New member, New lane-Need ideas

[MUTTS]

Good evening. Ive been lurking here for a while and after some struggles to get registered, Im thrilled to be here. What an addictive place this has become to read.

My pins arrived here in Syracuse NY today-I cant believe they are that small..not sure what I was expecting.

I grew up a bowler in a bowling family but now with work, 3 kids and lots of different hobbies and responsibilities, I see the inside of a bowling alley once or twice a year. A mini lane is perfect for me.

We have an outbuilding/barn that we have turned into a 1450 sq foot gymnasium. Its a great space and we play everything from basketball and floor hockey to dodgeball in there. Its the perfect place to bowl but I need to make the lane modular so its not in the way for other activities. Im toying with doing the full 30 ft from foul line to head pin. Probably five 6 foot sections. Laminate floor. I prefer a lane with less height than some that Ive seen here--just my preference. Id like the sections as light as possible.

Do you think 30ft is too long?
Are those of you with laminate lanes happy? Is one maple laminate superior to another (I was looking at them in Lowes tonight)?
Any thoughts on framing to keep the sections light. I need to be able to move them with my wife. Dont really want to use wheels/casters.

Ive got tons more questions but I just wanted to introduce myself first and say hello. You guys do some great work!!! Hopefully I can pull this off.

Tony
Syracuse, NY

[theultimateandy]

Well, let me be the first to give you a warm welcome from the West coast. I am amazed at how many new members we are getting here that want to build a 1/2 scale lane, I think we have been averaging about a new member every month for the past 6 months. If you were to make your lane 30' from foul line to head pin, that would be a true to scale mini lane. I wish I could have a 30 foot lane, but I don't have the room.

I am using an actual lane bed and is not portable, so I won't give any advise at this time other than there are a few good threads on here that discuss the same topic. Good luck with your new lane!

[MUTTS]

Its neat to have the opportunity to do a true 30ft lane...the trade off is it needs to be modular.

Tony

[wepauls]

Tony P M SteveJT66

HEs up in Albany not to far from you

[Stevejt66]

Hi Tony,
Welcome to mini bowling!! We are not too far apart, maybe 2 to 2 1/2 hours I believe....I'm in Albany, NY. I'd love to come bowl on your lane, and have you visit here to bowl on mine. My lane is one piece, not really too portable...LOL However with a few guys, it can be slid to one way or the other. There's a lot of members here who can help out a lot and have lots of great ideas. Enjoy this emerging form of bowling!! I'll have to do a recount, but I believe I am up to about 5,000 games or more.....I built mine in May of 2010.

[johncar1us]

Welcome Tony welcome aboard a great group of guys that love small scale bowling. Here are some measurement from My lane if it will help. The milk crates are fantastic I can stand on my lane and not have to worry or raise it if needed since they interlock.

[MUTTS]

For those of you using floor laminate as lanes, whats the consensus on ball material...rubber, urethane, plastic?????

When I watch videos of your lanes in use...I see lots of strikes. Is that the case or are you tending to showcase strikes. One of the reasons I was looking at a 30foot lane is to keep scoring down (personal preference but Id like to see 180-200 be the avg of a good bowler, not 230-240). Then Ive read other posts where scores are 150s-160s. Just throwing this out there to see what you guys think.

[theultimateandy]

The equipment used in mini bowling is nowhere as precise as in traditional bowling. There are no holes in the ball, and even though you can cup the ball in your hand, there is no control of the ball once it leaves your palm. My lane is only 12 feet long (10 1/2 feet from head pin) and I am averaging about 160, with a high game of 242. I would recommend that you build the first section of your lane regardless how short it is and throw some games on it and see what your scores are.

[Stevejt66]

Hi Tony,
To give you an idea, my lane is 20 ft. 1 inch from center of head pin to (foul line). My average is holding at about 174 to 178, and my average in full scale bowling was 178 to 183 when I stopped league bowling. My high game is 240 on my mini lane and 277 on full scale bowling. Right before I built my lane, I went out in my driveway which is about 65 feet long, and set up the pins on the pindeck I made and walked back 30 feet from the head pin. The pins looked far away.....I would imagine yes, it would be harder to get higher scores, but always wondered if I was able to make a 30 foot lane, if it would make it more difficult in comparison because as Andy said, it's harder to control the consistency of your release without fingerholes in the balls. Just food for thought. But yes, a 30 foot lane would be cool to try out!

[dhudach]

I actually drilled two small holes in 1/2 scale bowling ball I purchased from Linds - for my middle and ring finger tips, just the finger tips. It's enough to control and increase the rotation.

[theultimateandy]

I actually drilled two small holes in 1/2 scale bowling ball I purchased from Linds - for my middle and ring finger tips, just the finger tips. It's enough to control and increase the rotation.

Dhudach, you are way too much, that is AWESOME! I never would of have thought about doing that. How deep are the holes and how does it affect the weight of the ball? Do you get that clunking noise as the ball rolls down the lane?

[dhudach]

The holes are about 1/2 inch deep max I would say. Just enough that the finger tips have a way to grip the ball. I don't think it effect the weight too much because the holes aren't too large or too deep. It probably does roll over the holes from time to time, but I never really paid too much attention to it. I have had the lane apart for quite a while, I'm putting it back together so I can use it ( a novel idea right !? ). I should have it set up in the next few days. I'll let you know about it rolling over the holes. No need for a thumb hole of course.

Dave

[dberber]

I had the same idea but haven't drilled yet. I was gonna drill just deep enough for the finger tips to grip the ball more consistently. Now that I fixed the slipping problem on my drill press I'll probably do it to one of my balls. Also was gonna make an adapter for my full size bowling ball spinner and experiment with different surfaces. Maybe I should pick up some more balls first before I wreck the ones I have.

Mini bowli ain't as easy as the YouTube videos might make it look. I think I'm only averaging around 150 in our trial mini league but I'm a 200+ bowler at the real alley. I throw some real stinkers here on my 19 foot lane.

[Stevejt66]

It took me about four to five months before my mini bowling average went up from 135 or so, then slowly I was averaging in the 140's, then 150's, then 160's, and now 170's. But don't forget I've bowled over 1,400 games over the last 2 1/2 years....LOL I am currently averaging anywhere between 168 and 178 on my mini lane of 20 feet one inch....LOL. I may have to try the finger hole option on one of my older balls......Dave, do you have any tips for drilling? Angle of drilling, how far apart are the holes? etc....?

[dhudach]

I didn't use any structured approach to drilling the holes. The ball is so small that it really determines how far apart. I can take some measurements, but the holes are deep enough (not very deep at all) so that my finger tips can just fit in enough to grip the ball. And they are not very far apart, just enough for a comfortable fit. I compare what I did with sticking two pieces of friction tape or something on the ball. Just enough so that the fingers can get some revs without slipping. You could start there. And when you get the pieces of friction tape (or whatever you are using) where you want them, drill two holes. The way I did it, my finger tips don't even go in to the first knuckle. It didn't make sense to do that. I just wanted to be able to get some rotation on the ball, get a little more movement.