COLEGIUL NATIONAL ,,MIHAI VITEAZUL

LUCRARE DE ATESTAT LA LIMBA ENGLEZA

PROMOTIA 2004-2008

PROFESOR COORDONATOR: SUCIU GABRIELA ELEV: SIBIANU DAVID CLASA: a XII-a A

Highway to tenpins

Contents table

Motivation...4 History of Bowling..5 General Rules..7 The Lane..9 The Ball.13 Bowling Pins.............18 Bowlers Uniform and Equipment.20 Tips on How to Improve Bowling Game..24 Bowlers slang and jargon..26 Famous bowlers.29 Organization and increased popularity of bowling...35 Conclusion.37

Bibliography..38

Motivation
"Looking at my wife ....shes is in the kitchen .... sneaking up to her ... sneaking past the kitchen door ... opening the closet and taking what I need ... with the same care I walk as not to disturb her ... opening the front door and walking fast forward ......what would any guy would like to do on a friday afternoon ... go bowling(Barney-The Flinstones) Even Fred and Barney enjoyed playing bowling once in a while, to go out and play like two real men and to have a good time. Nowadays there are several ways for having fun, many interesting sports to practice for, not more than your pleasure and for keeping fit, and one of them is bowling. It is quite easy to write about something you like to do, about you talk and think often even if it isnt for you more than a game, a way to relax and to make physical exercise. This is the main reason I chose to write about this sport called Bowling or Ten Pins, because I play it often, with pleasure every time. Even if I am not a professional player, it is very pleasant to play against someone, even if that person is your friend or a girl youve taken out for a date. During you play you disconnect completely, you forget about everything, you try to focus on the game if you intend to win, otherwise you may lose it but certainly you will have a great time. Beside the fun you have while youre playing, you can laugh a lot by making fun of your opponent if his not playing at the same level, but this can turn against you in the next game, because every game is different and you never know how lucky you will be in the next game or frame. What is more is that is a sport for everyone, you dont need to have special qualities to play it, it suits for everybody, young and old, thin or fat, men or women you name it.

It is a game in which you can become addicted, you can play it daily as long as your pocket allows it, but certainly you will feel the need to play more and more. To sum up briefly bowling is one of my favorite sport and the best way to have fun, and I consider that these arguments are sufficient for choosing it to be the theme of my certificate.

History of bowling
Bowling has a long and rich history, and today is one of the most popular sports in the world. 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. A German historian, William Pehle, asserted that bowling began in his country about 300 AD. There is substantial evidence that a form of bowling was in vogue in England in 1366, when King Edward III allegedly outlawed it to keep his troops focused on archery practice. And it is almost certain that bowling was popular during the reign of Henry VIII. By this time, too, there were many variations of "pin" games, and also of games where a ball was thrown at objects other than pins. This would seem to imply that the games had developed over time, from an earlier period. 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. While it is uncertain where the tenpin game evolved, by the late 1800s it was prevalent in many states such as New York, Ohio and as far "west" as Illinois. However, details like ball weights and pin dimensions varied by region. But that changed when restauranteur Joe Thum finally pulled together representatives of the various regional bowling clubs. On September 9, 1895, at Beethoven Hall in New York City, the American Bowling Congress was born. Soon standardization would be established, and major national competitions could be held. While women had been bowling in the latter half of the nineteenth century, the American Bowling Congress was for men. It was in 1917 that the Women's International Bowling Congress was born in St. Louis. Encouraged by proprietor Dennis Sweeney, women leaders from around the country participating in a tournament decided to form what was then called the Women's National Bowling Association. Bowling technology took a big step about the same time. to be primarily lignum But in 1905 the first was introduced, and in Corporation Mineralite ball, rubber compound". Now organized, with game grew in forward Balls used vitae, a very hard wood. rubber ball, the "Evertrue" 1914 the Brunswick successfully promoted the touting its "mysterious agreed upon standards, the popularity. In 1951

another technological breakthrough set the stage for massive growth. American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF, then a maker of machinery for the bakery, tobacco and apparel businesses) purchased the patents to Gottfried Schmidt's automatic pinspotter, and by late 1952 production model pinspotters were introduced. No longer did a proprietor have to rely on "pinboys". Television embraced bowling in the 1950's, and the game's popularity grew exponentially. NBC's broadcast of "Championship Bowling" was the first network coverage of bowling. Coverage proliferated with shows like "Make That Spare", "Celebrity Bowling", and "Bowling For Dollars." And in 1961, ABC became the first network to telecast competition of the Pro Bowlers Association. Successful promoter, agent and entrepreneur Eddie Elias founded the PBA, and with his leadership, the Pro Bowlers Tour became a hugely popular stalwart of ABC sports broadcasting. Joined later by telecasts of the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour (now the Professional Women's Bowling Association, PWBA) millions of Americans witnessed and became interested in the sport. Today, the sport of bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than ninety countries worldwide. Under the auspices of the Federation Nationale desQuilleurs(FIQ) bowling's top athletes regularly compete in Olympic Zone and worldwide competitions.

General rules
The general rules of the game of tenpin bowling consist of the completion of ten frames. Each player attempts to knock down ten pins during each frame, using a maximum of two throws per frame. During the final frame (10th), if a player knocks down the ten pins during their turn, the player is allowed to complete a total of three (3) throws. Order of Bowling 5 Person Games Starting members of the competing teams shall successively and, in regular order, bowl one frame on one lane. Once completed, the team members will move to the alternate lane of the competition pair. This pattern of play will continue until all 10 frames of a game are complete. No changes can be made in the order of players after the start of a game, except for substitutes. Order of Bowling Baker Format Starting members of the competing teams shall successively and, in regular order, bowl one frame on one lane. Once five (5) frames are completed, the team members will remain on the same lane and complete the starting member order again, with frames 6 through 10 being completed. This pattern of play will continue until all 10 frames of a game are complete. No changes can be made in the order of players after the start of a game, except for substitutes. Official Lineup An official lineup for competition is five players. Substitutes may be utilized to field or maintain an official lineup. If a team cannot field an official lineup at any time, the team

