Since I mainly bowl in two centers, I will describe the difference. One center oils in the early afternoon, and they have the latest Phoenix machine. They try their best to limit open play on league lanes, usually moving people to another pair after 3 games of bowling. The other house I bowl in has an older AMF Century machine, and they oil around late afternoon (usually one hour prior to my Tuesday league). If you go in on the weekends, you won't see much oil as he doesn't oil on the weekends. Last year he stripped the back ends every other week, but I think this year he decided it should be done at least once a week on Mondays...
Do I feel cheated if I walk into an unknown center to practice and the lanes haven't been dressed? Not really- I think it's helpful as there are many tournaments I bowl in where half way through the day I would see the same lack of oil conditions and squirrly back ends, and I think you learn to play the right line and the right equipment to combat what you have out there. I wish more centers in America would allow you to bowl on a variety of conditions to help the bowlers learn that there can be more than the 10 and out wall shot.
Matt
