Bowling Lane Play Articles
Lane play is, by a fairly large margin, our most requested topic for new articles. And, it's really not too big of a surprise: the topic of lane play is very broad. To have a good grasp on lane play, bowlers need an understanding of many different sub-topics, include oil patterns, lane surfaces, bowling balls, coverstocks, layouts, physical adjustments, ball motion, pattern breakdown, carrydown, pin carry, and countless others!
Combine all of this complexity with the fact that bowling has experienced such rapid and dramatic change in this area over the last several decades and it is very easy to understand why bowlers continue to request more and more information on this topic. To give just one example, many of our readers grew up and bowled very successfully for decades in the era when bowlers typically carried just one bowling ball. They typically threw their ball right up the second arrow 90% of the time, perhaps making small physical and alignment adjustments to keep their ball in the pocket and striking throughout a bowling session. Contrast that with today, where it isn't uncommon at all for a tournament bowler to start outside of the first arrow and then, by the later games of the block, end up lofting the left gutter with a totally different bowling ball and a totally different set of delivery parameters. To say that the game has changed is certainly a huge understatement!
Our contributors make it a priority to try to help you better understand the intricacies of modern lane play. Study their articles below and formulate your own strategies for how best to attack the conditions you face. Proper lane play in today's game requires a combination of knowledge, skill, and open-mindedness. The information you'll find below represents some of the best lane play knowledge available anywhere. But, at the end of the day, it is up to the bowler to combine this knowledge with good shot-making and good observational skills so that they can more frequently make the right decisions when it matters most.
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Featured Bowling Lane Play Articles
Three Quick Things: Mental Ignition Points, Acceptance Equals Action, and Rethinking the Crossover Step
In this new recurring feature, I'll be digging into three quick things to help improve your game. In each installment, we'll cover one aspect of the mental game, a lane play issue, and an element of the physical game. In...
A Process for Mastering Lane Play
Four steps to making better decisions on the lanes
Lane play is complicated. At this point, I've written countless articles about the topic. It's both the best and most frustrating part of bowling because oil patterns, the lanes, and transition are different every time—even if you bowl on the...
Coach, I’ve Got a Question! – August 2024
In this recurring feature, I answer questions from Bowling This Month readers. If you have questions, please leave them in the comment section below so I can address them in a future installment of Coach, I’ve Got a Question! How do I...
Coach, I’ve Got a Question! – May 2024
In this recurring feature, I answer questions from Bowling This Month readers. If you have questions, please leave them in the comment section below so I can address them in a future installment of Coach, I’ve Got a Question! I'm comfortable bowling...
Making the Most of a Low Rev Rate – Part 1
The four types of low rev rate players and strategies for speed-dominant gunners
Back when I had a pro shop, I'd often have people come in to ask about a new ball who described their game as "throwing it like Norm Duke." To most of the people who have ever said that: no,...