Tournament Patterns

Some of the more common questions we get asked all the time is “what’s the shot going to be for the tournament” or “when are we going to get (fill in the blank) lane condition to bowl on” or words to that effect.

The SSO policy is to attempt to put out a “tournament condition”. So what does this mean you may ask. Generally speaking we will be putting out oiling patterns that may vary from somewhat easy to very difficult scoring conditions.

Patterns may vary from “Heavy Oil” to “Light Oil” and everything in between. Oil lengths may vary from short to long. Also we work closely with our local USBC association and may from time to time be putting out one of their tournament conditions they have in their library. We may choose patterns from Kegal Challenge, Recreation or Sport Series suggestions. We may choose the PBA series of patterns or the many USBC patterns available. Other patterns not mentioned here are also available.

It’s important to understand that each oiling machine is different and that they may be maintained anywhere from excellent to very poorly. Many other variables also exist so we may not get what we’re expecting when programming in a specific oiling pattern into these machines. As a result when we give out information on the pattern you will be bowling on, it is the pattern we ask our proprieters to program into their machine, however, we can not guarantee that the programed pattern we selected will actually be put down on the lane surface by these machines. History has shown us that more often then not we will not always get the oil pattern that’s expected. You be the judge!

For additional information please see this letter from our Tournament Executive Director.