By Michael Russell
A lot of people worry so much about bowling a strike but not enough about picking up the spares. Do you think the pros just think about bowling strikes? No they don't, they want to make strikes but they know they won't be bowling a strike in every single frame so they think about how to pick up spares too. This is often an overlooked element of bowling, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Picking up spares will beat the competition.
Ok well maybe it wasn't a secret, but it sure is the truth. Here are the necessities to pick up those spares.
*** You should aim directly for a pin square and hit it. Don't think about it, just do it. This one tip alone will help you increase your spare percentages. You're throwing a straight ball to certain areas of the lane. Expert bowlers use a ball especially for picking up spares, called a "spare ball". The ball is made of plastic, because plastic balls go a lot straighter than regular ones. Try to straighten your wrist as much as possible so you can throw the ball at the pin square and as straight as possible.
*** A lot of people take spares for granted, but if there is one thing that I wish I could drill into newbie bowlers' heads it would be, SPARES DO MATTER. If you're in a league or in a tournament, take some balls and shoot at the 7 pin or the 10 pin (if you're a lefty). This will allow you to observe your reaction as you're going across the lane. I don't care how good a bowler you are, you will not always bowl a strike, that's why it's good to learn how to pick up your spares because it'll raise your average.
Take your time when it comes to spares
A large part of bowling is based on spares. Let's be serious, while throwing 7 or 8 strikes is good, when the other frames are spares you missed, that 240 or 250 game that you were smiling about drops to about 200 really quickly.
Remember these tips the next time you're trying to pick up a spare:
*** Take your time and think about it
You should first carefully think about where you want to line up for the spare and then take the shot. Don't rush it, think about where you want to throw the ball.
*** Throw straight balls
This is one of the keys to picking up spares. You need to relax your wrist during release, so the ball can go as straight as possible. You need to minimize the spinning of the ball. A plastic ball is much better to use when trying to pick up spares because a plastic ball goes a lot straighter than the standard ball does.
I'm going to end this lesson by saying again that spares play a huge role in determining whether you bowl a 250 or a 200.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
* Bowling - Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
By Michael Russell
I want to address one of the most common mistakes facing most bowlers. Fast feet is a huge problem that most bowlers deal with, fast feet is when your feet are ahead of the swing during or at the end of the approach. When bowlers are facing fast feet they are generally slightly off balance and are turned sideways by the end of the approach.
Fast feet also cause mistakes in other areas of the bowler's game, such as dropping the shoulders, the inability to stay down with the shot and maintain balance at the foul line once the ball is gone, and inconsistent release.
These are some ways you can solve the fast feet plague, oops I meant problem.
The big mistake: Poor ball placement
Listen closely when I say good ball placement is absolutely necessary, fast feet is related to poor placement of the key step. Another mistake is pushing the ball upwards from a waist high position.
How to fix it: When the heel of your foot touches the floor during the step, try to time your ball placement.
The big mistake: Shoulders too far forward
When your shoulders are too far forward it causes too much bend at the waist and not enough bend at the knees which results in the ball reaching the lane way too early, leading to loss of leverage and an unbalanced feeling during the approach.
How to fix it: Shoulders need to be upright and your knees should be a bit flexed. As you begin your approach, your knees should gradually deepen their bend (not too far though) and your waist should be slightly bent forward.
General rule of thumb: The deeper the knee bend the less the waist needs to be bent forward.
The big mistake: Steps too long
When you take your steps, they're each as slow as molasses (I was kidding, I hope they're not that slow). Holding your steps too long result in your swing floating through the approach which means you won't get any power behind the ball.
General rule of thumb: If you're taking a five step approach, the second step is crucial so you must definitely watch the length of that step.
How to fix it: Since I'm playing the role of the bowling mechanic in this section I want to help you fix this problem. Take a normal walking step and all the other steps will fall in place, during the five step approach, the first step is for the momentum and it's usually shorter than a normal key step.
The big mistake: Walking on your toes
This is a very common problem, I throw a chair every time I see somebody walking on their toes during the approach, well maybe I don't get that upset, but I think you get the point. When you walk on your toes you have too much speed in the approach, your shoulders will be too far forward and you'll lose lots of leverage.
How to fix it: To avoid walking on your toes, place the heel first and the toes last in each step, this results in a much more smooth approach. When walking in this way you can slow down the entire approach.
General rule of thumb: Since you build momentum from the back to the front movement of your feet, your leverage will also increase.
The big mistake: Muscled arm swing
Most bowlers I deal with think that having their muscles all flexed up during the swing will give them more power when releasing the ball. I am here to tell you that flexing your arms during the arm swing will not increase your throwing ability but it'll probably win you a body building contest or an arm wrestling contest if you're lucky. A muscled arm swing can also lead to injury such as pain in your arm, shoulder or wrist.
How to fix it: When you swing the ball, it needs to come from the shoulder with a minimal amount of muscle flexing. If this seems difficult, practice on relaxing your arm and just swing it back and forth without a ball in your hand. Your goal here is to get the arm as relaxed as possible. Doing this allows the weight of the ball to direct the swing throughout the approach.
