Knowing the oil pattern in advance

[jimcross]

I'll start the honesty stakes. I just voted NO, on the grounds that I bowled in the times when oil was sprayed on the lane by hand sprayer - you bowled balls down and observed what they did and adjusted accordingly. Lane surface? - Yes, there was one!. Definately!
Now for the real honest bit. When I look at oil pattern charts, they mean absolutely NOTHING to me. Nothing - I don't know what they're trying to tell me.
Anybody else want to admit they don't know what they're looking at, or what to do about it?

I want to change my vote!!! I didn't read the question properly before I voted. I didn't notice that when I said 'no', I was also saying that other people shouldn't know the pattern ' that they should have an 'ability' to work it out. ( Shame George, for framing the question that way !!)
I don't want to know how the silly patterns are supposed to work, If others do, for their own reasons - Go for it!

 

[Geoff300]

I voted yes, for a number of reasons.

When travelling to major tournaments, most of the field is lucky to take 5-6 balls, especially if they are flying. While, in reality, the pattern plays a much less significant role in how the balls will react then most of us realise, it definitely gives a starting point as to try to work out what gear to take.

There is no reason why the people who have taken the trouble and effort to understand what a lane graph means, understanding the difference of lane surfaces and general topography should be punished for that. We should be encouraging this, not saying it's useless and unfair.

I can't think of any other sport where one of the biggest variables isn't know or highly visible to the competitors.

Cheers, Cow

I think you are right

Knowledge is power and understanding is vital

In the end it is only a starting point anyway
as very often lanes play very differently to
the intended condition applied

Anyway whats the big deal about letting people know
what pattern is being put down for any given tourn

It is a bit like going to Perth for Cricket you know
roughly what the conditions will be so you take an
extra fast bowler, then go to SCG so you take a spinner
Sydney

 

[Lefty Can't Carry]

I think that bowlers should not only know the oil pattern, but what surface they will be bowling on.
I recently went to Auckland NZ for the Seniors championships, expecting that all centers are now synthetic.......WRONG!!!!!
Pins tenpin in Auckland must be the only bowl still with TIMBER lanes.
I looked at the pattern and said to myself......self 3 reactives for the pattern should be fine.... light oil, heavy oil polished & heavy oil dull, and take the sanding pads just in case.
I don't rev the ball that much, but I was swinging it coast to coast( well for me anyway) and had problems controlling the break point.
Anyway, the point I am trying to make, is although the pattern was supplied, if I had known what the surface was, my ball choice would have been much different... leaning more towards harder/polished, balls for light /dry oil patterns, than what was shown.

 

[gwhiting]

I don't see any issue in knowing the iol pattern in advance. It allows bowlers to take balls that will suit the conditions.

What I don't believe should happen is the pattern being put down weeks before the event for local bowlers to practice on. This can give those bowlers an advantage.

 

[Troyza]

I think that bowlers should not only know the oil pattern, but what surface they will be bowling on.
I recently went to Auckland NZ for the Seniors championships, expecting that all centers are now synthetic.......WRONG!!!!!
Pins tenpin in Auckland must be the only bowl still with TIMBER lanes.
I looked at the pattern and said to myself......self 3 reactives for the pattern should be fine.... light oil, heavy oil polished & heavy oil dull, and take the sanding pads just in case.
I don't rev the ball that much, but I was swinging it coast to coast( well for me anyway) and had problems controlling the break point.
Anyway, the point I am trying to make, is although the pattern was supplied, if I had known what the surface was, my ball choice would have been much different... leaning more towards harder/polished, balls for light /dry oil patterns, than what was shown.

Plenty of centers still have wooden lanes, everywhere. Infact, I know people who prefer wood to synthetic! ( ;

 

[Hooligan]

I think that bowlers should not only know the oil pattern, but what surface they will be bowling on.
I recently went to Auckland NZ for the Seniors championships, expecting that all centers are now synthetic.......WRONG!!!!!
Pins tenpin in Auckland must be the only bowl still with TIMBER lanes.
I looked at the pattern and said to myself......self 3 reactives for the pattern should be fine.... light oil, heavy oil polished & heavy oil dull, and take the sanding pads just in case.
I don't rev the ball that much, but I was swinging it coast to coast( well for me anyway) and had problems controlling the break point.
Anyway, the point I am trying to make, is although the pattern was supplied, if I had known what the surface was, my ball choice would have been much different... leaning more towards harder/polished, balls for light /dry oil patterns, than what was shown.

Just a heads up. If you are bowling the Hammer QLD Seniors Classic at Caboolture, expect timber.

.....

And high scores.

.....

Really high scores.

 

[Transline]

Well what can I say, having to travel from New Zealand as I will for the Australian Senior Open, its important to know at least what the oil pattern is going to be. I'm a tech so I can read the graphs which helps. In all I would have to agree with Phluff, Michael & Jason on most counts.

 

[jason_doust]

I want to change my vote!!!

I don't want to know how the silly patterns are supposed to work, If others do, for their own reasons - Go for it!

OK, so with Jim's vote that makes it 42 Yay - 22 Nay and about 20 who couldn't give a flying swear word. So - publish the patterns. Common sense has prevailed.