may continue play; however, the gamewill automatically be awarded to the team starting the game with the official lineup. The position of the vacant players will be filled with the score of 0 for each ball of the respective frame. Legal Delivery A delivery is made when the ball leaves the players possession and crosses the foul line into playing territory. Every delivery counts unless a dead ball is declared. A delivery must be made entirely by manual means. No device may be incorporated in or affixed to the ball that detaches on delivery or is a moving part during delivery. Special Considerations to Deliver the Ball A player unable to execute a delivery in accordance with any of the foregoing procedures may bowl in competition provided: a. The event management authorizes such participation. b. The event management establishes specific provisions to govern such participation. A player may, if granted permission by the event director, alternate right/left-handed delivery and/or use special equipment to aid in the grasping and delivering the ball. The aid cannot incorporate a mechanical device with moving parts that would impart force or impetus to the ball. Permission to use an aid may be granted by the Event Director if the following is submitted: c. A doctors certificate describing the disability and the reason to use and/or recommend the aid. d. A description, drawing or model of the aid (only for mechanical aid). Legal Pinfall Pins to be credited to a player after a legal delivery shall include the following: a. Pins knocked down or off the pin deck by the ball or another pin. b. Pins knocked down or off the deck by a pin rebounding from a side partition or rear cushion. Pins knocked down or off the pin deck by a pin rebounding from the sweep bar when it is at rest on the pin deck before sweeping dead wood from the pin deck. d. Pins that lean and touch the kickback or side partition. All such pins are termed dead wood and must be removed before the next delivery. No pins may be conceded and only pins actually knocked down or moved entirely off the playing surface of the lane as a result of a legal delivery, may be counted. Competition Lane Courtesy For competitions, a competition etiquette rule will be in place at all times to maintain a minimum pace of play. This etiquette rule, called Lane Courtesy, will require that one lane of space be provided on each side of a player once they step upon the approach to begin their delivery of the bowling ball. Upon completion of delivery, the player must step off the approach and allow athletes on the adjacent lane(s) to complete their turn.

If two players on adjacent lanes step onto the approach at the same time, the athlete to the right should be allowed to go first. Until the athletes delivery begins, the adjacent approaches on either side of the player should remain clear. No more than one lane of courtesy will be provided by competitors. Athletes or teams caught requesting or providing two or more lanes of courtesy for the completion of shots will be subject to Individual and/or Team Sanctions.

The Lane
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 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.

A heavy object dropped on the floor creates a force, a big force: did you know that a
16lb bowling ball hits the lane with a force of over 2000lb per square inch - ouch! So proprietors put a conditioner on the lanes to reduce the friction and to protect them. It's as simple as that. But oil can be placed on the lane in different ways ('patterns') and a skilled bowler with the knowledge to adjust the line will score more than their opponent.

Flat Oil, A little History

The simplest pattern is "flat oil": the oil is applied in equal measure across the width of the lane. In the very early days of bowling this oil (which was actually "shellac") would be applied for the full length of the lane. After World War II lacquer was used and, again, this was applied for the full length of the lane. In the 1960's a urethane based finish was developed, but this "migrated" - was picked up by the ball and got into the pinsetting machinery causing problems - hence a "limited dressing" procedure was adoped where the final few feet of the lane (the "back-end") were kept dry. This history is repeated in many other places, and I'm not going to repeat what others do better: if you want to learn more I'd refer you to Tom Kouros' Par Bowling. Oil is clearly a "slippery" substance and the back-end, being free of oil, creates greater friction between the ball and the lane. This friction creates the potential for added hook and more angle of entry into the pocket to carry strikes (read more about hook bowling). On a flat condition the length of the oil governs when the ball will start to hook: so a short-oil condition will play differently than a long-oil lane. Now, because the oil is not visible to the human eye, we enter the complex domain of Lane-Play, where skilled bowlers solve the puzzle of how best to play a lane by adjusting Angle, Release, Speed 10

and Equipment. A big hook is exciting but can be hard to control too. Many have commented that complaining about lane conditions started to escalate after the big backend developed.

Crowns and Reverse Blocks

Flat oil is simple, but because the balls move the oil around, picking it up and depositing it further down the lane (as "carrydown") a dried out track can start to develop. In openplay many straight bowlers also roll balls right down the middle part of the lane, creating a condition known as a reverse block (dried up in the middle and oiled on the outside of the lane). The reverse block is not normally created deliberately and is very hard to play.

So, to combat the open-play syndrome proprietors will put more oil in the middle part of the lane. Viewed in a side-profile this pattern resembles a "crown".

Walls, Blocks and Top Hats

Remember that friction creates the potential for hook. A dry back-end allows the ball to hook in the latter part of the lane. In leagues in many parts of the USA it was common to apply oil only to the middle part of the lane, leaving both the back-end and the outside boards dry. Usually the oil is applied 10-10. This lack of oil on the outside created a wall of friction, what some people mockingly call "adult bumper bowling": if a hook bowler missed the target a few boards to the outside the extra friction in that part of the lane would bring the ball back - on flat oil it would probably slide on, or even off the edge of the lane! A wall is clearly a very high scoring shot and proprietors favoured this for leagues, but, ask yourself, do you prefer artificially inflated high scores on such an easy condition, with the "bumpers" up? For a casual/social league that's fine, but removing the skill of lane play and reducing it to one of equipment selection is not good for the sport. To restore the integrity of the game and bring respect back to skilled bowlers the wall is not a desirable condition.

11

The ABC (American Bowling Congress) ruled that no sanctioned event could have fewer than 3 "units" of oil across the width of the lane. The International governing body (the FIQ) version of this rule requires a minimum of 5 units.

Christmas Trees
At the time of writing the Christmas Tree is thought to be the fairest possible condition. Because there are different styles of players using a single condition could easily be unfair to one particular style and many bowlers have felt 'victimised' by the lanesman's choice of condition for a tournament. The Christmas Tree tries to cater to all styles, allowing the cranker to move inside and swing the ball out to the break point while, at the other extreme, the low-rev hook bowler can play up the outside lines.

A Fair Shot?
Is there such a thing? The general concensus is No. The Christmas tree is probably the single fairest condition, in that it tries to allow all styles to compete but highly aggressive bowling balls can lift oil off the lane at such a rate that the condition that is put out in the morning can change dramatically within a few games. It's often said that a good bowler can adjust to any lane condition, but with

12

the realisation that this means certain styles don't have to adjust to certain conditions some people are now advocating that we stop pursuing the holy-grail of a single "fair" condition. Instead, they say, a tournament should be played on multiple conditions so that all styles have to adjust and at the end of the day the best bowlers are recognised.