Well there you have it folks, the most common mistakes facing most bowlers who always wonder why they can't consistently throw a strike or why their game won't improve. My mechanic shop has just given you the fix - it's to go out and bowl the right way.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Choosing A Delivery - The Release
I want to address one of the most common mistakes facing most bowlers. Fast feet is a huge problem that most bowlers deal with, fast feet is when your feet are ahead of the swing during or at the end of the approach. When bowlers are facing fast feet they are generally slightly off balance and are turned sideways by the end of the approach.
Fast feet also cause mistakes in other areas of the bowler's game, such as dropping the shoulders, the inability to stay down with the shot and maintain balance at the foul line once the ball is gone, and inconsistent release.
These are some ways you can solve the fast feet plague, oops I meant problem.
The big mistake: Poor ball placement
Listen closely when I say good ball placement is absolutely necessary, fast feet is related to poor placement of the key step. Another mistake is pushing the ball upwards from a waist high position.
How to fix it: When the heel of your foot touches the floor during the step, try to time your ball placement.
The big mistake: Shoulders too far forward
When your shoulders are too far forward it causes too much bend at the waist and not enough bend at the knees which results in the ball reaching the lane way too early, leading to loss of leverage and an unbalanced feeling during the approach.
How to fix it: Shoulders need to be upright and your knees should be a bit flexed. As you begin your approach, your knees should gradually deepen their bend (not too far though) and your waist should be slightly bent forward.
General rule of thumb: The deeper the knee bend the less the waist needs to be bent forward.
The big mistake: Steps too long
When you take your steps, they're each as slow as molasses (I was kidding, I hope they're not that slow). Holding your steps too long result in your swing floating through the approach which means you won't get any power behind the ball.
General rule of thumb: If you're taking a five step approach, the second step is crucial so you must definitely watch the length of that step.
How to fix it: Since I'm playing the role of the bowling mechanic in this section I want to help you fix this problem. Take a normal walking step and all the other steps will fall in place, during the five step approach, the first step is for the momentum and it's usually shorter than a normal key step.
The big mistake: Walking on your toes
This is a very common problem, I throw a chair every time I see somebody walking on their toes during the approach, well maybe I don't get that upset, but I think you get the point. When you walk on your toes you have too much speed in the approach, your shoulders will be too far forward and you'll lose lots of leverage.
How to fix it: To avoid walking on your toes, place the heel first and the toes last in each step, this results in a much more smooth approach. When walking in this way you can slow down the entire approach.
General rule of thumb: Since you build momentum from the back to the front movement of your feet, your leverage will also increase.
The big mistake: Muscled arm swing
Most bowlers I deal with think that having their muscles all flexed up during the swing will give them more power when releasing the ball. I am here to tell you that flexing your arms during the arm swing will not increase your throwing ability but it'll probably win you a body building contest or an arm wrestling contest if you're lucky. A muscled arm swing can also lead to injury such as pain in your arm, shoulder or wrist.
How to fix it: When you swing the ball, it needs to come from the shoulder with a minimal amount of muscle flexing. If this seems difficult, practice on relaxing your arm and just swing it back and forth without a ball in your hand. Your goal here is to get the arm as relaxed as possible. Doing this allows the weight of the ball to direct the swing throughout the approach.
Well there you have it folks, the most common mistakes facing most bowlers who always wonder why they can't consistently throw a strike or why their game won't improve. My mechanic shop has just given you the fix - it's to go out and bowl the right way.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Choosing A Delivery - The Release
Friday, 18 July 2008
* Bowling - Choosing A Delivery - The Release
By Michael Russell
The release is probably the most important part of the game of bowling. No matter how good you look going up to the foul line, if you don't have a good release you're not going to score very high. We're going to take a look at some of the options open to the bowler and try to explain the pros and cons of each release.
There are basically 3 types of releases, with variations on each one. If you ask a pro bowler he will probably tell you that in this case a certain release is better than another. But that's not going to help the average bowler if the "better" release is too hard for him to control. So we'll just cover the 3 releases and explain the good and bad of each and let you make your own decision on what to use.
The most common release for the casual bowler is the straight underhand or straight ball. This is where, when the bowler approaches the foul line and releases the ball, he lets it roll off of his fingers while keeping the palm straight pointed toward the ceiling. This is not only the simplest release but the easiest to control as the ball will go in a straight line, unless lane conditions are so dry (more on conditions in another article) that the ball will start to go either to the left or right anyway. This also depends on how straight the arm is at the release point. The downside of this release is that it doesn't allow the bowler to take the most advantage of the lane conditions and place the ball in a way where he will get the most pin action. This is why almost no pro bowlers use this release.
The most common release for the pro and better bowler is the hook. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the left. This has the effect of causing the bowling ball to hook to the left as it travels down the lane. The biggest benefit of this release is that it allows the bowler to hit the pins at an angle that will cause the best pin action. The downside is that this release is very hard to control. If you turn your hand too much to the left the ball can get away from you and head wildly for the gutter. Perfecting the hook takes a lot of practice.
