Abstract: A bowling lane surface for use with a bowling ball and bowling pins. The playing surface is adapted to have bowling pins set up at one end of the bowling lane and a bowling ball thrown by a bowler at an opposite end so that the bowling ball moves on the surface toward the bowling pins. The playing surface includes at least one visual obstacle between the two ends of the playing surface. Those visual obstacles can be colored areas showing varying friction levels, moguls or depressions along the bowling lane surface. The bowling lane preferably is an oilless lane and can be made of either wood, laminated compressed paper, or plastic.