Oil Pattern

Question
I have been bowling for over 30 years and have been bowling on sport shots for the past 4 years I have made the All Army team and even cashed in a PBA event. I was wondering how do I learn the oil pattern on the lane with just 5 shots without knowing what the pattern is?  My friend told me there was a way you could do this by rolling your ball and watching the reaction.  I have tried to do this but still have trouble determining what the pattern is.

Thank you,
William

Answer
William,
Don't worry about identify the pattern, as different machine may not apply a given pattern consistently.

Can you scout the lanes before competition? Can you walk out onto the side walkways and observe the oil line on the lanes? Scout the front part of the lane (the heads) for damage/ dark boards? Seeing the length, then getting a sense of the oil volume should help determine where you want to play.

Do you have a preferable line to play? A path to the pocket that plays to your strengths? When playing for a couple games (like league), do you prefer to change balls and stay in the same part of the lane? Do you prefer to move with the same ball (maybe play with your hand positions to keep the ball on line to the pocket) until it no longer works? When rolling more games, tournament block, sweeper, etc. while changing lanes, are you seeking to replicate shots using the same line as on other lanes, or do you try to pre-scout the lanes trying to observe where others are playing on the lanes?

When you don't know the condition, using a benchmark ball (a ball that provides a reaction you are very familiar with, that ideally suits your skills), throw a shot on your favorite line. If you miss left (ball goes left of 17th board - perfect pocket hit), move left an arrow with feet and target, if you miss right do the same thing right. The second shot should give you enough info to move (in or out) further and play the area between shot 1 and 3 or if no playable reaction is identified and you feel a ball/surface change isn't viable, observe where others are playing and adjust accordingly. Your equipment should help you play where you want, but never ignore when the competition is playing similarly, the traffic will help transition the lanes so you might take advantage of the transition.

Fine tune your reaction, with surface changes or ball changes, but commit. Fishing for a target path could result in difficult spares or splits. Some target lines might get you to the pocket, but not effectively enough to strike, be patient, often as you play your ball path changes the lane enough to improve carry.  

Thanks for the question. Let me know more.