Its all about the wood.

So, this year the USBC Womens National Bowling Tournament is being held in Charlotte NC. While neither of the main events are being held at the center I work at (singles/doubles and team), we are holding something called the Forty Frame Game, and the Ladies Bowlers Journal Singles Challenge and No-Tap Doubles. Both of these are optional first come, first serve tournaments that are mostly for fun.
We've had ladies with averages all over the place come in and bowl this thing. Some are barely breaking 100, while others are super-awsome bowlers with 200+ averages.

Its the latter group that surprises me. You would think that these people with uber high averages would be taking up all the spaces in the Top 25 posted, hoarding all the payout monies, etc.

For the most part, they suck.

Well, thats not to say they bowled badly. But to someone with a 208 average, a 160-something is not usually considered a good game. Hell, the woman up now has a 180 average, and might squeeze b with a 155 if she Turkeys in the Tenth.

My average fluctuates between 148 and 151, and I get miffed at myself if I bowl 148. How do you think some of these people feel?

A possible (and likely) explanation is that Uni Lanes are wood. Most places nowadays are synthetic. Apparently, people do better on synthetic than the real stuff. Why? I dont know. Im sure theres a nice detailed explanation for it, and if a really good, serious bowler type person stumbles upon this, Im sure theyll be able to enlighten us as to why.
Cuz I certainly have no idea. The only difference I can tell between the two is the sound my ball makes when it hits the lane after delivery.

I also cant tell much of a difference between a wet (fresh oil) and dry (little/no oil) lane, other than getting an oily ball back through the ball return.

Shows how much I know.

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