By Balaji B
Bowling, like any other sport, has a set of DO'S and DON'TS that must be followed so that all can enjoy the game. The rules are based on common sense, and express courtesy and good sportsmanship.
Here are ten of the most important ones:
*** DO yield the 'right of way' When two bowlers are on adjacent lanes, and simultaneously ready to bowl, the bowler on the right delivers first. The other bowler ought to remainoff or to the rear of the approach area. This rule doesn't apply if the bowler on the left is shooting for a spare.
*** DON'T take a practice swing with your bowling ball on the concourse or behind the approach. Wait until you are upon the approach itself before doing any practice exercises.
*** DO be ready when it's your turn to bowl. Remain in your lane area while your teammates are bowling, don't wander off.
*** DON'T use an excessive amount of body gyrations at the foul line after delivering the ball. Confine your body 'English' to your own lane.
*** DO bowl immediately when it is your turn. Once you have your ball, assume your stance and start your delivery, it isn't necessary to wait for lanes on either side of you to be cleared before you bowl, just observe the 'right of way' rule.
*** DON'T bring food or drink into the settee or bowlers area, a drop of liquid or any type of foreign substance spilled on the approach could cause a slip and serious injury.
*** DO wait until you have completed the frame before checking your score. Don't come back to the scorekeeper after the first ball has been rolled.
*** DON'T bench jockey while others are bowling. Friendly bantering is an accepted part of the sport, but don't overdo it. Be a good competitor.
*** DO return your bowling shoes to the counter control desk after bowling, and if you've borrowed a 'house ball' return it to the storage rack.
*** DON'T linger at the foul line after releasing the ball. As soon as your ball hits the pins return to your seat.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Etiquette
Monday, 25 August 2008
Sunday, 24 August 2008
* Bowling Etiquette
By Mike Kolar
What is “Bowling Etiquette”?
“Bowling Etiquette” is how you handle yourself on the lanes. In a nutshell, it is the proper (unwritten law) way to bowl. I have put together a list of things you should do and things you shouldn’t during your league play (or even during your open play), and more importantly why…
DO…
Give the bowlers on the lanes next to you (i.e. if you are on lane 4, the bowlers on lane 5 and lane 6) the right of way. What does this mean? Before getting on the approach to begin your bowling shot, you must pay attention to the lanes next to you. If someone is already on the approach on the lane on either side of you, you should wait. It is especially irritating to the seasoned bowler, if he/she is on the approach beginning their shot and you run up and throw your ball.
DON’T…
Talk to bowlers while they are in the process of making a shot. Some bowlers will even say that you shouldn’t talk to them between the 1st and 2nd balls in a frame. It is important that a bowler has every opportunity to concentrate on what he/she is doing when they are bowling. Once the frame is complete, talk away…
DO…
Be polite. Don’t antagonize the other bowlers on your pair of lanes. Everybody deserves to have a good time bowling and there is no place for pestering and insulting other bowlers in bowling. If someone does well, slap their hand (this is a regular practice amongst regular bowlers), if they don’t (i.e. they throw a split), offer condolences by tapping their fist with yours.
DON’T…
Use another bowler’s equipment without asking. This kind of goes without saying, but other’s equipment can be very important to them. This rule applies to everything from balls and bags to towels and hand cleaner. Nowadays a lot of the equipment that bowlers use to bowl is pretty expensive as well. A lot of bowling balls go for more than $250.
DO…
Keep your hands out of the ball return and stay behind the foul line (the line where the gutters start). It is dangerous to put your hand in the ball return, there are moving parts in there. The lane has been oiled (at some point) beyond the foul line. If you go across the line, the oil will get on your shoes and you will track it back on the approach, not to mention that you may slip and fall.
DON’T…
Take the bowling alley’s equipment (shoes and balls). They need this equipment for the next bowler coming in behind you. If you take their equipment, they have to replace it. If enough people do this, the price goes up and this causes everybody pain.
DO…
Enjoy your bowling. Don’t let anybody take away from you having fun! The game is supposed to be fun and if you get to worried about what is going on, it can make you bowl worse (see my article on Attitude).
DON’T…
Forget to pay for your bowling. This is a cardinal sin. The bowling alley relies on your paying for your bowling. A lot of bowling alleys have gone to having you give them one shoe when you get your shoes so that you won’t leave without paying.
If you follow these general rules of bowling etiquette, the people that you are bowling with and the establishment that you are bowling at will enjoy having you around. Please be courteous when you bowl and follow all of the rules of etiquette to your best ability.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Dimensions
What is “Bowling Etiquette”?
“Bowling Etiquette” is how you handle yourself on the lanes. In a nutshell, it is the proper (unwritten law) way to bowl. I have put together a list of things you should do and things you shouldn’t during your league play (or even during your open play), and more importantly why…
DO…
Give the bowlers on the lanes next to you (i.e. if you are on lane 4, the bowlers on lane 5 and lane 6) the right of way. What does this mean? Before getting on the approach to begin your bowling shot, you must pay attention to the lanes next to you. If someone is already on the approach on the lane on either side of you, you should wait. It is especially irritating to the seasoned bowler, if he/she is on the approach beginning their shot and you run up and throw your ball.
DON’T…
Talk to bowlers while they are in the process of making a shot. Some bowlers will even say that you shouldn’t talk to them between the 1st and 2nd balls in a frame. It is important that a bowler has every opportunity to concentrate on what he/she is doing when they are bowling. Once the frame is complete, talk away…
DO…
Be polite. Don’t antagonize the other bowlers on your pair of lanes. Everybody deserves to have a good time bowling and there is no place for pestering and insulting other bowlers in bowling. If someone does well, slap their hand (this is a regular practice amongst regular bowlers), if they don’t (i.e. they throw a split), offer condolences by tapping their fist with yours.
DON’T…
Use another bowler’s equipment without asking. This kind of goes without saying, but other’s equipment can be very important to them. This rule applies to everything from balls and bags to towels and hand cleaner. Nowadays a lot of the equipment that bowlers use to bowl is pretty expensive as well. A lot of bowling balls go for more than $250.
DO…
Keep your hands out of the ball return and stay behind the foul line (the line where the gutters start). It is dangerous to put your hand in the ball return, there are moving parts in there. The lane has been oiled (at some point) beyond the foul line. If you go across the line, the oil will get on your shoes and you will track it back on the approach, not to mention that you may slip and fall.
DON’T…
Take the bowling alley’s equipment (shoes and balls). They need this equipment for the next bowler coming in behind you. If you take their equipment, they have to replace it. If enough people do this, the price goes up and this causes everybody pain.
DO…
Enjoy your bowling. Don’t let anybody take away from you having fun! The game is supposed to be fun and if you get to worried about what is going on, it can make you bowl worse (see my article on Attitude).
DON’T…
Forget to pay for your bowling. This is a cardinal sin. The bowling alley relies on your paying for your bowling. A lot of bowling alleys have gone to having you give them one shoe when you get your shoes so that you won’t leave without paying.
If you follow these general rules of bowling etiquette, the people that you are bowling with and the establishment that you are bowling at will enjoy having you around. Please be courteous when you bowl and follow all of the rules of etiquette to your best ability.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Dimensions
Saturday, 23 August 2008
* Bowling Dimensions
Lane Dimensions
The bowling lane is 60 feet (18.28 metres) from the foul line to the head pin (1-pin). About fifteen feet (4.57 metres) from the foul line are a set of guide arrows. The lane is 3.5 feet (1.07 m) wide and normally consists of 39 wooden boards or a synthetic material. The bowling lane has two sets of approach dots; from the foul line back to the first set of approach dots is about 12 feet (3.65 metres) and to the second set of approach dots is about 15 feet (4.57 m) (an additional 3 feet/0.91 m).
Pin Dimensions
USBC rules specify that a pin must be 15 inches (38.1 cm) tall and about 4.7 inches (11.4 cm) wide at the "belly" of the pin, where a rolling ball would make contact. There are additional measurements which delineate the shape. The weight of a single pinmust be at least 3 pounds, 4 ounces (1.47 kg) and no more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces (1.64 kg). Within a set of ten pins, the individual weights may vary by no more than 4 ounces (113.4 g), if made from wood or plastic cloated, or just 2 ounces (56.7 g) if synthetic. The pins must show the name and mark of the maker, "USBC Approved", and appear uniform.
