Bowling

Guide Note

In the sports most common form, bowling involves rolling a ball down a 60-foot lane with the intent to knock down ten targets, called "pins," that are aligned in a triangle. The sport can be dated back to ancient Egypt and has many forms, such as: candlepin bowling, duckpin bowling, five-pin bowling and nine-pin skittles.

Fast Facts

1. High possible score: 300
2. Professional league: Professional Bowing Association or the PBA
3. Lane width: 41.5 inches
4. Lane length: 60 feet
5. Hitting all pins on one roll is called a "strike"
6. Hitting all pins on two rolls is called a "spare"
7. Ball weight varies from six to sixteen pounds
8. There are leagues for players of every level
9. Oldest bowling equipment found is from 5200 B.C.
10. Three strikes in a row is called a "turkey"

• Regulators: United States Bowling Congress and the British Tenpin Bowling Association

• Most amateur lanes are coated with 18 ml of oil, professional ranks coat lanes with 30 ml

• Ball cannot weigh more than 16 pounds

• Game consists of ten frames

• Bowler has two chances to knock down ten pins in each frame

• A perfect score of 300 consists of 12 straight strikes