The least common release for anyone, pro or novice, is the backup ball. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the right. This causes the ball to go from left to right instead of from right to left. The reason people will use this release is because it is easiest on the wrist for those who don't have strong wrists. The downside is this release is going to give you the least chance of scoring high. You have to shoot for the 1 and 2 pins instead of for the 1 and 3 pins on your first shot, which is just not good bowling. There has probably never been a pro bowler who used a backup ball.
A niche topic for you :
Bowling
The release is probably the most important part of the game of bowling. No matter how good you look going up to the foul line, if you don't have a good release you're not going to score very high. We're going to take a look at some of the options open to the bowler and try to explain the pros and cons of each release.
There are basically 3 types of releases, with variations on each one. If you ask a pro bowler he will probably tell you that in this case a certain release is better than another. But that's not going to help the average bowler if the "better" release is too hard for him to control. So we'll just cover the 3 releases and explain the good and bad of each and let you make your own decision on what to use.
The most common release for the casual bowler is the straight underhand or straight ball. This is where, when the bowler approaches the foul line and releases the ball, he lets it roll off of his fingers while keeping the palm straight pointed toward the ceiling. This is not only the simplest release but the easiest to control as the ball will go in a straight line, unless lane conditions are so dry (more on conditions in another article) that the ball will start to go either to the left or right anyway. This also depends on how straight the arm is at the release point. The downside of this release is that it doesn't allow the bowler to take the most advantage of the lane conditions and place the ball in a way where he will get the most pin action. This is why almost no pro bowlers use this release.
The most common release for the pro and better bowler is the hook. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the left. This has the effect of causing the bowling ball to hook to the left as it travels down the lane. The biggest benefit of this release is that it allows the bowler to hit the pins at an angle that will cause the best pin action. The downside is that this release is very hard to control. If you turn your hand too much to the left the ball can get away from you and head wildly for the gutter. Perfecting the hook takes a lot of practice.
The least common release for anyone, pro or novice, is the backup ball. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the right. This causes the ball to go from left to right instead of from right to left. The reason people will use this release is because it is easiest on the wrist for those who don't have strong wrists. The downside is this release is going to give you the least chance of scoring high. You have to shoot for the 1 and 2 pins instead of for the 1 and 3 pins on your first shot, which is just not good bowling. There has probably never been a pro bowler who used a backup ball.
A niche topic for you :
Bowling
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
* Bowling
Bowling is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a ball along a surface to knock down objects called pins. There are many forms of bowling, and the earliest known form has been dated back to ancient Egypt. Probably the best known form today is the American game of Ten-pin bowling. This form, in both amateur and professional versions, is played around the world, making it one of the largest participation sports available.
History
Historians have discovered forms of bowling as early as 3200 BC in Egypt, though some argue that it originated later in Germany in 300 A.D. The first written reference to bowling was in reference to King Edward III of England banning his troops from playing the game in the 14th century. European settlers brought forms of the game to the United States in the colonial era.
The first standardized rules were established in New York City, on September 9, 1895. In that year, the American Bowling Congress (ABC) was formed. The female equivalent, the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) was founded later, in 1917. Later, the Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) became the sanctioning body for junior bowling.
Originally, pinspotters manually set up pins. However, in 1952, the first automatic pinsetters were commercially produced, greatly speeding up the game and allowing its popularity to blossom.
Since bowling was an indoor sport without extreme movements, several early television shows featured bowling, including "Championship Bowling," "Make That Spare," "Bowling For Dollars," and "Celebrity Bowling."
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) was founded in 1958 by Eddie Elias. While the first season only featured three events, the tour blossomed, especially after joining the ABC's Saturday afternoon time slot in 1961. Through the years, professional bowling on ABC typically outdrew college basketball, even in its final days on the network in the late 1990s. The PBA continues to showcase the best bowlers in the world, with telecasts currently on ESPN.
In 2005, the ABC, WIBC, and YABA merged to form the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) to serve as the single sanctioning body for all American bowling.
Forms
Most forms of bowling may be categorized as either indoor or outdoor. Most indoor forms are played on a "lane", a flat surface made of wood or a synthetic imitation, which is several times longer than it is wide.
Included in the indoor category:Ten-pin bowling, which evolved from ninepin bowling in the 19th Century.Five-pin bowling, played in Canada.Nine-pin skittlesCandlepin bowling, played in eastern Canada and northern New England, is a variation of ten-pin bowling.Duckpin bowling, commonly found in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England United States and eastern Canada, is a variation of ten-pin bowling involving small, squat pins, sometimes with rubber at their widest points (rubber band duckpin bowling).Feather Bowling (Belgian trough bowling) originated in Belgium and is played in Mount Clemens, Michigan.Cocked Hats, fluorescent pins and music to create a dazzling atmosphere.]]
For nearly a century, ten-pin bowling lanes had a surface made of wood. Beginning about 1980, most ten-pin lane surfaces have been converted to or built with a synthetic material imitating a wooden surface. In ten-pin bowling, a building containing many lanes has traditionally been called a bowling "alley" but in more recent times, to upgrade the image of the sport, bowling "center" is preferred.