Ball Regulations
For competition bowling, a ball must be made of a completely solid material and its weight must be distributed evenly. The circumference of the ball must not be more than 2.25 feet (0.686 m), and the ball cannot weigh more than 16 pounds (7.26 kg). The ball must have a smooth surface over its entire circumference except for holes or indentations used for gripping the ball, identification letters and numbers, and general wear from normal use.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Basic Rules
The bowling lane is 60 feet (18.28 metres) from the foul line to the head pin (1-pin). About fifteen feet (4.57 metres) from the foul line are a set of guide arrows. The lane is 3.5 feet (1.07 m) wide and normally consists of 39 wooden boards or a synthetic material. The bowling lane has two sets of approach dots; from the foul line back to the first set of approach dots is about 12 feet (3.65 metres) and to the second set of approach dots is about 15 feet (4.57 m) (an additional 3 feet/0.91 m).
Pin Dimensions
USBC rules specify that a pin must be 15 inches (38.1 cm) tall and about 4.7 inches (11.4 cm) wide at the "belly" of the pin, where a rolling ball would make contact. There are additional measurements which delineate the shape. The weight of a single pinmust be at least 3 pounds, 4 ounces (1.47 kg) and no more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces (1.64 kg). Within a set of ten pins, the individual weights may vary by no more than 4 ounces (113.4 g), if made from wood or plastic cloated, or just 2 ounces (56.7 g) if synthetic. The pins must show the name and mark of the maker, "USBC Approved", and appear uniform.
Ball Regulations
For competition bowling, a ball must be made of a completely solid material and its weight must be distributed evenly. The circumference of the ball must not be more than 2.25 feet (0.686 m), and the ball cannot weigh more than 16 pounds (7.26 kg). The ball must have a smooth surface over its entire circumference except for holes or indentations used for gripping the ball, identification letters and numbers, and general wear from normal use.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Basic Rules
Friday, 22 August 2008
* Bowling Basic Rules
by Michael Russell
A game of bowling consists of 10 frames. The goal is to knock down all ten pins on the first shot, earning a strike. If the bowler fails to knock down all ten pins on the first shot, they take a second shot. If the bowler knocks down all of the pins after this second shot, he or she earns a spare. In the 10th, and last frame, a bowler who gets a strike on his or her first shot gets to throw two additional balls. A bowler who gets a spare in the 10th frame gets to throw one additional ball.
If a bowler earns a strike on the first ball, it is scored as ten, plus the count the bowler achieves on the next two balls. For example, if a bowler earns a strike in the first three frames, the bowler will earn 10 pins for the first shot, plus ten more for each of the additional strikes, yielding a score of 30 for the first frame.
When a bowler gets a spare, he or she gets 10 pins, plus the score on the next ball. For example, if a bowler gets a spare in the first frame, and then knocks down 9 pins on the first ball of the second frame, he or she would receive ten pins for the spare, plus nine, yielding a first frame score of 19.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Balls
A game of bowling consists of 10 frames. The goal is to knock down all ten pins on the first shot, earning a strike. If the bowler fails to knock down all ten pins on the first shot, they take a second shot. If the bowler knocks down all of the pins after this second shot, he or she earns a spare. In the 10th, and last frame, a bowler who gets a strike on his or her first shot gets to throw two additional balls. A bowler who gets a spare in the 10th frame gets to throw one additional ball.
If a bowler earns a strike on the first ball, it is scored as ten, plus the count the bowler achieves on the next two balls. For example, if a bowler earns a strike in the first three frames, the bowler will earn 10 pins for the first shot, plus ten more for each of the additional strikes, yielding a score of 30 for the first frame.
When a bowler gets a spare, he or she gets 10 pins, plus the score on the next ball. For example, if a bowler gets a spare in the first frame, and then knocks down 9 pins on the first ball of the second frame, he or she would receive ten pins for the spare, plus nine, yielding a first frame score of 19.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Balls
Thursday, 21 August 2008
* Bowling Balls
By Chris Miller
Bowling balls are available with a wide range of options. Such options as coverstock, weight block, top weight, and pin location to name a few. With so many variables, how do you choose the right one for you? Many factors, should be considered when making a decision on your next bowling ball purchase.
Let’s briefly breakdown what each of the above mentioned terms mean in reference to bowling balls.
-Coverstock is essentially to outer surface of the bowling ball that creates the shell. Typically, the coverstock can either be dull or shiny on a bowling ball.
-A weight block is the core of the bowling ball. Depending on the shape and density of the weight block, it can influence the reaction of the bowling ball.
-Top weight is the core variation within the bowling ball. If the core is higher in the ball, it produces a higher top weight. If the core is lower, then the bowling ball will have a lower top weight.
-Pin location simply designates the location of the top of the weight block in a bowling ball.
These definitions simply apply to the bowling ball itself. What factors not related to the make/model of the bowling ball? For this we are referring to factors such as your bowling game itself. Things such as ball speed, track flare, axis tilt, etc all play an important role in bowling. Each person has their own unique way of bowling. Knowing your game and style will make it easier for you to make the proper selection when buying a new bowling ball.
Below is a brief breakdown of a few key definitions.
-Ball Speed is simply the speed at which you roll your bowling ball. Many of the newer scoring systems measure the speed of your bowling ball. However, not all are 100% accurate, but it can give you a general idea of what the speed is.
-Track flare is the “oil rings” that appear on your bowling ball after you throw it. These rings show the progression of the rotation of your ball as it is rolling down the lane and the ball changing its axis of rotation while seeking its preferred spin axis.
-Axis tilt is the angle of rotation of the bowling ball.
Depending on your style and lane conditions, making the right decision can be tricky at times. The easiest and best way to decide which bowling ball is right for you is to visit your local bowling pro shop. Many pro shop owners have been around the game of bowling for quite some time. With their knowledge and experience, as well as watching you bowl, they can give you strong recommendations on which bowling ball will suit your game.
However, not every bowling center has an on-site pro shop. Luckily the internet provides a plethora of information regarding bowling balls. Many of the manufacturer sites provide in depth analysis of reactions and characteristics and even a few videos with the bowling balls in action. Customer reviews found on various bowling ball message forums can also provide real life insight as to what a particular bowling ball can do on certain lane conditions. There are even a few retail sites that provide bowling ball reviews, which are customer reviews for various products.
As you can see the internet can be an excellent resource in helping you determine which bowling balls will take your game to the next level.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Ball Benefits & Features
Bowling balls are available with a wide range of options. Such options as coverstock, weight block, top weight, and pin location to name a few. With so many variables, how do you choose the right one for you? Many factors, should be considered when making a decision on your next bowling ball purchase.
Let’s briefly breakdown what each of the above mentioned terms mean in reference to bowling balls.
-Coverstock is essentially to outer surface of the bowling ball that creates the shell. Typically, the coverstock can either be dull or shiny on a bowling ball.
-A weight block is the core of the bowling ball. Depending on the shape and density of the weight block, it can influence the reaction of the bowling ball.
-Top weight is the core variation within the bowling ball. If the core is higher in the ball, it produces a higher top weight. If the core is lower, then the bowling ball will have a lower top weight.
-Pin location simply designates the location of the top of the weight block in a bowling ball.
These definitions simply apply to the bowling ball itself. What factors not related to the make/model of the bowling ball? For this we are referring to factors such as your bowling game itself. Things such as ball speed, track flare, axis tilt, etc all play an important role in bowling. Each person has their own unique way of bowling. Knowing your game and style will make it easier for you to make the proper selection when buying a new bowling ball.
Below is a brief breakdown of a few key definitions.
-Ball Speed is simply the speed at which you roll your bowling ball. Many of the newer scoring systems measure the speed of your bowling ball. However, not all are 100% accurate, but it can give you a general idea of what the speed is.
-Track flare is the “oil rings” that appear on your bowling ball after you throw it. These rings show the progression of the rotation of your ball as it is rolling down the lane and the ball changing its axis of rotation while seeking its preferred spin axis.
-Axis tilt is the angle of rotation of the bowling ball.
Depending on your style and lane conditions, making the right decision can be tricky at times. The easiest and best way to decide which bowling ball is right for you is to visit your local bowling pro shop. Many pro shop owners have been around the game of bowling for quite some time. With their knowledge and experience, as well as watching you bowl, they can give you strong recommendations on which bowling ball will suit your game.
