Tenpin bowling

Tenpin bowling is a fun and popular game where players roll a bowling ball down a long lane to knock down ten pins arranged in a triangle. The aim is to knock down all the pins on the first roll, called a strike, or on the second roll, called a spare. It’s a game enjoyed by people of all ages as a simple way to have fun together.

For those who take it further, tenpin bowling can be a real sport needing skill and precision. Bowlers walk down a 15-foot approach to give the ball speed and spin before it rolls down the lane. The lane has oil on part of it, which makes the ball curve or “hook” toward the pins, making the game more challenging and exciting.

The sport began in the early 1800s and became very popular in the middle of the last century, especially after machines were invented to reset the pins automatically. Today, bowling alleys have grown into big entertainment centers, offering more than just bowling to attract visitors. In everyday language, people often just call it bowling, but adding “tenpin” helps to tell it apart from other types like candlepin or five-pin bowling.

Facilities and equipment

Lanes

Tenpin bowling lanes are 60 feet long, starting from where the bowler stands to the center of the first pin. Lanes are about 41.5 inches wide and have either 39 wooden boards or a synthetic surface with markings to simulate them. There are dots on the floor to help bowlers place their feet correctly.

Lanes have oil patterns that change how the ball moves. Some patterns make the ball curve more, while others make it harder to control. These patterns help protect the lanes and give bowlers different challenges.

Balls

Bowling balls have changed over time. Early balls were made of rubber, but now they are made from different materials that help the ball curve better. The size and weight of the balls are carefully regulated.

Ball motion

When bowling, the ball cannot hit all ten pins at once. Instead, it hits a few pins, which then hit other pins. Experienced bowlers often make the ball curve to increase the chance of knocking down all the pins.

Pins and pin carry

Bowling pins are arranged in a triangle shape, with four pins on each side. The way the pins fall depends on where the ball hits and how hard it is. Studies have shown the best spot to aim for is near the center of the first pin to increase the chance of knocking them all down.

Ball delivery

See also: Bowling form and Bowling ball § Effect of delivery characteristics on ball motion

There are three main ways people bowl: strokers, crankers, and tweeners. Strokers keep their shoulders straight and use a smooth swing, which helps them aim well. Crankers turn their shoulders and use a strong swing to make the ball curve more. Tweeners mix these two styles.

Bowlers can also use different ways to hold and throw the ball. Some use one hand, while others use both hands for a while before letting go with one hand. This can make the ball curve more. There are also special styles like the spinner, where the ball spins like a top, and the backup release, where the ball curves in the opposite direction.

Different grips can also change how the ball moves. A regular grip uses the fingers up to the second knuckle, while a fingertip grip uses only the first knuckle, allowing more spin. Some bowlers, especially those using two hands, don’t use their thumb at all to get even more spin.

Pins and scoring

Pins

The USBC announced in August 2023 that they are now treating string pinsetters and string pin bowling as a separate type of equipment and competition. Tests show that string pin bowling has a slightly lower strike rate, so more testing is planned to see if scores need to be adjusted between the two types. String pinsetters are cheaper and easier to care for, which is why some bowling centers are starting to use them.

Traditional scoring

In traditional scoring, each pin knocked down counts as one point. If you don’t knock down all ten pins in two rolls of a frame (called an open frame), you just add up the pins knocked down. But if you knock down all ten pins in either the first or second roll of a frame (a mark), you get extra points:

• Strike: If all ten pins fall on the first roll (marked "X" on the scorescreen), you get ten points plus the pins knocked down in the next two rolls. If it’s the tenth frame, you get two extra rolls for bonus points.
• Spare: If you need the second roll to knock down all ten pins (marked "/" on the scorescreen), you get ten points plus the pins knocked down in the next roll. If it’s the tenth frame, you get a third roll for bonus points.
• Split: This happens when the pins left standing are far apart, making it hard to get a spare (shown in red on the scorescreen).
• Gutter: This is when no pins are knocked down (marked "-" on the scorescreen).

The highest possible score is 300, achieved by getting twelve strikes in a row (called a perfect game).

World Bowling scoring

The World Bowling system awards points differently:

• A strike is worth 30 pins, no matter what happens next.
• A spare is worth 10 pins plus the pins knocked down on the first roll of that frame.
• An open frame is just the total pins knocked down in that frame.

The maximum score is also 300, but you only need ten strikes in a row (not twelve), and there are no extra rolls in the tenth frame for bonus points.

World Bowling scoring is designed to be simpler to understand, which could help it become more popular and possibly an Olympic sport.

