What is a lane condition? Lane condition is a very broad term to describe a combination of very specific factors on a bowling lane.

Defined as; The state of the surface of the bowling lane between the foul-line and pin-deck. Often categorized by the amount and pattern of oil on the lane surface.

Specific factors effecting lane conditions are lane composition, lane surface, lane preparation, conditioner type, conditioner pattern, usage and external factors.

In this section I will explain what effects lane conditions as I interpret them. This is simply an overview of elements contributing to differing conditions. For more information on strategies to bowl on different conditions or adjusting to lane conditions please see the ADJUSTING TO LANE CONDITIONS section.

LANE COMPOSITION
Although all bowling lanes appear to be the same, they are in fact manufactured from and coated in a variety of different products. From wood and lacquer to aluminum and fully synthetic polymer coatings, with different combinations in-between.

Different surfaces offer different characteristics, so you will often hear bowlers saying they prefer one type of surface over another (for different reasons). This also contributes to the development of bowling ball surfaces. New surfaces are developed to enhance performances on different types of surfaces, and use with different types of conditioners.

This composition difference can be a major contributor to differing bowling conditions, ball reactions and pin re-actions.

LANE SURFACE
Not referring to what the lane is made of, in this instance I am talking about the actual condition of the lanes.

On may lanes we can see divots (indents caused by balls hitting and bouncing on the lane), sometimes we see cracks, slightly warped boards or peeling/ lifting coatings on the lanes. All of these inconsistencies in the lanes changes the lane condition.

Where the protective coating is split or chipped the lane conditioner (oil) can seep into these cracks, leaving a drier spot on the lane. Bowlers often call lanes with oily or dry spots "patchy".

This results in unexpected or inconsistent ball reactions on the lanes.

LANE PREPARATION
Lane preparation can dramatically affect lane conditions. How well they are washed and dried prior to oiling can make quite a difference. Quite often alleys will be dragged (swept with a cloth) to skim the dust off the lane - instead of a full wash and oil. This saves the bowl both time and money, and can make the lanes play quite differently.

Things like worn or faulty cleaning machines, different detergents and/ or detergent ratios and the speed in which the cleaning is done can all change the lane condition. Where fluid is left on the lane, and oil applied on top, the oil can run off the fluid already there. Then, that fluid evaporates and you end up with a dry spot. Again this can result in a patchy lane condition.

For an extreme example, a friend of mine bowled in a tournament where there was a mistake made with the lane machine. They put OIL where the detergent was supposed to go and DETERGENT where the oil was supposed to go. As a result the lane was washed with oil (60ft) and oiled with detergent... Needless to say the balls were not hooking to much that day!

CONDITIONER TYPE
Originally conditioner (commonly called oil) was used to preserve the wooden lane condition and help prevent scaring on the lanes. Now the technology exists that oil is no longer needed to protect the lane surface. Instead conditioner has become the single most important factor in determining lane conditions - and continues to be the subject of on-going research, development and (at your local bowling alley level) experimentation ! (You gotta hate those new techs who want to fiddle with the lane machines).

Conditioners come in different brands, grades and viscosities. They are developed for a whole range of surfaces, temperatures and oiling machines. Just like different oils in cars and trucks do different things, so different oils on lanes change the reaction on the lane as well. For those of us who live in hot and humid regions of the world, oils break-down and move around far quicker (less games/ time) than colder climates. Likewise, modern equipment can move and absorb the conditioner off the lanes at different rates.

I wont go into any further detail. but suffice to say this is another factor that can affect lane conditions.

CONDITIONER PATTERN
Conditioner pattern refers to the amount and placement of oil on the lane. By changing the amount and placement of oil on the lane surface we can completely change the characteristics of how a ball reacts on the lane.

Conditioner patterns can be noticeably influenced by rushing the oiling procedure (with many types of oiling machines, but not all). This can be because the wick (conditioner soaked pad in the machine) is not given appropriate time to prime. This can result in lanes being dressed inconsistently. LIKEWISE, the first lane conditioned can often have a slightly different pattern.

LANE USAGE
This can have an influence on the lane condition as well. In this case there can be two types of affect.

FIRST, long term use of certain lines in a bowling centre (usually caused by the same or very similar oiling pattern over an extended period of time) can actually carve a discrete line or track into the lane. All of the balls going in the same or similar area virtually cause a long indentation leading straight to the pocket. Because there are far more right handed bowlers than left, this phenomena is more likely to occur on the right hand side.

SECOND, short term use (ie. since the lanes were last oiled) pushes the oil around in the heads and carries the oil from the head/ mid-lane area down towards the far end of the lanes.

The second type of usage is the main concern to competitive bowlers, and is one of the main topics of address in ADJUSTING TO LANE CONDITIONS.

EXTERNAL FACTORS
External factors include the temperature, humidity, dust/ dirt on the lanes, condition of equipment (cleanliness/ amount of lubricant etc..) can all contribute to differing lane conditions.

In some bowling centres there is a noticeable difference in the lane conditions where lanes are built very close to walls exposed to the sun, or close to doors/ windows etc.

Spilt drinks or fireworks on the lane don't help either! (Yes, both have occurred at major tournaments).