The second category of bowling is usually played outdoors on a lawn. Here the players throw a ball, which is sometimes eccentrically weighted, in an attempt to put it closest to a designated point.
Included in the outdoor category: Lawn bowls Bocce Pétanque
A niche topic for you :
Better Bowling Guide
History
Historians have discovered forms of bowling as early as 3200 BC in Egypt, though some argue that it originated later in Germany in 300 A.D. The first written reference to bowling was in reference to King Edward III of England banning his troops from playing the game in the 14th century. European settlers brought forms of the game to the United States in the colonial era.
The first standardized rules were established in New York City, on September 9, 1895. In that year, the American Bowling Congress (ABC) was formed. The female equivalent, the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) was founded later, in 1917. Later, the Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) became the sanctioning body for junior bowling.
Originally, pinspotters manually set up pins. However, in 1952, the first automatic pinsetters were commercially produced, greatly speeding up the game and allowing its popularity to blossom.
Since bowling was an indoor sport without extreme movements, several early television shows featured bowling, including "Championship Bowling," "Make That Spare," "Bowling For Dollars," and "Celebrity Bowling."
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) was founded in 1958 by Eddie Elias. While the first season only featured three events, the tour blossomed, especially after joining the ABC's Saturday afternoon time slot in 1961. Through the years, professional bowling on ABC typically outdrew college basketball, even in its final days on the network in the late 1990s. The PBA continues to showcase the best bowlers in the world, with telecasts currently on ESPN.
In 2005, the ABC, WIBC, and YABA merged to form the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) to serve as the single sanctioning body for all American bowling.
Forms
Most forms of bowling may be categorized as either indoor or outdoor. Most indoor forms are played on a "lane", a flat surface made of wood or a synthetic imitation, which is several times longer than it is wide.
Included in the indoor category:Ten-pin bowling, which evolved from ninepin bowling in the 19th Century.Five-pin bowling, played in Canada.Nine-pin skittlesCandlepin bowling, played in eastern Canada and northern New England, is a variation of ten-pin bowling.Duckpin bowling, commonly found in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England United States and eastern Canada, is a variation of ten-pin bowling involving small, squat pins, sometimes with rubber at their widest points (rubber band duckpin bowling).Feather Bowling (Belgian trough bowling) originated in Belgium and is played in Mount Clemens, Michigan.Cocked Hats, fluorescent pins and music to create a dazzling atmosphere.]]
For nearly a century, ten-pin bowling lanes had a surface made of wood. Beginning about 1980, most ten-pin lane surfaces have been converted to or built with a synthetic material imitating a wooden surface. In ten-pin bowling, a building containing many lanes has traditionally been called a bowling "alley" but in more recent times, to upgrade the image of the sport, bowling "center" is preferred.
The second category of bowling is usually played outdoors on a lawn. Here the players throw a ball, which is sometimes eccentrically weighted, in an attempt to put it closest to a designated point.
Included in the outdoor category: Lawn bowls Bocce Pétanque
A niche topic for you :
Better Bowling Guide
Monday, 14 July 2008
* Better Bowling Guide
By Michael Russell
Are you interested in improving your bowling game? You can start getting better scores right away by correcting common mistakes that lots of people make. Anyone can become better at bowling no matter how experienced they are.
The first step to becoming a better bowler is to buy your own equipment. If you get a ball that is custom fit to your hand it will feel lighter and will be a lot easier to control. If you use a different ball every time you bowl, you will never be consistent. For your equipment, you will need a ball, a bag, a towel and shoes.
When you decide to purchase a ball, you need to realize that there are several different types of balls. Balls may have high hook, medium hook, low hook, or no hook. However, be aware that bowling balls do not hook on their own; you make them do it. Some bowlers even carry three balls for different hook types. High hook balls are used if the lane has heavy oil, medium hook balls are used if the lane has medium oil and for dry lanes you use little or no hooking balls. If you only want to purchase one ball, you should get a medium hook ball. For the weight of the ball, just be sure you don't get one that is too heavy for you to handle.
For your equipment to last, you will need to take care of it. Don't leave your ball in the garage or the car for a long time. Bowling balls can crack or melt if they are left in extreme conditions. You should also be sure to keep your ball clean. Your shoes also will need care. Don't wear them outside of the bowling center. Also, try not to step in any food or soda.
When you go bowling, wear comfortable clothes. Try not to wear tight or really loose clothing. When it is your turn, be right there and ready. Keep your mind on the game between frames. Make sure your hand that you bowl with is completely dry so that you can release the ball efficiently. Check the bottom of you sliding shoe to make sure it is clean and dry. When you pick up your ball, dry it off all the way to remove any dirt or oil. Try to relax; take a deep breath before you approach.
Something that many bowlers fail to do is practice. You need to practice at least twice as much as you actually play. You can either practice alone or with other people. Both can be helpful. Try to work and concentrate on one problem that you have at a time. Also, when you practice, don't keep score because this can be very distracting. If you get discouraged or frustrated you should quit and come back later or you might develop some bad habits.