The ball
A bowling ball is a round ball made from rubber, urethane, plastic, isinglass, reactive resin (solid, particle, or pearl) or a combination of these materials which is used in the sport of bowling. The inclusion of isinglass in the veneering process has caused some consternation among vegetarians. Ten-pin bowling balls generally have a set of three holes drilled in them, one each for the ring and middle finger, and one for the thumb; however, rules allow for up to five finger holes. A five-pin bowling ball has no finger holes and is smaller so that the bowler can hold the ball in the palm of their hand. Candlepin bowling balls also fit in the hand, but are lighter than five-pin balls. Most bowling alleys provide free balls for patrons to use, called house balls, although avid bowlers may purchase their own. These are often customized, and can feature specially sized finger holes (in the case of ten-pin balls) or monograms. Because purchased balls are usually drilled to match the owner's fingers, most can throw a customized bowling ball that is one to two pounds heavier than the house ball they previously used. Bowling balls come in a wide variety of colors, and are often either a single flat color, a swirl-like design of multiple colors, or a single color with an iridescent look. It is even possible to obtain transparent bowling balls, painted in such a way as to make it appear as though an object is inside. Some objects have included skulls, footballs, and baseballs.

13

Inside the ball is a core which makes each ball do something different. These cores are dynamically imbalanced to cause the ball to try to stabilize as it is rolling down the lane. This makes the ball roll over a different point on the surface every time it revolves and "flares" or causes multiple oil rings. Bowling ball cores are constructed with different densities as well. Some are center heavy (low rg) and some cores are made with the weight distributed more towards the cover of the ball (high rg). This matters because the low rg balls will spin more easily than the high rg balls. Regulation ten-pin bowling balls must weigh no more than 16 pounds (7.2 kg) (governing bodies do not regulate how light a bowling ball may be) and have a diameter of 8.5 inches (21.6 cm). The lightest ball generally on offer is the six pound weight, which is used mainly by children. Ball weights between 12 and 16 are common in adult league play. Since the physical size of regulation balls is the same, while the weight may differ, lighter balls are much less dense than heavier ones. Thus, balls under 10 pounds will actually float when placed in water. The behavior of a rolling ball on a surface is controlled by several factors, the most obvious being the bowler's delivery. In the delivery, the bowler can advantageously use or fight (intentionally or unintentionally) the force of gravity. After the ball is on the surface of the lane, a complex interaction of friction, gyroscopic inertia and gravity becomes a factor that can range from subtle to perhaps amazing. These environmental influences can be segregated as either lane conditions or ball characteristics. Additionally, a bowling ball is not an absolutely uniform spherethe gripping holes (and sometimes a balance hole) alone make that impossible. Bowling ball materials, during the history of the USBC, have evolved from wood, to rubber, to plastic, to urethane, to reactive urethane, to particle, and to epoxy. Wood balls are now just museum pieces. Rubber balls are almost as hard to find - you may still see them offered to casual bowlers at bowling centers, from their racks for those who don't own their own ball. Bowling balls have been constructed with a core made of one material, a spherical coverstock ("cover" or "shell") and a "pancake" weight block of denser material intended to compensate for the gripping holes.One of the most contentious issues that has arisen is whether significant restrictions should be imposed on bowling ball technology. Other considerations have been noted with regards to the weight of the bowling pins, lane oiling techniques, and with the construction materials and techniques used to build bowling lanes.

Finger holes and grips

The way the finger holes are arranged on the ball surface changes the core dynamics; this will change how the bowling ball hooks down the lane.

14

There are only two different types of bowling grips for bowling balls: conventional, and finger tip, all other grips of any name i.e.: Sarge-Easter Grip and Semi finger tip are derivatives of these two. In a conventional grip, the bowler's ring and middle fingers are placed into the ball up to the second joint, while in a finger tip grip the ring and middle finger holes are made to accept the bowler's fingers only up to the first joint. Semi-finger has the bowler put their fingers in an unhappy medium between conventional and finger tip. A finger tip grip requires more strength, but it allows the bowler much more control in how the ball rotates after it is released. For the players with extremely high rates of revolution ("rev rates") and skill level, a Sarge-Easter Grip may be an option. This is when the middle finger is drilled to finger tip depth, while the ring is drilled to the conventional depth. It allows players with high revs to change their axis tilt and allow more forward roll as to keep the ball from over hooking.

The history of the bowling ball

Bowling can be traced back to approximately 5200 B.C., when the ancient Egyptians used stones for their balls. The first bowling balls used in the United States were made of wood, especially oak. In about 1906 the first hard rubber balls were produced, and these remained the standard until the 1960s and 70s. These decades saw the emergence of plastic (polyester) balls. In the early 1970s, people began experimenting with the hardness of the plastic balls, notably PBA member Don McCune. McCune at the time worked for Chuck Hamilton who invented the "soaker" - a plastic (usually polyester} ball he softened "in the garage" with chemical solvents such as MEK, sometimes to the point that the balls might even end up lopsided. These and balls subsequently manufactured with the resulting softer cover came under USBC scrutiny because of the increased scoring. A ball hardness rule of 72 was established, based on durometer readings, which barred some of the softer balls. At some point in ball making and drilling the USBC introduced ball balance regulations to prevent people from taking advantage. It was possible to drill the grip at a location relative to the weight block so that it would achieve some effect, such as to help the bowler make it roll earlier or hook more. In 1981 Ebonite began manufacturing the very first polyurethane cover stock bowling balls and sold the rights to AMF. Ebonite did not believe that bowlers would pay the $80.00 price this new technology would demand. That ball became the AMF Angle and this one coverstock change allowed the ball to get a better grip on the polyurethane finishes used on natural wood lane surfaces which changed the nature of the bowling game significantly.

15

Prior to about 1990, the USBC "static" ball balance regulations were adequate. The core was usually a uniform sphere centered inside the ball. Then competition among ball manufacturers motivated the production of balls designed to offer more than the "static balance" tricks. Materials and fabrication changes have since allowed the assembly of balls whose interior components have a much greater range of density, thereby offering a new ball choice that, in physics terms, involves the moment of inertia of a solid sphere. Eventually, "dynamic balance" regulations had to be adopted.

