Ten-pin bowling

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Bowling ball and pins.jpg

Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player, called a bowler, attempts to knock down as many pins as possible by rolling a ball along a pathway called the "lane." The lane is bordered by gutters along both sides which serve to collect errant balls which would not knock down any pins. The bowler has ten frames in which to knock down pins, with each frame being composed of two rolls.

Since being brought to the United States from Europe, bowling has maintained popularity as its technology has improved. Both the United Kingdom and the United States, where the sport is more popular then anywhere else in the world, have national organizations that regulate bowling rules and conduct, and many of the sport's leading players participate in tournaments on both the national and international level. Both in the UK and USA it has fast become the two nation's leading pasttimes, having the highest participation rate in both countries. Many companies have also begun to make bowling balls and apparel for professionals as well as for recreational bowlers. Bowling has become more prevalent in the media in recent years, with the continued popularity of bowling publications and the appearance of films centered around the culture of the sport. However, it continues to face challenges in garnering mainstream coverage of the athletic aspects of the game.

History

Origins

Historians have discovered forms of bowling as early as 5200 BC in Egypt. This was discovered in 1930 by the British anthropologist Sir Flinders Petrie and his team of archaeologists, when they discovered all sorts of primitive bowling balls, bowling pins and other materials in the grave of an Egyptian boy. However, some argue that it originated later in Germany in 300 A.D. The first written reference to bowling was of King Edward III of England banning his troops from playing the game in the 14th century. It is believed that King Henry VIII bowled using cannon balls. In Germany the game of Kegal (Kegelspiel) expanded. The Kegal game grew in Germany and around other parts of Europe with Keglars rolling balls at nine pins, or "skittles". <ref name="HistoryofGBBowling">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="History of Bowling">Template:Cite web</ref>

Kegel is also today a leading company, along with AMF and Brunswick, that maintain bowling alley lanes, especially in many of the professional tournaments that take place worldwide.

Ninepin bowling was introduced to America from Europe during the colonial era, similar to this game of skittles. <ref name="Skittles">Template:Cite web</ref> It became very popular and was called "Bowl on the Green". The Dutch, English, and Germans all brought their own versions of the game to the new world, America, where it enjoyed continued popularity, although not without some controversy. In 1841 a law in Connecticut banned ninepin bowling lanes due to associated gambling and crime, and people were said to circumvent this by adding an extra pin, starting ten pin bowling. <ref name="Yahoo">Template:Cite web</ref>

Modern American ten-pin bowling is most closely related to the German game Kegelspiel. Germans were instrumental in the spread of the game's popularity as they formed their own bowling clubs both before and after the American Civil War. The first indoor alley was Knickerbockers of New York City, built in 1840. The Brunswick Corporation's addition of bowling equipment to their product line also served to increase the sport's popularity. The company replaced the older wooden bowling balls with the hard rubber Mineralite bowling ball in 1914 to much acclaim. <ref name="St. James">Template:Cite web</ref>

Organization and increased popularity

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Bowling was, and is, seen by many as the sport of the working classes. Accordingly, most bowling alleys at the turn of the century were small, private establishments, mainly frequented by men. This began to change as bowling became both increasingly regulated and prestigous. Today it is not only a unisex sport, but it is also enjoyed by families worldwide. In 1895 the American Bowling Congress was started in New York City. This was soon joined by similar organizations geared toward female bowlers. These groups began creating the standard rules for bowling that have survived to the modern day. At the same time, the sport's image among the upper classes was enhanced by the opening of more luxurious and elegant lanes like The White Elephant, opened by restaurateur Joe Thum, whom many consider to be the father of bowling, along with Dick Weber. Thum created the first bowling organization in the United States on September 9, 1895, when he pulled together representatives of various regional bowling clubs and formed the American Bowling Congress (ABC). This spurred greater interest in the game, with the number of officially sanctioned lanes rising from 450 in 1920 to 2,000 in 1929.<ref name="St. James"/>

1940 to 1960

The period from 1940 to 1960 is known as the golden age of bowling due to the sport's great popularity and advances in its play. Indeed, by 1945, bowling was a billion dollar industry. Promotion by the U.S. Armed Forces and its image as a sport for the common man made bowling an enticing choice of activity for Americans. For this reason, racial integration was perhaps inevitable. The American Bowling Congress had been a whites-only organization throughout its existence, but lobbying by numerous labor organizations and individuals after the war quickly led to a reversal of this policy. <ref name="Integration">Template:Cite web</ref>

