BOWLING

Brief History

According to Archaeologists

 Polynesian island people used to play a game with small round balls and flat round disks
 Egyptians played a game similar to ninepins.
Ninepins – game from which modern bowling developed

 German people knocked down kegels or pins as a part of a religious rite

 In Italy, it was called “boccie” and was popularized by Henry VIII when he was king of English
 In France, it was termed “carreau” during the time of Charlemagne
 In Scotland where it was cold, they bowled on ice and called it “curling”
 Filipinos, specifically Visayans, had a similar marble game, dyolin.

In the modern days, Bowling is enjoyed by men and women of nearly all ages.

In 1979, Bong Coo, a Filipino, was the Asian Women’s Champion bowler.

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The object of bowling and tenpins is to knock down as many pins as possible, which are arranged in a
triangle arrangement at the end of the sixty-foot alley.

Bowling vs Tenpins

In tenpins, balls are smaller and three (3) balls are allowed to knock down the pins. The pins are also
smaller than those in bowling.

Bowling ball is large, has three holes (one for the thumb and 2 for the fingers) and only two balls are
allowed to knock down the pins.

*the scoring and skills involved are not too different

Note: In commercial bowling and tenpins establishments, balls and pins are provided as part of the
fee. Special shoes can also be rented at the bowling alleys, one most suitable to bowling to avoid
accidents. Comfortable, loose clothing is advised; also, long pants or full skirts. There is much bending
and stretching involved in the game, so it is wise to wear clothes that permit freedom of movement.
Equipment

a) Bowling bowl

Weight 6 lb (min) to 16 lb (min)

Diameter 8-12 in (8.59) approximately
Circumference 27 inches
Top weight’ 3 oz maximum
Side weight 1 oz maximum

b) Bowling Pins

Height 15 inches
Weight 3 lbs 6 oz – 3 lbs 10 oz
Diameter at base 2 ¼ inches
Diameter at belly 5 inches

c) Bowling Lanes

Approach Length not less than 15 feet

Lane length 60 feet long from the foul line to the center of pin
No.1 (head pin) with a tolerance of + ½ inches

Lane width Seven (7) arrows located 15 feet after the foul line
Five (5) boards, separate each arrow. There are seven (7) dots in the
approach area, about 1-2 inch before the foul line. Each dot is exactly on
the same board as the arrows. Twelve (12) feet farther back in the
approach is a second row of dots and the third row, 3 feet (15 approach
further back)

d) Lane materials

Wood Lane Maple wood for the approach and lane head just after the arrows and
also in the pin deck

Gutter A depression to the right and left of the lane to guide the ball to the pit,
should it leave the playing surface on the way down

Foul Line the marking that determines the beginning of the lane
 Basic Skills

1. Starting Position

Find the correct stance, start at the foul line facing away from the pins, take 4 ½ steps
and turn facing the pins.

2. Hold the ball with both hands

The thumb; middle and ring finger must go into the holes while the ball rest on your
index and pinky finger as you hold it.

3. Push away

It is the movement of the ball that triggers to move forward. It must be in the direction
of the target and supported by both hands, until the ball is out of range of the non-
bowling hands.

4. Footwork

It is in a natural walking fashion. Ending in a long slide, in the 4 (four) steps approach,
the sliding foot will trigger the first step fashioned by rhythm.

5. Arm swing

It must be in pure pendulum and close to the body as possible. The backswing must pass
the body but not higher than the shoulder, which may cause you to lose your balance.

6. Point of release

The thumb comes out first, while the two are still in the ball with a continuous
pendulum motion that brings your swinging arm up to complete a follow through, the
two middle fingers will give a good spin on the bowling ball resulting to good impact on
the pins.

FAMOUS BOWLERS

1. PHILIPPINE BOWLERS

a) Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno

 A six-time World Bowling Champion
 Greatest International Bowler in the history of the sport
 Youngest World Bowling Champion
 Most World Titles in three different decades
 Most Worldwide titles in a career
 b) Bong Coo
 Asia’s Bowling Queen
 First Filipina Athlete listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
 First Filipina Bowler to win a Gold Medal in the Women All Event of the IX World
Championships

c) Lita Dela Rosa

 Four-time World Champion
 First shot to fame when she won the Bowling World Cup in Bogota, Colombia

2. INTERNATIONAL BOWLERS

a) Walter Ray Williams Jr.

 Known as “Deadeye” for his pinpoint precision on the lanes
 Owns 7 records of “Player of the Years honor”
 Sport’s all-time leading money winner with more than $4.3 Million in earnings

b) Earl Anthony
 A six-time PBA Player of the Year
 First player to earn $100,000 in a season
 Sport’s first millionaire, hitting the mark in 1982
 In 2009, the PBA crowned him as the greatest bowler in its first 50 years

c) Pete Weber
 First bowler to win the sport’s Triple Crown twice
 Youngest player in the sport’s history to top $1 Million in career earnings, hitting the
mark at age 26

d) Norm Duke
 The only bowler in history to win 3 consecutive major titles
 Owns 7 major championships overall
 Holds the record as the youngest bowler to win a tour title

e) Lisa Wagner
 All-time women’s leader in tour victories
 Won multiple titles in 8 consecutive seasons from 1983-1990
 Named as the BWAA Bowler of the Year 4 times
 Named as the 1980’s Bowler of the Decade by The Woman Bowler and Bowling
magazine.