However, not every bowling center has an on-site pro shop. Luckily the internet provides a plethora of information regarding bowling balls. Many of the manufacturer sites provide in depth analysis of reactions and characteristics and even a few videos with the bowling balls in action. Customer reviews found on various bowling ball message forums can also provide real life insight as to what a particular bowling ball can do on certain lane conditions. There are even a few retail sites that provide bowling ball reviews, which are customer reviews for various products.
As you can see the internet can be an excellent resource in helping you determine which bowling balls will take your game to the next level.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Ball Benefits & Features
Monday, 18 August 2008
* Bowling Ball Benefits & Features
by Michael Russell
Bowling balls can be made of rubber, plastic or urethane. Serious bowler can order a custom made ball instead of always borrowing or renting one from the bowling alley.
Since balls are made of different materials, the performance of each varies depending on the floor surface. Bowling balls can be ordered in different weights. They range from 12 to 16 pounds and will work for any bowler, regardless of gender or age.
The Brunswick Scorchin Inferno bowling ball is a good example. This high performance model is an upgrade from the Ultimate Inferno and has proven to be one of the best sellers in the companys inventory. Its cover stock is the Activator Max and performs best when used in a lane that requires heavy oil.
Another good ball is the Columbia Action Packed Bowling Ball. This high performance ball does well and works best under medium lane conditions. Its cover stock is the M80^2 and is guaranteed to do well for the player who likes to make strikes.
The elite R43 bowling ball is one that can work in light or heavy oil conditions. Manufactures claim that the weight block, which is the energy transfer core of this ball, will increase the chances of putting more pins down than any other ball because it delays the transfer of energy until the point of impact.
Proper care must be taken to ensure the bowling ball is in tip top condition at all times. This means it should not be dropped which could cause damage to the ball and injure the people around.
The ball should be kept at room temperature and stored in a bag when it is not being used to prevent stress. The owner should polish it from time to time or take it to the pro shop to be refinished.
The customized bowling ball should only be used by the owner. This is because the holes were measured only to fit the fingers of the user and not anyone else. Letting someone else use it may injure the borrower. There are many bowling balls to choose from and the price of them range from $100 to $300. They come in many colors and designs which will stand out in the bowling alley. By looking at the conditions of the bowling alley, the bowler will find the right ball to get the job done.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Ball - Your Key To A Great Game
Bowling balls can be made of rubber, plastic or urethane. Serious bowler can order a custom made ball instead of always borrowing or renting one from the bowling alley.
Since balls are made of different materials, the performance of each varies depending on the floor surface. Bowling balls can be ordered in different weights. They range from 12 to 16 pounds and will work for any bowler, regardless of gender or age.
The Brunswick Scorchin Inferno bowling ball is a good example. This high performance model is an upgrade from the Ultimate Inferno and has proven to be one of the best sellers in the companys inventory. Its cover stock is the Activator Max and performs best when used in a lane that requires heavy oil.
Another good ball is the Columbia Action Packed Bowling Ball. This high performance ball does well and works best under medium lane conditions. Its cover stock is the M80^2 and is guaranteed to do well for the player who likes to make strikes.
The elite R43 bowling ball is one that can work in light or heavy oil conditions. Manufactures claim that the weight block, which is the energy transfer core of this ball, will increase the chances of putting more pins down than any other ball because it delays the transfer of energy until the point of impact.
Proper care must be taken to ensure the bowling ball is in tip top condition at all times. This means it should not be dropped which could cause damage to the ball and injure the people around.
The ball should be kept at room temperature and stored in a bag when it is not being used to prevent stress. The owner should polish it from time to time or take it to the pro shop to be refinished.
The customized bowling ball should only be used by the owner. This is because the holes were measured only to fit the fingers of the user and not anyone else. Letting someone else use it may injure the borrower. There are many bowling balls to choose from and the price of them range from $100 to $300. They come in many colors and designs which will stand out in the bowling alley. By looking at the conditions of the bowling alley, the bowler will find the right ball to get the job done.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Ball - Your Key To A Great Game
Saturday, 16 August 2008
* Bowling Ball - Your Key To A Great Game
By Michael Russell
Having a good bowling ball is the equivalent of having the right key to your car. You can't use someone else's car key to drive your own car can you? I didn't think so. The same goes for the game of bowling - it's better to have a ball that suits you than using a ball that is too heavy or too light.
But I'm not going to scorn you for choosing the wrong ball. It's common. So lets go over the basics of finding a good ball at the bowling alley.
The most important thing to remember in choosing your ball is to use a ball that suits your physical condition. Don't try to be superman or superwoman and go and pick up the heaviest ball, resulting in you throwing out your back or your wrist, I've seen it happen too many times.
Adult males generally choose balls between 14 - 16 pounds and adult females usually choose balls between 10 - 14 pounds and kids should always choose ball ranging from 6 - 14 pounds. But I still must say regardless of whether you're male or female, if these weights are still too heavy for you, choose a lighter ball. I know beginners who are well into their thirties that use balls between 6 - 14 pounds, to master the technique first. I suggest you do the same if the above weight is too heavy for you.
Choosing The Proper Ball Fit
How to choose the proper ball thumbhole size: It's very simple, insert you thumb into the bowling ball's thumbhole and if there is little room when you press to the other side of the hole, you've got a perfect fit. When I say this, I don't mean go and get a ball with a thumbhole that is too tight, because it is extremely dangerous. Also remember don't get a ball with a thumbhole that is too loose for your thumb. Don't hesitate to pick up another ball if the hole is too tight or too lose.
Selecting A Customized Ball
If you're someone who bowls often, it is in your best interest to stop using balls at the bowling alley and go out and get your own. Buying your own bowling shoes as well is best. You can't be the best if you're renting can you?
Some helpful hints in choosing a custom ball
- When you go out and get your ball also pick up a pair of your own shoes and you must get a bag for your ball as well.
- To get the most accurate span measurement make sure you exercise your hand before being fitted for a ball.
- If you suffer from arthritis, tell the operator of the pro shop so the ball can be altered according to your needs.
How To Buy A Used Bowling Ball
Used bowling balls are much cheaper than new ones and it may be best for those who don't bowl often but still don't want to use the ones down at the lanes. You can head on down to your local pro shop and pick up a used bowling ball and they may also have other bowlers who'll be willing to trade balls with you. It is not uncommon for team mates on a bowling team to trade balls with one another. As startling as it may be, used balls are better than new ones, but make sure if you buy a used ball that the surface is in good condition, without deep cracks and scratches. Never choose a ball that has a damaged cover or sounds hollow when tapped with a solid object.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Alleys
Having a good bowling ball is the equivalent of having the right key to your car. You can't use someone else's car key to drive your own car can you? I didn't think so. The same goes for the game of bowling - it's better to have a ball that suits you than using a ball that is too heavy or too light.
But I'm not going to scorn you for choosing the wrong ball. It's common. So lets go over the basics of finding a good ball at the bowling alley.
The most important thing to remember in choosing your ball is to use a ball that suits your physical condition. Don't try to be superman or superwoman and go and pick up the heaviest ball, resulting in you throwing out your back or your wrist, I've seen it happen too many times.
Adult males generally choose balls between 14 - 16 pounds and adult females usually choose balls between 10 - 14 pounds and kids should always choose ball ranging from 6 - 14 pounds. But I still must say regardless of whether you're male or female, if these weights are still too heavy for you, choose a lighter ball. I know beginners who are well into their thirties that use balls between 6 - 14 pounds, to master the technique first. I suggest you do the same if the above weight is too heavy for you.
Choosing The Proper Ball Fit
How to choose the proper ball thumbhole size: It's very simple, insert you thumb into the bowling ball's thumbhole and if there is little room when you press to the other side of the hole, you've got a perfect fit. When I say this, I don't mean go and get a ball with a thumbhole that is too tight, because it is extremely dangerous. Also remember don't get a ball with a thumbhole that is too loose for your thumb. Don't hesitate to pick up another ball if the hole is too tight or too lose.
Selecting A Customized Ball
If you're someone who bowls often, it is in your best interest to stop using balls at the bowling alley and go out and get your own. Buying your own bowling shoes as well is best. You can't be the best if you're renting can you?
Some helpful hints in choosing a custom ball
- When you go out and get your ball also pick up a pair of your own shoes and you must get a bag for your ball as well.
- To get the most accurate span measurement make sure you exercise your hand before being fitted for a ball.
- If you suffer from arthritis, tell the operator of the pro shop so the ball can be altered according to your needs.