Variant of World Bowling scoring

A different version of World Bowling scoring was introduced in November 2014 for the World Bowling Tour finals. This 12-frame system is like golf’s match play scoring, where players win frames instead of just adding up pins. A player can win a frame right away by knocking down more pins on the first roll, and the match can end early if one player is ahead by more frames than are left to play. This makes matches shorter and easier to follow for two players.

History

For a more comprehensive history of other forms of bowling that pre-date tenpin bowling, see Bowling § History.

Early history

An early newspaper ad from 1820 showed a "Ball and Ten Pin Alley" to attract customers to a bakery and confectionary business. An 1829 editorial described people who visited bowling alleys and taverns, noting that bowling sometimes had a negative image.

In 1838, tenpin bowling was created in Baltimore to get around a law that banned nine-pin bowling. An 1839 law also restricted gambling in bowling alleys. Modern tenpin bowling comes mainly from a German game called Kegelspiel, or kegeling, which used nine pins arranged in a diamond shape. This game was enjoyed by German peasants, unlike a more formal game called bowls that was popular with upper classes.

By the mid-1800s, new ideas were patented in the U.S. to improve pins and ball returns, trying to replace the need for people to reset pins. In 1884, Brunswick Corporation became the first American bowling ball maker, and in 1905 introduced a new type of ball that was displayed at a major exposition in 1934. In 1886, Joe Thum began opening bowling alleys and worked to improve the sport's image.

From 1920 to 1929, the number of bowling alleys grew a lot, partly because of laws that allowed family-friendly alleys. After these laws changed, breweries began sponsoring teams, which added to bowling's image. Though most alleys were small at first, they later became more modern and stylish.

1940s to early 1960s

Gottfried Schmidt invented the first automatic pinsetter in 1936, and it was shown publicly in 1946 before being used widely in 1952. Bowling became very popular in the U.S. during World War II, with employers sponsoring teams to boost morale. The government promoted bowling for its health benefits, and military bases often had bowling centers.

In the 1940s through the 1970s, bowling was known as a "golden age." Many people joined bowling organizations, and the number of lanes grew quickly. The Professional Bowlers Association was founded in 1958, and its first tournaments began in 1959.

Late 1960s to 1980

Tenpin bowling began to spread in Europe in the 1960s, with the first lanes in Sweden in 1909. Countries like the U.K., Australia, Mexico, and Japan started adopting the sport. In the U.K., bowling grew in the 1960s but later declined as other activities became more popular.

1980 to 2000

In the 1980s and 1990s, bowling faced competition from other sports and activities. League participation dropped, but the total number of bowlers increased. New technologies, like computer-driven lane cleaners and special bowling balls, helped improve the sport. By the 1990s, bowling centers began adding new attractions to draw more people.

2000 to present

From 1998 to 2013, the number of bowling centers in America fell, partly because fewer people joined leagues. Some big bowling companies faced financial difficulties. In the 2000s, efforts were made to make bowling more popular again, including new styles of bowling and team competitions. Despite challenges, bowling remains a popular activity in many countries, with many young people and families enjoying it.

Bowling organizations

Bowling is a sport where players roll a heavy ball down a lane to knock down ten pins. It needs skill and precision.

There are many organizations that help manage and grow the sport around the world. World Bowling is the main group that sets rules and works to make bowling an Olympic sport. In the United Kingdom, groups like the British Tenpin Bowling Association help people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy bowling. In the United States, the United States Bowling Congress supports bowlers with services and standards for the sport.

Tournaments

World Bowling organizes big tournaments every four years, and also holds special competitions for women, older players, and young bowlers.

The QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, which started in 1965, is one of the biggest bowling events with many countries taking part. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour holds many events each year in the United States, including important championships like the U.S. Open and the USBC Masters. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) organizes many tournaments for different groups, including youth and seniors. There are also tournaments in Europe and for countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. The Weber Cup is an exciting yearly event where teams from the U.S. and Europe compete.

Leagues

Further information: Bowling league

Bowling leagues are groups of people who meet regularly to bowl together. These leagues can be for different groups, like men, women, mixed teams, seniors, or youth. Teams usually have 3 to 5 bowlers and play several games in a row. Leagues have special rules for scoring and giving out awards.

The number of people joining these leagues in the U.S. was highest in 1980, with about 8 million bowlers. But by the early 2020s, this number had dropped to around 1 million.

Notable professional achievements

Titles and scores

Some amazing moments in tenpin bowling include the first perfect game shown live on TV by Jack Biondolillo in 1967, and the first woman to bowl a perfect game on TV, Ritsuko Nakayama, in 1970. Mark Roth won eight titles in one season in 1978, and Kelly Kulick became the first woman to win a PBA Tour event in 2010. Walter Ray Williams Jr. has the most PBA Tour titles with 47, and Jason Belmonte holds the record for the most PBA Tour major titles with 15.

