If you can pick up a bowling ball, you can become a tenpin bowler. According to the World Tenpin Bowling Association, as of July 2010 there are more than 100 million bowlers worldwide. Friends and family members from the very young to seniors enjoy the experiences and camaraderie of tenpin bowling. Many bowlers participate in leagues, tournaments and championships. Top bowlers compete in international competitions under the auspices of the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs, bowling's international governing body.
Shoes
Before you step onto a bowling lane, you need bowling shoes. To avoid dirt on and damage to the bowling lanes, bowling-center management prohibits bowling with street shoes, or shoes with heels or soles that rub off. Lack of bowling shoes is not a barrier to play, because bowling centers rent shoes to customers for a modest fee. After you've been bowling for a while, you may want to get your own bowling shoes. Competitive bowlers can get customized shoes that facilitate sliding or produce better traction.
Balls
There is no minimum weight for tenpin bowling balls. The maximum weight is 16 pounds. Common ball weights are 6, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 pounds. The ball circumference must be between 26.704 and 27.002 inches. Most tenpin balls have holes for two fingers and the thumb. Tenpin balls can have a maximum of 12 holes, including five for the fingers.
Balls are available without additional fee at bowling centers, or you can bring your own.
Pins and Lanes
The plastic-coated wood pins are 15 inches high, 4.755 to 4.797 inches in diameter at their widest point, and weigh between 3 pounds, 6 ounces, and 3 pounds, 10 ounces. A machine positions the pins in an equilateral triangle at the end of the alley, with the head pin --- pin 1 --- pointing toward the bowler. Rows two, three and four have two, three and four pins, respectively. The center of each pin is 12 inches from the center of the nearest pins.
The foul line in a regulation tenpin lane is 60 feet from the center of the head pin. Lanes are between 41 and 42 inches wide. There is a gutter on each side of a lane. Balls that fail to stay on the lane fall into a gutter without knocking down any pins. The area in front of the foul line, known as the lane approach, is a minimum of 15 feet in length.
Technique
As you gain experience bowling, your technique will evolve. If you are a beginner, start by standing about 8 feet behind the foul line. Face the pins. Hold the ball about waist high, using the holes for your thumb and middle and ring fingers. Push the ball forward and down while taking a first step with the foot on the same side of your body as the hand holding the ball. As you take your next step, let the ball swing at your side in a natural pendulum motion. Extend your other arm out to the side for improved balance. With your third step, keep your elbow straight and allow the ball to continue to the top of the backswing. Your fourth step is a bent-knee slide that puts you in position to let the ball roll off your hand onto the lane. Continue the forward motion of your arm until it is pointing at the pins.
Scoring
Games consist of 10 "frames," which are turns for each bowler. During a frame, each bowler gets the chance to knock down 10 pins. When a bowler knocks down all 10 pins with the first ball, it's a "strike." The bowler tries to knock over any remaining pins with a second ball. When successful, the bowler has earned a "spare." When pins remain after the second ball, it is a "split," earning points to match the total number of downed pins. In scoring a spare, a bowler gets 10 points plus the number of pins knocked over with the first ball in the next frame. With a strike, a bowler gets 10 points plus the number of pins downed with the next two balls. When a bowler gets a strike in the 10th frame, she bowls two more balls and adds that pin-fall to 10 to determine her score for the frame. If a bowler gets a spare in the 10th frame, he scores 10 plus the pin-fall achieved by bowling one more ball. The score for the game is the total of the scores for each frame. The highest possible score is 300, known as a "perfect" game.
If you would rather socialize than keep score, most bowling centers have a computer system that will calculate your score.
Upscale Trend
At the newest bowling alleys, the focus has moved from bowling to a broader entertainment scene. These bowling centers include nightclubs and lounges with large projection screens, DJs, state-of-the-art sound systems and pool tables. Bars and restaurants with sophisticated menus take the place of the hot-dog-and-cola counters found in older bowling establishments, and the cost to bowl is higher. In the evenings, league play is discouraged and bouncers may be on duty, enforcing dress codes and checking IDs to ensure patrons are at least 21 years of age.
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