Rules

• League night: Tuesday, 6:30 PM start.
• Venue: Lucky Strike Rochester, 2400 Empire Blvd., Webster, NY 14580.
• Season: 30 weeks in two separate 15-week halves; standings reset after Week 15.
• Format: Scratch doubles, 2 bowlers per team.
• Weekly dues: $25 per bowler. No team may be more than one league week behind.
• Points: 8 total per week — 2 per game and 2 for the series.
• Blind average: 170 until 9 current-season games are completed, then current average minus 10.

Cash Lanes is a USBC-sanctioned scratch doubles league. USBC playing and equipment rules govern unless these written league rules establish an additional league restriction that is permitted under USBC rules. Lucky Strike Rochester house rules and safety policies apply at all times. League officers are responsible for communicating and consistently enforcing these rules.

If a league rule conflicts with a mandatory USBC rule or a Lucky Strike Rochester safety requirement, the mandatory USBC rule or center safety requirement controls.

• Each team consists of 2 bowlers.
• The 30-week season is divided into two separate 15-week halves.
• League standings and points are tracked for the first 15-week half.
• At the conclusion of Week 15, the standings reset for competitive purposes and all teams begin the second 15-week half at zero points.
• The second half is scored as a new 15-week competition using the same weekly points system.
• First-half results remain official league records even though the standings reset for the second half.
• Prize fund payouts, awards, championship qualification, or other recognition connected to each half or the overall season are determined under the league’s announced payout structure.
• Each game is worth 2 team points; the series is worth 2 team points; a total of 8 points are available each league week.
• The league is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM and must complete bowling and clear the lanes by 9:30 PM.

Weekly league dues are $25 per bowler. Every bowler is expected to remain current. A bowler may not carry a balance that is more than one league week past due.

• A bowler who is not current on league dues is not eligible to enter or participate in any league pot, side game, raffle, blind doubles, or other optional cash competition during league play until the bowler’s league balance is brought current.
• Weekly envelopes are collected after Game 1 unless league officers announce a different collection time.
• If a bowler competes in a league session without paying that week’s $25 dues, that unpaid amount becomes past due.
• The past-due amount must be paid no later than the envelope collection deadline during the following league session.
• If either rostered bowler remains more than one league week behind at the collection deadline, the team forfeits all 8 points from the unpaid league week. Teammates are responsible for making sure the team account is current. A documented league collection or recordkeeping error will not create a forfeiture.
• A team that is not fully current on required league dues is not eligible to enter league pots or receive prize fund payouts until the balance is paid in full.
• A team will not be required to forfeit solely because dues were not paid for a bowler who was absent or because the team had a vacancy. When that absent bowler returns, the outstanding balance must be resolved before bowling.
• League officers apply payment rules consistently. Repeated nonpayment may result in suspension or removal from the league after applicable USBC procedures are followed.

Example: Bowler A bowls Week 4 but does not pay the $25 Week 4 dues. By the Week 5 envelope collection after Game 1, the Week 4 balance must be paid. If it is still unpaid, the team forfeits all 8 points earned in Week 4. The partner may pay the outstanding balance to keep the team current.

Bowlers may use one-handed or two-handed delivery provided the delivery and equipment comply with current USBC rules.

• All drilled gripping holes must be used for gripping on every delivery.
• If a bowling ball has a thumb hole, the thumb hole must be used on every delivery with that ball.
• A bowler who does not use a thumb hole must use equipment drilled and marked in accordance with current USBC specifications, including the required palm-orientation mark when applicable.
• Balance holes are not permitted.
• A bowler must use the same hand for delivery as required by current USBC league rules. Any approved disability or USBC exception is handled under the applicable rule.

Equipment questions should be raised promptly so the issue can be resolved before additional games are affected.