In order to continue this discussion, a systematic description of ball rotation must be introduced. For various formulaic purposes, physicists divide rotation into three components, assigning portions to x, y and z axes that are mutually perpendicular. For bowling, the x-axis can be assigned to a line that is parallel to the foul line, the y-axis to the line parallel to the boards, and the z-axis to the vertical. Forward-roll is rotation about the x-axis, side-roll is rotation about the y-axis and mid-roll (or spin) is rotation about the z-axis. The pure full-roller delivery is a combination of forward- and side-roll only. Semi-rollers include spin. Spinners may have very little side roll. In a very strict physics sense, a ball may be delivered with rotation, but usually not in a roll, because that would imply complete traction. The technique of the great majority of bowlers involves a delivery that starts the ball in a skid that evolves into a roll that hooks into the pins. It has been known since before the 1960s that a "full-roller" type of delivery does not hook as well as "3/4 rollers" on oily lanes. On successive rotations, the "full roller" repeatedly contacts the lane on the same full circumferential circle, on which the oil accumulates, making it harder for the side-roll to find traction and create hooking action. The "full-roller" had been the dominant choice before the changes in lane coatings and oil. The "semi-roller" is now preferred (it may also be called "3/4 roller" or by other slang terms). With a 3/4-roller a bowler puts the ball into a rotation whose contact ring is smaller, and on successive rotations enlarges (subsequent examination of the ball often shows a flaring of the circles of oil). This is because at every spot along the circle friction reduces the rotation, and that includes the spin component, causing rotation on a continually larger circle. This has the effect of bringing relatively dry ball surface in contact with the lane, increasing traction for both forward-roll and side-roll. It probably goes without saying why bowlers often wipe oil off the ball. Another effect of ball imbalance (either static or dynamic) is the ability to introduce gyroscopic effects on the rotation. The component of imbalance along the rotation axis provides a leverage that can change the orientation of the axis on its horizontal plane, an action physicists call precession. It is basically the same thing as a spinning toy top "going around in a circle." In the case of a rotating bowling ball, as it moves along the lane, there is only time for its total rotation axis to move along a short arc, but this is enough to reorient the total rotation so that some of the forward-roll becomes side-roll,

16

increasing the side-roll provided in the bowler's delivery, thereby achieving more hook. It is possible to use dynamic ball balancing to achieve a stronger gyroscopic effect than static balancing alone. The advent of dynamic ball balancing meant that bowlers could achieve "ball flare" without the need for a 3/4 roller delivery, and more hook.Additionally, balls with covers that create higher friction, such as "particle" balls, provide for more traction and hook. Bowlers are embracing these choices, buying balls whose characteristics complement or enhance their deliveries. It is the opinion of many people in the bowling community that these advances in bowling ball technology have actually undermined bowling skill and have made it more difficult for lane maintenance personnel to lay out fair and credible conditions for participants. This is because advanced players using hi-tech balls "need" more oil to score high and might complain about the radical behavior of their balls on "dry" lanes. At the same time, less aggressive players might complain when they can't get their balls to hook. These complaints have actually been part of the game throughout USBC history. It's just been a matter of which group prevails within the USBC - or what new technology comes along next.

Manufacturers of ten-pin bowling balls

Ebonite International, which includes o Columbia 300 Industries o Hammer Bowling o Track International o Dyno-Thane (Overseas brand only) Brunswick Corporation o Quantum Bowling o Revolution Bowling (Overseas brand only) o MoRich Enterprises (contract made by Brunswick) Visionary Bowling Products o Insite Bowling (contract made by by Visionary) o Banger Bowling Ltd. (contract made by Visionary) Storm Bowling o Roto Grip 900 Global o AMF

17

Candlepin bowling balls

The maximum regulation candlepin ball weight is 2 pounds 7 ounces (1.105 kg), and with the regulated pin weight being only slightly heavier at 2 pounds 8 ounces (1.134 kg) the candlepin sport could be said to pose a greater challenge to the playerdue to the almost non-existent difference of the weight between the ball and one candlepinthan any of the other forms of bowling that use ten pins in them.

Bowling Pins
Bowling pins are the target of the bowling ball in various bowling games including tenpins, five-pins, duckpins and candlepins.Pin specifications for standard tenpins are set by the United States Bowling Congress. Pins are 4.75 inches wide at their widest point and 15 inches (380 mm) tall. They weigh 3 lb, 6 oz, although in 1998 pins weighing 3 lb 10 oz (1.6 kg) were approved. Duckpins are shorter and squatter than standard tenpins. Canadian fivepins are between duckpins and tenpins in size, but have a thick, inch-wide rubber band around the widest part of the pin to increase pin action when struck. Candlepins are not similar to the others; they are tallest of all at 15-3/4 inches, but only 2-15/16 inches wide and 2 lb 8 oz (1.1 kg) in weight. They are nearly cylindrical in shape and resemble candles, hence their name. Unlike other bowling pins, candlepins may be set on either end.

18

Bowling pins are constructed by gluing blocks of hard rock maple wood into the vague shape, and then turning it on a lathe. After the lathe shapes the pin, it is coated with a plastic material, painted, and finally covered with a glossy finish. Because of the scarcity of suitable wood, efforts to make an all-plastic bowling pin have been undertaken for several years. Juggling clubs are often mistaken for bowling pins due to their similar shape. The two vary greatly in construction and weight. The diagram below shows the heavier 3lb 10oz "Gold" pin that the PBA started to use in 1998. The second diagram illustrates the relationships

between (on every the pins). The arrows are placed on the lane in such a way as use of targetting systems to improve your strike and spare-

the arrows fifth board to to enable the conversion rate.

19

Bowlers uniforms and equipment

Bowlers must wear appropriate clothing to train and complete successfully. Inappropriate clothing can impact an athlete's ability to bowl and, in some cases, may be a safety hazard. Almost any type of clothing is acceptable in a bowling center. Comfort and freedom of movement are the determining factors in what to wear when bowling. Because bowling involves a lot of movement, loose fitting apparel, especially across the shoulders and under the arms, is best as long as it does not interfere with the motion of the arms and the legs. Remember, just keep it loose. Although bowling does not require uniforms, you may want to have all bowlers in the program wear the same bowling shirt, or if you form teams, have each team wear different shirts. Wearing a specific shirt for bowling often instills a sense of pride in the athlete and may provide the athlete with motivation to train even harder.

Dress Like a Winner...Play Like a Winner!

Bowling Shoes
Bowling shoes are required and are made for both right-handed and left-handed bowlers. Each pair of shoes is designed to allow sliding and braking (one shoe for each purpose). The shoe on the sliding foot, typically left for right-handed 20

bowlers and right for left-handed bowlers, is soled with leather or similar material that will permit the athlete to slide easily to finish their delivery. Since the task of the nonsliding foot during the approach and at the finish is to provide traction and braking, the shoe on that foot has a sole made of rubber or another high-friction material. Most bowling centers provide rental shoes which have a padded toe sole on both shoes for use by right or left-handed bowlers.

