It used to be so “easy” to be a backyard mechanic. When you lifted the hood of your car in the “old days,” there was so much room to move around in that engine compartment. Over the past several generations, however, it has developed that you pretty much need a computer science or engineering degree to be able to work on “them things.” The tools and the knowledge necessary have all gone “high tech” and have become so expensive.
Many of those mechanics gave up working on their cars by themselves; but, the ones who updated their knowledge and equipment have continued to work on their automobiles. They were willing to adapt and upgrade themselves to continue to be backyard mechanics.
It used to be so “easy” to be an avid bowler. When you went to the bowling alley, you only needed the one ball and things weren’t as complicated as now. Over the past several generations, however, it has developed that you pretty much need a computer science or engineering degree to be able to bowl. The tools and knowledge necessary have all gone “high tech” and have become so expensive.
As with any change, they have benefited many and been detrimental to some. Those who have embraced the “changing of the game,” are now scoring and averaging higher; those who have not, are still fighting the changes and consequently, don’t score as high as often as they would like and their averages have dropped. Unfortunately, some of them have given up the game rather than make the few minor adjustments that would have gotten them back to their old levels.
The surfaces and cores of bowling balls have developed to such a level that they are said to “think” for themselves as they move down the lane, the lanes are made of synthetic substances, the oils and the ability of bowling centers to put different patterns on the lanes with their computerized lane conditioning machines all have combined to the “changing of the game.”
The worldwide governing bodies of the sport have standardized bowling lanes, bowling balls, and types of oils used for the sport of bowling. However, except for specifying the minimum units of oil that must be placed on a lane, each bowling center is left on their own to dress the lanes as they see fit. Throughout my research, I have found the typical house shot to range from 21 to about 27 unites of oil per lane.
Everywhere you look in our world, changes are taking place; and, as with life, you have to adapt to them or be left behind. The technology of our sport is advancing so rapidly that everyone – newcomers and “old-comers” alike – have to continually upgrade their knowledge of the game to keep up.
1) Bowling balls now come in, literally, thousands of varieties and models. From hard-surfaced to soft-surfaced, from plastic to particle, and from symmetrical cores to asymmetrical cores, the modern bowler has a myriad of choices with which to “conquer” the center they will be bowling at on a regular basis. Do I bowl with a low-energy or high-energy bowling ball?
2) Synthetic lanes have become the norm throughout the world, replacing the old wooden boards that had to be resurfaced every few years. Synthetic surfaces also do not soak in the oils like wood used to. They tend to last longer and, while initial costs for conversion from wood lanes are a little higher, end up to be more cost-effective in the long run for the bowling center. In the past, the lanes were pretty much oiled from the foul line to the headpin (60 feet); in the modern game, a long length is around 45 feet with the last 15 feet being “dry.”
3) The oils used today are of higher viscosity (thicker) and are manufactured to withstand changes in temperature and humidity. Without getting too technical, suffice it to say that they are much more slick-feeling and, believe it or not, will stay on the lane for a longer time than in the “olden days.” ( I know some of you more experienced bowlers may disagree with this statement, but, just check the lane after a night of bowling and see how oily it still is.)
4) The computerized, programmable, and versatile lane conditioning machines being used by centers now have the ability to control the scoring in their houses. There are “easy” patterns where scoring will make a mediocre bowler a high average bowler; and, they can toughen them up to make it a challenging condition. Since there is no standard for individual houses with regard to how they should oil their lanes, this is a dynamic variable in the changing of the scores.
The basics and fundamentals of the game remain the same; however, without keeping up with the equipment changes, you will only continue to be an “above average bowler” rather than a “high average.”