Lane Masters and Legends re-release bowling balls that were popular in the 1990s, but with improved hitting power and better longevity. Parent company California Bowling now has four brands under its umbrella: Lane Masters, Legends by Lane Masters, Lord Field, and Swag. Find them at BowlerX.com!
BowlerX.com is the online bowling superstore. We are based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and are rated #1 for customer service, product knowledge and pricing. When you are shopping for bowling gear, whether for yourself or for gifts, you can be sure that you will receive first quality products at the lowest prices.
The Lane Masters and Legends balls typically feature the same two-piece cores as they did years ago, but the modern issues feature a new solid reactive coverstock instead of the Diamond Particle cover that was once so popular. These new covers are thicker than those of most other manufacturers. Fans say they don’t absorb oil at the same rate as other balls and can be wiped off with a towel, extending the life of the coverstock.
How Oil Affects Your Bowling Game
In addition to how you throw your ball and the material your ball is made of, oil on the lane dramatically affects the speed, spin and direction of your ball as it travels toward the pins.
Years ago, bowling alleys coated their lanes with oil to protect them and keep bowling balls from making large dents on the wood surface. Today, the majority of lanes are synthetic, but the conditioning of lanes with oil continues, but now it has an additional purpose – to make the game more challenging.\
Bowling alleys “dress” their lanes in different patterns. You can’t actually see the patterns, but understanding how they work can help you adjust your shots.
The basic “house pattern” is designed to help you make your shot and score higher. There is more oil in the middle of the lane and less at the outside. The design is intended to help the average bowler knock down pins by directing the ball toward the pocket. If you throw a poor shot, it will hit the dry outside and stop skidding and veering off course. If your shot goes too far to the inside, the oilier center of the lane will guide it back out to the pocket. Straight bowlers will have less to worry about than bowlers who throw a hook.
If you enter competitive PBA bowling tournaments, you will learn why it’s such a challenge to make it as a professional bowler. While the “house pattern” gives you a greater margin of error, tournaments use a “sport pattern” to make it more difficult to consistently hit the pocket. The oil is distributed more evenly across the lane so, if you miss your target, it won’t keep your ball from hooking into the gutter. Are you ready to put your knowledge about oil patterns to use?
Visit the BowlerX.com website for Lane Masters and Legends bowling balls. If you need more bowling tips or have questions to be answered, give us a call at 844.269.5379 or contact us online.