• A bowler establishes a current Cash Lanes season average after completing 9 league games (normally 3 full league weeks) during the current 30-week season. Prior season averages do not carry forward for blind scoring.
• Until a bowler has completed 9 games in the current season, the fixed blind score is 170.
• After 9 games, the blind score is 10 pins below that bowler’s current Cash Lanes season average.
• The current season average continues through both 15-week halves. It resets only when a new Cash Lanes season begins.
• Blind scoring is intended for legitimate absences and may not be used strategically to manipulate a matchup. League officers may review suspected abuse.
• A bowler not present by Frame 4 of Game 1 is marked blind for that game. A bowler arriving after Frame 4 may begin with the next game, subject to lineup and substitute rules.
• A blind or vacant lineup is not automatically entitled to points. Points must be determined under the league’s scoring and applicable USBC forfeit rules.
• If both rostered bowlers complete approved prebowls, those scores become the team’s official scores for that league week.
• If both rostered bowlers are absent and have not completed approved prebowls, their applicable blind scores are used. The opposing team must earn points by beating the applicable blind scores.

• A bowler may prebowl a maximum of 3 league sessions during each 15-week half. Unused prebowls do not carry into the next half.
• All prebowls require advance approval from a league officer and must be completed before the scheduled league session being missed.
• Prebowling is not permitted during Weeks 14 and 15 of either half unless league officers approve an exceptional circumstance.
• Approved prebowl scores are the bowler’s official scores for that league week. A team may have one or both rostered bowlers prebowl.
• Prebowls may not be used to manipulate matchups, averages, standings, or prize eligibility.

• A vacancy score is 170 pins for matchup purposes unless the league formally adopts a different score before competition.
• When a blind or vacancy situation occurs on both sides of a matchup, points are awarded according to the applicable league scoring rule and USBC requirements.

• Teams must notify a league officer before a substitute bowls.
• A substitute should be registered with the league. New substitutes may be added through Week 12 of each 15-week half.
• During Weeks 13 through 15, only a substitute who has already bowled at least 3 league sessions during that half may be used, unless league officers approve a legitimate emergency.
• No brand-new substitute may be introduced in Week 15 except for an emergency specifically approved by league officers.
• A substitute uses the substitute’s own current established average from Cash Lanes. If none is available, league officers assign a fair entering average using verifiable bowling history or other reasonable information.
• Once a substitute begins a game, the regular bowler may not replace the substitute during that game. The regular bowler may return at the start of the next game.
• Substitutes may not be used to manipulate matchups or create an unfair competitive advantage. League officers may deny a substitute when abuse or gamesmanship is reasonably suspected.
• Substitute appearances do not make the substitute eligible for a team standings payout. Any money a qualifying team chooses to give a substitute is entirely at that team’s discretion.

• If a bowler becomes injured and cannot continue, the team follows the applicable USBC injury and absentee scoring procedure.
• No replacement may enter in the middle of a game unless expressly permitted by USBC rule.
• League officers may review repeated injury claims or unusual circumstances to protect league integrity.

• A bowler or team that voluntarily quits forfeits fees already paid unless otherwise required by USBC rule or approved by league officers.
• A bowler who quits forfeits eligibility for unpaid prize fund distributions unless league rules or USBC requirements provide otherwise.
• Leaving the league does not erase outstanding league dues. Any bowler who leaves with an unpaid balance will be reported to area bowling centers and appropriate bowling organizations as having unresolved league debt and is banned from future Cash Lanes participation until the balance is paid and league officers approve reinstatement.
• Unpaid balances may be handled through applicable USBC nonpayment procedures.
• A team that loses a bowler must communicate with league officers promptly so a replacement or other approved arrangement can be addressed.

The league prize fund is intended to be top-heavy while still recognizing participation and accomplishments throughout the entire league.

• The primary standings-based prize fund is top-heavy and pays the top 8 teams under the league’s announced payout structure.
• To qualify for a team standings payout, a bowler must be an official rostered member of that team, participate in at least 5 league weeks during the applicable 15-week half, remain in good standing, and be paid in full on all required league dues.
• Team standings payouts are issued for the two rostered team positions. A substitute does not automatically receive a portion of the team payout.
• No prize fund payout is released to a team or bowler with an outstanding required league balance.
• Finishing outside the top 8 does not prevent a bowler or team from receiving other awards, prizes, drawings, side-game winnings, recognition, or special league incentives.
• Final payout amounts are based on the money actually collected, approved league expenses, and the final number of eligible teams and bowlers.