This era also saw a great increase in bowling technology. Pins had previously been set by "pin boys", but with the invention of the semi automatic pinsetter, this process was made much easier. This was invented in 1936. In 1946 AMF Bowling launched the first commercial fully automatic pinspotter to replace the earlier Brunswick semi automatic and fully manual bowling establishments. The television age of the 1950s also helped to increase the popularity of ten pin bowling, as the sport began to enter the homes of millions across the country. Eddie Elias founded the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958, and its Pro Bowlers Tour became a permanent part of ABC's sports lineup. <ref name="History of Bowling"/>

1960 to the present

In the United Kingdom, ten-pin bowling was introduced in 1960. This introduction came with the grand opening of the Stamford Hill and Golders Green bowling alleys in London. Tenpin bowling took the UK by storm with alleys opening up one after the other. At its peak there were over one hundred and sixty bowling alleys in the UK, but a lack of re-investment and waning interest left this fad in a sorry state. Ten-pin bowling alleys were left to deteriorate and the image of the average bowling alley around this time was less than welcoming. In the 1970's a major chain operator pulled out of bowling and converted many of the luxurious alleys into Bingo halls. The industry nearly collapsed with two thirds of the alleys that had opened closing over the next few years.

Until the mid 1980's there was little, if any, new investment in the sport with the decline in interest being attributed to the complex scoring system, especially as it was a manual process then. However, this all changed with the introduction of computers and automated electronic scoring systems. This meant that the general public only had to enter their names into the computers and everything else was done automatically. This changed the face of bowling in the UK and was largely responsible for the new found interest in the sport.

AMF carried this revitalization of the sport by embarking on a major refurbishment programme. This re-investment led to the construction of many bright, modern and attractive sites and began the second golden age of bowling. During the late 1980's and early 1990's the number of ten-pin bowling alleys accross the country rose to over two hundred. This was higher than it had ever been in the sixties, then the peak of the sport's popularity.

Today, over 100 million bowlers play in over 90 different countries. There is an active movement to make bowling an Olympic sport, especially by the Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs, the world governing organization for nine and ten-pin bowling. The best players regularly play in televised tournaments, and new bowlers continue to delight in learning the game. <ref name="History of Bowling"/>. In addition, modern bowling alleys have changed greatly. As people have become exposed to a wider range of entertainment options, the trend has shifted to building large entertainment centers that allow people to enjoy many different activities. These developments often include multi-screen cinemas, restaurants and night clubs. This has had a great inpact on the image of the sport among families. <ref name="HistoryofGBBowling"/>

Play

Image:ShropshireBowling Alley2.jpg A game of ten-pin bowling is divided into ten rounds (called "frames"). In a frame, each player is given two opportunities to knock down the skittle targets (called "pins"). He or she rolls the first ball at the pins. If the first ball knocks down all ten pins, it is called a "strike" and the frame is completed. When pins are left standing after the first ball, those that are knocked down are counted and then removed. Then the player rolls a second ball and if the remaining pins are knocked down, it is called a "spare." There are bonuses for removing all the pins. If there is more than one player scheduled on a lane, play passes to the next player until all players have completed the frame. Then play continues with the next frame. The final or tenth frame of a game, may involve three balls. See Scoring below.

The ten pins are usually automatically set by machine into four rows which form an equilateral triangle where there are four pins on a side. There are four pins in the back row, then three, then two, and finally one in the front at the center of the lane. The pins are numbered one through ten, starting with one in front, and ending with ten in the back to the right. This serves to ease communication; one could say that the 4 and 7 pins were left standing. Neighboring pins are set up 12 inches apart, measured from center to center. Due to the spacing of the pins and the size of the ball (about 8.6 inches in diameter), it is impossible for the ball to contact every pin. Therefore, a tactical shot is required, which would result in a chain reaction of pin hitting pin. In an ideal shot, for a right-hander, the ball will contact only the 1, 3, 5 and 9 pins. (For a left-hander, the 1, 2, 5 and 8 pins).

In order to count, a pin must be knocked over entirely. In unlucky circumstances, a pin may wobble furiously, yet come to rest upright, thus not being scored. Alternatively, the pin may wobble furiously and the automatic pin machine picks up the pin as it wobbles. Again, it is not scored.

