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Table of Contents
Bowling refers to a sport or leisure activity in which a player rolls or throws a bowling ball towards a target. In pin bowling variations, the target is usually to knock over pins at the end of a lane. This is commonly ten pins and is sometimes called ten pin bowling. See the fact file below for more bowling information.
Key Facts & Information
General Information
- The history of bowling dates back thousands of years. It is believed by many that a passion for hitting a bowling pin with an object actually struck humanity sometime in the Stone Age.
- Forerunners of modern bowling date back to at least 5200 in Egypt. Dutch settlers probably introduced the game in America.
- Four thousand years later, the Romans devised their own version and played a game in which players threw one ball at a set of stone objects with the aim of hitting them.Β
- This game evolved into the modern bocce or outdoor bowling, Β now a popular hobby game in Italy.
- Hawaiian bowling, Ula Maika, is played by knocking down targets from a distance of 60 feet. Today, the distance between the bowler and the ten pins has the same measurement.Β
- In the 12th century, bowling was introduced in England. However, King Edward III banned it in 1366, claiming that it distracted his soldiers.
- In 1895, the American Bowling Congress was formed, and it has been a popular game since then, appealing to men and women.
- Bowling was then introduced as an Olympic game in 1988. However, it has never been made an official Olympic game.
How the Game is Played
- Bowling is an indoor sport that is played by rolling a ball down an alley, hoping to knock down ten pins. Bowling is also known as tenpins.
- A regulation bowling alley is made of polished wood and measures 41 to 42 inches wide and 60 feet from the foul line, where the ball is delivered, to the centre of the headpin.
- Bowlers, also called keglers, roll a ball made of rubber composite or plastic, which has three or four finger holes and weighs from 10 to 16 pounds, at plastic-covered maple pins standing 15 inches high.
- The pins weigh between 3 pounds 2 ounces and 3 pounds 10 ounces and are set up in a triangular array in rows of increasing width at the opposite end of the alley.
- A game consists of 10 frames, with two balls allowed to a bowler in each frame. Each pin knocked down counts as one point.
- Toppling all pins with the first ball is a strike and scores 10 points plus the total of the next two balls.
- Clearing the alley with two balls is a spare and scores 10 points plus the next roll. A perfect game, 300 points, requires 12 consecutive strikes.
- If three strikes are thrown in a row it is called a βturkeyβ.
- The American Bowling Congress is the official rule-making body of ten-pin bowling.
- On either side of the alley is a gutter. If the ball goes into the gutter it is called a βgutter ballβ.
- Bowling is a sport that can be enjoyed throughout the year, no matter what the weather, because itβs played indoors. It can also be enjoyed by people of any age. The game enjoyed widespread popularity that stuck following the invention of the automatic bowling pin spotter in the 1940s.
Types of Bowling Games
- Nine-pin Bowling – This is the European bowling version originating in the 1950s. The pins are set up to create a diamond (1-2-3-2-1) at the end of the lane with space in the middle for the ninth pin. The latter was specially colored and called the 12 pin, meaning that if all the pins are knocked down except the special one, the total score is 12. Should it be knocked with the others, the score is 9.
- 10-pin Bowling – In this American version, the pins are laid out in a 4-3-2-1 pattern. The competing teams/players compete to reach the highest possible number of pins knocked down.
- Five-pin Bowling – This Canadian version was introduced by Thomas F. Ryan in 1909. The pins are set up in V formation whereby the innermost pin is worth five points, the middle are three points and the outer pins are worth two points. Each player receives three turns per frame and the perfect score for the game is 450.
- Duckpin Bowling – Similar with 10-pin bowling, the cone-shaped pins are knocked down by smaller pin balls with a maximum weight of six pounds. In this game, the player is given a third turn if there are pins still standing on their second try.
- Candlepin Bowling – Using 10 pins and with players having three turns, this version uses taller and skinnier pins that are knocked down by a smaller ball weighing under three pounds and a thinner lane. The rules of candlepin are similar to 10-pin besides the deadwood rule – any pin that is left out on the lane or in the gutter, out of the reach of the rake.
Bowling Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Bowling across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready to use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Bowling – a sport or leisure activity in which a player rolls or throws a bowling ball towards a target. In pin bowling variations, the target is usually to knock over pins at the end of a lane. This is commonly ten pins and is sometimes called ten pin bowling. See the fact file below for more bowling information.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Bowling Facts
- Bowling Must-haves
- Bowling Lane
- Ball and Pin
- Scoring Guide
- Common Terms
- Delivering Right
- Bowling Guidelines
- Bowling Heroes
- Playing the Sport
- Bowling Ad
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Link will appear as Bowling Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 9, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
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