PBA Lane Conditions

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 Denny’s PBA Tour.

    ON TOUR

  • The PBA has a lane maintenance staff that travels to all tournaments (including PBA Regional and Senior Tours) and determines the appropriate oil pattern to apply, given the condition of the lane surface.
  • The PBA Lane Maintenance Program (PBALMP) balances many complicated variables associated with the cleaning, conditioning and verifying of lanes for a PBA event.
  • Once a pattern is set during any given PBA event, it remains the official playing condition for the entire tournament and may not be altered.

  • Denny's PBA Tour Patterns

    Chameleon - 39 feet

    Cheetah - 35 feet

    Scorpion - 41 feet

    Shark - 44 feet

    Viper - 37 feet

    Major's Patterns

    PBA Denny's World Championship - 41 feet

    PBA Regional Players Championship - 41 feet

    PBA Regional Players Invitational - 41 feet

    PBA Tournament of Champions - 39 feet

    US Open - 40 feet

    USBC Masters - 39 feet

    Regional/Senior Tour Patterns

    Regional Senior Pattern #1 - 37 feet

    Regional Senior Pattern #2 - 44 feet

    Regional Senior Pattern #3 - 41 feet

    Regional Senior Pattern #4 - 39 feet

    Regional Senior Pattern #5 - 35 feet

    Regional Tour Pattern #1 - 40 feet

    Regional Tour Pattern #2 - 36 feet

    Regional Tour Pattern #3 - 38 feet

    Regional Tour Pattern #4 - 42 feet

    Regional Tour Pattern #5 - 44 feet

    Senior U.S. Open - 41 feet

    Senior Pattern #1 - 37 feet

    Senior Pattern #2 - 44 feet

    Senior Pattern #3 - 41 feet

    Senior Pattern #4 - 39 feet

    Senior Pattern #5 - 35 feet

    League Patterns

    Typical League Pattern - 38 feet