These things may seem like very simple things that won't make a difference, but they really do. These are very common mistakes that many bowlers don't even think about. The most important thing you can do is believe in yourself and believe that you can become a better bowler.
A niche topic for you :
Basic Bowling Regulations
Are you interested in improving your bowling game? You can start getting better scores right away by correcting common mistakes that lots of people make. Anyone can become better at bowling no matter how experienced they are.
The first step to becoming a better bowler is to buy your own equipment. If you get a ball that is custom fit to your hand it will feel lighter and will be a lot easier to control. If you use a different ball every time you bowl, you will never be consistent. For your equipment, you will need a ball, a bag, a towel and shoes.
When you decide to purchase a ball, you need to realize that there are several different types of balls. Balls may have high hook, medium hook, low hook, or no hook. However, be aware that bowling balls do not hook on their own; you make them do it. Some bowlers even carry three balls for different hook types. High hook balls are used if the lane has heavy oil, medium hook balls are used if the lane has medium oil and for dry lanes you use little or no hooking balls. If you only want to purchase one ball, you should get a medium hook ball. For the weight of the ball, just be sure you don't get one that is too heavy for you to handle.
For your equipment to last, you will need to take care of it. Don't leave your ball in the garage or the car for a long time. Bowling balls can crack or melt if they are left in extreme conditions. You should also be sure to keep your ball clean. Your shoes also will need care. Don't wear them outside of the bowling center. Also, try not to step in any food or soda.
When you go bowling, wear comfortable clothes. Try not to wear tight or really loose clothing. When it is your turn, be right there and ready. Keep your mind on the game between frames. Make sure your hand that you bowl with is completely dry so that you can release the ball efficiently. Check the bottom of you sliding shoe to make sure it is clean and dry. When you pick up your ball, dry it off all the way to remove any dirt or oil. Try to relax; take a deep breath before you approach.
Something that many bowlers fail to do is practice. You need to practice at least twice as much as you actually play. You can either practice alone or with other people. Both can be helpful. Try to work and concentrate on one problem that you have at a time. Also, when you practice, don't keep score because this can be very distracting. If you get discouraged or frustrated you should quit and come back later or you might develop some bad habits.
These things may seem like very simple things that won't make a difference, but they really do. These are very common mistakes that many bowlers don't even think about. The most important thing you can do is believe in yourself and believe that you can become a better bowler.
A niche topic for you :
Basic Bowling Regulations
Friday, 11 July 2008
* Basic Bowling Regulations
Certain standards laid down by the American Bowling Congress govern all sanctioned bowling lanes and must be complied with if official recognition is to be given to any competition held thereon. I am not going to name all of these regulations, because many of them are rather technical, but I would like to set down a few that have a direct bearing on your game. Here are the important ones:
Your bowling ball weighs not more than 16 pounds nor less than 10 pounds. The circumference of the ball is 27 inches, and the diameter of the ball is 8.59 inches.
Tenpins are 15 inches in height, and must weigh not less than 2 pounds, 14 ounces, nor more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The design of all pins is clearly prescribed by the ABC. The distance between each pin is 12 inches from center to center.
The length of an alley is 60 feet from the foul line to the headpin. The Width of the normal alley is 42 inches, and the length of the normal alley approach is 16 feet from the foul line to the back edge.
A foul occurs any time after the ball leaves the bowler's hand and passes over the foul line if the bowler permits his foot, hand, arm, or any other part of his body to touch the alley, gutters, division boards, walls or uprights that are beyond the foul line.
When pins are knocked down or displaced by a ball which leaves the alley before reaching the pins, or from a ball rebounding from the rear cushion, they do not count and should be respotted immediately. The removal of or interference with pins by a pinboy before they stop rolling is cause for the umpire to order the pins respotted.
All these regulations have been developed over a period of years, with only slight changes made recently. Nevertheless, I still hear bowlers ask if they can't count pins toppled by a ball that has rolled into the gutter before reaching the pins.
The regulations of the game of bowling are the responsibility of the ABC, which is doing a never-ending job of rooting out evils and standardizing the game to a point where bowlers all over the country play on the same basis. Many of the rules put into effect were absolute necessities, such as the laws on weight and size of the ball. In the old days, it was considered smart to drill balls in such a manner that they became weighted on one side making it possible for the owner to deliver such a "dodo ball" with amazing accuracy and effect, giving him a tremendous advantage over an opponent using an ordinary ball. Thanks to the ABC, bowling is the great game it is today.
A Niche topic for you :
An Introduction To The Bowling Game
Your bowling ball weighs not more than 16 pounds nor less than 10 pounds. The circumference of the ball is 27 inches, and the diameter of the ball is 8.59 inches.
Tenpins are 15 inches in height, and must weigh not less than 2 pounds, 14 ounces, nor more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The design of all pins is clearly prescribed by the ABC. The distance between each pin is 12 inches from center to center.
