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  • Red, White and BlueUSBC’s new Red, White and Blue oil patterns program offers exciting challenges To fill the void between the “house shot” lane condition and those used in PBA Experience and other Sport-compliant leagues, the United States Bowling Congress has developed the new Red, White and Blue program.The lane condition for most leagues is the typical “house shot” in which much more oil is applied in the middle of the lane as compared with the outside portion of the lane.Leagues conducted under Sport conditions, like those used in the USBC Open Championships and USBC’s PBA Experience leagues, have a more gradual taper of oil from the middle to the outside.On Sport lane conditions, or patterns, the best line to the pocket is usually defined by the length of the oil pattern on the lane. But no matter where you are lined up, the oil pattern demands repetition and accuracy to be successful. Because these Sport conditions have proven to be more difficult, the USBC allows an average adjustment from Sport conditions – a maximum of 18 pins based on statistical calculations – but bowlers might actually see an even greater difference than that between house and Sport conditions.This is where the Red, White and Blue patterns come in. Red patterns are similar to what is already found in your typical house shot. It is USBC compliant with a minimum three units of oil on every board at the end of the pattern, but there is a much larger volume of oil in the middle of the lane. White patterns are a bit tougher, with a smaller ratio of oil from inside to out. And while the Blue pattern is slightly easier than Sport conditions, it is more challenging than the White pattern. Red, White and Blue patterns give the bowler a nice stepping stone to work their way from the house shot to a PBA Experience League. It helps educate them as to the role lane conditions play in their performance and how it affects their bowling. The USBC Open Championships use a Sport-compliant condition every year, so this program gives bowlers an opportunity to prepare for that test. The Red, White and Blue program is being tested this year at a variety of centers throughout the country. Various local tournaments will be testing the White patterns in 2010 and a number of state championships will be utilizing the Blue patterns this coming year as well. Proprietors will be able to easily implement this program because they can download the patterns for free and put out a condition which yields different challenge levels to meet the different needs of their customers. Associations will have the ability to provide conditions with equity for bowlers of all different skill levels. Bowlers will see the value in Red, White and Blue because it will help them prepare for the big tests at USBC Championship events.Read More
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FEATURED PATTERNS
  • USBC Red PatternUSBC Red Pattern

    While all three patterns (Red, White and Blue) are “house” shots, they provide a variable range of difficulty. USBC Red pattern is designed to provide the greatest amount of forgiveness and be typical of conditions found in most bowling centers today. Of the three patterns, the Red pattern will yield the highest scoring pace for a typical USBC member.

    With a much higher concentration of oil in the middle of the lane, the Red pattern allows bowlers to find more oil inside of target and more dry boards outside of target, often resulting in pocket strikes while missing the intended target line. This “typical house pattern” is the least challenging of the three. Click image to enlarge.

  • USBC White PatternUSBC White Pattern

    While all three patterns (Red, White and Blue) are “house” shots, they provide a variable range of difficulty. The USBC White pattern is designed to be the medium scoring pattern of the three for a typical USBC member. While the Red typifies the “typical house shot,” the White pattern may be utilized in local or city tournament as it is a step up in challenge level for the average player.

    It is interesting to note that the White pattern can actually be the highest scoring of the three patterns among higher caliber players. While the Red pattern often plays “over-under” for scratch bowlers, the White pattern is blended more evenly while still showing a crown of oil from inside to out and gradual taper from the foul line to the end of the oil pattern.
    Click on image to enlarge.

  • USBC Blue PatternUSBC Blue Pattern

    While all three patterns (Red, White and Blue) are “house” shots, they provide a variable range of difficulty. USBC Blue pattern is designed to provide the greatest level of challenge as the application of oil is crowned the least of all three (although still more than Sport Bowling). Of the three patterns, the Blue pattern will yield the lowest scoring pace.

    As with the Red and the White pattern, the Blue pattern is also offered in three different versions to meet the needs of different centers with a variety of lane surfaces and other factors. Blue patterns may be typical of something you would see at a State tournament and provide a nice stepping stone up to Sport conditions used in the Open Championships or local PBA Experience leagues. Click on image to enlarge.

  • FAQ
    • What is the purpose of the Red, White and Blue program?
      The purpose of the Red, White and Blue program (RWB) is to be an educational tool as it helps show the relationship of lane conditions to scoring. Additionally, there is, in many cases, a large gap between house conditions and Sport conditions. RWB is designed to help players work up to the challenge of Sport Bowling.
    • What are the differences in the patterns?
      It is important to note that there will be different versions of all three Red White and Blue patterns to accommodate the different lane surfaces and bowling center needs. But, in a nutshell, the Red pattern will resemble conditions found in today’s typical league environment. There is a much higher volume of oil in the middle of the lane as compared with the outside. The White pattern will be slightly more challenging than the Red pattern with a little more oil placed to the outer portion of the lane. And the Blue pattern will be flatter overall and the most challenging of the three “colored” patterns.
    • Will we see these patterns in different USBC tournaments?
      Yes. RWB is being tested at various local and state association tournaments through the spring of 2010. While the program is currently designed to be optional for proprietor and associations, bowlers may see only White or Blue patterns at city and state tournaments in the future. If implemented, this would provide a logical progression of challenge from local to state to national competition. So, tell your local or state association that you would like to see a White or Blue pattern at your next tournament!
    • Is this program designed to replace or compete with Sport Bowling?
      No. RWB patterns are NOT Sport-compliant and are more forgiving than those used in Sport Bowling. RWB is designed to be a stepping stone from the typical house shot used in many leagues to the more demanding and challenging conditions found in Sport leagues. Since the introduction of Sport Bowling, the challenge of demanding lane conditions has been more easily recognized by the average USBC member. Many have been asking for help to improve their games and make them competitive in a Sport environment. RWB is designed to be that stepping stone to prepare for competitive PBA Experience leagues and our biggest stage in amateur bowling: the USBC Open Championships.
    • Does it cost the proprietor anything to participate?
      No. Once the testing phase is complete, the patterns will be available for download on bowl.com free of charge. Proprietors will be able to sort through a few different options for each of the three categories: Red, White and Blue. These options will help those who have needs based on their topography or lane surface, allowing the proprietor to see the results expected from each pattern.
    • Does it cost the bowler anything to participate?
      No, but it does require that the bowling center participate in order for the bowler to have the opportunity to try out these new oil patterns. So we would encourage bowlers to let their bowling center manager know that they are interested in bowling on USBC’s new RWB.
    • If I shoot an honor score, will there be separate awards from standard certified competition?
      No. All play certified under RWB will be treated the same as that bowled on any other certified house pattern. There must be a minimum amount of oil at the end of the oil pattern for USBC to certify a bowling center each year. As long as the center is currently certified for that particular season, all scores bowled in that center will be approved. For a bowler to receive other special awards, like a crystal pin, one must do so in a certified Sport Bowling event.
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