I think there are a number factors involved today in league conditions seemingly being tougher then in the past.
1. Your average straight bowler really doesn't care or even notice what the lane conditions are. Urethane up the middle to the head pin is going to be the same regardless. So, lane conditions really only effect bowlers who throw hooks. Those are the same bowlers who usually bowl 170 and above. Today's equipment is much better then it was 5 years ago, and especially 25 years ago. In some ways it's easier to bowl now then ever before due to the excellence of the bowling balls being used. They hit harder, carry better, are more forgiving in some ways, then ever before. So...to compensate...I think many places are making the lanes a bit harder just to keep things "fair".
2. Harder lanes makes it easier to sell new equipment. Whether this is a conscious decision or just an accident, bowling ball makers and their sellers want to sell more "stuff". Different lane conditions, variable lane conditions, promote new sales. For me..this has been the year of multiple purchases of new bowling balls to try and keep my average up vs. constantly changing lane conditions. I just can't keep my average in the 180's and just use one bowling ball anymore plus maybe a spare ball. You now "need" heavy oil balls, medium oil balls, medium to dry lane balls, etc. I think there are several reasons for this. For one, look at the cost of gasoline these days. Oil prices are up. Manufacturing costs are up. Some lanes are reacting by not oiling the lanes as much or as often as they used to. Secondly, bowling balls today soak up oil on the lanes as never before changing conditions from game to game for then ever.
3. I think there is a conscious "decision" to make the game tougher because of the excellence of the new equipment on the market today. It's a lot easier to raise your average into the 180's today then it has been in the past. You have great bowling balls, wrist braces that make it easier to throw the ball correctly, things like this. And that's great. It's a lot harder to move your average after you get past 200. For a 180 bowler, an extra strike here, a made spare there and your average can raise 10 pins rapidly. But for a 200 bowler you need strikes period. So, as lane conditions change nightly, it's the 200 plus bowlers who might feel the pinch the most in some ways, and hence complain about the lanes. The 180's people also feel it, and also complain because they don't have a shot anymore on a given night and don't know how to adjust properly or quickly enough, or have enough different shots to be able to handle the conditions. I'm in this category. On the other hand, I'm being forced to improve my knowledge and ability in order to compete, which is not a bad thing necessarily.
4. Competition is greater today, it would seem, then ever before, in all areas of our lives. We work harder, longer hours, under great pressure. I think that carries over to our leisure sports. We want to succeed, to improve, and to not have to work as hard for that. On the other we complain if it's too easy. We complain if it's too hard. We complain period. And we have outlets like this site to complain upon and hear other peoples stories from a thousand miles away. I know on my home house's lanes, we have been complaining all year about too little oil on the lanes, or too much, or most of all, not maintaining the lanes enough to make a consistent shot. I think that the days of being able to use one ball, on one shot, all night is over for all the reasons I've listed above. It's not as easy anymore to find, get into, and stay, in a groove.
And I still love the sport. It's tough were I bowl but that's okay too. In the end it will make me a better bowler. And besides, I'm with my friends and it's a great time to bowl, talk, laugh and just have fun. And in the end that's what it's all about.
Chuck :-)