• Weekly side pots, raffles, blind doubles, special games, and similar activities may be offered at league discretion.
• Entries for league pots and optional side games must be submitted and paid before league play begins or by the announced pot cutoff. No late entry is permitted after the cutoff.
• Eligibility for all league pots and optional side games requires the bowler to be current on league dues at the time of participation.
• Participation in optional side games does not affect league standings unless a written league rule specifically states otherwise.
• League officers announce the entry amount, eligibility, payout method, and any prize fund allocation before the applicable side game.
• Any optional side activity must comply with center policy and applicable law.

All bowlers, substitutes, guests, and spectators connected with Cash Lanes must follow Lucky Strike Rochester rules.

• No outside food or beverages unless approved in advance by the center.
• No profanity, foul language, threatening language, harassment, or abusive conduct.
• No items or conduct that center management reasonably considers dangerous or disruptive.
• Bowling shoes must be worn while bowling; do not cross the foul line.
• If the approach is wet, sticky, slippery, or unsafe, stop bowling and notify center staff before continuing.
• No discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, gender, or any other status protected by law.
• Center management retains authority over facility safety and house-policy decisions.

Cash Lanes is competitive, but threatening, hostile, or disruptive conduct will not be tolerated — on the lanes, in the settee area, concourse, parking areas, group chats used for league business, and in interactions with center staff or league officers.

• No fighting, attempted fighting, physical intimidation, threats, shoving, or aggressive physical contact.
• No repeated profanity directed at another person, personal attacks, discriminatory remarks, harassment, bullying, or conduct intended to provoke a confrontation.
• No throwing equipment, striking furniture or scoring equipment, intentionally damaging property, or creating an unsafe condition.
• A bowler who appears excessively intoxicated or whose behavior creates a safety or disruption concern may be removed from competition for that session.

Possible league discipline may include a verbal warning, written warning, point penalty when permitted, suspension, removal from the league, or referral to Lucky Strike Rochester or USBC. Serious conduct may result in immediate removal without a prior warning.

• Teams should notify a league officer as early as reasonably possible when they know a bowler will be absent, prebowling, arriving late, or using a substitute.
• Any incident, scoring problem, rules concern, or conduct issue should be reported to a league officer promptly, preferably before the end of that night’s session.
• A scoring, eligibility, equipment, lineup, or rules protest should be brought to a league officer as soon as the issue is known — whenever practical, before the series ends.
• League officers may review score sheets, payment records, available center video, witness statements, and applicable USBC rules before making a decision.
• A league officer directly involved in a dispute should, when practical, allow another officer to lead the decision. USBC appeal rights and mandatory procedures remain available when applicable.

• The forfeiting side is not entitled to points for the affected game or series.
• The opposing side must earn points when USBC rules require a target score rather than receiving automatic points.
• Scores that USBC permits to count toward averages or individual awards continue to count even when team points are forfeited.
• League officers document the reason for any payment-related or conduct-related forfeiture.

• Written league rules control over informal past practices.
• These rules must be followed in good faith. Attempts to exploit a technical loophole may be reviewed and resolved by league officers in the interest of fairness and league integrity.
• A prior exception does not automatically create a permanent rule or entitlement.
• Any situation not covered here defaults to current USBC rules, Lucky Strike Rochester house policy, the signed lane reservation agreement, and league officer judgment.
• Rules may be clarified during the season when necessary, but a clarification may not unfairly change the outcome of completed competition unless required by USBC rule.

Each bowler must complete the official Cash Lanes registration form before participating. Submission serves as the bowler’s acknowledgment that they received or had access to these rules and agree to follow league rules, current USBC requirements, and Lucky Strike Rochester house policies.