The Wisconsin State USBC has released the lane pattern basics for the country’s largest State Tournament, Senior State Tournament, and Women's State Tournament.

WS-USBC manager Don Hildebrand released the basics for years after I started requesting them when readers asked. Since they essentially are house shots, it’s not a big deal, although the volume and distance can help in cutting down the number of balls a player brings, which is appreciated!

With Hildebrand retired, Jason Peirick now is the WS-USBC manager and he sent 11thFrame.com the State Tournament and Senior State Tournament pattern basics on Wednesday morning. The information also is posted at its website.

The 123^rd annual Wisconsin Open Championships — aka the 2025 State Tournament — will be Jan. 18 (this Saturday) through May 4, with all competition at Dale’s Weston Lanes in Wausau. If historical trends hold, the tournament should draw close to 2,000 teams.

For the State Tournament at Weston, the team pattern is 42 feet, with 30.25 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 7.94-1, while the minors pattern is 44 feet, with 31 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 8.24-1.

The 44^th annual Wisconsin Senior Championships — aka the 2025 Senior State Tournament — will be Feb. 1 through April 13, with all competition at Ledgeview Lanes in Fond du Lac. If historical trends hold, the tournament should draw more than 500 teams — and it would be more if it were age 50 and older instead of 55 and older. (The higher age actually has been policy to keep entries down, so the tournament can go to cities with fewer available lanes.)

For the Senior State Tournament at Ledgeview, the team pattern is 44 feet, with 24.47 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 11.27-1, while the minors pattern is 41 feet, with 25.95 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 10.36-1.

The 2025 Women’s State Tournament will be Jan. 31 through April 13 in the Green Bay area, with team at Buzz Social in Suamico and minors at Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Ashwaubenon. (The tournament starts and ends earlier than normal because the 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay April 24-26.)

For the Women's State Tournament, the team pattern at Buzz Social is 42 feet, with 23.15 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 10.5-1, while the minors pattern at Ashwaubenon is 42 feet, with 25.85 mL of oil, and a middle-to-outside-track ratio of 10.85-1.

The Wisconsin State USBC in August posted the schedule and details of its 2024-25 championships on Facebook and at its website.

The 2025 Youth State Tournament will be Feb. 8 through April 13 in the Madison area, with team at Prairie Lanes and minors at Dream Lanes.

And the 2025 Badger Queens will be Sunday, May 4 at Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Ashwaubenon. The format has been modified after a bowler survey, with a 6-game qualifying round, then a cut to the top 16 for 2-game, single-elimination match play.

The schedule started with the 2024 Women's Senior State Tournament Oct. 4 through Oct. 27 at Lake Geneva Lanes in Lake Geneva. The tournament for women age 50 and older ran weekends in October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Final standings are at the tournament page.

The 2024 Youth Masters/Junior Gold Qualifier was on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Revs in Oshkosh. The 6-game Junior Gold Qualifier is for the 2025 Junior Gold Championships next July in the Green Bay area. Final standings are at the tournament page.