| Bowling
is one of the most popular of indoor sports in the US. It
is also referred to as "Tenpin Bowling". This game
which involves a wooden lane and ten pins originated in ancient
Egypt. Europeans took this game of target pins to North America
where it blossomed into a modern competitive sport.
The game consists of 10 frames. The ten pins
are positioned in a triangle at the end of the bowling lane.
The pins are made of wood or synthetic material and are covered
with a protective plastic layer. The bowling balls are made
from non- metallic material and are less than 16 pounds.
There are also finger holes in the bowling
ball which are meant for gripping and handling the ball. The
total area under the pins and the distance from the foul line
to the center pin measures to be 19.16 meters in length and
the lanes are 1.04 to 1.07 meters in width.
Each bowler rolls the ball twice in each frame
unless they hit all ten pins in one try. This is called a
strike when a bowler knocks down all ten pins with the first
ball. A spare occurs when a bowler knocks down all ten pins
with two balls in the same frame. Other bowling terms are
a brooklyn, a cherry, a loft, a tap, a split and a turkey.
A turkey is when a bowler scores three strikes
in a row. A tap is when a bowler knocks down all the pins
except for one. A bowler can't step or cross the foul line
and there is a penalty if they do. There are also special
bowling shoes that have soft soles which protect the bowling
floor from scarring or it is less hazardous for the bowler
to be wearing them.
Gutters are on each side of the lane which
catch badly aimed or tossed balls. Now that you know the basics
for bowling, bring your whole family and bowl.
Bowling equipment specifications have remained
basically the same for the last century:
THE BALL must be round, have a circumference
of 27 inches and weigh no more than 16 pounds.
THE PIN is 15 inches high, 4 3/4" wide
at the belly and weighs between 3 lbs. 6 oz. and 3 lbs. 10
oz.
THE LANE is 60 feet long and 42 inches wide.
(Lanes must be level to within 40/10000's of an inch!)
The pins are set in the form of a triangle.
The lead pin closest to the bowler is known as the headpin
or No. 1 pin. The other pins are numbered from 2 through 10.
Bowling is popular because it is a terrific
recreation for people from every walk of life. Bowling is
also played in nearly 100 countries overseas. You can enjoy
bowling if you are short or tall, thin or fat young or old,
rich or poor. Most people start bowling in "open play",
rolling a few games (or "lines") whenever lanes
are available at their local center. To get the most enjoyment
from the sport consider joining a league.
The friendly counter people at your neighborhood
center can tell you about various types of leagues. There's
a league for every lifestyle.
Some leagues are run during the weekday, some
at night, some on the weekend. Some leagues are all male,
some are exclusively for women, some are co-ed. There are
leagues for seniors, singles, shift workers and juniors. There
are even special leagues for church groups, fraternal organizations
and industrial groups. Whatever your schedule or way of life,
there's a league for you!
Bowling
Rules | Bowling
Equipment| History
of Bowling| Bowling
Ball| Bowling
Techniques|
Length
of a Bowling Alley| How
to Score| How
to Create A Hook Ball|
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Tips on Bowling Etiquette|
Bowling
Ball Buying Guides|
Bowling
Tips For The Recreational Bowler |
