adman - Something with a 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 ratio tapered to allow for play near the 2nd arrow should do the trick. House shots are typically 8-to-1, 10-to-1, or worse. Sport patterns are 2-to-1 to 3-to-1. I'm encouraged that there are people out there that understand that lane conditions aren't black and white, easy or hard.
charlest - the league you describe does not need to sanction even if the house does. However, it doesn't sound like the group of bowlers adman describes is like the group you're describing. (sidenote: it would be interesting to see what your group would say if you just stripped the lane and left them. You could defend yourself saying that there's no oil on the outside of the lane). JD74's suggestion is otherwise a good one. Essentially changing the oil ratio by putting more on the outside instead of lessening the block in the middle.
quote:
you could just oil out to 5 instead of 10. thats what doug kent uses at one of his places for his mens shot
Good idea, but in my experiences, it will hurt more than help the situation described by the original poster. Most bowlers will continue to try to play the lanes around the 2nd arrow and struggle while the bowlers who know what they are doing will migrate outside and put up big numbers.
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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King : Kill the back row
Edited on 10/15/2008 12:51 PM