Bowling Ball
A properly fitted bowling ball is essential. The most important factors in finding the right ball are appropriate fit and proper weight. The fit or the grip of the ball is determined by the size of the finger and thumbholes and the span between them. The most common grip is called the conventional grip and will be used by most athletes. This grip allows the bowler to insert the two middle fingers up to the second joint, and the thumb completely.

The fingers and thumb should fit relaxed and loose inside the holes and also touch the inside of the ball all the way around. The athlete should test the fit by lightly swinging the ball at arms length. The "span" between the finger holes and the thumbhole allows full extension of the hand between the second joint of the fingers and the thumb when placed in the holes. This conventional grip is found in most "house balls" balls that can be used for free at most bowling centers. Although this is the least expensive means of bowling, house balls are very generic so that both right- and left- handed bowlers can use them. Intermediate and advanced bowlers need to seek out their own equipment.

21

Semi-fingertip and fingertip grips can also be used for more advanced bowlers. Both grips allow the thumb to be inserted completely and the fingers to either the first joints, fingertip or between the first and second joints (semi-fingertip). Adaptations, such as allowing holes to be drilled for all four fingers and the thumb for a better grip, can be made for physically challenged (i.e., those with weak hands, wrists or fingers). Inserts, normally made of rubber, can also be used to provide additional gripping. The weight of the ball will be determined by the bowler's physical makeup. A very generalized gauge is that adult males often choose 14- to 16-pound balls; adult females, 10- to 14-pound balls; and youth, a wide range of 6- to 14-pound balls. A well-balanced swing is a good indication that ball weight is correct. For example, during the back swing, if the ball is too heavy, it will cause the shoulder to dip and pull the body off balance. If the bowler consistently drops the ball at the foul line or lofts the ball onto the lane, the ball is not properly fitted. Ball speed can be an indication of proper weight. Decrease of speed toward the end of a session may mean the ball is too heavy. Often, when scores begin to decrease toward the end of a session, this is a sign that the ball is too heavy. The material and degree of hardness of the ball determine proper use on different lane conditions, the type of roll a bowler throws, and the way the ball impacts the pins. The ball cannot weigh more than 16 pounds. There are no minimum weight restrictions; however, some ball return machines have difficulty returning lighter balls. Balls generally range from 6- to 16-pounds. Some bowling centers have a "pro shop" staff, which can offer further advice and assistance. It is recommended that athletes have their own ball if possible. This will provide the athlete with a ball that is the proper weight and fit for their hand. For many Special Olympics athletes, the most important consideration for bowling properly is having enough strength to hold the ball. Selecting a properly weighted house ball often results in the finger holes and span being too small for the athlete. Having their own equipmentbag ball and shoes is also a great source of pride for the athletes. Work with your local bowling center or pro shop to accomplish the goal of all athletes having their own

22

balls. For little or no charge, they will often take donated balls and plug and re-drill them to fit your athletes.

Bowling Bag
Bowling bag is used for storage of own ball.

Rosin Bag
Rosin bag is used to provide athlete with dry hands.

Bowling Towel
Bowling towel is used to wipe dirt or oil off of the ball to keep it clean.

23

Tips on How to Improve Bowling Game

Practice is the best way for you to improve your bowling game. The learning process will be faster if you're learning the right techniques from a bowling guide or coach. One of the best ways to practice bowling is to engage in league bowling. League bowling will help improve bowling skills, as well as improve a player overall game. When practicing a bowling game, it is best to practice using the most suitable ball. The ball that is used will have the most impact on a player's game, so players must find a bowling ball that is best for their individual game. A ball that does not fit the fingers, a ball that is too light or too heavy, can affect a bowling game or by a ball that is not smooth enough. Players should purchase the right ball, and practice with it on a regular basis. When practicing one's bowling game, it is important to focus on a more controlled technique that is suitable for their skill level. Professional bowlers use the 5-step approach, which may not be suitable for all amateur bowlers. The 4-step approach may be suitable for amateur bowlers, but this seemingly simple approach still requires practice with the right technique. Players should practice a smooth approach, and practice taking small steps before the release.

24

Practicing bowling techniques also requires bowlers to work on the way they roll the ball. The bowling ball should be rolled not thrown, and should not be thrown too hard. Bowlers should know the visible difference between a thrown and rolled ball, and should practice rolling. A ball that is thrown down the lane will slide, whereas a ball that is rolled will only roll down the lane. Many players spend countless hours practicing their rolling technique. A ball that rolls down the lane gives better results than a ball that slides down the lane. During practice, players should analyze their delivery, as well as fine tune any bowling techniques. The good shots can be felt by the practicing players, and should be practiced as much as possible. Players should write down their best shots, or work on memorizing them, so that the best shots can be repeated at a later date. Visualization, a mental technique that is often used by pro bowlers, can be used to practice if a lane is not available to practice on. Using the mind to fine-tune the best shots is one good way to improve your bowling game. There are several bowling tips to remember when practicing to improve your skills, and there are also a few steps to follow when practicing. First, players can find a suitable place to practice their game. Practice can occur on any vinyl, tile, or hardwood floor that is similar to a bowling lane. Next, players can mark their starting points. Starting positions are marked by using tape to make a "T" at that point. The bowler's toes should be placed at the top of the "T" that marks the starting point. It's best to figure out the ideal first step, then mark the spot on the stem of the "T". Practice the first step of your approach, while visualizing bowling a strike. In practice, the ideal first step should be repeated exactly the same each time it is performed. Progressively, players should be able to practice their steps without having to look down at the mark to ensure proper placement of the feet on the approach. The best approach in bowling is one that begins with a good first step. A good first step is the key component to a good approach. A consistent first step usually equals a consistent approach in bowling. Most people are not naturally good at every shot that there is in bowling, but with practice you can improve. If you can learn to use a combination of shots, you will improve your bowling game greatly.