The length of an alley is 60 feet from the foul line to the headpin. The Width of the normal alley is 42 inches, and the length of the normal alley approach is 16 feet from the foul line to the back edge.
A foul occurs any time after the ball leaves the bowler's hand and passes over the foul line if the bowler permits his foot, hand, arm, or any other part of his body to touch the alley, gutters, division boards, walls or uprights that are beyond the foul line.
When pins are knocked down or displaced by a ball which leaves the alley before reaching the pins, or from a ball rebounding from the rear cushion, they do not count and should be respotted immediately. The removal of or interference with pins by a pinboy before they stop rolling is cause for the umpire to order the pins respotted.
All these regulations have been developed over a period of years, with only slight changes made recently. Nevertheless, I still hear bowlers ask if they can't count pins toppled by a ball that has rolled into the gutter before reaching the pins.
The regulations of the game of bowling are the responsibility of the ABC, which is doing a never-ending job of rooting out evils and standardizing the game to a point where bowlers all over the country play on the same basis. Many of the rules put into effect were absolute necessities, such as the laws on weight and size of the ball. In the old days, it was considered smart to drill balls in such a manner that they became weighted on one side making it possible for the owner to deliver such a "dodo ball" with amazing accuracy and effect, giving him a tremendous advantage over an opponent using an ordinary ball. Thanks to the ABC, bowling is the great game it is today.
A Niche topic for you :
An Introduction To The Bowling Game
Thursday, 10 July 2008
* An Introduction To The Bowling Game
by Michael Russell
Models use the runway for cat walking and balls do too. Bowling balls are tossed energetically to knock down ten bowling pins. This by far has becomes one of the most sought after stress relieving games in the world. It's main objective is to get something really hard and heavy and throw it to knock down all of the pins.
There are more than 120 countries belonging to the International Bowling Federation, which claims that there are about 110 million people who now enjoy bowling. They call bowling centers alleys and there are different sizes of alleys and gimmicks used to lure patrons to play the game. The largest bowling alley in the world contains more than a hundred bowling lanes. The average commercial bowling centers contain only about twenty five to thirty lanes. There are already 11,000 bowling centers in the whole world.
Bowling consisted of four parts: the lane, the approach, the pit, and the pin deck. The approach is where players take several strides to get the maximum adrenaline they need to release the ball and knock down the pins. There is a control line (foul line) which marks the place where players must let go of the ball. The player must not cross the line before or after the ball has been thrown.
In the America alone, there are more than 7,000 bowling associations in different states that support countrywide competitions for more than 4 million bowlers. Americans find the bowling attitude the same as their culture, however, they are unable to take credit for the discovery of the game. Since bowling history is colorful and full of twists and turns, researchers have discovered that the game is actually the very first sport that was discovered. Back in 5200 B.C. they found primitive balls and pins in Egyptian tombs. They also found Polynesian cultures that practiced the same sport and found lanes about 6 feet long. However, the development of the game, which started in the third century A.D., is credited to the religious leaders of Germany. A kegel which represents the devil - was used as a pin. It needed to be hit as a sign of purity and freeing from sin and anyone who failed to hit the target was determined to be wicked. It was a practice that led the congregation to salvation and was even more standardized by Martin Luther. But when bowling was banned and used for illegal transactions, 10 pin bowling was invented to bypass the law.
The American Bowling Congress started in 1895. Now there are about 55 million players in the US and bowling has become the American game, played to unite and promote equality among fellow men.
A niche topic for you :
Advantages Of Bowling
Models use the runway for cat walking and balls do too. Bowling balls are tossed energetically to knock down ten bowling pins. This by far has becomes one of the most sought after stress relieving games in the world. It's main objective is to get something really hard and heavy and throw it to knock down all of the pins.
There are more than 120 countries belonging to the International Bowling Federation, which claims that there are about 110 million people who now enjoy bowling. They call bowling centers alleys and there are different sizes of alleys and gimmicks used to lure patrons to play the game. The largest bowling alley in the world contains more than a hundred bowling lanes. The average commercial bowling centers contain only about twenty five to thirty lanes. There are already 11,000 bowling centers in the whole world.
Bowling consisted of four parts: the lane, the approach, the pit, and the pin deck. The approach is where players take several strides to get the maximum adrenaline they need to release the ball and knock down the pins. There is a control line (foul line) which marks the place where players must let go of the ball. The player must not cross the line before or after the ball has been thrown.
In the America alone, there are more than 7,000 bowling associations in different states that support countrywide competitions for more than 4 million bowlers. Americans find the bowling attitude the same as their culture, however, they are unable to take credit for the discovery of the game. Since bowling history is colorful and full of twists and turns, researchers have discovered that the game is actually the very first sport that was discovered. Back in 5200 B.C. they found primitive balls and pins in Egyptian tombs. They also found Polynesian cultures that practiced the same sport and found lanes about 6 feet long. However, the development of the game, which started in the third century A.D., is credited to the religious leaders of Germany. A kegel which represents the devil - was used as a pin. It needed to be hit as a sign of purity and freeing from sin and anyone who failed to hit the target was determined to be wicked. It was a practice that led the congregation to salvation and was even more standardized by Martin Luther. But when bowling was banned and used for illegal transactions, 10 pin bowling was invented to bypass the law.
