I have been bowling for about three years and have gotten my average into the mid-190 range. I bowl two scratch leagues in the same bowling center and it seems that the lane conditioner is different on the two nights of the week. The manager of the center says that the lanes are conditioned the same each night but the difference is caused by carrydown. I hate to sound stupid, but what is carrydown and why do lanes have different characteristics each night? ÐÐ Myron Masters, Fountain Valley, Calif.

In most bowling centers, the lanes are cleaned of all lane conditioner about two times per week. After the cleaning, all of the lane is perfectly clean of all lane conditioner. The lanes are then re-oiled to the specific distance of the bowling center. As bowlers throw the ball down the lane, the lane conditioner is carried on the ball further down the lane or what is called carrydown. This carrydown increases the distance down the lane that lane conditioner occurs and usually results in the bowling ball going further down the lane before starting its hooking action toward the pocket. While a certain amount of lane conditioner is removed due to bowling, this conditioner is usually replaced the next day when the lanes are conditioned. So if a bowling center cleans the lanes on Monday and Friday, you can usually count on the lanes hooking the most on Monday and Friday and the hooking action decreasing as each day passes from the cleaning. Assuming that the lanes are oiled the same daily, and this is a big assumption, the day that the lanes will hook the least would be Thursday, which is the day prior to the next cleaning.

OUT-OF-RANGE BET
I have a bet with my teammate regarding what should be done with a pin that is knocked down by the pinsetting machine. He says that the pin should be put back on its original spot, while I say that the pin should be put back at the position on the pindeck where it was knocked down. What is the answer to this question? ÐÐ Marty Becker, Waycross, Ga.

According to ABC/WIBC rules, a pin that is knocked down by the pinsetting machine shall be put back on its original spot. Usually the mechanic will reset a new set of pins and knock down all the other pins but the correct pin, and then recycle the machine to the second cycle.

WHAT HAPPENED TO PARKER?
I recently watched a telecast of the PBA Touring Players Championship and it seemed that Parker Bohn III was lined up well during his practice shots, but his ball wasn't hooking up to the pocket during the telecast. Can you shed some light on this observation? ÐÐ Rex Goldberg, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Even professional bowlers, as good as Parker Bohn III, have difficulty with their emotions during a single game match on television. What probably happened is that Parker got a little pumped during the telecast and started throwing the ball a bit faster than during his warm-up shots. This caused the bowling ball to skid a bit further before it started grabbing the lane surface. The result was the ball didn't get back to the pocket, even though he probably thought that he was hitting his mark on the lane. The pressure of a single game on television is great and even the best bowlers in the world can have difficulty during this situation. Additionally, unlike the rest of the tournament, where you have many games to make up for your mistakes, the single game format is over quickly.

PRACTICE WITH PLASTIC
I have been bowling for about three years and now have an average around 195. I feel that I am just a few steps away from getting into the 200-plus range. The biggest problem I have is an inconsistent release. Can you give me any ideas? ÐÐ Pedro Marquez, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One of the best practice routines for the higher average bowler is to drill up a plastic ball and practice with the plastic ball rather than a reactive bowling ball. What this does is train you to create a stronger release on the ball to get enough hook on the plastic ball to knock down the pins. When you go back to reactive balls, you will see a much stronger roll on the ball and improved hitting power because of the newly developed strong release.

Mike McGrath is a PBA and ABC Hall of Famer. Send your questions to him c/o Bowlers Journal International, 122 South Michigan, Suite 1506, Chicago, IL 60603.