Kegel lane oil, sold in 2.5 gallon jugs with 2 jugs in a case (5 total gallons), runs around 220 from my distributor. My local center uses Polychem, which runs less than half of that for 5 gallons.

Carlos:

In the shortest way possible, many bowling center proprietors, generally, no longer focus on the league bowler as one that draws high profit margins anymore. Their focus has changed in the past two decades.

I find many bowling centers becoming Family Entertainment Centers (FEC's), or traditional centers with an emphasis on food and beverage. The clientele for theses FEC's are completely different, including birthday party goers and groups of individuals who go to the bowling center to drink. Attendance and profit margins for drawing these customers are generally higher than league bowlers. Therefore, providing player services like pro shops and consistent lane conditions are less important in the modern business.

I remember reading the online reviews for the bowling center that housed the shop I was working for. A common complaint from these FEC-type customers were actually how the lane oil got on their clothes. Yet, after reading that, I was actually thinking how the GM/proprietor to lay down more oil, at least for the league bowlers. The proprietor has to choose who would be readily equipped to keep them afloat.

Hopefully, if you still love bowling, you will have to adjust and rely less on technology because of the reduced amount of oil on the lanes in these FEC's, which clearly cater better to open play bowlers' needs.

If this trend is something you don't think you can deal with, you may want to consider another hobby that may not present you with such frustrations, or consider bowling in a market where league bowlers are still the focal point of the proprietor.

Best of luck.

....90 % are owned by AMF,Bowlmore and Brunswick,....

You may not like AMF, Bowlmor, or Brunswick centers, but at least get your information correct before posting.  After the Brunswick purchase by Bowlmor, they now own roughly 7% of the bowling centers in the U.S.  Any problems with bowling are not from AMF/Bowlmor, they are from lazy so-called competitive bowlers who complain more than act.

Okay 90% is a a bit much. But the lack for the lenght of oil isn't. I would gladly bowl in a sport short avereaging 191,yes i did that.,but to compete with area bowlers averaging 224 on THS is near impossible with my ball speed

I will piggy-back with the above post. If you are going to talk to a head mechanic or GM at any bowling center, know what you are talking about when making conversation about the house shot, especially if it affects leagues. With league lineage upwards to $7.00/game (same as open play in some cases, and is almost guaranteed on a weekly basis, and not when it gets "hot"), it's in the best interest of the manager to listen.

Therefore, you should know about KOSI pattern graphs and make sure to be respectful during your conversation about what you observe as the lane changes - like the midlane holding up/not holding up in a league for 5-man teams because a lot of players like to use surface/not a lot of surface. A good head mechanic and manager will listen if you present them with valid reasons, in respectful ways, even at AMF houses!

Remember, those guys are in a position to make a playable condition for a large majority of their bowlers, and not just you and your team.

If you are, however, not in a position to influence lane conditions. Do what you're in control of, and that is your performance and adjustment skills.

Have a great day. The dude abides.