1|Bowling Handouts 2019

BOWLING HAND-OUTS 2019

Dr. Charles H. Nillos

HISTORY OF BOWLING

 A British anthropologist, Sir Flinders Petrie, discovered in the 1930's a

collection of objects in a child's grave in Egypt that appeared to him to
be used for a crude form of bowling. If he was correct, then bowling
traces its ancestry to 3200 BC.
 MANY FORMS OF BOWLING HAVE BEEN TRACED BACK TO 3200 B.C.
ALTHOUGH A GERMAN HISTORIAN, WILLIAM PEHLE, CLAIMS THAT BOWLING
BEGAN IN HIS COUNTRY ABOUT 300 A.D.
 THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT A FORM OF BOWLING WAS POPULAR IN
ENGALND IN 1366, WHEN KING EDWARD III ALEGEDLY OUTLAWED IT TO
KEEP HIS TROOPS FOCUSED ON ARCHERY PRACTICE.
 One of the most eccentric games is still found in Edinburgh. The player
swings a fingerless ball between his legs and heaves it at the pins. In doing
so, he "flops" onto the lane on his stomach. There were and still are many
variations of ninepins in Western Europe. Likely related are the Italian
bocce, the French petanque and British lawn bowling.
 Undoubtedly, the English, Dutch and German settlers all imported their
own variations of bowling to America. The earliest mention of it in serious
American literature is by Washington Irving, when Rip Van Winkle awakens
to the sound of "crashing ninepins". The first permanent American bowling
location probably was for lawn bowling, in New York's Battery area. Now
the heart of the financial district, New Yorkers still call the small plot
Bowling Green.
 The game had its ups and downs in America. An 1841 Connecticut law
made it illegal to maintain "any ninepin lanes", probably because bowling
was the object of much gambling. But the problem, of course, also
evidenced its popularity. Also, many captains of industry chose to install a
lane in their mansions.
 BOWLING TECHNOLOGY TOOK A BIG STEP FORWARD IN THE EARLY 1900'S.
 BALLS USED TO BE PRIMARILY LIGNUM VITAE, A VERY HARD WOOD.
 IN 1905 THE FIRST RUBBER BALL THE EVERTRUE WAS INTRODUCED AND
IN 1914 THE BRUNSWICK CORPORATION (brunswickbowling.com)
SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTED THE MINERALITE BALL, TOUTING A
"MYSTERIOUS RUBBER COMPOUND".
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 THE GAME SOON BECAME ORGANIZED WITH AGREED UPON STANDARDS

AND WAS GROWING IN POPULARITY.
 ONE GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL BREAK THROUGH THAT CHANGED THE
GAME WAS THE INVENTION OF THE AUTOMATIC PINSETTER BY GOTTFRIED
SCHMIDT.
 THE PATENT TO THIS WAS LATER PURCHASED BY AMF CORP. WHO WENT ON
TO BECOME A LEADER IN THE BOWLING INDUSTRY.

Facilities and equipment

 Lane Length
◦ The overall
length of a
regulation
lane is 62 feet
10 3/16ths
inches
measuring
from the foul
line to the pit
(Not
including the tail plank). It must be 60 feet from the foul line to the
center of the No. 1 pin spot with a tolerance of 1/2 inch permitted.
It must be 2 feet 10 3/16ths inches from the center of the No. 1 pin
spot to the pit (Not including the tail plank).
 Lane Width
◦ The lane shall be between 41 and 42 inches in width. The lane plus
the gutters shall not be less than 60 inches nor more than 60 1/4
inches wide.
 Lane Surface
◦ The surface must be free of all continuous grooves. A maximum
40/1000th inch will be permitted in levelness and depth depression.
 Lane Approach
◦ Extending back from and exclusive of the foul line there shall be a
clear level approach of not less than 15 feet in length. A tolerance
of 1/4 inch is permitted on depth depression of grooves.
 The Pin Deck
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◦ The tail plank must be a Maximum of 2

inches in width and the back line of pins
are 3 inches further on. Each pin is 12
inches from its neighbor in any direction (as
measured from the center of each pin) so
the pins are in an equilateral triangle with
the head pin 34 and 3/16ths inches from
the tail board.
 Bowling Pins
◦ Pin Composition: Pins are shaped from Maple wood, which is then
coated with a 3/32-inch-thick layer of plastic.
◦ Pin Weight: The pins weigh between 3 lb 6 oz and 3 lb 10 oz.
◦ Pin Positions: The diagram to the right indicates the pin numbering
system that is commonly used.
 Bowling Ball Weight, Size, Markings & Holes
◦ The surface of the ball must be free of all depressions or grooves of
specific pattern, except for holes or indentations used for gripping
the ball, identification letters and numbers, and incidental chipping
or marring caused by wear.
◦ The diameter of the ball must be constant.
◦ The circumference of a ball shall not be more than 27.002 inches
nor less than 26.704 inches, nor shall it weigh more than 16 lbs (there
is no minimum weight).
 Here is a list of the common ball weights.
6 lb = 2.72 kg
7 lb = 3.18 kg
8 lb = 3.63 kg
9 lb = 4.08 kg
10 lb = 4.54 kg
12 lb = 5.44 kg
14 lb = 6.35 kg
16 lb = 7.26 kg
 Other Requirements
◦ Movable devices are not permitted in a ball except that a device
for changing the finger span or size of the finger and thumb holes
may be inserted provided it is locked into position during delivery
and cannot be removed from the ball without being destroyed.
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◦ The introduction of metal or any other substance no comparable to

