BOWLING STUDY GUIDE
HISTORY
Bowling has been traced back to 5000 B.C. The ancient Egyptians enjoyed a version of the game as evidenced by
bowling balls and pins found buried in an Egyptian child’s grave. More modern variations were developed in Germany
where it became known as “nine pins.” The game was brought to the U.S. by early settlers but still had many variations.
By the 1840s, bowling had become popular in America. The first indoor lanes were built in New York. Abraham Lincoln
was among the many famous Americans who enjoyed bowling. In 1895, the American Bowling Conference (ABC) was
formed and standardized the game to ten pins, as we know it today. A women’s organization, the WIBA, was founded in
1916. The two organizations work together to govern the sport. More than 10 million people are members of the
organizations. That does not take into account the millions who enjoy bowling but do not belong to the conferences.
EQUIPMENT
A regulation bowling ball weighs anywhere from 10 to 16 pounds. Women usually use a 10 to 12 pound ball.
(There are balls that are lighter than 10 pounds but they are used for small children.) To find a ball that fits, the
thumbhole should fit and the second joint of the fingers should reach about ¼ inch over the bottom edge of the hole.
Special shoes are used for bowling. The bowling shoe, for right-handers, will have a leather sole on the left shoe
for sliding.
Some bowlers use leather wrist supports or braces. These are usually only necessary for serious bowlers who
bowl so much that overuse injuries can occur in the wrist.
MECHANICS OF DELIVERY
The bowler should start by standing to the right of center. Elbows should be in close to the body and the eyes on
the point of aim. As the arm is brought back and forward again, it should swing like a pendulum with the thumb in the
12 o’clock position and the wrist firm. The thumb should come out first, followed by the fingers. The release is made in
front of the forward foot and beyond the foul line without bouncing. NOTE: The ball is rolled rather than thrown. It
is to your disadvantage to throw the ball too hard. When thrown too hard, the rotation on the ball will not affect
the ball enough to make it curve into the strike pocket. Shoulders should remain facing the target as the arm is lifted
up in front of the body and held. Holding your follow-through will help you evaluated your delivery and correct your
mistakes. Consistency in delivery form is vital to becoming an accomplished bowler.
APPROACHES
The 3-step, 4-step, and 5-step approaches are all used. The 4-step approach is recommended and considered
easier because it is more rhythmic.
FOUR-STEP APPROACH
Step 1 - As the first step is taken with the right foot, the ball is pushed out and away from the person.
Step 2 - The left hand stops supporting the ball and the ball is swung down by the side.
Step 3 - The ball is at the complete backswing at shoulder height.
Step 4 - Both knees bend as the left foot moves forward into a slide. The ball comes back down, close to the left
ankle and is released on the upswing. Shoulders remain facing the target and the arm follows through and holds.
KNOW THE PINS BY NUMBER
7
8
4
9
5
2
6
3
1
10
2
KNOW THE PARTS OF THE BOWLING LANE !!!!!
Strike Pocket (Between 1-2 pins)
For left-handers
7
Gutter
Foul line
4
8
2
5
1
Pit
9
3
6
Approach
Or
Runway
10
Gutter
Strike Pocket (Between 1-3 pins)
For right-handers
GOLDEN RULES OF SCORING BOWLING
1. If you get a strike, count those ten pins plus the pinfall from the NEXT TWO BALLS.
2. If you get a spare, count those ten pins plus the pinfall from the NEXT BALL.
BOWLING SCORING
Symbols:
STRIKE
X
SPARE
/
SCRATCH
--
GUTTER
G
FOUL
F
Each game consists of ten frames. 2 balls are rolled per frame unless a strike (all pins knocked down with first
ball) occurs. A strike nets the bowler 10 pins plus the total pinfall on the next two balls. A spare (all pins knocked down
with two balls) nets 10 pins plus pinfall on the next ball. If a ball is delivered to the gutter before reaching the pins, a “G”
is recorded in the proper box. When a foul (stepping over the foul line) occurs, the ball rolled counts as a turn, but no pins
are scored and an “F” is recorded in the proper box.
When a strike is not delivered and the remaining pins are not knocked down with the second ball, the total score
for that frame is the cumulative score of the pins knocked down. Example:
3
5
8
When the first ball in the frame knocks down all the pins, a “strike” is recorded by an “X”. Eventually, the score
in that frame will be the cumulative total of all pins knocked down in the preceding frames, ten pins scored for the strike
plus the total number of pins knocked down by the next two balls.
Example:
3
2
5
X
4
22
3
29
If pins are left standing after the first ball is rolled (called a
“spare leave”), but all remaining pins are knocked over by the second
roll, a “spare” is recorded by a “/” in the square of that frame. The score
for that frame will then be a cumulative total of all pins knocked down in the preceding frames, the ten pins scored for the
spare and the pins knocked down with the next ball delivered.
1
When pins are left standing after both balls are rolled, a
“scratch” (or error) is indicated by a straight line (--) in the box and only
the total pins knocked down with both balls are recorded.
4
3
4
/
17
3
2
22
3
ETIQUETTE OF BOWLING
1. Consideration should be given to other bowlers at all times.
2. Wait until a bowler on an adjoining lane has delivered his/her ball before you step up to take your ball off the
rack.
