Hi, I just joined the site and its really cool. Hope to meet some friends and stuff on here. I am a big bowling nut and i like to bowl just about anywhere that has open bowling. We have alot of alleys in Columbus, Ohio and i have been to just about all of them. We have had 4 or 5 close down over the years here. Its sad to see that but its sometimes hard to keep up with the new stuff in the sport of bowling or try to draw people to the centers. I know from the bowling company web sites i visit they have alot to offer the alleys. The centers in Columbus have 24 to 64 lanes. Only a few have 8 lanes or less. We also have a center here that has installed the new Brunswick GSX pinsetters. They are very good in working well and they dont have breakdowns like the other pinsetters do. I am hoping that more centers install them. They are very good to have. And not many problems happen to them either. I also go to a couple of centers up by Cedar Point too. Its a good way to relax after a few days at the park or in the city. I have been noticing that a few centers have went to a different oil pattern now when they have leagues come in. Its all oil in the middle and hardly no oil on the sides. This makes it to where you have to just about have to play the 4th or 5th arrow to get any hook on the ball. I kinda wonder if its a PBA oil pattern they are using. If they are then i would like to find out which one so i can study it and see if i can get i clear view of what to do. My first 200 didnt come till i was about 16 or 17 years old. This happened when i was open bowling in Merrit Island, Florida. I shot a 200. I was like surprised cause i didnt think it would happen there with a house ball. I guess i picked the right ball. I try to bowl when i am away from home on vacation. Its cool to see what different bowling centers the towns or citys have to go to. I like the mini lanes that the bowling companys have came out with. I have played them and i can say that i would love to have one for my home. Its like you are really bowling. From the lanes to the auto scoring to the balls, they have done a very good job making them as real as they can be. I will try to post my bowling scores on here as i go open bowling or when i start my league in jan. Scott