How To Buy A Used Bowling Ball
Used bowling balls are much cheaper than new ones and it may be best for those who don't bowl often but still don't want to use the ones down at the lanes. You can head on down to your local pro shop and pick up a used bowling ball and they may also have other bowlers who'll be willing to trade balls with you. It is not uncommon for team mates on a bowling team to trade balls with one another. As startling as it may be, used balls are better than new ones, but make sure if you buy a used ball that the surface is in good condition, without deep cracks and scratches. Never choose a ball that has a damaged cover or sounds hollow when tapped with a solid object.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling Alleys
Friday, 15 August 2008
* Bowling Alleys
“Bowling Alley”, “Bowling Center”, “The Bowl” and “House” are used interchangeably to describe the building where bowling takes place. Bowling alleys are usually comprised of many lanes (as many as 100 or more), but can be comprised of only a few lanes. Some people have a lane in their home, while I wouldn’t consider this a bowling alley, per se; it is in the most literal sense one. A single lane is sometimes referred to as a bowling alley. For the purposes of this article, a bowling alley or house will refer to a place where there are multiple lanes and games are purchased.
Where Are Bowling Alleys?
They are everywhere. Lately it seems that a lot more houses are closing due to property and maintenance prices getting to expensive, or lack of use. Looking in your local telephone book, you should be able to find quite a few houses in your area. Bowling is a very popular sport and therefore there are a lot of bowling alleys in most areas. If you can’t find one where you live, check the nearest city or big town, there’s bound to be one within driving distance of where you live.
Recently a large bowling stadium was constructed in Reno, NV (United States). If you want to see a really large house, that is the place to go. If you get a chance to bowl there it is really quite the thing! I have bowled there on several occasions and have really enjoyed it. The PBA (Pro Bowlers Association) has tournaments there as well as the USBC. A few of the tournaments that I know of that bowl there are the PBA, USBC Nationals, USBC Mixed, and the High Roller. This stadium was built expressly for the purpose of handling large bowling tournaments, and is not allowed to have leagues in it. It also has a very large Pro Shop (place to buy bowling stuff), that even has a bowling lane in it so that you can see everything! They will video tape your game and help you to figure out what you need to improve. It is quite impressive.
Bowling Center Layout
Most bowling alleys will have a desk (where you buy games), a bar, game room, at least one meeting room, a room to handle babysitting, and, of course, lanes! A lot of houses have a pro shop also.
The desk is usually situated somewhere near the center of the house and the bar is usually not far from it. For most bowlers that’s all you need to know about a bowling alley right there! Drinking and bowling go hand and hand for a lot of bowlers (not me, though). It’s no mistake that the bar is centralized in the bowling alley. The game room is usually centralized in the bowling alley also, and most of the time contains pool tables, video games, and pinball machines.
Meeting rooms can be anywhere in the bowling alley, and will seat anywhere from 25 – 100s of people. The meeting rooms are used for league meetings, receptions, birthday parties, etc…. Most of the time, one of the rooms will have toys and things in it for kids. This room is generally used for babysitting the children of the bowlers. Most bowling alleys offer free babysitting for children up to age 7 or 8 for league bowlers. This comes in very handy when you are bowling.
Pro shops are very popular in bowling alleys. Inside of the pro shop you can find just about anything that you need for bowling from balls and bags to shoes, brushes, and powder or resin. You can even get advice from a “pro”. Most of the pro shops are either owned by a professional bowler or have a professional on staff. Be careful though, not all of the people working in the pro shop are pros, and not all of them necessarily have your best interest at heart. There is a lot of stuff to be bought and if you are getting equipment, be sure that you are speaking to somebody who knows your game. Buying equipment for bowling is not as simple as getting a ball and shoes.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling alley deal
Where Are Bowling Alleys?
They are everywhere. Lately it seems that a lot more houses are closing due to property and maintenance prices getting to expensive, or lack of use. Looking in your local telephone book, you should be able to find quite a few houses in your area. Bowling is a very popular sport and therefore there are a lot of bowling alleys in most areas. If you can’t find one where you live, check the nearest city or big town, there’s bound to be one within driving distance of where you live.
Recently a large bowling stadium was constructed in Reno, NV (United States). If you want to see a really large house, that is the place to go. If you get a chance to bowl there it is really quite the thing! I have bowled there on several occasions and have really enjoyed it. The PBA (Pro Bowlers Association) has tournaments there as well as the USBC. A few of the tournaments that I know of that bowl there are the PBA, USBC Nationals, USBC Mixed, and the High Roller. This stadium was built expressly for the purpose of handling large bowling tournaments, and is not allowed to have leagues in it. It also has a very large Pro Shop (place to buy bowling stuff), that even has a bowling lane in it so that you can see everything! They will video tape your game and help you to figure out what you need to improve. It is quite impressive.
Bowling Center Layout
Most bowling alleys will have a desk (where you buy games), a bar, game room, at least one meeting room, a room to handle babysitting, and, of course, lanes! A lot of houses have a pro shop also.
The desk is usually situated somewhere near the center of the house and the bar is usually not far from it. For most bowlers that’s all you need to know about a bowling alley right there! Drinking and bowling go hand and hand for a lot of bowlers (not me, though). It’s no mistake that the bar is centralized in the bowling alley. The game room is usually centralized in the bowling alley also, and most of the time contains pool tables, video games, and pinball machines.
Meeting rooms can be anywhere in the bowling alley, and will seat anywhere from 25 – 100s of people. The meeting rooms are used for league meetings, receptions, birthday parties, etc…. Most of the time, one of the rooms will have toys and things in it for kids. This room is generally used for babysitting the children of the bowlers. Most bowling alleys offer free babysitting for children up to age 7 or 8 for league bowlers. This comes in very handy when you are bowling.
Pro shops are very popular in bowling alleys. Inside of the pro shop you can find just about anything that you need for bowling from balls and bags to shoes, brushes, and powder or resin. You can even get advice from a “pro”. Most of the pro shops are either owned by a professional bowler or have a professional on staff. Be careful though, not all of the people working in the pro shop are pros, and not all of them necessarily have your best interest at heart. There is a lot of stuff to be bought and if you are getting equipment, be sure that you are speaking to somebody who knows your game. Buying equipment for bowling is not as simple as getting a ball and shoes.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling alley deal
Thursday, 14 August 2008
* Bowling alley deal
The Clinton-backed Harlem Small Business Initiative, which recently announced plans to expand into Brooklyn and the Bronx, helped two investors, Sharon Joseph and Gail Jacobs spend up to $5 million on Harlem Bowling.
The bowling alley will be located at the former Alhambra Theater at 2110-2118 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. The bowling alley will be located on the third and fourth floors, taking up 12,500 s/f. The ceilings on each floor top out at 45 feet.
The investors took out a 20-year lease on the space, situated between 125th and 126th streets and will install an automated teller machine on the site to generate more revenue.
Eric Meyer, of GVA Williams, and Nicole Meyer, of Newmark New Spectrum, represented the building owners.
Joseph and Jacobs were aided by Booz Allen Hamilton, the management consulting firm, helped teach them how to market their products and services and to control their inventories, Mr. Williams said.
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The National Black MBA Association aided the women on improving their bookkeeping and accounting skills.
"It was a collective effort between these groups," said Clyde Williams, Clinton's chief domestic policy advisor at his Harlem office.
Among other services, "we gave them information on things they had to do to generate a business plan (and) a security plan," Williams said.
Students from the NYU Stern School of Business assisted in helping with plans for the bowling alley, which is slated to open in December.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Throwing A Hook Ball
The bowling alley will be located at the former Alhambra Theater at 2110-2118 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. The bowling alley will be located on the third and fourth floors, taking up 12,500 s/f. The ceilings on each floor top out at 45 feet.
The investors took out a 20-year lease on the space, situated between 125th and 126th streets and will install an automated teller machine on the site to generate more revenue.
Eric Meyer, of GVA Williams, and Nicole Meyer, of Newmark New Spectrum, represented the building owners.
Joseph and Jacobs were aided by Booz Allen Hamilton, the management consulting firm, helped teach them how to market their products and services and to control their inventories, Mr. Williams said.
Advertisement
The National Black MBA Association aided the women on improving their bookkeeping and accounting skills.
"It was a collective effort between these groups," said Clyde Williams, Clinton's chief domestic policy advisor at his Harlem office.
Among other services, "we gave them information on things they had to do to generate a business plan (and) a security plan," Williams said.
