What are the different types of oil patterns in bowling?

For information about our International Oil Pattern program, click here.

• Bear. Pattern Download (PBA Members Only)
• Chameleon. Pattern Download (PBA Members Only)
• Cheetah. Pattern Download (PBA Members Only)
• Dragon. Pattern Download (PBA Members Only)
• Scorpion. Pattern Download (PBA Members Only)
• Shark.
• Viper.
• Wolf.

Do bowling alleys have different oil patterns?

Every bowling lane, including the one in your neighborhood alley, is coated with an oil pattern to protect the wood. But these patterns aren’t just for protection — the way oil is applied to the lane can affect the speed and direction of your ball.

Are all bowling lanes oiled the same way?

Just like bowling balls, all bowling lanes are not the same. Wear and tear, lane makeup and, most importantly, the oil pattern make each bowling lane unique. Today oil patterns affect the balls reaction as it goes down the lane. Oil is extremely important to the game.

What kind of oil do you use for a bowling alley?

Mineral oil is the main substance used in today’s lane conditioners and accounts for about 98\% of most formulas. These high performance conditioners are necessary in bowling centers to help combat the aggressive bowling balls.

How do oil patterns affect bowling?

The oil pattern dramatically affects the speed, spin and direction of your ball as it travels toward the pins. Most bowling centers use recreational patterns – also known as “house patterns” – that are designed to make it easier for the average bowler to knock down pins by funneling the ball toward the pocket.

What is the pattern of oil?

The oil pattern dramatically affects the speed, spin and direction of your ball as it travels toward the pins. The oil is applied in terms of volume (amount of oil), shape (width of lane) and distance (length of lane).

What is a heavy oil pattern in bowling?

You ask one bowler, and they believe it refers to the length of the oil pattern, where light may be 37 ft, med – 39 ft, and heavy is 41 ft or longer.

What is the hardest PBA oil pattern?

Second generation patterns

• Badger (52-feet) is the longest PBA animal oil pattern be prepared to play straight keeping your break point closer to the pocket.
• Bear (40-feet) a flat pattern that has been characterized as the most difficult test in professional bowling with a flat 1 to 1 side-to-side oil ratio.

What is the Mark Roth oil pattern?

The 2020 PBA Mark Roth pattern is 42 feet in length generating 24.15 mL of volume with a ratio of 7:1, one of the highest ratio patterns on tour. The low to medium volume and high ratio will mean a high strike percentage.

What is Cheetah bowling?

Cheetah measures 35 feet in length and is the shortest of the five patterns. Sometimes used on lane surfaces that are well worn, it tries to maximize the area on the lane with less wear, which is usually extremely close to the gutter.