If You’re a Serious Bowler, You Need to Know About Bowling Lane Oil
Key takeaways
- Tackett has won the last three world titles, and there’s a convincing case that he’s currently the best bowler on Earth.
- Most of us amateurs have never thought about the thin layer of oil that coats the surface of the bowling lane—unless someone at our local bowling center slips and falls on it hilariously.
- Oil distribution can change over the course of a game, and in fact the starting pattern is intentionally redrawn for various PBA events, forcing pros to adjust on the fly.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Each time EJ Tackett steps to his lane to throw a shot in the upcoming Professional Bowlers Association World Championships, he’ll be thinking about more than just ball spin or angle.
Tackett has won the last three world titles, and there’s a convincing case that he’s currently the best bowler on Earth. While his ability to throw a consistent ball is certainly key to his success, there’s another factor he and his fellow PBA pros are paying closer attention to during matches: lane oil patterns.
Most of us amateurs have never thought about the thin layer of oil that coats the surface of the bowling lane—unless someone at our local bowling center slips and falls on it hilariously. But at the highest levels of the sport, lane oil is a foundational element of tactics and game-planning. The oil is applied in a distinct pattern that reduces the friction of specific parts of the lane, allowing a well thrown ball to slide across certain areas, then grab ahold of the surface and curl when it’s supposed to.