25

Bowlers slang and jargon

1 Back-up ball (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: An extra ball used in league play in case of special shots which require the ball to curve in the opposite direction; the finger holes are drilled to make it curve the other way. Context: Any bowling game. 2 Barley pop (Noun) Source: English, barley is used to make beer. Meaning: A beer. Context: In the bowling alley, especially around the snack bar. 3 Beer frame (Noun) Source: English < Beer bowling jargon < Frame. Meaning: When all but one bowling team member bowls a strike in a particular frame, that member must buy a beer for each of the others.Hence the term. . Context: During league play (or sometimes during practice), especially during a friendly match 4 Chicken (Noun) Source: English, spinoff of another bowling term: "turkey," invented by younger children who wish to use the term "turkey," but can't bowl 3 strikes in a row. Meaning: 3 consecutive frames (6 throws total) each resulting in a spare. Context: Any bowling game, especially among children 5 Dead wood (Noun) Source: English expression "dead wood" weighing and/or slowing something down. Meaning: A bowling pin stuck in the gutter out of reach of the automated pin sweeper (See also: Pin monkey). Context: Any bowling game. 6 Gutter (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: The grooves on either side of the alley which, if the ball hits them, will take it down to the end of the alley without hitting any pins. Context: Any bowling game. 7 Gutter ball (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: The resultant score after throwing your ball into the gutter. Context: Any bowling game.

26

8 Head pin (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: The closest pin to the bowlers, also referred to as pin #1. Context: Any bowling game, especially league play among older bowlers 9 Open 4 (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: A split in which the pins left standing are 4, 7, 6, and 10. These are the 2 rear pins on each side of the triangle, thus creating the most open combination of 4 pins. Context: Any bowling game 10 Pick up (Verb) Source: English. Meaning: To knock down the remaining pins with the 2nd throw in a frame; it can be used in reference to a difficult formation of pins, or to the score itself (a spare). Context: Any bowling game, especially among adult bowlers. 11 Pin monkey (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: The bowling alley employee whose job it is to retrieve wayward pins (dead wood) from the gutter; usually the least senior employee there, as it is an undesireable job. Context: Any bowling game. 12 Punch out in the 10th (Phrase) Source: English expression "to punch out" after a day at work. Meaning: To bowl 3 strikes in the 10th and final frame of the game (a perfect score for that frame). Context: Any bowling game 13 Sand-bag (Verb) Source: English. Meaning: To intentionally bowl poorly at the beginning of a bowling season in order to lower one's average score later in the season, thereby lowering one's handicap. Context: Any league game near the beginning of a season 14 Sour apple (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: A split in which the pins left standing are 5, 7, and 10. These are the 2 rear pins on either side of the triangle, plus the centermost pin. Context: Any bowling game 15 Spare (Noun) Source: English, since it requires both throws, the 2nd one is the "spare.". Meaning: The term for the resulting score of knocking down all 10 pins with the combination of both throws in a particular frame. Context: Any bowling game 16 Split (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: Refers to the resulting formation of pins left standing after the 1st ball in a frame has been thrown. A split occurs when 2 pins which weren't right next to each other are standing. Context: Any bowling game. 17 Strike (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: The term for the resulting score of knocking down all 10 pins with the first throw in a given frame. Context: Any bowling game. 18 Turkey (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: 3 consecutive throws each resulting in a strike. Context: Any bowling game. 19 Wash-out (Noun) Source: English. Meaning: Any split with the head pin also standing. Context: Any bowling game. Collected: 10/05/2002 by Student:Wooters.

27

Approach Area at least 15 feet long on which player walks to the foul line Frame One-tenth- of a game. Each square on score sheet is one frame. Game A series of 10 frames Choke Failure to accomplish objective because of nervousness or fright ABC The American Bowling Congress. The official rule-making body of tenpin bowling in the United States. Anchorman Last bowler in a team lineup. Three Bs Beer, Bitterballs and Bowling. Also known as the Blue Bowler Ball Dutch 200 A game of exactly 200 made by alternate strikes or spares. Graveyards Low-scoring lanes. In a high-scoring center, applied to the lowest scoring pair. Sandbagger Bowler who keeps his average down purposely in order to receive a higher handicap than he deserves. Knowles Ball Saying youre going to throw a turkey and then actually doing it (named after master trash-talker and bowling legend Justin Knowles Barmaid Two pins, one behind the other. Perfect game Maximum score of 300 (12 strikes in a row) Perfect game jinx It is customary when someone starts a game with a string of strikes not to mention the possibility of scoring 300, which would jinx the player.

28

Famous bowlers
Earl Roderick Anthony (April 27, 1938 August 14,
2001) was a left-handed American professional bowler. He amassed a total of 41 titles on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour, a record that was broken by Walter Ray Williams in 2006. His ten professional major titles (six PBA National Championships, two Firestone Tournament of Champions, and two ABC Masters Champions) are the most by any bowler. Anthony also won seven PBA Senior Tour titles for 48 total PBA Tour titles. Never brash or flashy in a crew-cut and glasses, Anthony was dubbed "Square Earl" by fellow pro bowlers. He was also known by the nickname "The Machine," due to his robot-like consistency and accuracy. Anthony was born in Tacoma, Washington. He was a minor league baseball pitcher before his days as a professional bowler. He was also an incredible golfer, achieving a near-scratch handicap at the age of 60. He once set the course record at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville, California with a scratch score of 64. The Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship Fund was established through funding by the ABC Championship Tournament (now USBC), in order to provide scholarships to young bowlers. It is administrated by the Young American Bowling Alliance. Earl Anthony died in 2001, succumbing to head injuries suffered after falling down a flight of stairs at a friend's home in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

29

In January 2002, the PBA began the year with a tournament named after Anthony, "The Earl Anthony Memorial Classic." It was first held in Kirkland, Washington, and later moved to Medford, Oregon. It was later re-titled as "The Earl Anthony Medford Classic."

Awards and recognition

Six-time PBA Player of the Year winner (1974-76 and 1981-83) Five-time George Young High Average award winner (1973-75, 1980, 1983) Established a record for most consecutive PBA seasons winning at least one tournament (14), which stood until 2007 when it was broken by Walter Ray Williams Jr. Holds PBA record of 15 televised finals appearances in one season (1975, 1981) Tied for PBA record with 8 major tournament titles (PBA did not count ABC Masters titles prior to 1999) Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame, 1981 Inducted into ABC (now USBC) Hall of Fame, 1986

Marshall Holman (born September 29, 1954 in Medford,

Oregon) is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996-2001. From 1998-99, he worked for CBS Sports and was teamed with Gary Seibel for telecasts when that network briefly showed PBA events. Holman's last PBA title came in 1996 at the PBA Ebonite Classic, eight years after he had last won a title. In this event, he defeated Wayne Webb in a game that came down to the final frames. The first bowler on the PBA to surpass $1.5 million in earnings, Holman has won 22 titles (11th all-time), including the U.S. Open events in 1981 and 1985. He has earned $1,695,890 on tour. Holman was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. A single-digit handicap golfer since his professional bowling days, he is a regular on the Celebrity Players Golf Tour. Holman and his wife currently reside in Medford. They own a Liberty Tax Service franchise there.

