Neil Stremmel details dramatic changes to PBA lane maintenance program for 2026

The “laneman” became a part of the PBA Tour after the infamous 1971 tournament in San Jose, California where every match play finalist was left-handed. Men like Len Nicholson, Lon Marshall, Nick Hoagland, Mark Sabatine, Sean Parry, and most recently Eric Pierson have played key roles as lane pattern designers — subject to the oversight of PBA officials — and maintenance men. I’ve called being a laneman the hardest and most thankless job in bowling, and it’s on...