Surface information would be good to know too. (e.g. Type of lane; Anvilane, HPL, SPL, Murray or even the new ones coming out of Asia. Then the age of the installation and what kind of house shot they lay. e.g. Castle Hill or Tuggeranong is Anvilane and it's ageing, a hard synthetic surface, but they both lay a walled-up really dry house shot and have done for years. The result is that the outside of the panels is unprotected by oil and reactive balls have glazed this area. As soon as you put oil out there, it might as well be ice. So you know a short pattern could get really tricky if the weather gets humid, as the lane wash won't be as effective and the outside blend will get "squiggly" off the break point.

I usually just ring the centre if I can't find out on here.

 

[janet pratt]

What about the following scenario:

Patterns are not to be advertised yet someone at the centre or in the tournament room knows the pattern and passes this onto their friends.

We then have some of the field armed with knowledge and the rest going in not having had that opportunity

I voted yes.

janet

 

[jason_doust]

What about the following scenario:

Patterns are not to be advertised yet someone at the centre or in the tournament room knows the pattern and passes this onto their friends.

We then have some of the field armed with knowledge and the rest going in not having had that opportunity

I voted yes.

janet

Exactly. It's happened before today.

 

[bowlrig]

Exactly. It's happened before today.

And advertised patterns have mysteriously changed prior to and during events before as well.

To many variables either way, airconditioning, weather, lane wash (brand & mix), lane oil used, machine maintained properly (or not), lanes not running east to west etc. who knows?

Realistically, it is only Centres with Kegels and Authority 22 lane machines that can give you anything near an advertised pattern.

JMO

Rob

 

[Frank Zippell]

Makes no difference to me, as long as I can hit some pins................I'm happy

 

[Lefty Can't Carry]

Originally posted by Hooligan
Just a heads up. If you are bowling the Hammer QLD Seniors Classic at Caboolture, expect timber.

.....

And high scores.

.....

Really high scores. [

Yea I bowled there last January & averaged 230.00( and didn't win)

 

[Captain Obvious]

As long as there's plenty of oil

 

[Aussie]

You dont want to know the truth,Learn to bowl would be a great start.

 

[jason_doust]

Yea I bowled there last January & averaged 230.00( and didn't win)

That's because the lanes were blocked and it was a carry contest. Like all the ATBSO events, bar Canberra last year, where they all cried like babies because they actually missed when they missed. Unlike the joke conditions at Sunshine earlier on which everyone believed they "just bowled better." If you want to know the oil pattern at an ATBSO event in advance. Easy. Ditched up within a board or two of 10. It's what they want everywhere. Dry blocked shots. If there was a Gold, Silver Bronze pattern system, these shots would be almost Tin, as they place no premium on accuracy and reward poor ball roll. The bowler needs to sort out the approaches at a tough event.

Some people believe that league bowling is honest and that anything remotely tougher is too hard. This is a looong way from the truth. It's not all their fault, as what else do you get to see these days.

But for too long guys that should have been told to get a coach and go practice ("Learn to bowl" as Andy said) have been placated by uneducated centre managers who tell the head tech to "Make the lanes easier" in the quest for a quiet life. Consequently league averages are high, but (with a few exceptions) skill and knowledge levels have never been lower in the last 30 years.

It makes me sad. Why do people want to be so blind..?

 

[strop]

Hey Jase,

That's because the lanes were blocked and it was a carry contest. Like all the ATBSO events, bar Canberra last year, where they all cried like babies because they actually missed when they missed.

Would you say the same about the TBA Seniors Cup at Rooty hill....?

I mean I average over 220 in matchplay to win, would you class that as a ditch?

George seem to struggle on it, and it was the same pattern through out.

Cheers

Tony


P.S. I am still surprised these days as to how many bowlers cannot score on a ditch!!

 

[RobbieB]

Consequently league averages are high, but (with a few exceptions) skill and knowledge levels have never been lower in the last 30 years.

It makes me sad. Why do people want to be so blind..?

Looks to me like you answered your own question, Jason. Most high average league bowlers simply have no idea as to their true skill level.

 

[jason_doust]

Hey Jase,

Would you say the same about the TBA Seniors Cup at Rooty hill....?

I mean I average over 220 in matchplay to win, would you class that as a ditch?

George seem to struggle on it, and it was the same pattern through out.

Cheers

Tony


P.S. I am still surprised these days as to how many bowlers cannot score on a ditch!!

I wasn't there Tony. Can't comment. Personally, I thought George and most of the lefties played too far out at Open Masters (or not far enough - I found a look on 2 board way too late in the piece), but I didn't see the seniors event.

Players who usually struggle on a ditch are the ones who generate stronger ball roll. The extremely dry condiitons outside a walled up pattern mean that if you have strong ball roll, your ball will over-react and nose dive, whereas weaker roll will read it straighter and make the pocket. It can get even nastier when there is a mountain of oil in the middle, so balls that go left with a higher rev rate skate past the break point and leave washouts.

I remember Anne Maree Putney shooting 298-300 on a stone-walled pair where all I could do was leave 2-10's if I missed left and 3-10's if I missed right. I had to hit a splinter to stike with a urethane ball. (Didn't own a reactive ball back then.) That's the single worst case of over reaction on a blocked lane I've ever experienced personally. But AMP had about 7 boards to strike from and she doesn't miss by 3 left or 4 right too often. To her credit, she made hay while the sun shone.

 

[strop]

Fair enough Jase,

Players who usually struggle on a ditch are the ones who generate stronger ball roll. The extremely dry condiitons outside a walled up pattern mean that if you have strong ball roll, your ball will over-react and nose dive

Perhaps these bowlers might need a bit more practice on them, to be a good all rounder. ?

cheers

Tony