Students from the NYU Stern School of Business assisted in helping with plans for the bowling alley, which is slated to open in December.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Throwing A Hook Ball
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
* Bowling - Throwing A Hook Ball
By Michael Russell
Bowling is not like any other sport because there is constantly change occurring. What separates the experts from the newbies is that the experts are constantly apply new techniques to their game. The techniques that I've taught you so far should be practiced over and over again until you can remember them well.
Many people that are new to the game of bowling don't know about the many different hook shots that are out there. The stroker, the cranker and the helicopter are techniques that most seasoned bowlers use to bowl at their maximum level. When you see a bowler at the lanes throw a ball and it all of sudden turns into the middle of the lane similar to a curve ball in baseball it's most likely because they just threw a hook ball.
Hook Bowling
Straight balls are great if you're a beginner but they can limit your scores to the 160 - 180 range. When you're constantly throwing straight balls, you have to focus more on bowling perfectly the first time. The way to truly raise your scores is to change that straight ball of yours into a hook ball.
The Definition Of A Hook Ball
A hook ball unlike a straight ball, curves after delivery. The bowlers hand comes from behind the ball rounding the side that makes the ball rotate sideways. The sideways rotation makes the ball go to the left or the right. There are three types of hook: the cranker, the stroker and the helicopter. Here they are:
*** The Stroker
The bowler's sliding foot stops just before the bowling ball gets to the bottom of the swing, creating moderate leverage for a controllable ball reaction. The shoulders have to be very square at the release point. I like the stroker because it plays straighter up the outside of the lane which allows the ball to gently hook into the pocket.
*** The Cranker
The cranker is different, using this technique, the ball reaches maximum revolution. This way more power is produced. The bowler stands with their feet to left hand side of the approach and then swings the ball out to the left hand of the approach. The cranker technique uses late timing (this means getting to the foul line before the ball). They plant their foot and then pull their arm through, bending the elbow in order to keep the hand behind and under the ball and leaving the shoulders open for the maximum leverage. Because of all these moves the cranker can cause muscle injury.
*** The Helicopter
This is a very popular form of bowling in Asia. This technique originated in Taiwan where the lanes generally were in poor condition. When using this technique it is best to use a ball weighing between 10 - 12 lbs. Bring the fingers all the way round the top of the ball, as opposed to the hook where you bring the fingers round the sides. The ball travels straight down the lane but it spins like helicopter propellers as it travels. Once you master this technique, believe me when I say that you'll love it.
Those are the techniques you can use to throw the different forms of hook balls available out there, so take advantage of them.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Hardest Shots In The Game
Bowling is not like any other sport because there is constantly change occurring. What separates the experts from the newbies is that the experts are constantly apply new techniques to their game. The techniques that I've taught you so far should be practiced over and over again until you can remember them well.
Many people that are new to the game of bowling don't know about the many different hook shots that are out there. The stroker, the cranker and the helicopter are techniques that most seasoned bowlers use to bowl at their maximum level. When you see a bowler at the lanes throw a ball and it all of sudden turns into the middle of the lane similar to a curve ball in baseball it's most likely because they just threw a hook ball.
Hook Bowling
Straight balls are great if you're a beginner but they can limit your scores to the 160 - 180 range. When you're constantly throwing straight balls, you have to focus more on bowling perfectly the first time. The way to truly raise your scores is to change that straight ball of yours into a hook ball.
The Definition Of A Hook Ball
A hook ball unlike a straight ball, curves after delivery. The bowlers hand comes from behind the ball rounding the side that makes the ball rotate sideways. The sideways rotation makes the ball go to the left or the right. There are three types of hook: the cranker, the stroker and the helicopter. Here they are:
*** The Stroker
The bowler's sliding foot stops just before the bowling ball gets to the bottom of the swing, creating moderate leverage for a controllable ball reaction. The shoulders have to be very square at the release point. I like the stroker because it plays straighter up the outside of the lane which allows the ball to gently hook into the pocket.
*** The Cranker
The cranker is different, using this technique, the ball reaches maximum revolution. This way more power is produced. The bowler stands with their feet to left hand side of the approach and then swings the ball out to the left hand of the approach. The cranker technique uses late timing (this means getting to the foul line before the ball). They plant their foot and then pull their arm through, bending the elbow in order to keep the hand behind and under the ball and leaving the shoulders open for the maximum leverage. Because of all these moves the cranker can cause muscle injury.
*** The Helicopter
This is a very popular form of bowling in Asia. This technique originated in Taiwan where the lanes generally were in poor condition. When using this technique it is best to use a ball weighing between 10 - 12 lbs. Bring the fingers all the way round the top of the ball, as opposed to the hook where you bring the fingers round the sides. The ball travels straight down the lane but it spins like helicopter propellers as it travels. Once you master this technique, believe me when I say that you'll love it.
Those are the techniques you can use to throw the different forms of hook balls available out there, so take advantage of them.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Hardest Shots In The Game
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
* Bowling - The Hardest Shots In The Game
By Michael Russell
There are some shots in the game of bowling that most people will agree are just a pain in the backside to try to make. They may not all agree on the order of difficulty, which is why we're not going to list these in any particular order except for the one that everyone agrees is the hardest, but they do agree that these shots give them more fits than a night out with a nun.
Oddly, one of the most difficult shots in the game for a right handed bowler is making the 10 pin. You would think that knocking down a single pin wouldn't be that hard. But the problem is that, unlike all other one pin spares, the 10 pin has no room on the right side of the pin for missing it as it is right next to the gutter. You either have to hit it head on or slightly to the left. If you throw it too far right, your ball lands in the gutter. If you throw a hook ball, this makes it even more difficult as you can't throw the ball out right of the 10 pin and let it hook back. It will end up in the gutter before you know it. This shot just gives right handers fits. For left handers, it's the 7 pin, which has the same problem.
After the single pin shots, the next difficult double pin shot is when you have what they call double wood. That's when you have one pin in back of another, such as the 2-8 or 3-9 shots. These are difficult because you have to hit the 2 or 3 pins dead on. If you hit them to the right or left, you won't take out the pin behind it because the pin goes in one direction and the ball deflects in the other direction, leaving the pin behind standing and staring you in the face. This is another shot that gives all bowlers fits.
After these shots come the splits. Splits are where there is more than one pin standing on the lane with at least one space between them. Pros generally consider the easiest splits to be the baby splits, such as the 3-10 or 2-7. With these splits you have to place the ball just inside of the 2 pins that are standing. The ball will deflect off the first pin and into the second pin. These aren't too difficult as far as splits go, but they do need pin point control.
There are splits, however, that are very difficult, such as the 5-7 or 5-10, which requires you hit the 5 pin into either the 7 or 10, depending on which pin is standing. The 5 pin must be hit in just the right spot in order to send it sailing into the other pin. There are other splits which are harder variations of this one such as the 4-10 or 6-7.
All bowlers agree that the hardest split to make is the dreaded 7-10 split. These pins are 180 degrees apart and because of this it is almost impossible to send one pin into the other. Most pro bowlers try to bounce one of the pins out of the pit in the back into the other pin. It is rare that this split is made, though it does happen.
Bowling can be a fun game. But with shots like these, it can be a real headache.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Game For The Masses
There are some shots in the game of bowling that most people will agree are just a pain in the backside to try to make. They may not all agree on the order of difficulty, which is why we're not going to list these in any particular order except for the one that everyone agrees is the hardest, but they do agree that these shots give them more fits than a night out with a nun.
Oddly, one of the most difficult shots in the game for a right handed bowler is making the 10 pin. You would think that knocking down a single pin wouldn't be that hard. But the problem is that, unlike all other one pin spares, the 10 pin has no room on the right side of the pin for missing it as it is right next to the gutter. You either have to hit it head on or slightly to the left. If you throw it too far right, your ball lands in the gutter. If you throw a hook ball, this makes it even more difficult as you can't throw the ball out right of the 10 pin and let it hook back. It will end up in the gutter before you know it. This shot just gives right handers fits. For left handers, it's the 7 pin, which has the same problem.
After the single pin shots, the next difficult double pin shot is when you have what they call double wood. That's when you have one pin in back of another, such as the 2-8 or 3-9 shots. These are difficult because you have to hit the 2 or 3 pins dead on. If you hit them to the right or left, you won't take out the pin behind it because the pin goes in one direction and the ball deflects in the other direction, leaving the pin behind standing and staring you in the face. This is another shot that gives all bowlers fits.