The American Bowling Congress started in 1895. Now there are about 55 million players in the US and bowling has become the American game, played to unite and promote equality among fellow men.
A niche topic for you :
Advantages Of Bowling
Monday, 7 July 2008
* Advantages Of Bowling
by Michael Russell
Bowling can be considered one of the all time favorite sports in the world. Its popularity throughout the history of its evolution has a consistent trend that people seem to adapt and accept. In 1976, about 25 percent of the total population of the United States played the game. By the start of the millennium, the percentage has gone down by about 10 percent because of the changes of interest of many people to different activities.
There was a resurgence when bowling alleys realized that they had to modernize their facilities and equipment to keep with the trend of modern technology. There was a total transformation within every facility and with all equipment. Computer generated scoring was one of the futuristic adaptations of the game. There were also improvements in the bowling lanes and pin machines to provide faster setting of the pins in the target area.
Many venues have realized that there was an increase in the number of casual bowlers when they cut the schedules of leagues and shortened their events by a few weeks. More people have time to go bowling because the availability of the lanes was improved. By the start of the new millennium, many people were working less than eight hours a day and this led to the adaptation by bowling alleys to a schedule suitable for employees that wished to enjoy bowling after work.
Many people have considered the change of the concept of bowling from a sport to a social activity. Some people see bowling as a recreational or social activity while others see it as a competitive opportunity.
People find many advantages when bowling. Playing the sport on a regular basis will enable a person to develop a fitness activity by learning how to balance and coordinate body movements. The bowling executions a person uses provides exercise through walking and swinging of the arms. It not only provides good body exercise for the arms and back, but the joints, fingers, hips, and legs as well. The muscles limber up when a person bowls on a regular basis, keeping the body in good condition.
A niche topic for you :
A Short And Snappy History Of Bowling
Bowling can be considered one of the all time favorite sports in the world. Its popularity throughout the history of its evolution has a consistent trend that people seem to adapt and accept. In 1976, about 25 percent of the total population of the United States played the game. By the start of the millennium, the percentage has gone down by about 10 percent because of the changes of interest of many people to different activities.
There was a resurgence when bowling alleys realized that they had to modernize their facilities and equipment to keep with the trend of modern technology. There was a total transformation within every facility and with all equipment. Computer generated scoring was one of the futuristic adaptations of the game. There were also improvements in the bowling lanes and pin machines to provide faster setting of the pins in the target area.
Many venues have realized that there was an increase in the number of casual bowlers when they cut the schedules of leagues and shortened their events by a few weeks. More people have time to go bowling because the availability of the lanes was improved. By the start of the new millennium, many people were working less than eight hours a day and this led to the adaptation by bowling alleys to a schedule suitable for employees that wished to enjoy bowling after work.
Many people have considered the change of the concept of bowling from a sport to a social activity. Some people see bowling as a recreational or social activity while others see it as a competitive opportunity.
People find many advantages when bowling. Playing the sport on a regular basis will enable a person to develop a fitness activity by learning how to balance and coordinate body movements. The bowling executions a person uses provides exercise through walking and swinging of the arms. It not only provides good body exercise for the arms and back, but the joints, fingers, hips, and legs as well. The muscles limber up when a person bowls on a regular basis, keeping the body in good condition.
A niche topic for you :
A Short And Snappy History Of Bowling
Thursday, 3 July 2008
* A Short And Snappy History Of Bowling
by Michael Russell
Bowling
As the most popular sport during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, bowling is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Over 100 million bowlers from nearly 90 countries participate in the sport. The popularity of bowling has been traced back many years and the game has contributed benefits to many people world wide.
The memoirs of bowling start in 5200 B.C. when some archeologists unearthed ancient forms of bowling pins and balls in the crypt of a child with Egyptian lineage. This discovery proves that Egyptians were the earliest bowlers in the world.
From that time on, bowling has taken many forms, using different pins and balls and played for different purposes. For instance, during 200 A.D., it has been recorded that Germans were fond of festivities and village dances and that among their ancient rituals was a game that resembles bowling today.
In this particular German game, Germans rolled or threw rocks or stones at nine clubs that were made of wood. These clubs are known as kegles, and that is why Germans who played this type of bowling were known as keglers and not bowlers.
After so many years of struggle for recognition, bowling was finally recognized in England as a form of sport during the 1100s.
From that time on, the popularity of bowling created an epidemic-like influence, infecting millions of people. King Edward III even prohibited the game so that his knights would focus their attention on the archery practices instead of rolling the balls.
By the 17th century, when the United States was still a colony, bowling was introduced in the area. The Dutch colonists brought this remarkable game to the Americans. They introduced a game of nine pins that are placed in a triangular formation, hence, the name Dutch pins.
As the nine pins or the Dutch pins strived to claim fame, the state of Connecticut banned the playing of nine-pin bowling because some unscrupulous people used the game as a means for their gambling activities.