the original material used in the manufacture of the ball is
prohibited.
◦ Plugs may be inserted for the purpose of re-drilling; ball. Designs
may be embedded in a ball as guides or for observation or
identification purposes provided the designs are flush with the outer
surface of the ball.
◦ There shall be no interior voids and the plugs or designs must be of
similar material to although not exactly the same as the original
material out of which the ball was made; and shall otherwise
comply with all bowling ball specifications.
◦ No foreign material may be placed on the outer surface of the ball.
◦ The surface hardness of a bowling ball shall not be less than 72
Durometer 'D'.

TERMINOLOGIES

 Average
Your average is the sum of all your games divided by the number of
games played. You can use your average as a way of recording
your improvement - set a goal of raising your average game, say 10
pins a season, until you reach the level of par bowlers.
 Bag
After getting a 'turkey', most people start referring to the string of
strikes as if they are collecting them in a bag, e.g. four-bagger, five-
bagger etc.
 Brooklyn strike
This refers to shots that "crosses over" the 1-3 pocket for right-handers
and 1-2 for left-handers and produces a strike. It originated in New
York where people would "cross over" to Brooklyn from Manhattan.
A side term "Jersey side" references left-handers and refers to
people crossing over from Manhattan to New Jersey.
 Clean Sheet
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If you make all your spares in the game it is called a clean sheet.
Making your spares is the simplest way to raise your average on the
way to becoming a scratch/par bowler.
 Dutch 200
Dutch 200 refers to a game in which strikes and spares are
alternated (spare-strike-spare strike etc) for the entire game, which
results in a score of 200 exactly. The term is believed to be a take-off
of "Dutch treat" or going "Dutch" where two people share the cost
of a date.
 Foul
The foul line is drawn across the lane to separate the approach
from the start of the lane. Putting your foot over the foul-line means
you don't get the score for that delivery: on the first delivery you
must re-rack the pins. It is marked on the scoresheet with an "F".
 Frame
There are ten frames in one game. You have two chances to knock
down the ten pins in each frame. The tenth frame rewards you with
a final bonus ball if you convert your spare (or make two strikes).
You can thus throw nine strikes in the first nine frames and, if you get
another two in the tenth, the bonus ball means the most strikes you
can have in one game is twelve. This is called a perfect game.
 Open Frame
If you fail to make your spare, i.e. knock all pins down in two shots, it
is called an open frame

 Perfect game
Every bowlers ambition, is to some day, achieve a perfect game. By
scoring strikes in every frame, the maximum attainable score is 300.
Even professional bowlers, who play in championships worldwide,
have only a few perfect games in their career.
 Series
Adding up the scores from all the games you have played will give
you the total series. Most leagues will play three-game series. It is
common to use the series as a measure of success. Big tournaments
will play many more games and, instead of recording total pinfall,
bowlers compare their positions by talking of how many pins
over/under par they are, with par usually being 200 (e.g. +20, -10,
just like in golf).
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 Sleeper
If you leave a spare where one pin is standing directly behind
another, the rearmost pin is called the "sleeper". In some
circumstances this is also called a bicycle, double wood, oneinthe-
dark or tandem.
 Strike
When the bowler knocks down all ten pins with the first delivery of
the ball it is called a strike. Your score goes up by ten, but like a
spare, you get a bonus - your next two deliveries are added to the
score. Stringing strikes together will raise your score dramatically
(See turkey). A strike is marked on the scoresheet with an "X".
 Turkey
A turkey is bowling lingo for three strikes in a row. Probably, the most
famous score for amateur and professional bowlers alike. This is
partly due to the fact it has an unusual name, and partly because
even a beginner can get one. The term dates back to before the
turn of the 20th century. In those years, scoring was much more
difficult and to get three strikes in a row was quite an achievement.
During Thanksgiving or Christmas week, the proprietor would present
a live turkey to the first person on each team who scored three
consecutive strikes. The term has carried over ever since.
 Washout
A special kind of split is the washout, where the headpin remains
standing as the ball hooks by it.
 Wicked frame
When bowlers bowl a "strike" on their first frame.

SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

 Spinner
◦ This technique refers to the way of delivering a shot with the
intention that no more than a minor part of the ball touches
contacts the lane. This technique promotes less friction between the
ball and the lane, not considering the "oiling pattern" of that lane.
As a result the ball glides practically in a straight line down the lane.
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Experts contend, however, that this kind of shot is not very successful
◦
in that it does not attempt to take full advantage of the dragging
the power of the bowler.
 Cranker
◦ This is the kind of technique that is being employed by a bowler
who relies more on his strength to deliver a good shot rather than
accuracy. It is like 'hitting hard' when a bowler uses this technique.
◦ The skill involves more adrenaline that constitutes the bowler's drive
to win.
◦ Usually, crankers use "late timing", they do not slide, attempt to get
to the "foul line" earlier than the ball, and they bend their elbows to
keep their hands at the back and beneath the ball.

