The Allen oil pattern is one of the most popular oil patterns the Michigan High School Athletic Association has developed with Kegel. Have you ever participated in a regional bowling competition? Then you may have played or heard about the MHSAA oil pattern. If you’re here reading this article, I’m assuming, you are going to play this pattern soon in a regional or a tournament. So where should you start? What are the specifications? How do you play this pattern right? If you want to make a statement by playing this pattern, now is your time to shine. Go through the basic guidelines I have written here and you will get it for sure.
Oil Pattern Specifications
| Title | Kegel MHSAA — Allen Pattern |
| Distance | 39 feet |
| Total Oil Volume | 21.456 mL |
| Forward Oil | 11.232 mL |
| Reverse Oil | 10.224 mL |
| Oil Ratio | 4.52:1.01 |
How to bowl on the Allen oil pattern?
Hold on! Don’t get too happy seeing the oil ratio. While it might give the impression of a kind, easy-going oil pattern, Allen is actually very aggressive. Often varsity bowlers struggle to get the score to 150, let alone get a 200. When you throw your first shot, Allen will convince you that it’s very playable but don’t get fooled as the pattern soon reveals its true self.
Basically, the Allen pattern makes the lane inverted. And the most interesting factor is that it’s oily on the outside and dry on the inside. Since Allen is a hard pattern, you have to be very content with yourself. Bowlers struggle with picking up the spares with this pattern. So your shots have to be accurate and you gotta achieve precision to bowl on Allen pattern.
What does the Rule of 31 say about this pattern? Well, it indicates that your breakpoint is going to be around the (39-31) = 8 board. So if you just stand around the 19-20 board by moving farther left and make the ball exit the pattern at 8-9 board, you will see some amazing shots. Of course, keep your rev rate in check.
Because most of the oil of this pattern is on the outside, starting your ball from the outside will help you break this pattern. Where it’s going to get interesting is when the Allen oil pattern starts to break down. While you are constantly rolling your ball on the outside, you will see some of those oil disappear. Take advantage of it and you can move a little inside. This breakdown can happen on your first game, but I can’t tell for sure though. However, by the time you reach game number 2 and 3 will definitely require some adjustments.
Consider the Allen pattern as an inverted THS. That’s the best way to describe this famous pattern. To prolong your game, have patience till it is past the breakdown phase. After that, there is no stopping you! Remember accuracy is the key to surviving the Allen oil pattern.
What are the challenges you will face while playing on this pattern?
Here’s when the problem begins. When bowlers too far inside this pattern, they realize they have made a mistake. The middle part of the lane is a much riskier zone as it is drier than the outside. The reaction your ball could have is not something that will give you unlimited strikes. On top of that, you cannot pick up those nasty spares by moving inside. Even if it is a corner pin on the opposite side of where you’re playing, you shouldn’t move inside. Rather, roll the ball from the outside and let the hooking motion take care of the rest.
A common complaint I hear from all kinds of bowlers is that they can’t seem to pick up the spares. That’s also the reason they cannot get their scores too high on the Allen oil pattern. The trick is to adjust your ball speed instead of moving inside or outside when you aim to pick up the remaining pins. As mentioned, the middle lane is dry, and no matter how much you break down the pattern, the midlane is not gonna have enough oil to get you through. So if you play around with the second arrow at the beginning, try moving closer to the first arrow for the sake of adjustments. As for left-side corner spares, you should keep your ball speed soft and it hook to the remaining pin(s).
Try not to miss marginally when you miss on the Allen pattern. Your nightmare will come true and you will probably end up with numerous extra pins that you can’t pick with a spare shot. Another interesting yet challenging fact I would like to point out is that the lane acts the strangest when it is between the transitions phase. Once the breakdown phase is done, the lane again becomes playable and fun.
Which bowling ball is best for this pattern?
Okay, you have quite a few options open when it comes to choosing the bowling ball for the Allen oil pattern. I have rolled 230+ scores using my Storm Sure Lock and the Storm Phaze II for my spare shots. Both of these balls play perfectly on the Allen oil pattern. I could pick up every single spare. Of course, it needed a lot of adjusting. But I luckily got them right.
Don’t worry, you don’t necessarily have to use sanded bowling balls. Shiny pearl bowling balls will also work just fine. The Hammer Dark Legend will work fabulously on the Allen oil pattern. You can also use Motiv Primal Rage to rage on this pattern.
If you have set your mind on a sanded bowling ball, here are a few options— Motiv Trident, Motiv Blue Coral Venom, DV8 Troublemaker, Storm Nova, 900 Global Reality, etc. I would avoid using an asymmetrical bowling ball to play this pattern. It’s just too much risk. You can try breaking the pattern with a matte urethane, however, I will discourage it because the first few shots won’t get you many scores. Unless it’s a strong urethane, then you might get lucky.
Conclusion
So, that’s who Allen is! Scary but controllable. So there’s nothing to fear. All you need is the right strategies in action. Your skillset will do the rest. Try to be precise with every shot you take. Precision in ball control won’t make it too hard to score strikes. So with that being said, Allen is a challenging yet fun oil pattern. Don’t let others’ bad experiences discourage you. Your attributes will surely be rewarded if you play the Allen pattern right. So get on the practice lane. Good luck and see you later, homeboys!
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
