Although most people are familiar with only a few types of bowling, there are actually many different games that involve knocking down pins with a ball. Ten-pin bowling is the most popular form of the game played in the United States, and involves knocking down 10 pins that are 15 inches high and approximately 4.7 inches in diameter at their widest point. These pins are set up in a triangular formation at the end of a long, flat surface called a lane, with the head pin set up at a distance of 60 feet from the foul line, which is a line that cannot be crossed by the bowler when throwing the ball. Each bowler has ten frames with two chances in each frame to knock down as many pins as he can. One point is given for each pin that is knocked down, with bonus points earned if all ten pins are knocked down in a frame. Another version, called “no-tap” bowling, is identical to ten-pin bowling except for one rule that stipulates a first shot which knocks down nine pins is also called a strike.
Duckpin bowling is another type of bowling
that is popular along the east coast of the U.S., with every rule being the same as ten-pin except for the size of the pins and ball. Duckpins are shorter and thinner, at 9 13/32-inches tall by 4 1/8 inches wide, and the balls weigh at most 3 pounds, 12 ounces, as opposed to 6 to 16 pounds for a ten-pin ball.
Another type of bowling is the Canadian version was invented in 1909 called five-pin bowling.
It was desired to quicken the pace of the game to fit it into a typical lunch break. The pins are set up in a V formation that points back at the bowler, and each has a value from two to five, depending on the position. Each player has three chances to knock the pins down in each frame, with bonus points awarded if all pins are knocked down in the first one or two throws, just as in ten-pin bowling. Another distinction is the addition of a rubber band around the throat of each pin to increase the amount of action, thus helping knock down more pins in a given throw. Smaller balls are used which can be thrown at a quicker pace, speeding up the game even more.
Another one of the types of bowling played mostly in New England and parts of northeast Canada is Candlepin bowling. Probably the largest difference between this style and ten-pin bowling is the size of the pins and ball. Candlepins are much thinner and a bit taller than ten pins, and the ball is smaller and lacks finger holes. In fact a Candlepin ball weighs slightly less than a single pin, making the game more difficult than other forms of bowling. Like five-pin bowling, this game involves three tries per frame, but after each throw the fallen pins are not cleared away from the lane, increasing the game’s difficulty. Because of these differences, strikes are rare in Candlepin bowling. Another rule change is the addition of a “lob line”, which is a heavy black line ten feet down the lane from the foul line. The ball must be in contact with the lane prior to reaching this line, or the pins struck by that throw will not count toward the bowler’s score.
There are many forms of bowling with various combinations of rules and equipment, as diverse bowling styles have evolved over the years in different regions of the world. One may have a favorite version, but it is always nice to try different adaptations to add some excitement to the game. Enjoy your game with a new appreciation of different types of bowling
It’s All about Those Styling Bowling Shoes
by admin on
If there is one thing about bowling that helps to sometimes give the game a bad rap, it’s the bowling shoes.
Bowling shoes are the epitome of awful to people for a few different reasons. First of all, many people are not overly keen on the style of the rental shoes available in most bowling alleys. Clunky, scruffy, and multi-colored, they are not most people’s idea of high fashion – though it must be said that SOMEONE likes them; rental bowling shoes are stolen all the time. The other reason people give bowling shoes a big thumbs down is that they are indeed rental shoes. You’re never quite sure whose foot has been in them before yours, and most of the time, you really don’t want to know. So, if bowling shoes are such a dreaded part of the game, why don’t bowlers simply do away with them? Are the shoes really that important?
In a word, yes.
Bowling shoes are a hugely important part of the game.
First of all, the shoes help preserve the bowling lanes and keep them in working order. The soles on the shoes do not scuff up the lanes the way normal shoes would; if normal shoes were allowed, the lanes would eventually have grooves and digs in them that would disrupt the way the balls roll. Bowling shoes also help you as a player. Their sliding soles let you slide and move on the lanes like you need to without falling down. Without these sliding soles, your shoes would catch on the floor, and either mess up or shot or pitch you right over on your face.
For a casual bowler, rental shoes are entirely adequate, if a little unsettling to some.
If you are a serious bowler, however, given the importance of the proper footwear to the game, you should consider investing in your own pair of bowling shoes.
There are many styles and types on the market, and they are becoming more widely available in traditional sport shops. The kind you get depends on a combination of your skill factor and your personal preference.
If you are a new bowler, look for so-called athletic bowling shoes.
These bowling shoes look more like traditional athletic shoes than other bowling shoes, but they have two sliding soles like the shoes you normally rent from a bowling alley.
If you are a more experienced bowler, go for the shoes the professionals wear. Pro bowlers go for shoes know as performance bowling shoes. This variety of shoe has one sliding sole and one non-slip sole, to give players more maneuverability.
Once you have chosen the right kind of soles for your shoes, now you have to choose a style. You can find anything from monochrome black shoes to those multi-colored clunkers we all know so well, and anything else in between. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at one of the larger sport stores try visiting a dedicated bowling pro shop, or do your shopping online.
Even if you don’t get your own pair of bowling shoes, going rental doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. Bowling alleys give the shoes an antibacterial spray between each use, and to be on the safe side; giving them a spray of your own before you put them on is not such a bad idea. Above all else, remember to bring your athletic socks to the alley! If you forget your socks, most alleys have socks available to purchase. Don’t go barefoot – for your own sake, and for the sake of the person who has to wear them after you. Have fun with your new appreciation of your bowling shoes.
Click Here for More Bowling Tips
Related Articles: