Preparing the mind has to be the first priority. Without going to the bowling center, think about what it is you want out of the sport. Once you have identified your desires you can choose a direction. Most of the time, success at one level leads to a desire to attain success at the next level. If you are that type of person and expect to follow the familiar path, you need to be wise in your initial stages of planning.
Most bowlers evaluate their skill level by the scores they shoot, and that is the first problem.
Proprietors know that bowlers want to score well and many use it as a marketing tool to get bowlers in their center. Because of this, there have become common denominators in most house conditions around the country. You will almost always find either obvious hook or obvious hold on most house conditions around the country, and it is not hard to find them. Once they find out how to attack a certain house condition, bowlers tend to lock into a certain style and the learning curve is slowed. It is great to have the ability to match up, but realization as to how and why is more important.