30

Holman has recently dipped back into the broadcasting arena, serving as a color analyst at the 2007 USBC Queens tournament and again (along with Nelson Burton, Jr.) for ESPN's five-week coverage of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.

Johnny Petraglia was born March 3, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY, and

now hails from Manalapan, NJ. He is best known as a left-handed bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), where he won 14 tour titles. He has also won five Senior PBA titles. Petraglia joined the PBA in 1965, and won his first tour title in 1966. In 1967-68, Petraglia left the PBA Tour after being called to duty for the US war effort in Vietnam. He served as an Army Spec 5 in Long Binh and Bien Hoa. His best season as a pro came in 1971, when he won five titles in all. That year included consecutive wins in the last three tournaments of the season -- culminated by a major championship in the Firestone Tournament of Champions. Petraglia would win two more majors: the 1977 BPAA U.S. Open and 1980 PBA National Championship, making him one of only four players to earn the PBA career "Triple Crown." (Billy Hardwick, Mike Aulby and Pete Weber are the others.) The 1980 event featured one of the more dramatic final matches in major tournament history, as Petraglia rolled four consecutive strikes in the 9th and 10th frames to secure the victory. In 1994, after many figured his regular tour career was over, the 47-year old Petraglia rolled the PBA's seventh televised perfect 300 game to defeat Walter Ray Williams, 300194. He did not, however, go on to win the title match.

Awards and Recognition

Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1982 Served three terms as PBA President (1979-80, 1989-90 and 1997-98)

31

Mark Roth (born April 10, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York) is a

member of the Professional Bowlers Association and the Generations Bowling Tour. His 34 PBA titles are tied for third (with Pete Weber) on the all-time tournament winners list, behind Walter Ray Williams and Earl Anthony. He was the second professional bowler to surpass $1 million in career winnings, with Anthony being the first. His 8 titles won in 1978 are still the PBA record for a single season, and he won another 7 in the following season. He won his only career major title (US Open) in 1984, after having qualified for 10 previous "major" television finals without winning. Roth was inducted in the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987. Roth was well known for his high powered "cranker" style that has been copied by many bowlers since. Despite the power he generated, Roth was also one of the best spare shooters of all time, as he is notable for being the first bowler to pick up the 7-10 Split on television, on 5 January 1980. In addition, he utilizes a seven-step delivery that is unique. Most bowlers regard a four-step or five-step delivery to be the classic form and the most effective way to throw a bowling ball. Roth shot a 299 during the televised finals to win his very first PBA tournament at the 1975 King Louie Open in Overland Park, Kansas. Roth repeated the feat by shooting a 299 during the televised finals (it was Roth's first game and the final's second game) of the 1987 Greater Buffalo Open in Cheektowaga, NY. On 6 October 2006, Roth won the very first Generations Bowling Tour event, defeating Dale Eagle in the final 237-234, and averaged 241 over the three-game stepladder final.

Awards and Recognition

Four-time PBA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984) Six-time winner of the PBA High Average award Still holds PBA record of 8 titles in a single season (1978) Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame, 1987 Inducted into International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 1992

Dick Weber December 23, 1929 - February 13, 2005)

was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). Weber was

32

known not only as a bowling superstar, but was also a bowling pioneer and one of the sport's most popular players. Weber moved to Florissant, Missouri, in 1955 to form a soon-to-be legendary bowling team called the Budweisers (after the popular American beer brand). Members of the Budweisers included Ray Bluth, Don Carter, Tom Hennessey and Pat Patterson. Weber became a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association, which he subsequently dominated. In 1959, Weber won his first PBA title. He won ten of the first 22 PBA tournaments held and during his career went on to win 26 PBA Tour events, six PBA Senior Tour events (amassing a total of 32 PBA titles in both major categories), and was national bowler of the year three times (in 1961, 1963 and 1965). His 26 regular tour wins places him in a seventh-place tie with Don Johnson and Norm Duke on the all-time PBA wins list. In 1999 he became one of five people to knock down over 100,000 pins in the USBC tournament. In 2002, Weber also became the first player to win at least one PBA title in six consecutive decades. Weber was also known as an unofficial ambassador of his sport and rarely passed up an opportunity to promote the sport of bowling. One promotion had him bowling the highest (altitude) game ever in "Operation Astro-Bowl," which took place on an airplane in 1963. League bowling in the United States had its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s partly due to the influence of pros like Weber and Don Carter, and several PBA pros like Johnny Petraglia claimed to be inspired by Dick Weber: "The main reason I went on Tour was Dick Weber. When I was 14 I saw him do an exhibition in Madison Square Garden. When I left I remember saying to myself: 'I want to be like Dick Weber.'" Dick Weber is a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and both he and his son, Pete Weber, are members of the PBA Hall of Fame. In 1999 Dick Weber was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Weber also produced his own training video called Let's Bowl with Dick Weber. Its blurb reads: "Voted 'one of the best bowlers that ever lived,' Weber has held the PBA presidency and 29 PBA titles in a career that spans four decades. Weber covers all the basics: bowling accessories, proper ball weight and fit, stance, follow through, delivery and release. He even gives tips for aiming and addresses some of the common faults of new bowlers. This unique, in-depth video brings the elements of high-precision sport into your living room so you can practice these tips at the alley and begin building your bowling skills." The Weber Cup, named after Dick, is a Ryder Cup-style event that pits European and American ten-pin bowlers against one another. It is held annually in England. On April 17, 2006, the inaugural Dick Weber Tribute was held in St. Louis. Organized by Bill McCorkle, the event attracted many of bowling's top luminaries. The event was attended by over 20 members of the Weber family, representing four generations, as well as over 50 professional bowlers, including champions and members of the Hall of Fame.

33

The highlight of the evening came when Pete Weber delivered a moving tribute. Many in the audience had never seen this side of him before. A documentary on the life and fame of Dick Weber was released on March 23, 2007, by Live Technologies, Inc. and Bill McCorkle. It consists of interviews with many current and former professional bowlers, family, and sportscasters as well as footage covering Weber's 60-year history as a professional athlete. Dick Weber died on February 13, 2005.

Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (born October 6, 1959 in Eureka,

California) is one of the top-ranking professional ten-pin bowlers in history. He currently holds the record for all-time PBA career titles (44) and earnings (over $4,000,000 through 2007-08). He starred in the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. He is also a six-time world champion in the game of horseshoes.

