Guide to Bowling

Just like any sport, bowling has its own unique scoring system. The system of scoring started around 1895. The highest score to get is a 300. There are ten frames in a game. In frames 1-9 you are able to have up to two rolls of the ball, but in the tenth frame it is possible to have up to three rolls. In frames 1-9 if you bowl a strike, (hit all ten pins down)you only roll once. If you leave any pins, you get the chance to knock the rest down with the second roll. If all the pins are knocked down on the second roll it is called a spare. In the tenth frame if a strike is thrown, you roll two more balls. If another strike is thrown, you roll once more. In scoring, a strike is represented as an "X", a spare is "/", and if neither a strike or spare is rolled record the number of pins knocked down on each roll. The scoring is complicated, but once explained becomes easy. In the first frame, if a strike is rolled the score is not complete until the results of the next two rolls are added to it. If a spare is rolled the score is not complete until the next ball is rolled and added to it. In each frame it is possible to have 30 pins. A 300 game results in throwing 12 strikes in a row.

As a basketball player would play on a court, bowlers bowl on a lane The lane is 41.5 inches wide and 60 foot long. Running down both sides of the lane are gutters. These are used to catch the ball if it goes off the lane. At the beginning of the lane there is a foul line. If any part of your body touches the lane side it is a foul and results in a 0 for that part of the frame. The bowling pins are to weigh between 3 pounds 4 ounces to 3 pounds 10 ounces. The bowling ball being used cannot weigh more than 16 pounds. It must be made out of a solid material and the weight of the ball must be evenly distrubuted.

One of the most important bowling fundamentals is a solid, rhythmic approach. When you have a secure approach it enables you to perform consistently, shot after shot, game after game. To begin the approach, first line up your feet on your mark. Hold the ball in line with your shoulder and about even with your hip. Push the ball forward, completly extending your arm out. Let the ball swing backward, making sure your arm does not bend on the backswing and do not bring the ball above shoulder level. (This is also called the pendulum swing) As you release the ball bend your knees, getting low to the foul line, and follow through with the swing. On the follow-through, pretend to shake someones hand or, fix your hair. This will help you get in the habit of a good follow through.