Down here in tassie at the 2 AMF Centres we are using the Centrury Summit lane machines, which are quite a good machine when they are working properly! Moonah is currently using a 4:1 (maybe even 5 or 6:1) pattern, but in Launceston we are using a Pattern of less than 2:1.
I wont speak for Moonah, Burnie, nor Devonport, but at Launceston we are using this type of Harder pattern to Make our "Higher" ave bowlers, "Better" Bowlers. Currently the Highest ave is the centre is around 197 with only 2 Bowlers over 190. The Proof was in the Pudding as to the way The Launceston members of the Pres Shield Team Performed last week. They ALL performed exceptionally well on the pattern that Frawls laid down which was vastly different from the one they are used to. Thus, the reasoning for having a harder pattern. We all like it this way and I dont think they will complain. I also think that more centres should take the same tact and trial it for a while. The Harder the Better. The Biggest thing holding them back is the Bowlers saying that if they can't bowl a 200 game every game then the lanes are crap. Its easy for us as we are the only centre in a 100km radius, but for say centres in Brisbane, they have trouble doing this as the Bowlers will just go to the next centre. So its a bit of a Catch 22.
As for the Kegel Technology, you dont necessarily need a Kegel Machine to lay down an exceptionally good scoring pattern. Just need to know how your machine works. Sure, Kegel does it better than anyone else and makes it very easy to replicate a pattern lane to lane, but you can do it with other machines, just not to the degree of accuracy of the Kegel stuff. I can only speak for the Summit and the Century Model C that we have used, but I can honestly tell you that we have laid down some very high scoring patterns with both of these machines over the years and done it pretty easily. It just takes time and a lane analyser to get it where you want it.
As for the pattern used for the Nationals, Frawls has justified his reasons as to why, and I think that he was quite within his rights use that pattern. He has a business to run too and wants ppl to come back to his centre, so why not. It also met the TBA Lane Conditioning Guidelines, so No Problems in my book. Just hope he does it for Rachuig next year so we can see how we go on it!! LOL
My only concern is that the Juniors who bowled last week will be thinking that they should be able to replicate those scroes everywhere else, which we all know aint going to happen! So, as long as they realise that, it should be all good!
I can honestly tell you that if we were going to have a Nationals in Lonny (which will never happen btw), we wouldnt use the 2:1 unless we were expressly asked to. We Would Juice them up a bit too.
The CYG Roll Offs pattern in Bendigo was laid down so they could see who could Spare. I guess this time they wanted to see who could Strike!
Cheers
