find to be easiest to most difficult (your results may vary):

1. Know thy equipment.  After some trail and error, it should not take you more than 1 possibly two shots to get lined up with the urethane ball.  You should have a good idea of the overall board difference from one piece of equipment to another (Ball A hooks generall 5 boards more than ball B which hooks generally 4 boards more than ball C ...).  That gives you a starting point.  If you're worried, stand another two boards left (if you're a righty - I'm assuming you are since the leftside doesn't break down quite as fast as you're describing) on your first try.  Better to be light and leave a bucket or 2-pin than high and leave a 4-6.

2. Learn to play deep.  Moving your feet left and keeping the same mark doesn't always cut it for the exact reason you mentioned.  The "track" (the area most bowlers are using or the dried out portion of the lane) just gets drier which means balls thrown out to it will hook more unless the angle is significantly more.  What you want to do is move your feet left (again, right-handed) and your mark left.  You'll need to find the combination that works for you.  4 boards left with the feet, 2 left with the mark, feet 3 left, mark 1, and so on.  Of course, this assumes that there is oil inside for you to utilize.

3. Change your hand position.  Use less revs on the ball or change your axis of rotation.  Your success will really depend on how skilled you are at this.  It takes practice to be able to change hand positions and repeat shots, but it is an option.  (There's a very good bowler here in AZ who will actually switch to a back-up ball release if the lanes get too scorched or he feels there is a better shot on the left side)

4. Increase your speed.  Again, this is a matter of comfort and skill and takes time and practice to master.  Plus, you want to make sure you're increasing speed without increasing revs.  I will typically add a step to my delivery when I want to increase my speed to allow a larger pendulum backswing (and I'm still practicing at this).

Good luck.
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Kill the back row

Thank you for your reply janderson.  I can usually find a shot with the urethane ball but it may take me longer because the urethane reacts very different than the reactive equipment.  Sometimes the urethane will grab a lot earlier and therefore hook more than the reactive.  It won't jump like the reactive but sometimes urethane will hook more boards.  So it may take me a few shots to get lined up.  Once I am lined up it easy to stay in the pocket.  It's just a matter of carry with the urethane.  When I go from the G-3 to the Blue Sparkle I can adjust with only one shot because they react very similar but the Blue Sparkle is less agressive.  

I have been trying to play deep.  In fact, that is the shot I have been practicing.  But if I get it out too far, even playing deep, it comes screaming back.  

I have been trying different releases and it does make a huge impact on ball reaction but I need a lot more practice before I can master that technique.  

I have also tried increasing speed but that tends to throw my timing off and I start missing my target.

I think the answer is learning how to play the middle of the lane.  I just need to practice it.  And I need a similar condition to practice it on.  I have learned a lot in the past year.  I can play straight up the boards when the lanes are too oilly to swing it.  I can swing it when the lanes open up.  Now I need to learn how to play a tight middle line when the usual "track" gets too dry.

Don brings up a great point I should have made with my post: work on one thing at a time - didn't mean to suggest doing it all at once.
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Kill the back row