Think about this but do not draw any conclusions, yet. This period started near the end of the 1980s and we are now starting to see the light. It has been a lack of understanding the results of new technologies that has caused the problems. The industry has been flooded with new products, from bowling balls to seating and from lane machines to lighting systems. The center could be the most beautiful in the world but if the lanes are bad it may become a poor experience for the customer.
Inconsistent lanes are the biggest complaint in most centers around the United States.
Remember that there was a time when the lanes barely broke down a board. Now they can break down five arrows through the course of a high lineage tournament. I do not think anyone really considered the results of the new ball technologies. Of course, the rules set by the ABC do not address textured surfaces or absorbency rates. The fact is the lane surfaces are being damaged at a much higher rate than they should be.