When watching the PBA pros, you may think, "Hey, I bowled a 210 before, I can be a pro too." It's not as easy as it looks. There's something that significantly changes the playing surface. Something you can't see: Oil.

History

In the early days of bowling, oil conditioner was applied to the lane as a barrier to protect the surface from damage over years of use.

As lacquer, polyurethane and synthetic surfaces became more popular, oil became part of the sport.

Today, PBA members must continuously adjust their strategies and methods of attacking the challenging conditions of the PBA Tour.

PBA Lane Maintenance Philosophy

The PBA Lane Maintenance Program (LMP) exists to balance the many complicated variables associated with cleaning and conditioning lanes during multi-day PBA tournaments. For all regular events on the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA50 Tour, one or more of the PBA’s patterns will be used at any given tournament. These patterns make up the "Official Playing Conditions of the PBA Tour."

Please note that because of the wide variety of lane surfaces/topographies that may be encountered at the many bowling centers hosting PBA events, pattern volume may be adjusted as needed, at the discretion of the lane maintenance professional on site. Current pattern information will be posted at each tournament location prior to the start of competition. It is PBA policy that a pattern will not be adjusted in any way for the duration of the tournament once that pattern has been introduced at the official practice session.

Patterns