After these shots come the splits. Splits are where there is more than one pin standing on the lane with at least one space between them. Pros generally consider the easiest splits to be the baby splits, such as the 3-10 or 2-7. With these splits you have to place the ball just inside of the 2 pins that are standing. The ball will deflect off the first pin and into the second pin. These aren't too difficult as far as splits go, but they do need pin point control.
There are splits, however, that are very difficult, such as the 5-7 or 5-10, which requires you hit the 5 pin into either the 7 or 10, depending on which pin is standing. The 5 pin must be hit in just the right spot in order to send it sailing into the other pin. There are other splits which are harder variations of this one such as the 4-10 or 6-7.
All bowlers agree that the hardest split to make is the dreaded 7-10 split. These pins are 180 degrees apart and because of this it is almost impossible to send one pin into the other. Most pro bowlers try to bounce one of the pins out of the pit in the back into the other pin. It is rare that this split is made, though it does happen.
Bowling can be a fun game. But with shots like these, it can be a real headache.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Game For The Masses
Monday, 11 August 2008
* Bowling - The Game For The Masses
By Michael Russell
When people talk about sports, it's usually about baseball, basketball, football or hockey. Soccer is supposedly the worlds game, but soccer is an unpopular sport in the US. Golf, as a sport, has risen in popularity, but the expense associated with golf makes it a sport mostly played by people with high incomes. A sport, which is popular, but rarely gets talked about, is bowling. Bowling is played all over the world, but it's probably one of the most unappreciated sports in history.
The true origin of bowling is in dispute, but there is evidence that a form of bowling existed as far back as 3200 BC. The first mention of a bowling type game occurred in England, in the 1300s. King Edward III supposedly outlawed the game because it was distracting his troops from archery practice. Many forms of bowling have originated from Europe and these include, Italian bocce, French pentanque and Britain's lawn bowling. Some give credit to the Dutch, for bringing bowling to America, but in actuality, the English, German and Dutch settlers, all brought their own version of the game over.
Bowling landed in America in the 17th century and spent most of its life as an outdoor game that used nine pins. Indoor bowling became popular in the 19th century, after indoor lanes opened in New York, in 1840. Bowling became so popular, that people started gambling on it. Connecticut and New York both banned nine pin bowling, because of the gambling. In 1842, a tenth pin was added to bowling. Some thought the tenth pin was just a ploy to get around the ban.
The American Bowling Congress was formed in 1895. This organization was responsible for establishing rules, creating standards for equipment and promoting bowling as a competition. The first ABC tournament was held in 1901, this tournament allowed amateur and professional bowlers to compete against each other. In 1916, the Women's International Bowling Congress was formed, this organization created the rules and regulations for women bowlers. The Professional Bowlers Association was formed in 1958. The PBA created a tournament tour. In 1961, ABC was the first network to televise PBA competition.
Bowling is not immune to technology. There have been many changes affecting the game. The most important being to the bowling balls. Stone and wood was used in the earliest days of bowling. Rubber balls came in the 1960s, polyester in the 1970s and urethane in the 80s. The 90s saw the invention of the reactive resin balls and the latter part of the 90s introduced the proactive resin balls. Bowling lanes have also been upgraded. In the past, most lanes were made of wood, but now a lot of lanes have synthetic surfaces.
In spite of the lack of publicity, bowling is still one of the most enjoyable games around. And unlike a lot of sports, bowling is a game the whole family can participate in. The simplicity of the game makes it easy for anyone to learn. Considering how many people bowl in the world, it's amazing that people forget about bowling when they're discussing the most popular sports.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling – The Basics (The Game)
When people talk about sports, it's usually about baseball, basketball, football or hockey. Soccer is supposedly the worlds game, but soccer is an unpopular sport in the US. Golf, as a sport, has risen in popularity, but the expense associated with golf makes it a sport mostly played by people with high incomes. A sport, which is popular, but rarely gets talked about, is bowling. Bowling is played all over the world, but it's probably one of the most unappreciated sports in history.
The true origin of bowling is in dispute, but there is evidence that a form of bowling existed as far back as 3200 BC. The first mention of a bowling type game occurred in England, in the 1300s. King Edward III supposedly outlawed the game because it was distracting his troops from archery practice. Many forms of bowling have originated from Europe and these include, Italian bocce, French pentanque and Britain's lawn bowling. Some give credit to the Dutch, for bringing bowling to America, but in actuality, the English, German and Dutch settlers, all brought their own version of the game over.
Bowling landed in America in the 17th century and spent most of its life as an outdoor game that used nine pins. Indoor bowling became popular in the 19th century, after indoor lanes opened in New York, in 1840. Bowling became so popular, that people started gambling on it. Connecticut and New York both banned nine pin bowling, because of the gambling. In 1842, a tenth pin was added to bowling. Some thought the tenth pin was just a ploy to get around the ban.
The American Bowling Congress was formed in 1895. This organization was responsible for establishing rules, creating standards for equipment and promoting bowling as a competition. The first ABC tournament was held in 1901, this tournament allowed amateur and professional bowlers to compete against each other. In 1916, the Women's International Bowling Congress was formed, this organization created the rules and regulations for women bowlers. The Professional Bowlers Association was formed in 1958. The PBA created a tournament tour. In 1961, ABC was the first network to televise PBA competition.
Bowling is not immune to technology. There have been many changes affecting the game. The most important being to the bowling balls. Stone and wood was used in the earliest days of bowling. Rubber balls came in the 1960s, polyester in the 1970s and urethane in the 80s. The 90s saw the invention of the reactive resin balls and the latter part of the 90s introduced the proactive resin balls. Bowling lanes have also been upgraded. In the past, most lanes were made of wood, but now a lot of lanes have synthetic surfaces.
In spite of the lack of publicity, bowling is still one of the most enjoyable games around. And unlike a lot of sports, bowling is a game the whole family can participate in. The simplicity of the game makes it easy for anyone to learn. Considering how many people bowl in the world, it's amazing that people forget about bowling when they're discussing the most popular sports.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling – The Basics (The Game)
Sunday, 10 August 2008
* Bowling – The Basics (The Game)
By Mike Kolar
Bowling is a fairly simple game. There are 10 pins and you knock them down on two balls per frame. Here is some basic information about how the game.
The Game
So what comprises a game you ask? 10 Frames (actually 12, but we will cover that later)
So what is a frame you ask? One or two balls, depending on what happens on your first shot, except the 10th when you may throw three balls.
OK, so 10 frames of 1 or 2 shots, this should be easy right? Nowadays with the electronic scorekeepers it is, but it wasn’t always that way. I actually used to keep score manually for tournaments bowlers, and get paid to do it!
Frames
There are 10 frames in a game of bowling, with one caveat. If you get a strike or a spare in the 10th frame, you get another shot. So, up to 3 shots can be thrown in the 10th frame of a game. At the risk of making this more confusing, if you get a spare, you get one extra shot (you have already thrown the ball twice this frame), but if you get a strike, you get 2 extra balls, thus you get 3 balls in the 10th frame if you get a mark (a strike or a spare).
Strikes and Spares
What are those words that you hear pouring out of bowlers mouths like “I got 6 strikes, 3 spares and missed a ten pin for an open!”? Strikes, Spares, Splits, and Opens are the fundamental results of throwing the ball down the lane.
Basically a “strike” is when you get all 10 pins down on the first ball. A “spare” is when you get all 10 pins down on two balls in the same frame. An “open” is when you don’t get all 10 pins down on two balls in the same frame. When you “pick up” a spare, you were able to knock down the rest of the pins on the second ball in the frame (you never “pick up” a strike).
A “Split” is a little more complicated. A split is when you leave at least two pins that are separated by where another pin would have been (see diagram above). So, if you leave the 4 and 5 pins (the 4 -5 split), you would have a split. The worst of the splits is the 7 – 10 split. These are the two pins that are farthest from each other on the lane and is almost impossible to hit.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Basics (Pins)
Bowling is a fairly simple game. There are 10 pins and you knock them down on two balls per frame. Here is some basic information about how the game.
The Game
So what comprises a game you ask? 10 Frames (actually 12, but we will cover that later)
So what is a frame you ask? One or two balls, depending on what happens on your first shot, except the 10th when you may throw three balls.
OK, so 10 frames of 1 or 2 shots, this should be easy right? Nowadays with the electronic scorekeepers it is, but it wasn’t always that way. I actually used to keep score manually for tournaments bowlers, and get paid to do it!
