Author Topic: Summer oil? (Read 4265 times)

charlest · « **on:** July 12, 2010, 07:29:03 AM »

Non-existent!

This is like the 3rd or 4th time I've tried to practice at this AMF house, to which I am considering returning this Fall. I wanted this summer to see if they are actually taking care for the lanes this time around. I joined a "fun" mixed handicap league. (I quit this house 2 years ago when I had my lowest average in 20 years anywhere, just because they weren't taking care of the lanes. Now with new synthetics, new oil machine, new LED 40" displays, even though some pairs do not have lane reset buttons ((YES!!))

So this is the the 3rd or 4th time that have not oiled the lanes during the day filled with kiddees and just following the weekends.

I threw one resin ball and it rolled out completely just past the arrows. Hmmmm?
I throw a weaker resin. Same result. I throw my plastic spare ball. same result.
Hmmmm???
I try to line up with the plastic ball. Standing 25, I hit about 12 at the arrows. It rolls out about 8-10 feet past that point, to sit in the pocket. Sometimes I strike, Sometimes, 10 pin, sometimes 8-10. Can't get it past 30 feet, ball speed is low because it's grabbing the lane. I give up and go home after 2 games, even though I paid for 3.

Only time there seems to be oil is after a league of any sort. Very frustrating.
The first time I practiced, beginning of June, after I joined May 27th, there was oil. After that, none, no matter what time of day I went.

Surprises me that the manager, a non-bowler, was not made to attend some kind of AMF bowling maintenance class, telling him that even with new synthetics, there should be some amount oil on the lanes at all times, otherwise, they will wear out just like a wood surface. Maybe he was taught (IF he was taught) that the new synthetics are made of hardened steel or titanium and they don't need oil?

--------------------
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2010, 03:52:56 PM »

A LOT of owners are idiots.

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"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder" - George Washington

jlm797 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:06:55 PM »

probably their way of "saving" on cost during slow summer business..I hate it too but, that's just the way it is..I've tried complaining but, they don't care..not one bit..

JOE FALCO · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:11:20 PM »

CHARLEST .. what you describe is NO SURPRISE to me .. 8 of the 10 years I've been in NC my SENIOR leagues are just as you described. It's only the last two years that there seems to be SOME oil on the lanes ..NOT THAT THE house oiled before the league it's the fact that one of the leagues that preceded us (we bowl at 1 pm) QUIT. Now we have whatever oil is left over from the previous night's league! VERY FRUSTRATING and can't get the league to COMPLAIN!
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J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess/Sawbones

charlest · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:15:36 PM »

quote:
CHARLEST .. what you describe is NO SURPRISE to me .. 8 of the 10 years I've been in NC my SENIOR leagues are just as you described. It's only the last two years that there seems to be SOME oil on the lanes ..NOT THAT THE house oiled before the league it's the fact that one of the leagues that preceded us (we bowl at 1 pm) QUIT. Now we have whatever oil is left over from the previous night's league! VERY FRUSTRATING and can't get the league to COMPLAIN!
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J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess/Sawbones

Joe,

How, in the name of all that's holy, can you bowl at all?
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

completebowler · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:16:25 PM »

I have oftened wondered what the cost of oiling 20 lanes is? I think owners are cutting off their nose to spite their face when it comes to this.

A good majority of league bowlers don't understand what they are seeing when their ball is rolling out or not hooking at all due to excessive carrydown. They practice in a center with bad maintenance and think the place is garbage cause they can't break 180. Then the decide to bowl somewhere else.

I have been trying to get the owner of the center where my shop is too see this logic.
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ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
WALLED LAKE MI

charlest · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:17:31 PM »

quote:
probably their way of "saving" on cost during slow summer business..I hate it too but, that's just the way it is..I've tried complaining but, they don't care..not one bit..

I guess I should expect no less than this of a non-bowler manager.

Still, I have to think he's cutting his nose off to spite his face. Maybe he doesn't expect to be there when the new synthetics die in 5 years instead of the expected 15 years, and AMF calls him on the carpet for that.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

scotts33 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:27:13 PM »

It is why I play golf in the summer.

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Scott

s1nger1 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:37:47 PM »

It's an AMF house that is problem. My exp. I have never been to a good AMF house.

charlest · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2010, 07:07:20 PM »

quote:
It's an AMF house that is problem. My exp. I have never been to a good AMF house.

I have had my concerns, but during league, so far, the lanes have bee adequately oiled, more so than most of my other houses for the past 4 years or so.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

KoukiGS · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2010, 07:11:20 PM »

There are reasons why they make all sorts of equipment. I've seen the exact thing spoke of. Guys walking into the alley all macho, pulling out a virtual gravity and then wondering why it's doing absolutely nothing. I've been practicing all summer with my sharp noize. Sure sometimes I'm swinging the left lane and playing up in the boards on the right lane because of carrydown, but it is what it is. I've never expected to walk into a house and expect the same wall. Sometimes, people knock said wall down before you get there and it becomes your responsibility to overcome the rubble.

charlest · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2010, 07:33:29 PM »

quote:
There are reasons why they make all sorts of equipment. I''ve seen the exact thing spoke of. Guys walking into the alley all macho, pulling out a virtual gravity and then wondering why it''s doing absolutely nothing. I''ve been practicing all summer with my sharp noize. Sure sometimes I''m swinging the left lane and playing up in the boards on the right lane because of carrydown, but it is what it is. I''ve never expected to walk into a house and expect the same wall. Sometimes, people knock said wall down before you get there and it becomes your responsibility to overcome the rubble.

I understand what you''re saying and GENERALLY agree,
BUT when your plastic/polyester ball is rolling out at the 25 foot mark, no matter how hard you throw it ....
they ain''t putting one drop of freaking oil on the lane.

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Edited on 7/12/2010 7:33 PM

nextbowler · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2010, 07:45:05 PM »

I recognize what you are saying about the lack of oil. Here in Las Vegas, we
have some of the most modern, well maintained houses in the country. However,
I notice that, during the summer, there seems to be very little oil , for the
most part, and the balls HOOK. I think that here, the heat and lack of humidity
are a major culprit. Just my opinion.

Edited on 7/13/2010 7:45 PM

« **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2010, 08:18:26 PM »

Outside temperatures are a MAJOR factor in how the lanes play.

Inside your bowling center it feels nice and cool due to the air conditioning, but what about UNDERNEATH THE LANES? If it's warmer outside it will be warmer under the lane surface.

Heat means friction. So even if the lane machine is using the same program all year round, during the warmer months the lanes will play like they are drier. The lanes will transition faster and dry out faster.

I also believe that most, if not all, of today's lane conditioners (oil) are now a water-based product instead of a petroleum base, which could theorectically lead to some evaporation over time.

--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

KoukiGS · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2010, 08:21:42 PM »

quote:
I understand what you''re saying and GENERALLY agree,
BUT when your plastic/polyester ball is rolling out at the 25 foot mark, no matter how hard you throw it ....
they ain''t putting one drop of freaking oil on the lane.

We have a house like that which is a duckpin house but they have 6 normal lanes. We bowled there once after league because our home house had leagues after us. I was throwing at a machine read 22mph haha. I usually play around 14-16mph haha.

Author Topic: Summer oil? (Read 4265 times)

charlest

Summer oil?

Good Times Good Times

Re: Summer oil?

jlm797

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JOE FALCO

Re: Summer oil?

charlest

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completebowler

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charlest

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scotts33

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s1nger1

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charlest

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KoukiGS

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charlest

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nextbowler

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Re: Summer oil?

KoukiGS

Re: Summer oil?