Over the last year, I have noticed a change here in my area (Southern California).  I mostly bowl at AMF or Brunswick brand bowling centers, and it just seems there is so much more friction than in the past.  I am not sure if this is intentional, or possibly lane surfaces wearing, and just not holding oil as well as in the past.  Over the years in practice, if I got out a weak reactive or urethane a 200 would be a good score for me, now, 250's with my urethane Natural Pearl are not uncommon, and if I try to use medium strength equipment, I'm playing 4th arrow, and frustrated by the lack of hold in the pattern.  I've asked the center managers, and they aren't aware of a policy from corporate.  Haven't had the chance to speak with the lane men about it yet.  Wondering if anyone else is dealing with this issue over various houses.

I see the same B.S. where I bowl.  We wonder why proshops go out of business...the bowling alley's league shots need to be current with the level of equipment coming out. I wanna know why it's not beef stew out there requiring everybody throwing gurus and hyper cells!!

I see the same B.S. where I bowl.  We wonder why proshops go out of business...the bowling alley's league shots need to be current with the level of equipment coming out. I wanna know why it's not beef stew out there requiring everybody throwing gurus and hyper cells!!

I used to work in a Workshop part-time while going to school.  I made the same argument to the center manager until I was blue in the face.  He just couldn't understand why no one bought new equipment (blue hammers and turbo Pearl urethane were the standard).  I suggested he put out a fair, but higher volume shot...both to better protect the lanes and to give people at least a shot at scoring....and to boost proshop sales.  Absolutely refused because he could throw his ball up the ten board and it would (and I quote) "walk right into the pocket.".

Lane oil cost 50$ a gallon ,you do that math !!

If its AMF there is less and less oil..Thats the way it is my area.

That's an excuse I haven't heard in awhile  !

Lane oil cost 50$ a gallon ,you do that math !!

One gallon equals 3785 mL.  Lets assume a center puts out 25% less oil than a normal THS like Stone Street from Kegel.  Stone Street uses 23.15 mL, so 25% less would be 17.36 mL.  Difference being 5.79 mL.  So one additional gallon will allow a proprietor to oil 653 lanes with "normal" oiling than the "cheapskate" way.  That is an additional 7.6 cents a lane extra.

Now, some proprietors will justify oiling less by the costs associated.  Most likely, they are misinformed of the actual costs.  My numbers may be generic (and I didn't verify the $50 a gallon value), but the main takeaway is it doesn't cost much more.

My belief is the shot is the way it is because the each center has dictated their conditions based on the vocal minority.