Wood lanes can no longer stop the oil penetration even with the best finishes. When the lanes cannot be protected they become very vulnerable to damage. Wood lanes will get large, deep ball burns that allow the conditioner a direct path to the wood. Once the penetration starts, the lanes discolor and become softer. If they are not repaired immediately, the penetration reaches deeper and the possibility of damage becomes even higher.
Most lanes look terrible by the end of a year even with good maintenance procedures.
Film overlays wear very fast and become very hard to condition. The scratches can cut through the film and allow oil to penetrate. The penetration in that area becomes very noticeable and may only be patched out. Once the film starts wearing it becomes harder to keep the heads from hooking. Synthetic lanes are laid on top of existing surfaces, often with no structural work done.