Frames
There are 10 frames in a game of bowling, with one caveat. If you get a strike or a spare in the 10th frame, you get another shot. So, up to 3 shots can be thrown in the 10th frame of a game. At the risk of making this more confusing, if you get a spare, you get one extra shot (you have already thrown the ball twice this frame), but if you get a strike, you get 2 extra balls, thus you get 3 balls in the 10th frame if you get a mark (a strike or a spare).
Strikes and Spares
What are those words that you hear pouring out of bowlers mouths like “I got 6 strikes, 3 spares and missed a ten pin for an open!”? Strikes, Spares, Splits, and Opens are the fundamental results of throwing the ball down the lane.
Basically a “strike” is when you get all 10 pins down on the first ball. A “spare” is when you get all 10 pins down on two balls in the same frame. An “open” is when you don’t get all 10 pins down on two balls in the same frame. When you “pick up” a spare, you were able to knock down the rest of the pins on the second ball in the frame (you never “pick up” a strike).
A “Split” is a little more complicated. A split is when you leave at least two pins that are separated by where another pin would have been (see diagram above). So, if you leave the 4 and 5 pins (the 4 -5 split), you would have a split. The worst of the splits is the 7 – 10 split. These are the two pins that are farthest from each other on the lane and is almost impossible to hit.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - The Basics (Pins)
Thursday, 7 August 2008
* Bowling - The Basics (Pins)
By Mike Kolar
Bowling is a fairly simple game. There are 10 pins and you knock them down on two balls per frame. Here is some basic information about the pins.
Layout and Numbering
There are 10 pins in a single rack (after all, this is ten-pin bowling we are talking about, right?). Each pin is exactly 1 ft from the ones nearest it (center to center) and they are set in a triangle form. The rack (the set of 10 pins) looks kind of like this (see below) and the pins are called by number:
(1)
(3)(2)
(6)(5)(4)
(10)(9)(8)(7)
So when a bowler mentions the 1 - 3 pocket or the 7 - 10 split you now know what they are talking about (look at that, you learned something new already!).
Specifications
Pins are 4.75 inches wide at their widest point and 15 inches tall. They weigh 3 pounds(lbs), 6 ounces(oz). In 1998 pins weighing 3 lbs, 10 oz were approved (these are the gold pins that the pros use sometimes). These specifications are set and maintained by the USBC (see Chapter 2).
The object of the game is to knock down these pins with two ball per frame, see my article Bowling - The Basics (The Game) for more information on that.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Spot Bowling
Bowling is a fairly simple game. There are 10 pins and you knock them down on two balls per frame. Here is some basic information about the pins.
Layout and Numbering
There are 10 pins in a single rack (after all, this is ten-pin bowling we are talking about, right?). Each pin is exactly 1 ft from the ones nearest it (center to center) and they are set in a triangle form. The rack (the set of 10 pins) looks kind of like this (see below) and the pins are called by number:
(1)
(3)(2)
(6)(5)(4)
(10)(9)(8)(7)
So when a bowler mentions the 1 - 3 pocket or the 7 - 10 split you now know what they are talking about (look at that, you learned something new already!).
Specifications
Pins are 4.75 inches wide at their widest point and 15 inches tall. They weigh 3 pounds(lbs), 6 ounces(oz). In 1998 pins weighing 3 lbs, 10 oz were approved (these are the gold pins that the pros use sometimes). These specifications are set and maintained by the USBC (see Chapter 2).
The object of the game is to knock down these pins with two ball per frame, see my article Bowling - The Basics (The Game) for more information on that.
Keep bowling and having fun!
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Spot Bowling
Monday, 4 August 2008
* Bowling - Spot Bowling
By Michael Russell
Spot bowling is a term used by the professionals and all bowlers who are fairly accomplished in the sport. The question is, what is the difference between spot bowling and pin bowling? We'll try to answer that question here.
Pin bowling is when the bowler looks down the alley at the pins and rolls the ball aiming at what he sees down the alley. This may seem perfectly logical. After all, it's the pins you're aiming at so why look at anything else? Don't you want to look at the pins? You certainly don't want to be looking at the cute girl in the lane next to you, though that would probably be a more interesting sight. And while it may seem logical to want to look at the pins, since they're what you're trying to hit, the truth is, that is the hardest way to go about trying to knock them down. Why? We'll explain that shortly after we explain what spot bowling is.
Spot bowling is where you pick a spot on the alley itself, maybe an arrow or a dot. You don't look at the pins at all, as much as you might be tempted to do so. Instead, you look at the spot and continue looking at it as you release the ball, never taking one look at the pins until after the ball is rolled and heading down the alley. Then you can look to see what you've hit. For those of you scratching your head wondering why you would want to do this, the answer may surprise you but here it comes.
To understand the answer you have to first understand something about distance and accuracy. When you fire a gun, the closer you are to the target, the more accurate your shot is going to be. As the target gets farther away it becomes harder to hit it because of the distance. Think about it. If you're playing darts and have a dart board 6 inches in front of you, you're going to hit the bulls-eye more often than if it's 20 feet away. Well, it's the same thing with bowling. It's much easier to hit a spot on the lane a foot in front of you than it is to hit pins that are twenty feet or so away.
If you're still scratching your head thinking, "But you still have to hit the pins", the difference is this. If you're aiming at the second arrow from the right on your first shot and the ball lands to the left of the head pin, then obviously you need to move your spot to the right in order to hit the one-three pocket. Well, it's a lot easier to hit the spot that you're aiming for, in order to hit that one-three pocket, than it is to try to hit pins 20 feet away. If you keep hitting that same spot, the ball is going to hit the same place down the alley as long as the conditions don't change and you keep the ball speed the same.
This is why professional bowlers spot bowl. Are they good enough to maybe aim for the pins? Maybe. But why make it harder on themselves? Yes, believe it or not, spot bowling is actually easier than pin bowling.
Try it sometime. You'll see your score improve almost immediately.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Scoring
Spot bowling is a term used by the professionals and all bowlers who are fairly accomplished in the sport. The question is, what is the difference between spot bowling and pin bowling? We'll try to answer that question here.
Pin bowling is when the bowler looks down the alley at the pins and rolls the ball aiming at what he sees down the alley. This may seem perfectly logical. After all, it's the pins you're aiming at so why look at anything else? Don't you want to look at the pins? You certainly don't want to be looking at the cute girl in the lane next to you, though that would probably be a more interesting sight. And while it may seem logical to want to look at the pins, since they're what you're trying to hit, the truth is, that is the hardest way to go about trying to knock them down. Why? We'll explain that shortly after we explain what spot bowling is.
Spot bowling is where you pick a spot on the alley itself, maybe an arrow or a dot. You don't look at the pins at all, as much as you might be tempted to do so. Instead, you look at the spot and continue looking at it as you release the ball, never taking one look at the pins until after the ball is rolled and heading down the alley. Then you can look to see what you've hit. For those of you scratching your head wondering why you would want to do this, the answer may surprise you but here it comes.
To understand the answer you have to first understand something about distance and accuracy. When you fire a gun, the closer you are to the target, the more accurate your shot is going to be. As the target gets farther away it becomes harder to hit it because of the distance. Think about it. If you're playing darts and have a dart board 6 inches in front of you, you're going to hit the bulls-eye more often than if it's 20 feet away. Well, it's the same thing with bowling. It's much easier to hit a spot on the lane a foot in front of you than it is to hit pins that are twenty feet or so away.
If you're still scratching your head thinking, "But you still have to hit the pins", the difference is this. If you're aiming at the second arrow from the right on your first shot and the ball lands to the left of the head pin, then obviously you need to move your spot to the right in order to hit the one-three pocket. Well, it's a lot easier to hit the spot that you're aiming for, in order to hit that one-three pocket, than it is to try to hit pins 20 feet away. If you keep hitting that same spot, the ball is going to hit the same place down the alley as long as the conditions don't change and you keep the ball speed the same.
This is why professional bowlers spot bowl. Are they good enough to maybe aim for the pins? Maybe. But why make it harder on themselves? Yes, believe it or not, spot bowling is actually easier than pin bowling.
Try it sometime. You'll see your score improve almost immediately.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Scoring
* Bowling - Scoring
By Michael Russell
For some reason, many people consider keeping score in bowling to be a nightmare and will do everything they can not to do it. The truth is, scoring in bowling is a lot easier than scoring in a bar. There are just a few simple rules that you have to learn. But, if you're still not up to it, with today's technology, you can have the alley do it for you.