Image:Airforce bowling chief martin.jpg There are generally two primary styles of rolling the ball down the lane. Most newer players play by rolling the ball straight, hopefully into the 1-3 pocket for right-handed bowlers or the 1-2 pocket for left-handed bowlers. More experienced bowlers usually roll a hook, which means that they make the ball start out straight and then curve towards the pocket. To produce a hook the player needs to let go of the ball with his thumb first, then the middle and ring finger release almost simultaneously. This gives the bowling ball its spin needed for the hook. If the player is right-handed, an ideal position of the thumb after letting go of the ball is "10 o'clock", meaning that the thumb has gone from 12 to 10, as looking at a clock. The corresponding position for left-handed players is 2 o'clock. Of course there are innumerable variations in style and technique and the position of the thumb can vary from person to person. Lab research has shown that the ideal shot will enter the pocket at an angle of 6 degrees with respect to the lane boards, which means that a straight ball should be thrown from the side of the lane, near the gutter.

The conventional bowling styles use either a four or five step approach beginning 8 to 16 feet behind the foul line. Some extremely young or physically challenged players may use both hands to swing the ball forward from in between their legs. This kind of style has the bowler start close to the foul line, and is called "Granny style".

There are systematic ways of using the lane arrow marks and approach dots to make it easier to hit the pocket to get strikes, and for making spares. Focusing on these targeting guides helps eliminate fear of the gutters.

Rules and regulations

Image:Bowling alley.jpg The regulations listed here are generally based around regulations set by the United States Bowling Congress <ref name="USBC">Template:Cite web</ref> and the British Tenpin Bowling Association <ref name="BTBA">Template:Cite web</ref> . These rules are followed by all sanctioned leagues and events, such as tournaments.

This information is clarified by the World Tenpin Bowling Association in it's 'Statutes & Playing Rules' <ref name="Rules&Regulations">Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing area

The sport of ten-pin bowling is performed on a straight, narrow surface known as a lane. This bowling lane is 60 feet (18.28 metres) from the foul line to the head pin (1-pin). About fifteen feet (4.57 metres) from the foul line are a set of guide arrows. The lane is 3.5 feet (1.07 m) wide and normally consists of 39 wooden boards or a synthetic material. The bowling lane has two sets of approach dots; from the foul line back to the first set of approach dots is about 12 feet (3.65 metres) and to the second set of approach dots is about 15 feet (4.57 m) (an additional 3 feet/0.91 m).

Equipment

Pins

USBC rules specify that a pin must be 15 inches (38.1 cm) tall and about 4.7 inches (11.4 cm) wide at the "belly" of the pin, where a rolling ball would make contact. There are additional measurements which delineate the shape. The weight of a single pin must be at least 3 pounds, 4 ounces (1.47 kg) and no more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces (1.64 kg). Within a set of ten pins, the individual weights may vary by no more than 4 ounces (113.4 g), if made from wood or plastic cloated, or just 2 ounces (56.7 g) if synthetic. The top of the pin shall have a uniform arc with a radius of 1.273 inches, plus/minus 1/32 inch (31.5 – 33 mm).

The pins must show the name and mark of the maker, either "USBC Approved", "WIBC Approved", or "BTBA Approved" and appear uniform.

Image:Tenpins.correct.png

Bowling ball

For competition bowling, a ball must be made of a completely solid material and its weight must be distributed evenly. The circumference of the ball must not be more than 2.25 feet (0.686 m), and the ball cannot weigh more than 16 pounds (7.26 kg). The ball must have a smooth surface over its entire circumference except for holes or indentations used for gripping the ball, identification letters and numbers, and general wear from normal use.

Rules of play

A game of bowling consists of ten frames. In each frame, the bowler will have two chances to knock down as many pins as possible with their bowling ball. In games with more than one bowler, as is common, every bowler will take their frame in a predetermined order before the next frame begins. If a bowler is able to knock down all ten pins with their first ball, he or she is awarded a strike. If the bowler is able to knock down all 10 pins with the two balls of a frame, it is known as a spare. Bonus points are awarded for both of these, depending on what you score in the next 2 balls (for a strike) or 1 ball (for a spare). This allows for a potential of 12 strikes in a single game, and a maximum score of 300 points.

The recent wave of high scoring in the USA including more than 7 sanctioned perfect 900 series (300+300+300) in the last 10 years has led to a motion being put forward at the 2006 USBC convention (to be held during April in Florida) to increase the number of frames to 12 resulting in a perfect game in the future consisting of 14 strikes for a score of 360. However it is not felt that this motion will get the support needed due to the opposition of the computer scoring manufacturers who wouldn't be able to fit all 14 strikes on the screen.