34

Organization and increased popularity of bowling

Bowling has long been seen as a sport of the working classes. Accordingly, most bowling alleys at the turn of the century were small, private establishments, mainly frequented by men. This began to change as the sport became increasingly regulated and generally gained in prestige. Although it has not shed its working class image entirely, today bowling is no longer only a unisex sport, and is enjoyed by people the world over. In 1895 the American Bowling Congress was started in New York City. This was soon joined by similar organizations geared toward female bowlers. These groups began creating the standard rules for bowling that have survived to the modern day. At the same time, the sport's image among the upper classes was enhanced by the opening of more luxurious and elegant lanes like The White Elephant in New York City, opened by restaurateur Joe Thum, whom many consider to be the father of bowling, along with Dick Weber. Thum created the first bowling organization in the United States on September 9, 1895, when he pulled together representatives of various regional bowling clubs into an overarching organization, the American Bowling Congress (ABC). This spurred greater interest in the game, with the number of officially sanctioned lanes rising from 450 in 1920 to 2,000 in 1929.

1940 to 1960
The period from 1940 to 1960 is known as the golden age of bowling due to the sport's great popularity and advances in its play. Indeed, by 1945, bowling was a billion-dollar industry in the United States. Promotion by the U.S. Armed Forces and its image as a sport for the common man made bowling an enticing choice of activity for Americans. For this reason, racial integration was perhaps inevitable. The American Bowling Congress had been a whites-only organization throughout its existence, but lobbying by 35

numerous labor organizations and individuals after the war quickly led to a reversal of this policy. This era also saw a great increase in bowling technology. Pins had previously been set by human pinsetters or "pin boys", but with the invention of the semi-automatic pinsetter in 1936, the process became much easier. In 1946 AMF Bowling launched the first commercial fully automatic pinspotter to replace the earlier Brunswick semi-automatic and fully manual bowling establishments. Brunswick itself introduced its own automatic pinspotter design to bowling centers in 1955. The television age of the 1950s also helped to increase the popularity of ten-pin bowling, as images of the sport began to enter the homes of millions across the United States. Eddie Elias founded the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958, and its Pro Bowlers Tour became a permanent part of ABC's sports lineup.

1960 to the present

Ten-pin bowling was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1960. This was driven by the opening of the Stamford Hill and Golders Green bowling alleys in London. Ten-pin bowling took the UK by storm, with alleys opening up one after the other. At its peak there were over 160 bowling alleys in the UK, but a lack of re-investment and waning interest left the fad in a sorry state. This led to a general deterioration of bowling alleys, with a commensurate decline in their image. In the 1970s a major chain operator pulled out of bowling and converted many of the more luxurious alleys into Bingo halls. The industry nearly collapsed, with two thirds of the existing alleys closing over the next few years. Until the mid 1980s there was little, if any, new investment in the sport with the decline in interest being attributed to the complex scoring system, especially as it was a manual process then. However, this all changed with the introduction of computers and automated electronic scoring systems. This meant that the general public only had to enter their names into the computers and everything else was done automatically. This changed the face of bowling and was largely responsible for the newfound interest in the sport. AMF carried this revitalization of the sport by embarking on a major refurbishment programme. This re-investment led to the construction of many bright, modern and attractive sites and began the second golden age of bowling. During the late 1980s and early 1990s the number of ten-pin bowling alleys across the country rose to over two hundred. This was higher than it had ever been in the sixties, then the peak of the sport's popularity. Today, over 100 million bowlers play in over 90 different countries. More men and women worldwide play bowling than any other sport, with the possible exception of football (soccer in the USA). Bowling has far more registered dues-paying participants than any other sport. The bowling industry spends significantly more money each year than any other sport on airlines, restaurants, hotels and rental cars. There is an active 36

movement to make bowling an Olympic sport, especially by the Fdration Internationale des Quilleurs, the world governing organization for nine and ten-pin bowling. The most elite players regularly play in televised tournaments, and new bowlers continue to delight in learning the game. In addition, modern bowling alleys have changed greatly. As people have become exposed to a wider range of entertainment options, the trend has shifted to building large entertainment centers that allow people to enjoy many different activities. These developments often include multi-screen cinemas, restaurants and night clubs. This has had a great impact on the image of the sport among families.

Conclusion
Bowling is a game of recreation, which if moderately used is very healthy for the body. It can be played whether youre young or an elderly person the effects are same, it helps you to keep fit by working your muscles and articulations, it can help you to be more self-confident and of course it helps you to relax by having a good time while rolling balls, catching up with friends or having a snack or a drink at the bar. In other words it is an all-age sport because you dont have to be 20 to be able to play, it doesnt matter if you are young or old, thin or fat, as long as you have a great time while youre playing. You can play in order to win something, in a legal competition or just against your friends by placing bets or you can just play for fun. At the same time a bowling center its a good area for socializing, making new friends, or just playing with your old ones, as it is for taking out a girl for a date, her joy in case of a strike can be crucial for a relationship, you can never know. There are tips that you can follow in order to improve your game but practice must be your best tutor, good mood and a smile on your face whether you hit a strike or a gutter ball was all you achieved, but it is more pleasant to hit strikes and tease your partner which couldnt do as good as you did. In addition the risk of injuries is small comparatively with other sports, so you dont have to worry if you will be able to go the next day to work or school, the worse thing it can happen if you arent used to physical exercise is to have a muscle fever. On the other hand, playing bowling it is not a cheap way for having fun, you need a sum of money to rent a bowling lane in a center, so not everybody can afford to stay on the lane all day, but a few hours in a week can be afforded by everyone, and the fun you have worth every penny.

37

In conclusion, if you want to have fun with your dear ones or to take up a sport or you just want to try something new you have to consider bowling as an alternative to do this, and it will become soon a good way to spend time, anyway better and healthier than watching television and sitting on the couch.

Bibliography

1. Right Down Your Alley: The complete book of bowling by Vesma Grinfelds, Bonnie Hulstrand

2. Bowling by Charlene Agne-Traub, Joan L. Martin, Ruth E. Tandy

3. Bowl like a pro by David Ozio, Dan Herbst

38

4. The Bowlers Encyclopedia by Unknown

5. The Strike Zone:Bowling for Everyone by Carol J. Blassingame, Thomas S. Cross

6.Bowling for beginners: Simple Steps to Strikes & Spares by Don Nace

7. International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame official website

8. English Sports and Recreations by Lilly C. Stone

39

9. Pictures from www.google.com

40

41