To make this simple, let's first start with what the highest score is that you can roll. The highest possible game is 300 over the course of 10 frames, which is what a game of bowling consists of. Now, one might think that with only 10 pins to knock down each frame, scoring more than 100 would be impossible. Well, that's the wonderful thing about the game of bowling. It gives you a bonus for making either a strike or a spare. How much of a bonus depends on which.
For example. If you get a spare, which is knocking down all 10 pins with two shots, your bonus is whatever you knock down on your next shot added to that spare. So let's say you get a spare in the first frame. You don't compute your score yet. You wait until you roll your first ball of the second frame. Let's say you knock down 8 pins. What you do is add the 8 pins you knocked down to the 10 pins you knocked down in the frame before and place that total in the first frame. So your score through one frame is actually 18 instead of 10. This is where the bonus comes in.
With a strike, the bonus is whatever you roll on your next two shots. So let's say that you get a strike in your first frame, which is knocking down all the pins with one shot and in the second frame you get 7 pins with your first ball and 2 pins with your second ball. You would add the 7+2 to the 10 pins you knocked down in the first frame because the bonus is two shots. That would give you a total of 19 in your first frame. To compute the score of your second frame you simply add the 9 pins you knocked down in that frame to your score of the first frame. That gives you a total of 19+9 or 28.
So, how do we get a score of 300? Easy. If we roll a strike in every frame and keep adding the bonuses, you end up with 30 in the first frame (10 pins plus the next 2 shots as bonus which is 10+10), 60 in the second, 90 in the third and so on. The reason we get to 300 is because the tenth frame has 2 bonus shots in the frame itself. So if you roll a strike in the tenth frame, you get two more shots to roll two more strikes. When you add it all up, you get to 300.
With just a little thought and basic math skills, keeping score in bowling is really not all that hard. Bowling a 300 game, now THAT'S hard.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Money Leagues
For some reason, many people consider keeping score in bowling to be a nightmare and will do everything they can not to do it. The truth is, scoring in bowling is a lot easier than scoring in a bar. There are just a few simple rules that you have to learn. But, if you're still not up to it, with today's technology, you can have the alley do it for you.
To make this simple, let's first start with what the highest score is that you can roll. The highest possible game is 300 over the course of 10 frames, which is what a game of bowling consists of. Now, one might think that with only 10 pins to knock down each frame, scoring more than 100 would be impossible. Well, that's the wonderful thing about the game of bowling. It gives you a bonus for making either a strike or a spare. How much of a bonus depends on which.
For example. If you get a spare, which is knocking down all 10 pins with two shots, your bonus is whatever you knock down on your next shot added to that spare. So let's say you get a spare in the first frame. You don't compute your score yet. You wait until you roll your first ball of the second frame. Let's say you knock down 8 pins. What you do is add the 8 pins you knocked down to the 10 pins you knocked down in the frame before and place that total in the first frame. So your score through one frame is actually 18 instead of 10. This is where the bonus comes in.
With a strike, the bonus is whatever you roll on your next two shots. So let's say that you get a strike in your first frame, which is knocking down all the pins with one shot and in the second frame you get 7 pins with your first ball and 2 pins with your second ball. You would add the 7+2 to the 10 pins you knocked down in the first frame because the bonus is two shots. That would give you a total of 19 in your first frame. To compute the score of your second frame you simply add the 9 pins you knocked down in that frame to your score of the first frame. That gives you a total of 19+9 or 28.
So, how do we get a score of 300? Easy. If we roll a strike in every frame and keep adding the bonuses, you end up with 30 in the first frame (10 pins plus the next 2 shots as bonus which is 10+10), 60 in the second, 90 in the third and so on. The reason we get to 300 is because the tenth frame has 2 bonus shots in the frame itself. So if you roll a strike in the tenth frame, you get two more shots to roll two more strikes. When you add it all up, you get to 300.
With just a little thought and basic math skills, keeping score in bowling is really not all that hard. Bowling a 300 game, now THAT'S hard.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - Money Leagues
Saturday, 2 August 2008
* Bowling - Money Leagues
By Michael Russell
If you enjoy the game of bowling and want to earn a few bucks playing it in the process, but not quite good enough to go pro, you may want to consider joining what is called a money league.
As a kid growing up, if you bowled in leagues, you bowled in non money leagues. Here, the bowlers bowled only for trophies and patches. This was a great way for a kid to get some experience competing against others and prepare him for bowling with the big boys.
In most states, once you reach the age of 18, you can then participate in what they call money leagues. These are leagues that also compete for trophies but also for a monetary prize that is paid out at the end of the year for certain achievements.
Unlike kids leagues, which are fairly inexpensive, money leagues can run you a pretty penny each week because the prize pool is actually made up of the money paid in each week. And since the bowling alley itself gets a portion of these fees, they can run pretty high if you want the money paid out at the end of the year to be an amount worth the bowlers participation.
The prizes vary greatly from league to league depending on the number of players and teams. A common league will pay prizes for first, second and third place finishes. They will also pay individual prizes for bowlers who had the high average, high series and high game for the year. These individual prizes are relatively small in comparison to the team prizes which are distributed evenly between all the bowlers on the team.
In addition to this, each team may have what they call individual pools. These are not sanctioned by the league itself but are not disallowed either. These individual pools are set up to make the night a little more interesting. Some examples of individual pools are below.
One common pool that a team will set up each night is what they call the "beer frame". In the old days, the loser of the beer frame would buy the other members a beer. Some still practice this but many teams now put a certain amount of money into a pot for each beer frame. The loser of the beer frame puts a certain amount of money into the kitty. This money is then distributed to the whole team at the end of the year. The loser is the bowler who shoots the lowest score for the frame. If all bowlers shoot the same score that frame, then the beer frame is extended to the next frame until there is a loser.
Another team prize pool that is set up is paying the team member who has the highest game for that game and finally the highest series for the night. Each member may pay a dollar to the person who holds these nightly records.
There are of course variations of these and many other things that each team comes up with to make the night more interesting.
Bowling in a money league can cost you a pretty penny but it can also make you quite rich by the end of the year with prizes being in the thousands of dollars. So if you have a good paying job or a big trust fund, you may want to think about joining a money league, even if you don't need the money.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - How To Pick Up Spares
If you enjoy the game of bowling and want to earn a few bucks playing it in the process, but not quite good enough to go pro, you may want to consider joining what is called a money league.
As a kid growing up, if you bowled in leagues, you bowled in non money leagues. Here, the bowlers bowled only for trophies and patches. This was a great way for a kid to get some experience competing against others and prepare him for bowling with the big boys.
In most states, once you reach the age of 18, you can then participate in what they call money leagues. These are leagues that also compete for trophies but also for a monetary prize that is paid out at the end of the year for certain achievements.
Unlike kids leagues, which are fairly inexpensive, money leagues can run you a pretty penny each week because the prize pool is actually made up of the money paid in each week. And since the bowling alley itself gets a portion of these fees, they can run pretty high if you want the money paid out at the end of the year to be an amount worth the bowlers participation.
The prizes vary greatly from league to league depending on the number of players and teams. A common league will pay prizes for first, second and third place finishes. They will also pay individual prizes for bowlers who had the high average, high series and high game for the year. These individual prizes are relatively small in comparison to the team prizes which are distributed evenly between all the bowlers on the team.
In addition to this, each team may have what they call individual pools. These are not sanctioned by the league itself but are not disallowed either. These individual pools are set up to make the night a little more interesting. Some examples of individual pools are below.
One common pool that a team will set up each night is what they call the "beer frame". In the old days, the loser of the beer frame would buy the other members a beer. Some still practice this but many teams now put a certain amount of money into a pot for each beer frame. The loser of the beer frame puts a certain amount of money into the kitty. This money is then distributed to the whole team at the end of the year. The loser is the bowler who shoots the lowest score for the frame. If all bowlers shoot the same score that frame, then the beer frame is extended to the next frame until there is a loser.
Another team prize pool that is set up is paying the team member who has the highest game for that game and finally the highest series for the night. Each member may pay a dollar to the person who holds these nightly records.
There are of course variations of these and many other things that each team comes up with to make the night more interesting.
Bowling in a money league can cost you a pretty penny but it can also make you quite rich by the end of the year with prizes being in the thousands of dollars. So if you have a good paying job or a big trust fund, you may want to think about joining a money league, even if you don't need the money.
A niche topic for you :
* Bowling - How To Pick Up Spares
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