Expert: Chip Aki - 7/28/2004

Question
Dear Chip,
I have trouble understanding some of the terminology used in lane or ball reaction descriptions even though my english is as good as my native tongue.  I was hoping you could explain in a few words what is an over/under lane condition (and/or ball reaction), what is considered heavy oil (quantitatively speaking and not subjectively), how long (in ball shots) does it take before we can talk about carry down.
Thank you very much

Answer
Over/under occurs when the lane condition has an exreme wet/dry area.  If you miss your target left, you miss the head pin right.  If you miss your target right, you miss the pocket to the left. (this is for a righthander)  This type of ball reaction can occur if a track area has devoloped on the lane patter as well.

Heavy oil is much harder to define.  What may be heavy oil for one, is not heavy oil for the other.  I would suggest going to PBA.Com and taking a look at their lane conditions.  They also have a little explanation for each one and where the players tend to play the lanes.

Carry down can happen very quickly.  It depends on the type of lane oil used and the condition of the lane surface as well as the pattern used.  You can notice carry down in very few shots.  In league play, if you have bowlers throwing plastic equipment down the middle of the lane, you may notice carry down in a couple of frames.  If everyone is playing near the same line with reactive equipment, you may never notice carry down.

I hope this hasnt made things worse, if it has, feel free to ask me again so I can clear the mud a bit ;)

Good luck,
Chip