Perhaps the most controversial area in the sport of bowling is lane conditioning patterns and how they affect lane play and the scoring pace of any tournament or league-play session. Some of the inconsistencies from week-to-week and day-to-day have nothing to do with the oil pattern, but can be attributed to other factors such as the lane surface, lane shape, other bowlers, temperature, dew point, barometric pressure, humidity, etc. Most of these factors are beyond our control.
Each year the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) performs an annual inspection of the bowling lanes, each lane is measured at three different points for cross-tilt, depressions and crowns. USBC regulations require these measurements to be 40/1000 of an inch or less. USBC does not measure topography. The shape (topography), of the surface can dramatically change the bowling ball motion. Technology is evolving all the time, and via reports and graphs produced by Kegel LaneMapper™ (figure 1), it has become possible to study topographical conditions of bowling lanes in an easy understandable and readable way. The Kegel LaneMapper™ is able to measure crowns, depressions, crosswise tilts, and lengthwise level to an accuracy of 1/1000”. Kegel LaneMapper™ can measure at any distance interval and across every board, including the pin deck area; and can record 744 measurements in about 12 minutes per lane. This is almost 70 times the number of measurements taken during the annual USBC lane inspection.
Beginning April 20, 2015 Lane Analytics will begin the task of mapping the lanes at both RCSC Bowling Centers. Lane Analytics suggests lifting the panels and shimming under the original wood lane and panels to level the entire lane surface which will make the lanes play more consistent from day to day and lane to lane. The project will not require closing of the centers and should be completed no later than April 25, 2015.
In light of all of this, it is important to remember that bowling has always been about repeating good shots and accuracy, but it is also about “reading lanes” and making the right moves. Today, perhaps more than ever before, there are more choices to consider. There are far more lane surfaces, lane oils, bowling balls, and types of bowlers that can alter the bowling environment around you.
If you would like more information about Lane Mapping and the Kegel LaneMapper™ please visit www.kegel.net and select “Lane Precision”.