Scoring

In general, one point is scored for each pin that is knocked over. So if a player bowls over three pins with the first shot, then six with the second, the player would receive a total of nine points for that frame. If a player knocks down 9 pins with the first shot, but misses with the second, the player would also score nine. When a player fails to knock down all ten pins after their second ball it is known as an open frame.

In the event that all ten pins are knocked over by a player in a single frame, bonuses are awarded.

Strike: When all ten pins are knocked down with the first ball (called a strike), a player is awarded ten points, plus a bonus of whatever is scored with the next two balls. In this way, the points scored for the two balls after the strike are counted twice.

Example:

Frame 1, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)

Frame 2, ball 1: 3 pins

Frame 2, ball 2: 6 pins

The total score from these throws is: 10 + (3+6) + 3 + 6 = 28

Two consecutive strikes are referred to as a "double." Three strikes bowled consecutively are known as a "turkey." Any longer string of strikes is referred to by a number affixed to the word "bagger," as in "four-bagger" or "five-bagger" for four or five consecutive strikes, respectively. <ref name="Bowling Lingo">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="Tenpin Glossary">Template:Cite web</ref>

A player who scores multiple strikes in succession would score like so:

Frame 1, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)

Frame 2, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)

Frame 3, ball 1: 4 pins

Frame 3, ball 2: 2 pins

The score from these throws is:

Frame one... 10 + (10 + 4)= 24
Frame two... 10 + (4 + 2) = 16
Frame three... 4 + 2 = 6

TOTAL = 46

The most points that can be scored in a single frame is 30 points (10 for the original strike, plus strikes in the two subsequent frames).

A player who bowls a strike in the tenth (final) frame is awarded two extra balls so as to allow the awarding of bonus points. If both these balls also result in strikes, a total of 30 points (10 + 10 + 10) is awarded for the frame. These bonus points do not count on their own, however. They only count as the bonus for the strike.

Spare: A "spare" is awarded when no pins are left standing after the second ball of a frame; i.e., a player uses both balls of a frame to clear all ten pins. A player achieving a spare is awarded ten points, plus a bonus of whatever is scored with the next ball (only the first ball is counted).

Example:

Frame 1, ball 1: 7 pins

Frame 1, ball 2: 3 pins (spare)

Frame 2, ball 1: 4 pins

Frame 2, ball 2: 2 pins

The total score from these throws is: 7 + 3 + 4(bonus) + 4 + 2 = 20

A player who bowls a spare in the tenth (final) frame is awarded one extra ball to allow for the bonus points.

Correctly calculating bonus points can be difficult, especially when combinations of strikes and spares come in successive frames. In modern times, however, this has been overcome with automated scoring systems, linked to the machines that set and clear the pins between frames. A computer automatically counts pins that remain standing, and fills in a virtual score sheet (usually displayed on monitors above each lane). However, even the automated system is not fool-proof, as the computer can miscount the number of pins that remain standing.

The maximum score in a game of ten-pin is 300. The maximum 3 game series score is 900, which has only been achieved a handful of times in bowling history. The odds of bowling a perfect game and/or series depend on the condition of the lanes and the skill of the bowler. It is not something that is easily accomplished.

World tournaments

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Major world tournaments

The "Weber Cup" is the Ten-pin Bowling equivalent of Golf's Ryder Cup. The Weber Cup is the world famous major world tournament of Team Europe vs. Team USA bowling championships that happens annually. Other major world-famous bowling tournaments include the World Tenpin Masters and the Qubica/AMF World Cup.

All of the three world major bowling tours above are televised on Sky Sports by Matchroom Sport who have established a tried and tested formula to highlight televised bowling at its best. All three events are also presented by broadcaster and journalists, Nick Halling and Cass Edwards.

There is also the infuential European Tenpin Bowling Federation, which has the prestigious European Bowling Tour - and under that the PTBC Storm English Open.

Image:Worldtenpinmasters2005.gif Among the leading world tournaments is the the Professional Bowlers Association PBA Tour. This tour has four major championship events: the PBA U.S. Open, USBC Masters (known as the ABC Masters prior to 2005), the PBA Tournament of Champions and the PBA World Championship. Although PBA headquarters are based in the USA, the PBA has members from all over the world whom also compete in all of it's events. The PBA tour is televised in America and certain parts of the world by ESPN and ABC.

