Graham
Staff member
This was released on the TBA site a couple of days ago, interesting reading.
http://www.tenpin.org.au/Rules/TBA Lane Conditioning Policy.pdf
NATIONAL RANKED TOURNAMENTS LANE CONDITION POLICY 2004
Why do we need a policy?
The Board of Tenpin Bowling Australia supports the concept that a higher level of skill should be required to excel in National Ranked Events. Currently, league type “house shots” are being used in the majority of ranked events. Simply put, these lane conditions give the bowler more room for error in both accuracy and speed, giving the ball more chance of hitting
the pocket, thereby raising scores through more strikes and simple spare leaves.
The intention of this policy is to enhance the skills of elite bowlers in this country. The ranked events are a guide to selection for national representation, and as in any elite sport a higher standard is expected to test competitors at the major level. Our sport like golf is one that can change conditions to test its players. No one would expect short rough and easy pin placements at the US Golf Open, why should Australia set the same easy conditions for its major tenpin tournaments.
House shot vs tournament condition.
When a tape reading is taken from the house shot type condition, the graph shows a high ratio of oil in the middle of the lane, than what is on the outside 6 boards. These ratios can be anywhere from 4:1 times more oil in the middle, to 10:1. Obviously the ratios are much higher in centres where NO oil is being laid on the outside 6 boards. It is not necessarily the case that the higher the ratio the higher the scoring, in fact some very high ratio conditions can be unfair to some bowler types. But on the whole the higher the ratio the wider the area the bowler has to strike.
As the case in many successful tenpin countries, WTBA events and on the Pro Tour, tournament patterns are much tougher on the bowler than the league shot. Ratios are in the vicinity of 2:1 to 3:1. The high “top hat” thatis seen in the league condition graph is chopped off. There is still more oil in the middle of the lane, but the steering effect of the “wall” is greatly
diminished. Higher skills are required. Rotation, speed repetition and the ability to play different angles become important. These skills are ones that need to be practiced.
Tournament patterns around the world vary of course depending on who is organizing the event or the knowledge of the lane man. Successful tenpin countries like Sweden want bowlers to be tested when it comes to their major events, whilst other countries use similar patterns to what is currently being done here in Australia.
What is the new Ration policy for our events?
TBA has set maximum of 3:1 ratio for all ranked events where the oil length is 38-42 feet. Where the oil length is between 35 feet and less than 38 feet the ration may go to 4:1. The previous minimum five unit rule is replaced by the simple requirement of oil to be present edge board to edge board. This maybe one or two units, but the same above ratio exists.
How is the ratio measured?
After the tape reading is completed the average reading in units of oil on boards 18, 19, 20 must not be more than 3 times greater than that on boards 3,4,5,6,7. Tape readings should be taken at 3 points on the lane. Between 8-10 feet, 25 -30 feet and one foot behind the end of the buff line of oil.
What effect on scoring?
When we look at the results of tournament played on pattern with ratios of 2:1 like the WTBA World Championships, some PBA Events and some Sport Bowling competition, the scoring pace was over 225 average to win. Various factors will effect the scoring on a 3:1 ratio pattern including surface, type of oil, length of buff, how well oil is cleaned off the lane and preparation by the centre. 3:1 ratio patterns tend to give more styles of bowlers a chance to play, with accuracy coming into play with the “area” that a league house shot gives being somewhat diminished.
Centre Preparation
Obviously for most bowling centres the focus is on setting a good consistent house pattern that keeps the league bowlers happy week to week. Those centres that wish to run a National Ranked event will now need to do some additional preparation and testing of a pattern that falls within the new policy guidelines. Regardless of whatever type of oiling machine used, oil is laid down on the lane by a brush type buff roller. Oil build up in the roller from a house pattern can corrupt a new pattern being either tested or being done on the Saturday morning for the first squad. It is recommended to run the brush dry for 6 lanes to take the “blind” pattern out of the brush, before starting a new pattern.
Testing the pattern in the weeks before the event either by tournament players practicing or by way of a mini tournament is the best guide for the centres to see if the pattern is fair. It also gives local bowlers some “inside knowledge”, as well as increasing practice play by visiting tournament players. This is something that is missing from our tournament scene with most patterns being the same tournament-to-tournament, year-to-year.
TBA Lane Policy procedure
A TBA representative will visit the centre where a Rankings Event is to be held in the week prior to the event to do a lane reading. The representative will complete a second lane reading prior to a squad in the Ranked Event.
