The days of adjusting one board were gone. Since 1993, our sport has been rapidly changing. The balls have gotten more and more aggressive and this requires more conditioner on the lanes. Water-base lane finishes have become inadequate. Most centers have less cash flow and the lanes generally get neglected.
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.