The History of Bowling

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The History of Bowling

Most people think of bowling as a fun indoor game that can be played with family or friends. When most
individuals think of bowling they think of going to a bowling establishment, renting a pair of shoes,
picking up a ball and trying to knock down all ten-pins in either one or two tries. This is done ten times in
a full bowling game. There are however many different types of bowling, other than the traditional ten-
pin bowling, that have been played for centuries around the world.

The earliest form of bowling known to exist has been traced back to ancient Egyptian time, around 5,000
BC. The ancient Egyptians rolled stones at various objects with the goal of knocking them over. Over
time, various varieties of bowling emerged from the Ancient Egyptian game. Variations of the sport
range from traditional ten-pin bowling to nine-pin bowling, candle pin bowling, duck pin bowling, and
five-pin bowling. Additionally, two other forms of the game are also extremely popular to this day; these
are lawn bowling and bocce, both of which are still played today.

As with most popular sports, bowling has terminology of its own which individuals in the sport are
expected to know and understand. For example, knocking down all the pins with one bowled ball is
known as a strike, if you know all the pins down with two balls it is called a spare, and if you leave a gap
between the pins, it is called a split. These are just a couple of the common terms heard regularly during
bowling games.

While bowling is a fun and relaxing sport, there are a few minor risks involved. Bowling ball weights
vary, with the maximum weight being 16 pounds. The motion of bowling along with the weight of the
ball can put a strain on your hand, wrist, arm and shoulder. In addition, the motion of the delivery can
also cause strain on the bowler's back and legs. Preventative measures such as properly stretching prior
to exercise can reduce stress and strain.

Court dimension /venue


Bowling Lane Dimensions, Measurements and Features
No matter where you bowl, the lane will have the exact same measurements and specific
sections. Before launching into a game, it is a good first step to learn the features and
dimensions of a standard bowling lane.

The Lane
The most important part is the lane itself, the area that extends from the foul line to the area
where the pins stand.

The lane is 60 feet long (from the foul line to the head pin) and a little over 40 inches wide.

Although it all looks the same, the lane is actually split up into three separate sections. The
head or front-end is the first 20 feet of the lane, where the most oil is typically applied. The
mid-lane is the next 20 feet of the lane, where there is usually less oil. The final 20 feet is known
as the back-end, and there is no oil applied. (On older wooden lanes, the head is made of
harder maple, and the mid-lane (also referred to as the pines) and back-end are made of softer
pine wood.)
Boards and Arrows
If you look closely you will see small little strips of wood along the width of the lane that are
about an inch wide. These are known as boards and there are 39 of them. Bowlers use the
boards for positioning and aiming, but it is not the only lane feature that helps them do so.

You will also see seven arrows spread across the lane in a V shape. A bowler typically lines up
his or her shot to one of these seven arrows since they are only 15 feet down the lane. It is
much easier to hit a target that is this close rather than the pins which are 60 feet away.

Equipment/gear
What equipment do you need for bowling?

The game of bowling has evolved little since the first ever indoor bowling alley was built in
1840 at Knickerbockers, New York City. The technology and material used may have
improved, but the standard equipment required of a player remains the same: a pair of
bowling shoes and a bowling ball.

Why Do You Have to Wear Bowling Shoes?

Every bowling alley will insist that you wear a pair of bowling shoes to play. This is mainly for
two reasons: safety and performance.

The surface of most bowling alleys is flat, moderately slick and free of debris. Due to the oiling
on the lanes, normal shoes may stick to the floor, causing injuries as your built-up momentum
quickly brings you to a stop. This kind of accident causes sprained ankles, wrists and backs as
well as an array of other injuries.

Bowling shoes also come with special soles, one for sliding, and the other for braking. The
sliding shoe features a sole that will allow the bowler to easily slide during their delivery. The
braking bowling shoe has a sole, which provides traction, and is usually made of a higher
friction material, such as rubber.

People who bowl often might have their own custom bowling shoes for comfort and hygiene,
but it is perfectly normal to rent a shoe at the counter for around $1-2.

The Bowling Ball

Like the shoes, a proper bowling ball is required to play the game. Most bowling alleys provide
balls for patrons to use within the establishment, often referred to as "house balls."

At a professional level, key properties of bowling balls include surface friction, porosity, and
mass distribution, which affect the motion of the ball as it rolls. However most casual bowlers
make do with a ball that is simply comfortable and suitable with their finger size.
Other Equipment

Apart from the standard shoes and ball, bowlers have employed different equipment over the
years to protect themselves and improve their game. These include:

Wrist guards: The wrist support device will prevent the back of the bowling hand from tilting or
collapsing prior to the delivery of the bowling ball. Essentially, the purpose of the device is to
limit tilting movement of the wrist, achieving more consistent throws.

Finger Tapes: The friction caused when the fingers release the ball can sometimes cause
injuries or scars. That’s why some bowlers now cover their fingers in tape to protect them.
Some bowlers also claim that the tape allows them to have better grip on the ball while holding
it.

