Recently, a friend of mine told me that he knows a guy who refuses to bowl on either of the end pair of lanes. When his team is scheduled to bowl on those lanes in league, they have to find a substitute for him or take an absentee score.

During my most recent shift working the front desk, two guys (who said they represent the Thursday noon league) complained to me that if they had to bowl on lane 17 again next season, the "whole league" will probably vote to go to another bowling center. I pointed them in the assistant manager's direction and it looks like they will bowl on the first part of the house next season.

In the time that I have been working at these lanes, there are many complaints about the end pairs or lanes, and also, lanes 7-8, lanes 9-10, and lanes 17-18. So, whenever I practice, guess which lanes I ask for? The way I look at it, if I choose to continue bowling in this house, then I had better learn to bowl in it and, specifically, be able to overcome the "toughest" lanes in the place.

Most bowling centers have settled on a certain way that they will set their lane dressing machines and will not vary from it. The variances in conditions from lane-to-lane, from one side of the house to the other, and from one time of day to the next, are caused by many factors that people tend to overlook.

Here's a partial list of questions to ask yourself:

1) Are the lanes perfectly level and flat from the foul line to the back of the pin deck, and, from the first lane to the last lane in the bowling center?

2) Where are the air conditioning vents located throughout the entire center? Do they blow out over some of the lanes more than others? Does it seem hotter in some parts of the building than it does in others?

3) How many people have bowled on the lanes before you got there? The more people have bowled on them, the drier they will tend to be (hook more).

4) If no one has bowled on the lanes prior to you, how long have they been sitting? Refer to point 2), above.

4) If other people are bowling with you, what types of balls are they using - dull, shiny, plastic, urethane, particle, etc. and are they rolling the ball the same place you are? Each type of ball either takes oil off the lanes and/or pushes the ball around in different degrees or manners.

5) What does the surface of your ball look like - clean, dirty? How aggressive is the cover-stock of your ball? When you had your ball drilled, how were the weights distributed?

6) When was the last time you cleaned your bowling ball with an approved cleaner? Did you do it by hand or did you use the automatic machine that puts a coating on your ball just like car polish?

7) Are your always in top physical and mental shape every time you step on the lanes to throw your ball?

If you do some full research on factors that could affect lane conditions, you will find many, many more. My list of seven, above, is not even the tip of the iceberg. Does it really have to get that technical? Actually, you don't have to do all that research; just go practice on the lanes that are supposed to be the worst ones where you bowl regularly and hold the purpose in mind that you will find the best way to play the lanes.

Here's what I discovered in my house - lanes 1 and 24 tend to hook more than 2 and 23, respectively; lanes 7, 9 and 17, tend to hook less than 8, 10, and 18, respectively - don't ask me why although I do have my theories. Additionally, the "best" shot for me on lane 17 and 18, is a line generally outside the first arrow (2 or 3 board). I have made my adjustments in league and tournament play based on what I learned and suffice it to say that I have done fairly well on them.

You can either whine and complain about the conditions in your bowling center or you can do something about it so that you bowl consistently. It's always your choice and your choice, alone.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)