3. Give priority to the bowler on your right if he/she is ready to start delivery at the same time you are.
4. The bowler who has a spare may bowl before the one rolling his/her first ball.
5. A player should not take the approach simultaneously with a bowler on an adjoining lane.
6. Check the number and markings on your ball and use the same ball for the entire game.
7. A player should know when it is his/her turn to bowl and be ready to do so immediately.
8. Replace house balls on their proper places on the rack after you have completed your bowling.
9. Show considerations for keeping the approaches clean by wearing only bowling shoes on the approaches.
10. Every player should know the rules of bowling, should learn how to score and should share responsibility for
scoring.
CLUB 53 RULES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Bowling shoes are in the basement.
Tie bowling shoes back together and place them back in the same box you got them out of.
NO STREET SHOES ARE ALLOWED IN THE BOWLING ALLEY AREA.
Bring socks with you if you are not wearing them with your street shoes.
No food or drink is allowed on the approaches.
You may purchase pop from the bar.
Do not take any food or drinks into Club 53.
Take your trash out to the bar for Mr. Leisz to throw away.
Straighten out all the chairs before we leave.
No trick shots (between your legs, etc.)
Boys are not allowed to use the lightweight, brightly colored balls.
Do not step over the foul line. The lane is oiled so you will slip and you will then get oil on the approach.
Stay under control by using a ball you can handle, working on your footwork and not trying to “throw” the
ball.
NO POWER BOWLING. (Throwing the ball as hard as you can with no regard for using good technique.)
Do not hit the reset button for the lane when someone else is on the approach preparing to bowl. If the
bumper comes down as the person is bowling, damage can be done to the lane equipment.
No one in this class is 21 years old so you may not stand around in the bar area. If you are buying something,
get it and immediately return to the bowling alley.
Remember, this is a field trip. You must abide by all school rules while we are gone. i.e. no swearing, no
tobacco products, etc.
BOWLING TERMINOLOGY
Alley Bed
-wooden surface between foul line and pit.
Approach
-surface between the front of the lane and the foul line, where the bowler stands to make
a delivery. Another definition is the footwork and style used in delivery.
Baby Split
-a split leaving the 2 and 7 or 3 and 10 pins after the first ball is delivered.
Back-up Ball -a reverse ball when rolling.
Bed Posts
-a split in which only the 7 and 10 pins remain. Often called fence or goal posts.
Big Four
-a split in which the 4,6,7,10 pins remain.
Blow
-an error
Brooklyn
-a crossover. A ball that hits the side of the headpin and rolls into the pocket opposite the
side of the body from which the ball was delivered.
4
Cherry
-knocking down the front pin in a clump of pins on a spare.
Chop
-knocking down the front pin of pins of a spare while leaving the back pins standing.
Cross alley shot-a ball that crosses the center of the alley when traveling to the pins.
Double
-two strikes in a row.
Dutch 200
-a 200 score attained by alternating strikes and spares for 10 frames.
Fast lane
-a highly polished alley that resists the working action of the ball for hooks.
Foul
-a rule infraction, usually touching or going beyond the foul line.
Frame
-one of ten large score squares for recording total pin count.
Full hit
-Ball that hits the center of the target pin.
Gutter ball
-a delivered ball that drops into either gutter before reaching the pins.
Handicap
-a bonus or score adjustment used in competition to equalize opportunity between
different individuals or teams.
Headpin
-the number 1 pin
Hook
-a delivered ball that travels in a straight line half or two-thirds of the length of the alley
and then curves sharply away from the side of the bowler from which it was delivered.
It curves to the left for right-handed bowlers.
Inning
-a frame or all bowlers turn in the frame.
Kegler
- a bowler. (German origin)
King
-the number 5 pin.
Lane
-the alley or alley bed.
Leave
-the pin or pins standing after delivery of the first ball.
Lift
-a slight upward motion imparted to the ball as it is released
Line
-a game or ten frames.
Loft
-releasing the ball above the alley bed, thus throwing it.
Mark
-to make a strike or spare.
Perfect game -12 strikes in a row and a game total of 300.
Pit
-area behind the alley where pins fall after being hit.
Pocket
-the space between any two pins, usually refers to the 1-2 or the 1-3.
Railroad
-a split
Sleeper
-a pin hidden by another pin.
Spare
-knocking down all remaining pins with second ball in the frame.
Split
-at least two pins are standing after the first ball and the headpin is down and at least one
pin is down between or ahead of the remaining pins.
Spot
-a mark or location on the alley to which the bowler aims.
Straight ball -a ball that travels down the alley in a straight or diagonal line.
5
Strike
-all pins are knocked down by the first ball of the frame.
Strike out
-three successive strikes in the tenth frame.
Turkey
-three successive strikes during the game.
Washout
-Normally a split but the headpin is left standing.
COMPLETE THESE BOWLING LINES
8
--
6
X
9
X
7
6
3
6
2
X
8
1
X
1
7
2
X
X
X
X
X
9
5
5
7
4
4
X
7
8
--
9
--
2
9
--
4
8
3
5
9
3
6
9
X
7
8
8
X
1
4
--
9
4
5
9
X
X
---
9 ---
5
8
---
9
X
9
X
--
6
8
5
6
The Pins By Number
7
8
4
9
5
2
6
3
1
10
THE GOLDEN RULES
OF SCORING BOWLING
1. If you get a STRIKE, count
those ten pins plus the pinfall
from the
NEXT TWO BALLS.
2. If you get a SPARE, count
those ten pins plus the pinfall
from the
NEXT BALL.
7