4 basic bowling techniques - Timing, Release, Rotation and Finish

 Timing
◦ is key if you are aiming to hit a 200+ bowling average.
◦ When your timing is off even by a little the whole swing is thrown off.
◦ Timing leads directly to releasing the ball to get the perfect shot.
 Release
◦ For the utmost control and precision, your ball should be released
when your arm is at the bottom part of the swing.
 Rotation
◦ The rotation of your ball comes into play at the precise time that the
ball is released.
◦ Rotate your fingers a little just as you release the ball.
◦ This should produce a hook shot as the ball crashes into the pins.
 Finish
◦ When you finish, your arm should be pointing up, as this is good
form.
◦ Mainly if you finish in this form you will have a powerful swing and
your revolutions will be high.

 Here are the 10 basic steps for a perfect release:

◦ Pick up your ball.
◦ Get your mind ready to bowl.
◦ Get your body ready to bowl.
◦ Eye your targets.
◦ Push out the ball.
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◦ Let the ball swing back naturally.

◦ Let the ball swing forward and take your step toward the target.
◦ Throw the ball onto the lane.
◦ Release the ball.
◦ Evaluate your bowling performance.

HOW TO SCORE

 Learn the basics of how the game is structured. A game of bowling has 10
frames. Within each frame, each player has 2 opportunities to knock
down all 10 pins. If all 10 pins are knocked down by a player on the first roll
of a frame, the player is awarded a strike and won't need a second turn in
that frame.
◦ If a player uses 2 balls to knock down all 10 pins in a frame, the
player is awarded a spare. For example, the player may knock
down 7 pins on the first roll and 3 pins on the second.
◦ If a player misses all 10 pins on the first roll and then knocks all 10
down on the second, it's still considered a spare (not a strike)
because it took 2 balls to knock the pins down.
◦ An open frame is when a player doesn't knock all 10 pins down in
both attempts.

 Understand the format of a bowling score

card. The score card has a place for each
bowler's name, followed by 10 boxes (one for
each frame) and a final score box. Each of
the 10 boxes has a set of 2 smaller boxes;
these are to record the number of pins
knocked down for each roll within the frame.
◦ The final score box has 1 smaller box,
which designates the third roll in frame
10 -- used only if the bowler gets either a spare or strike in the tenth
frame.

 Know the extras. Depending on the rules you and your friends have
determined, you may need to determine how to mark variations in game
play. Once in a while, things out of the norm happen -- how will these be
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marked? An "F" can denote when a bowler has gone over the line
(literally) -- the line separating the walk-up to the actual lane. If they do,
they receive 0 points for that turn.
◦ If a bowler receives a split, you may mark an "O" around the
number to indicate the pin set-up. As an alternative, mark an "S" in
front of the number of pins knocked down. A "split" happens when
the headpin has been successfully knocked down, yet there is still a
gap between all the others still standing.
◦ If the headpin was missed, sometimes the terms "wide" or "washout"
are used. A "W" can be denoted on the card, but, in general, this
annotation has fallen out of common usage.

 Score an open frame. Scoring an open frame on the score card is simply
adding the number of pins the player knocked down on their first roll with
the number of pins knocked down on the second roll. This is the total for
the frame.
◦ In bowling, a running total is kept. The current score of each player
is added and placed in the box designated for each frame. For
example, if a player knocks down 3 pins on their first roll and 2 pins
on their second, a 5 is placed in the box for frame 1. If a player
knocks down a total of 7 pins in the second frame, a 12 is placed in
the box for frame 2.
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 Record a spare. If a player spares, the number of pins the player knocked
down on the first roll is listed in the first box, and a slash is placed in the
second box.
◦ A spare is worth 10 pins plus the number of pins the player knocks
down on the next roll. For example, if a player gets a spare in the
first frame and then knocks down 7 pins on the first roll of the second
frame, list a 17 in frame 1.

 Score a strike. If a player gets a strike, record an X in the box for the first
roll.
◦ When scoring a strike, the strike is worth 10 pins plus the number of
pins the player knocks down on the next 2 rolls. For example, if a
player gets a strike in frame 1, then knocks down 5 pins on the first
roll in frame 2 and 4 pins on the second roll, list a 19 in frame 1.
◦ If the player bowls a strike and follows with another strike, the player
still adds in the next roll. Therefore, if a player gets a strike in frames
1, 2 and 3, the total for the first frame would be 30.

 Record combinations. Sometimes it gets a little messy. Let's do some

concept-checking: if you bowl a strike in the first frame, a split (7|/) in the
second frame, and a 9 in the third, what's the final score?
◦ Did you come up with 48? The first frame is 20 (the strike plus the
spare is 10+10), the second frame is 39 (20+10+9), and the third
frame is 48 (39+9).