Earnings and contracts

Don Carter was the first athlete in any sport to sign a $1,000,000 endorsement deal in 1964. Earl Anthony was the first to earn over US$100,000 in a single season in 1975, and Lisa Wagner was the first woman to do the same in 1988. Earl Anthony also became the first bowler to earn US$1 million in career earnings in 1982. Walter Ray Williams Jr. was the first to reach US$2 million and US$3 million in career earnings.

Youngest

Norm Duke was the youngest to win a PBA Tour title at age 18 in 1983. Kamron Doyle was the youngest to earn cash in a PBA Tour event at age 14 in 2012. Anthony Simonsen was the youngest to win a PBA Tour major at age 19 in 2016.

Oldest

John Handegard was the oldest to win a PBA Tour title at age 57 in 1995. Pete Weber was the oldest to win a PBA Tour major at age 50 in 2013.

Perfect (300) game history

Main article: Perfect game (bowling)

Ernest Fosberg bowled the first recognized perfect game in 1902. In 1908, two bowlers named A.C. Jellison and Homer Sanders both bowled perfect games in the same year.

Later, in 2006, a young bowler named Elliot John Crosby became the youngest in Britain to bowl a perfect game. Even younger, in 2013, Hannah Diem became the youngest in America to achieve this feat.

Jeremy Sonnenfeld rolled the first official 900 series in 1997. There was another claimed 900 series by Glenn Allison in 1982, but it wasn’t officially recognized because the lane conditions weren’t right.

"Score inflation" controversy

In recent years, many people have noticed that scores in tenpin bowling have been getting higher and higher. For example, the number of perfect games—where all ten pins are knocked down in two rolls—has grown a lot. Some worry that this makes the sport less fair because technology has changed the game more than the players' skills.

Studies have shown that new kinds of bowling balls and lane surfaces help bowlers get higher scores, even without trying harder. Because of these changes, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) decided to make new rules for the sport. These rules aim to keep the game balanced so that skill still matters, not just the latest equipment. They hope this will help make bowling fair and fun for everyone.

In media

Coverage of events

See also: Category:Bowling television series

Starting in 1962, ABC began showing a show called Pro Bowlers Tour on Saturday afternoons. This helped make bowling very popular. The show did well in the 1960s and early 1970s, but later, fewer people watched it. By 1997, the show stopped.

There are many reasons why fewer people watched bowling on TV. Life got busier, prizes for tournaments were small, and some people thought bowling was just a fun activity for parties, not a real sport. TV also started showing other sports more.

Portrayal on television

Some TV shows have featured bowling:

• 1950s: The Honeymooners (1952); Championship Bowling (1952).
• 1960s: Make That Spare; premiere episode of The Flintstones (1960-1966); Jackpot Bowling (1959-1961).
• 1970s: Celebrity Bowling (starting in 1971); All In the Family; Bowling for Dollars (until 1980); Laverne and Shirley (started in 1976); ESPN showed some bowling events in 1979.
• 1980s: The New Celebrity Bowling (starting in 1987); Married With Children; Grim Reaper AIDS awareness campaign_ (1987)
• 1990s: The Simpsons; The Drew Carey Show (annual contest); Nubeluz ("Los Palitroques Gigantes", one of the Peruvian show's games)
• 2000s: According to Jim; Let's Bowl! (on Comedy Central); Malcolm in the Middle.
• 2020s: How We Roll (2022)

In print

In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, a teacher named Albus Dumbledore enjoys ten-pin bowling.

Non-fiction films

• Strikes and Spares (1934) was almost awarded a special prize.
• Pin Gods (1996) follows young bowlers trying to become professionals.
• The PBS show Independent Lens made a film in 2006 called A League of Ordinary Gentlemen, which tells the stories of four bowlers at different points in their careers.

Fiction films

Further information: Category:Ten-pin bowling films

• In an old cartoon The Bowling Alley-Cat (1942), a cat and a mouse named Tom and Jerry play in a bowling place.
• In Dreamer (1979), a man wants to be a pro bowler.
• In Greedy (1994), a bowler has bad luck.
• The movie Kingpin (1996) is a funny story about bowling.
• In The Big Lebowski (1998), a man named "the Dude" (Jeff Bridges) hangs out at a bowling alley.
• In Alley Cats Strike (2000), students have a bowling competition.

Games

See also Bowling video games.

The first bowling video game came out in 1977 for a console called the RCA Studio II. Later, more games were made for other consoles. In 2006, Wii Sports added bowling, and now many mobile games let you bowl too. Some famous shows and groups have let their names be used in these games.