Powder: As your grip plays an important part in holding, swinging and releasing the ball, some
players have used powder to reduce moisture in their hands and improve surface grip. Most
powders are acceptable, but the most commonly used are baby or talcum powder.

Ankle, Wrist, Elbow Bend: The game’s repetitive nature can cause serious damage to your
joints. That’s why some players use gentle shock absorbers to reduce pain and chances of
injuries.

Microfibre Cloth/Towel: Many players wipe down their ball after every throw. While part of the
reason is psychological, particularly in building a routine, there are also some minor benefits to
the action. Wiping down the ball can remove the accumulated oil that has collected on their
track. What happens when a bowling ball goes down a lane is that it absorbs some of the oil as
it travels toward the pins. Accumulated oil could delay the friction between the bowling ball
and the lane, causing the ball to slide forward, rather than spin.

There are of course other equipment used by bowlers, but the most important thing to
remember is to look out for your own safety when you throw the ball. Apart from the ball and
shoes, the other equipments are mere add-ons that may or may not help your game.

Technical/Tactical skills
Bowling Techniques, an introduction

Bowling has become one of the most popular sports in the world, and to master it
you must follow the standard bowling techniques that apply to everyone
regardless of their play style. The basics are how to stand, how to approach and
how to release the bowling ball efficiently.

It takes Practice

Although even when you learn the steps it takes practice and experience to do
everything correctly each time, depending on your play style. One of the most
common mistakes made by new players is to ignore the basic rules of bowling
properly and play the way they feel is right just because they can get a good
score.

You will benefit in the long run

This might be effective now but in the long run they will not benefit by this
because they will not be able to overcome a certain average score, also it will be
much harder to change their play style at that point.

Rules and regulation


Bowling Rules
Sportsmanship

Being competitive on the field is applauded & encouraged in all of our leagues! It is also
important to understand that there is a fine line between being competitive & being
unsportsmanlike. All players and referees should treat one another with respect on the field &
after the game. Everyone has to go to work tomorrow, so please keep safety & sportsmanship
in mind out there!

Inclusivity

Every individual participating in a Players Sport & Social Group program may compete as a
member of the gender that they identify with, regardless of their gender at birth. We expect all
players to be respectful and honor the spirit of this policy. We are LGBTQIA+ friendly (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and other sexualities and
gender identities/expressions).

We have found that open communication between teams is super helpful. If there is a situation
that may raise some questions from opposing teams, captains are encouraged to have a quick
conversation with our umpire/official before the game to ensure everyone is on the same page.
At the end of the day, inclusivity is key.

Game Play

The regulations listed here are generally based around regulations set by the United States
Bowling Congress and the British Tenpin Bowling Association. These rules are followed by all
sanctioned leagues and events, such as tournaments. This is a Recreational Bowling league.
The object to have fun, bowl well, and network with new friends.

Rules of play

A game of bowling consists of ten frames. In each frame, the bowler will have two chances to
knock down as many pins as possible with their bowling ball. In games with more than one
bowler, as is common, every bowler will take their frame in a predetermined order before the
next frame begins. If a bowler is able to knock down all ten pins with their first ball, he is
awarded a strike. If the bowler is able to knock down all 10 pins with the two balls of a frame, it
is known as a spare. Bonus points are awarded for both of these, depending on what is scored
in the next 2 balls (for a strike) or 1 ball (for a spare). If the bowler knocks down all 10 pins in
the tenth frame, the bowler is allowed to throw 3 balls for that frame. This allows for a
potential of 12 strikes in a single game, and a maximum score of 300 points, a perfect game.

Handicap

A handicap system will be used to determine team wins and losses for standings and playoff
seeding. Each individual player's handicap will be used to calculate a team total for the week.
Handicaps adjust from week to week as more games are added to a player's average. The
handicap is calculated by subtracting the player's average from 200 and then taking 80% of that
total. This handicap is added to each player's "scratch" (actual) score to establish the totals. The
handicap total is calculated after all games for the week are played and then the scores are
adjusted to reflect the new total and then wins/losses are determined for the standings.

Scoring

In general, one point is scored for each pin that is knocked over. So if a player bowls over three
pins with the first shot, then six with the second, the player would receive a total of nine points
for that frame. If a player knocks down 9 pins with the first shot, but misses with the second,
the player would also score nine. When a player fails to knock down all ten pins after their
second ball it is known as an open frame.

In the event that all ten pins are knocked over by a player in a single frame, bonuses are
awarded.

Officiating of bowling
Who are the officiating officials of bowling?

In league bowling, the captains of the opposing teams officiate at the game level, and enforce
such rules as bowling on the correct lane and not stepping across the foul line.

The league's officers are available to settle disputes; major changes to the rules require a
majority (and during mid-season, unanimous consent) of all the league officers and team
captains.

In a bowling tournament, the tournament director(s) officiate the games and enforce the rules.

All forms of bowling have a governing body, also known as a sanctioning body. For example,
tenpin bowling in the United States is governed by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
bowling
submitted by; cindy r. maderal
11-a gas

submitted to; Mrs,fauerem pementel

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