New synthetics CAN have less friction than wood lanes. Old worn, synthetics tear up a ball just like old worn OR unprotected wood lanes, eventually. Some proprietors are so STUPID they use less and less oil on newly installed synthetics, then proceed to watch their investment go up in smoke or up in particles ... Sigh.

Yes, Bob Summerville, in my bowling education, first postulated that balls will eventually go to 600 - 800 grit matte finish, if not re-polished or otherwise maintained. (Yes, others may have stated this somewhere else before Bob did, but I first learned of it reading BTM, while he was still alive.)
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"When we choose an action,
we also choose the consequences of that action.

Sorry, jensm, I don't recall the first issue in which he said that. He did say it in several of them.

Also, even dull ball, like those finished at 400 grit, like the Goliath, are supposed to eventually smooth out to 600 - 800 grit. So they also should be maintained with sandpaper or nylon pads.
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"When we choose an action,
we also choose the consequences of that action.

jensm--There was a BTM article written this year about the difference in surface hardness of wood, syntehtic and Guardian overlay lanes.  I'll look up the month and post the date here when I get home....few hours from now.

charlest and I do believe in keeping BTM's copyright infringement intact.  I try to refrain from posting verbatim data from BTM for that reason.  

Scott

jensm--Checked when I got home.  The article I was thinking of doesn't really go into exactly what you are looking for but it's an article in March 2004 by Mo Pinel that goes over the difference in Sward hardness of different lane surfaces.  He gives numbers in that article.  

Article is "How to Conquer the Modern Bowling Enviornment".  It's a comparison of some High Roller/Eliminator tourney lane condtions and how the surfaces interact with these conditions.

Scott