If the lane condition does not comply on the second reading then no Rankings Points will apply for the event. Bowlers competing will be advised that no Rankings points will apply. The event in question will be taken from the Rankings list for the following year.
http://www.tenpin.org.au/Rules/TBA Lane Conditioning Policy.pdf
NATIONAL RANKED TOURNAMENTS LANE CONDITION POLICY 2004
Why do we need a policy?
The Board of Tenpin Bowling Australia supports the concept that a higher level of skill should be required to excel in National Ranked Events. Currently, league type “house shots” are being used in the majority of ranked events. Simply put, these lane conditions give the bowler more room for error in both accuracy and speed, giving the ball more chance of hitting
the pocket, thereby raising scores through more strikes and simple spare leaves.
The intention of this policy is to enhance the skills of elite bowlers in this country. The ranked events are a guide to selection for national representation, and as in any elite sport a higher standard is expected to test competitors at the major level. Our sport like golf is one that can change conditions to test its players. No one would expect short rough and easy pin placements at the US Golf Open, why should Australia set the same easy conditions for its major tenpin tournaments.
House shot vs tournament condition.
When a tape reading is taken from the house shot type condition, the graph shows a high ratio of oil in the middle of the lane, than what is on the outside 6 boards. These ratios can be anywhere from 4:1 times more oil in the middle, to 10:1. Obviously the ratios are much higher in centres where NO oil is being laid on the outside 6 boards. It is not necessarily the case that the higher the ratio the higher the scoring, in fact some very high ratio conditions can be unfair to some bowler types. But on the whole the higher the ratio the wider the area the bowler has to strike.
As the case in many successful tenpin countries, WTBA events and on the Pro Tour, tournament patterns are much tougher on the bowler than the league shot. Ratios are in the vicinity of 2:1 to 3:1. The high “top hat” thatis seen in the league condition graph is chopped off. There is still more oil in the middle of the lane, but the steering effect of the “wall” is greatly
diminished. Higher skills are required. Rotation, speed repetition and the ability to play different angles become important. These skills are ones that need to be practiced.
Tournament patterns around the world vary of course depending on who is organizing the event or the knowledge of the lane man. Successful tenpin countries like Sweden want bowlers to be tested when it comes to their major events, whilst other countries use similar patterns to what is currently being done here in Australia.
What is the new Ration policy for our events?
TBA has set maximum of 3:1 ratio for all ranked events where the oil length is 38-42 feet. Where the oil length is between 35 feet and less than 38 feet the ration may go to 4:1. The previous minimum five unit rule is replaced by the simple requirement of oil to be present edge board to edge board. This maybe one or two units, but the same above ratio exists.
How is the ratio measured?
After the tape reading is completed the average reading in units of oil on boards 18, 19, 20 must not be more than 3 times greater than that on boards 3,4,5,6,7. Tape readings should be taken at 3 points on the lane. Between 8-10 feet, 25 -30 feet and one foot behind the end of the buff line of oil.
What effect on scoring?
When we look at the results of tournament played on pattern with ratios of 2:1 like the WTBA World Championships, some PBA Events and some Sport Bowling competition, the scoring pace was over 225 average to win. Various factors will effect the scoring on a 3:1 ratio pattern including surface, type of oil, length of buff, how well oil is cleaned off the lane and preparation by the centre. 3:1 ratio patterns tend to give more styles of bowlers a chance to play, with accuracy coming into play with the “area” that a league house shot gives being somewhat diminished.
Centre Preparation
Obviously for most bowling centres the focus is on setting a good consistent house pattern that keeps the league bowlers happy week to week. Those centres that wish to run a National Ranked event will now need to do some additional preparation and testing of a pattern that falls within the new policy guidelines. Regardless of whatever type of oiling machine used, oil is laid down on the lane by a brush type buff roller. Oil build up in the roller from a house pattern can corrupt a new pattern being either tested or being done on the Saturday morning for the first squad. It is recommended to run the brush dry for 6 lanes to take the “blind” pattern out of the brush, before starting a new pattern.
Testing the pattern in the weeks before the event either by tournament players practicing or by way of a mini tournament is the best guide for the centres to see if the pattern is fair. It also gives local bowlers some “inside knowledge”, as well as increasing practice play by visiting tournament players. This is something that is missing from our tournament scene with most patterns being the same tournament-to-tournament, year-to-year.
TBA Lane Policy procedure
A TBA representative will visit the centre where a Rankings Event is to be held in the week prior to the event to do a lane reading. The representative will complete a second lane reading prior to a squad in the Ranked Event.
If the lane condition does not comply on the second reading then no Rankings Points will apply for the event. Bowlers competing will be advised that no Rankings points will apply. The event in question will be taken from the Rankings list for the following year.