The USBC (United States Bowling Congress) has two major championship events: the USBC Open Championships and the Women's Championships and the USBC Masters (known as the ABC Masters prior to 2005).

There is also the Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships.

World Ranking Masters

Ten-pin bowling has an international ranking system, as with professional Tennis. This ten-pin equivalent is known as the World Ranking Masters and is made of three vast tours: the European, Americas and Asian bowling tours.

Minor world tournaments

Other minor tournaments, although major in their respective countries, include Britain's prestigious BTBA Nationals (BTBA National Championships), the Brunswick Ballmaster Open, Luxembourg Open, ETBF European Youth Championships and the European Gold Cup. Also as a large event is the World Championships (Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs) which is held once every four years. Some of these minor events fall under the World Tournaments of the WTBA.

Governing bodies

In ten-pin bowling there are two major world players who govern the sport and have predominant influence over its rules. These two central bodies are based in the United Kingdom and the United States, but their influence and ascendent ruling are highly respected globally and are projected world-wide. Additionally, there is the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) who govern the sport of tenpin bowling throughout the world of which is divided in three zones; the American Zone, Asian Zone and European Zone.

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United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, ten-pin bowling is sanctioned and governed by the BTBA (British Tenpin Bowling Association). The BTBA is devoted to the interest of the game itself and is a credit to bowling throughout the world and like the US equivalent it ensures the integrity and protection of the future of the sport, providing programs and services and enhancing the bowling experience. The NAYBC (National Association of Youth Bowling Clubs) is responsible to the BTBA for organising ten-pin bowling for the under 18 year olds. There is also the Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association (TBPA), the trade association for ten-pin bowling of Britain. For instructors and coaches there are the British Tenpin Bowling Instructors Federation (BTBIF) which is the organization that regulates instructors and coaches in the UK and the British Tenpin Bowling Coaching Association. In addition, affiliated to the BTBA is the Young Adults Club (YAC). <ref name="YAC">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="BTBCA">Template:Cite web</ref> There is also the prestigious Premier Tenpin Bowling Club, under the BTBA, which is the UK equivelent of the PBA.

United States

In the United States of America there is the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) which was formerly known as the Amercian Bowling Congress (ABC). It is the national governing body, ensuring the integrity and protecting the future of the sport, providing programs and services and enhancing the bowling experience.

UK / US Leading associations

In the UK the major ten-pin bowling association is the Premier Tenpin Bowling Club (PTBC), which has its own professional tour, and membership is subject to being a member of the BTBA. The US equivalent of this is the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), which also has its own tours.

Drug Testing Authorities

In the United Kingdom, UK Sport, the official sports body that governs drugs testing on ten-pin bowlers and other athelites in the UK on a regular basis and is conducted by a Doping Control Officer (DCO), is Britain's 'National Anti-Doping Organisation' (NADO). It is a subsection of the internationally recognised and authoritive World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA is recognised by the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games of which ten-pin bowling plays a part. <ref name="Drug">Template:Cite web</ref>

Controversy

In December at the Premier Tenpin Bowling Club Tour (PTBC), hosted by Airport Bowl, the year 2005 saw the first ever known ten-pin bowlers worldwide, two of Britain's BTBA Nationals Team England, banned for the reason of testing positive for the chemical produced from the consumption of cocaine. UK Sport was responsible for the testing and reported their findings to the BTBA governing body. The individuals were subsequently banned for two years, which is standard WADA recommendation. They are due to be re-instated into the official bowling tournament community in early 2008 but this will be subject to WADA and BTBA review. This story was first reported on in Go Tenpin magazine. <ref name="Banned">Template:Cite web</ref>

Brands

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Today there are an exceptional number of major sports-related and non sports-related companies that focus specifically on designing, producing and or supporting the production of many items specifically designed for Ten-pin Bowling equipment. Such items include balls, bags, cleaning products, wrist supports, shirts, shoes, trousers, shorts and gloves, etc. Some of the major world famous equipment producers and supporters include AMF, Brunswick, Columbia/300, Dacos, Dexter and Linds, Ebonite, Faball, and Storm.

Other manufacturers and suppliers include Lane#1, Roto-Grip, Hammer Company|Hammer, Circle Athletic, Dyno-Thane, Fun Balls, Legends, MoRich, and Robby. Specially designed shoe design and manufacture is also a significant enterprise that many companies have gotten involved in next to ball production. Some of the major shoe designers are Circle, Dexter, Etonic and Linds.