Connecticut then added an additional pin to the game, creating 10-pin bowling. This was the start of a new form of recreation as bowling continued to proliferate in the society. With this additional pin, this new form of bowling had definitely hit the mark and now many people all over the world continue to patronize the game.
With almost 50 million Americans playing the game, bowling is considered one of the most popular and pleasurable sports in the U.S.
A niche topic for you :
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
* A Positive Mental Attitude is Essential
Is Attitude important to your bowling? How important is it? What attitude should you take towards bowling?
This phrase kind of sums it all up: Your Attitude Is What Counts!
Attitude is probably the most important part of your bowling game. I have been told that if you were to weigh the two main aspects of bowling (physical & mental), your mental game has to get better over time. Usually we look at it this way: when you start bowling it is 15% mental and 85% physical, as you get better the scales switch and it becomes much more mental than physical.
Your physical game is the actual physical control of the ball (i.e. the pushout, the pendulum, the slide, etc.. (this is all covered in my article “4 Step vs 5 Step Approach”). Your mental game is how you view the results of your physical game. This can (and will!) change from frame to frame. It is important that you realize where your attitude is, negative or positive and manage it accordingly.
If you have a negative attitude it will cause you to bowl worse. The worse your attitude gets, the worse your bowling gets. If you throw a bad ball, or get a bad break on the lanes (i.e. a 7-10 or 8-10 split), you have to shake it off and not let it impact your bowling. That is much harder than it seems.
If you keep your attitude positive, it will help you to bowl better. By keeping a positive attitude, you can improve your average or at least maintain it. If you are having a "bad" night (i.e. not bowling your average), keeping your attitude positive will allow you to bowl the best score that you can on the condition that you face, thus keeping your average higher in the long run.
If you have a bad night, you want it to be as good as you can possibly make it so that it doesn't affect your average too much. After all, if you keep your pin count up, your average won't suffer as much.
A niche topic for you :
A HINT ON Bowling SAFETY
This phrase kind of sums it all up: Your Attitude Is What Counts!
Attitude is probably the most important part of your bowling game. I have been told that if you were to weigh the two main aspects of bowling (physical & mental), your mental game has to get better over time. Usually we look at it this way: when you start bowling it is 15% mental and 85% physical, as you get better the scales switch and it becomes much more mental than physical.
Your physical game is the actual physical control of the ball (i.e. the pushout, the pendulum, the slide, etc.. (this is all covered in my article “4 Step vs 5 Step Approach”). Your mental game is how you view the results of your physical game. This can (and will!) change from frame to frame. It is important that you realize where your attitude is, negative or positive and manage it accordingly.
If you have a negative attitude it will cause you to bowl worse. The worse your attitude gets, the worse your bowling gets. If you throw a bad ball, or get a bad break on the lanes (i.e. a 7-10 or 8-10 split), you have to shake it off and not let it impact your bowling. That is much harder than it seems.
If you keep your attitude positive, it will help you to bowl better. By keeping a positive attitude, you can improve your average or at least maintain it. If you are having a "bad" night (i.e. not bowling your average), keeping your attitude positive will allow you to bowl the best score that you can on the condition that you face, thus keeping your average higher in the long run.
If you have a bad night, you want it to be as good as you can possibly make it so that it doesn't affect your average too much. After all, if you keep your pin count up, your average won't suffer as much.
A niche topic for you :
A HINT ON Bowling SAFETY
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
* A Hint On Bowling Safety
Before we get into the methods of bowling, I want to take up a most important safety feature which cannot be overemphasized— the matter of correctly picking up the ball from the rack. Two good rules to remember are: "Never turn your back to the alley," and "Never pick up a ball by inserting your fingers and thumb when lifting it off the rack."
If you always face the alley, you are able to see balls passing swiftly through the ball-stop or balls that might roll toward you in the gutter and seriously injure a foot or ankle. Always face the lane when you pick up your ball, and take the ball from the rack by placing one hand on each side of it.
After you have picked it up, transfer the weight of the ball to the palm of your left hand. The ball can then be carried easily, held against the body near waist level, as you walk to your starting position. All this time your right hand is relaxed but held lightly against the ball in a steadying fashion for additional safety. In this way your right hand is under no strain, and when time comes to insert your thumb and fingers into the ball, you are assured of a dry, comfortable grip.
A niche info for you :
7 Tips for the Advanced Bowlers
If you always face the alley, you are able to see balls passing swiftly through the ball-stop or balls that might roll toward you in the gutter and seriously injure a foot or ankle. Always face the lane when you pick up your ball, and take the ball from the rack by placing one hand on each side of it.
After you have picked it up, transfer the weight of the ball to the palm of your left hand. The ball can then be carried easily, held against the body near waist level, as you walk to your starting position. All this time your right hand is relaxed but held lightly against the ball in a steadying fashion for additional safety. In this way your right hand is under no strain, and when time comes to insert your thumb and fingers into the ball, you are assured of a dry, comfortable grip.
A niche info for you :
7 Tips for the Advanced Bowlers
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