Got to the lanes about 20 minutes early last Saturday and observed the lane man just finishing the last 8 or so lanes. I noticed that the machine was going down about 40 feet and returning. Then the lane man moved to the next lane and repeated the situation.

When we began practicing, we discovered that contrary to the usual decent shot in this house, there were NO backends at all! Using my strongest oil ball (Track Champ) I got about 1 board wrinkle if I slowed down. Of course I fought it all night rather than taking what the lanes would give me but that is another story.

In that house, the "yoots" bowl Saturday morning, then open bowling in the afternoon and we bowl at 6:30. The lanes reacted as though there was a huge amount of carrydown PLUS fresh oil for 40 feet!

Question for you lane people:

Does it make sense to strip ALL the lanes and then go back and oil? Seems to me I always see the machine make two trips down the lane, one to strip and one to oil. Maybe I am not too observant in my old age.

The league secretary (also a lane employee) said they "Always DO" when I asked her if they always strip the backends. Sure did not seem like they had!

Any thoughts?


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What's with the Braille on a drive-up-ATM?
Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Most new machines will strip on the first pass, through the pits, then oil on the way back. Seeing as though you saw the machine only going 40 ft., they did not strip. they just oiled over what was left. So yes, there was a bunch of carrydown.

When you see the machine make 2 trips, the machine is double oiling. You can double oil with out stripping also, but if you see the machine going through the pits, it is stripping, and oiling on the way back on the first trip. The second pass is only oiling, usually in both directions, as the machine is moving forward and then as it moves back to the foul line. =:^D