Bowling oil patterns, just like the bowling lanes oil is applied onto, come in various shapes, sizes, and dimensions. To a novice bowler, phrases such as the “PBA Cheetah 33 Pattern” and the “USBC Red Pattern” may be too much to handle, given how technical things can get in the professional bowling scene.
In this guide, we will provide you with the basics of bowling oil patterns, how to read bowling oil patterns, and what the important factors are when it comes to lane conditions (with a special emphasis on hook shots).
If you are ready to learn more about this fascinating sport, then continue reading!
The Purpose of Bowling Oil Patterns
Bowling lanes are traditionally made of wood (usually Maple or Pine). In modern times, you would typically encounter a mix of synthetic material, fiberglass, laminates, and other components. Regardless of the build and supposed sturdiness offered by each material, constantly pounding it with, at most, 16-pound bowling balls will lead to wear and tear.
The impact, friction, and collision with pins at the end all contribute to the damage and degradation of the bowling lanes.
To combat this, early innovators and fans of bowling decided to lubricate the field of play by applying what we now know as bowling oil. This was applied to make each bowling ball travel smoother and encounter less friction which effectively reduces the stress on bowling lanes (think of how certain machines, tools, and equipment that have gears, twists, or swivels are lubricated on a regular basis).
However, aside from its purported practical and cost-efficient use, it was soon discovered that lane conditions with bowling oil seemed to significantly affect the travel time, velocity, trajectory, and hook potential of bowling balls.
This disruption led to several discussions on the application of bowling oil which resulted in what we now know today as various oil lane conditions. In its most general sense, oil lane conditions can be categorized into the following: light, medium, and heavy. However, in both amateur and professional competitions (as well as high-end bowling facilities), oil lane conditions took up a more sophisticated position which gave birth to a multitude of different patterns, densities, and lengths of oil application.
It is important to know bowling oil patterns when executing hook shots for the simple fact that a hooked bowling ball relies on friction and the angle of entry in order to generate the needed force and direction to collide with the sweet spot or pocket of the standing bowling pins.
If a bowling lane is oiled too heavily, then bowlers should adjust their hook shots to peak earlier rather than toward the end to avoid poor shots (or even worse, a gutter ball).
If a bowling lane is oiled only a short distance (from the starting point), then perhaps expert bowlers could take risks and use a reactive resin bowling ball that is designed for late hooking.
However, if the bowler is right-handed and the bowling lane has been used frequently throughout the day, then the bowler should expect a less dense concentration of oil as the majority of bowlers are right-handed and therefore have right-aligned hook shots.
Conversely, for left-handed bowlers, they should expect the left section of the lane to still have the indicated oil pattern almost completely intact, which would require certain adjustments in how the bowling ball is hooked.
The examples mentioned above are just a few of the several different intricacies offered by the application of bowling oil on bowling lanes. For better or for worse, bowling oil has changed the game of bowling for good. Personally, we think it is a great addition that makes the game more nuanced.
Different Types of Bowling Oil Patterns
There are hundreds of different bowling oil patterns in both amateur and professional bowling scenes. Even your local bowling alley adheres to a specific set of bowling oil patterns. Let us take a look at a few of the popular oil patterns in the history of the sport.
Simple Oil Patterns
None - No oil applied at all. This type of oil pattern is still used to this day by certain bowling alleys as a way of eliminating the added expense of purchasing bowling lane oil (this is not good for long-term use). A typical house shot in a lane with no oil applied can spell disaster quicker than any of the other actual oil lane conditions.
Light
For bowling alley owners and managers who understand the use of bowling lane oil but would still like to stick to the least costly side, light oil lane conditions would require no greater than 22 ml of oil.
Medium
The most commonly used oil pattern in medium-tier bowling alleys are medium oil lane conditions in which 22 ml - 26 ml of oil is applied to each bowling lane.
Heavy
For bowling alleys that prioritize long-term use and encourage their facilities as training grounds to get into the amateur and professional leagues, heavy oil lane conditions are used in which upwards of 26 ml of oil is applied to every bowling lane.
Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Oil Patterns
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has had a wide variety of oil patterns used in both regional and national bowling circuits and competitions. Listed below are the existing oil patterns that have either been used in actual competition or created in honor of some notable figures in the sport.
Animal Patterns
Legend Patterns
United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Oil Patterns
Red Oil Pattern
This oil pattern focuses more on the application of bowling lane oil in the center of the lane rather than the sides or edges. This pattern is more forgiving and provides the biggest room for error when executing hook shots.
White Oil Pattern
This oil pattern has a more evened-out application of oil, with relatively more bowling lane oil applied to the sides or edges. This pattern poses a greater challenge when executing hook shots.
Blue Oil Pattern
Of the three oil patterns, this one is reported to be the most challenging simply because of a flatter oil application across all portions of the lane. The margin of error in this oil pattern is significantly smaller. This oil pattern is typically used by professionals or advanced bowling players who want to work on their hook shot executions.
The Fundamentals of Reading Oil Patterns
Experts in the field of bowling lane oil application are known as pattern specialists or lane technicians. These are the individuals you converse with if you want a more enriching understanding of oil lane conditions.
In the meantime, take a look at the following important factors to consider when attempting to read the oil pattern of a particular bowling lane through an oil pattern sheet.
Pattern Length
This refers to how far the oil application goes in terms of feet. It is important to understand this to determine the break point of your hook shot. The Rule of 31 (oil pattern length less 31 feet) is the most commonly used formula to determine which number board you should target for the hook motion or peak to activate.
Oil Volume
Oil volume refers to how dense the oil is in a given bowling lane. As mentioned earlier in this guide, and in accordance with USBC guidelines, light volume is no greater than 22 ml, medium volume is 22 ml - 26 ml, and heavy volume is anything greater than 26 ml.
Side to Side Ratio
The side to side ratio dictates the spread of the application of oil in relation to the crowning (center application). It is important to identify this ratio to determine how far out to the side you can swing your bowling ball to execute the proper hook shot without leading it into the gutter.
Lengthwise Taper
The lengthwise taper is another important factor to consider as it presents you with how the application of oil fades as it progresses along the bowling lane. This is commonly indicated by how light or dark the shade is in a bowling sheet and is another way of finding out how to effectively execute your hook shot.
Lane Width
Last but not least is actual lane width. Much like the side to side ratio, it is important to be familiar with how wide the bowling lane actually is to determine how effectively you can throw your hook shots in terms of how far left or right it can go without heading to the gutter.
Conclusion
Bowling is a complex sport, there is no doubt about it. This is significantly due to the fact that bowling oil patterns and general oil density can drastically affect a bowling ball player’s performance and preparation in the lead-up to a competition or circuit. Much like how tennis players have to practice for different surfaces or how football players have to get used to different weather conditions, oil lane conditions in bowling are very important for advanced-level players to know, understand, and practice in.