Adjusting for Oil Carrydown

"The only thing that doesn't change is change." No matter how old you are, you must have heard that adage, in one form or another, more than once - correct? Well, in the modern sport of bowling, you have to take that to heart because whenever you bowl, the lane conditions will change every time you throw the ball.

Whatever oil pattern is put down at your favorite (and not-so-favorite) bowling center, the length of oil down the lane is usually around 39 to 40 feet. This leaves the back 20 - 21 feet of the lane you are bowling on with only a very minute covering of protective oil coating - in fact, the majority of people refer to it as being, "bone dry."

This back portion of the lane depends on nothing more than what is referred to as, "carry down." In other words, every time a ball is thrown, it picks up oil and carries it down to the drier part of the lane.

Ask permission from the bowling center and walk along side one of the end lanes both before and after your session, Take a close look at the oil "pattern" that is on the back end of it (beyond about 40 feet from the foul line down to about the headpin). Before bowling, there appears to be nothing there; but, after people have bowled on it, you will see streaks of oil, literally, "all over the place." They are not uniform looking like the first 39 or 40 feet.

So here's a "Choc-List" of some things to remember when you are trying to adjust and "find the line" to the strike pocket:

1) Whatever oil pattern was when you started bowling is not the same as what you are bowling on, "now." Each time you come up to bowl, the carry down has added more oil to the back end in an uneven manner.

2) If you tried something at the start of your bowling and it didn't work, don't discount it as something that won't work later in your series.

3) If you have multiple bowling balls and you tried one but it didn't work, don't be afraid to pull it back out for another shot later in the game or series.

4) "Do not be afraid to throw one ball on one lane and another ball on another lane." Sometimes the change from lane-to-lane can seem pretty radical when we bowl.

In competition, whoever finds the strike line first increases their chances of winning. When making your adjustments, remember to try what didn't seem to work just a few frames ago if you feel the lane has changed.