Two-Handed Bowling: Radium Lane Sheet (Short Pattern)
Scott PohlDescription
Competing on short patterns can be challenging. Bowling ball selection and where to play are two main keys for a successful outing. In this Premium Video, Scott Pohl, owner of On Track Pro Shop, overviews Radium’s lane sheet and explains what to look for to help make the right ball choice and how you want to approach playing this pattern.
Oil pattern distance
This distance for Radium is 37 feet. This tells us it’s a shorter pattern. Using the Rule of 31 gives us a break point, roughly around six board at the end of the pattern (37 feet).
If the lane surface is softer (wood lanes), the break point can be a little bit further outside. If you are bowling on a harder finish (synthetic lanes), it could be a little bit further inside.
Oil volume
Radium is 25.01mL of oil volume. This makes it right in the middle for volume of oil. In general, if we get a pattern with an oil volume total of 27mL’s – 28mL’s, it’s going to be considered a little bit heavier.
Chances are we have to play a little bit more in the inside part of the lane. But since we’re right in the middle, this keeps most characteristics true to the rule of 31.
Track zone ratio
The track zone ratio tells us how the oil is dispersed on the lane from three board to seven board and from 18 to 18 boards. You see it’s 1.8 to 1 meaning it’s pretty flat. Because it is flat with medium volume and it’s short in distance, Radium can be a tricky pattern and it will require good shot making.
Forward oil and reverse oil
You can see on the sheet that the forward oil is 10.215 mL. and reverse oil is 14.795 mL. When analyzing these numbers remember that reverse oil is what creates the ball to get down the lane consistently, whereas forward oil creates the shape in the pattern. In general, Radium should hold up pretty well in the front part of the lane.
So to summarize, we have a pattern that is a little bit shorter with medium volume and it is pretty flat. The break point recommended is around five or six board and the front part of the lane should hold up throughout the block.