In the USA, Bowling equipment sales totaled 215 million US dollars in 1997 which is around the same figure as in 1996 when the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) released their reports. <ref name="Throw">Template:Cite web</ref> In Britain 'Mintel International Group Ltd' produced a 'Market Research Report' in July of 2004 which gave the UK's Tenpin bowling sales and market by sector from 1999-2003 and also the type of customer. <ref name="Report">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ten-pin bowling in media

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Ten-pin bowling in print

Ten-pin bowling is once again becoming a majorly-contending athletic sport that is becoming more and more visible. It now far outweighs its 1970s high-point and subsequent 1980-1990s downfall. The sport has become much more popular, with television regularly broadcasting its major tournaments and written publications such as magazines becoming increasingly popular around the globe.

The British Tenpin Bowling Association (BTBA) produces the magazine 'Go Tenpin' - Britain's Premier ten-pin bowling magazine. However, it is not specific to the United Kingdom and is highly respected around the globe in Ten-pin bowling circles.

Other widely acclaimed ten-pin magazines and news services are the international and world renown Bowling Digital, the international Bowlers Journal Online and the International Bowling Industry. Specific American magazines of note are the Bowling This Month magazine and the Bowling Digest.

Additionally, other than books written by bowling instructors on the coaching and training of the sport, books on the humorous and historical side of ten-pin bowling have become extremily popular. Some of these include A Funnier Approach, The Funniest Approach, Let's Go Bowling!, Bowled Over, The New Bowling Trivia Book, Two For Stew and The Tour Would Be Great.

Ten-pin bowling on film

Image:LOOG2.jpg Ten-pin bowling is once again becoming a major athletic sport, and interest has once again risen to levels last seen in the 1970's. Independent companies continue to sponsor the sport, and televised broadcasts of the sport by such companies as Matchroom Sport are increasing bowling's visibility on the international stage. <ref name="TV">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sporting documentaries such as the widely acclaimed A League of Ordinary Gentlemen, comedic movie sketches such as Life in the Bowling Lane!, and major Hollywood productions like Dreamer, The Big Lebowski, and Kingpin have all become popular in recent years.

Major ten-pin Bowling coaching/training DVDs have also been released world-wide under great demand. Some notable examples are those produced by world renowned bowling coaches Fred Borden and Ken Yokobosky known as Bowling Fun And Fundamentals For Boys And Girls, Essential Keys To Better Bowling, Advanced Bowling Techniques, Tips And Tactics and Walter Ray Williams Jr's Secrets to Better Bowling.

Mainstream media portrayal

While the prevalence of bowling media has greatly increased in recent years, many mainstream media outlets continue to lack adequate coverage of the sport. Reasons for this discrepancy may include bowling's blue collar demographic, its lack of corporate sponsorship, and the lack of any one bowling star to follow. <ref name="Hate">Template:Cite web</ref>

It has also been suggested that the perpetuation of negative stereotypes about bowling pushes away the elite members of the journalism community. This includes the bowling atmosphere, as well as the personality and physical condition of the average bowler. These ideas may stem from the notion of bowling as only being a recreational activity. Professional bowlers have disputed this idea by offering demonstrations of the complex technique required to bowl successfully. <ref name="Hurdle">Template:Cite web</ref>

Trivia

More men and women worldwide play bowling than any other sport, with the possible exception of football (USA soccer). Bowling has far more registered dues-paying participants than any other sport. The bowling industry spends significantly more money each year than any other sport on airlines, restaurants, hotels and rental cars. <ref name="AMF Tenpin Bowling Facts">Template:Cite web</ref> Earl Anthony, who bowled left-handed, became the first bowler to earn more than $100,000 in a single season when he finished the 1975 PBA Tour schedule with $107,585. He broke the $1 million mark in career earnings in 1982. He passed away in August, 2001.

In Britain, the youngest ever bowler to achieve a 300 point game (12 consecutive Strikes), known as a 300 shooter, in a sanctioned competition is 12 year, 2 months and 10 days old Elliot John Crosby, at AMF Purley in South London, England in the Surrey Country trials on January 7th 2006. <ref name="Bowler's Club">Template:Cite web</ref> Crosby beat the previous British 300 shooter record holder Rhys Parfitt by more than a year. Parfitt was 13 years, 4 months when he achieved a 300 point game at the London international tenpin bowling tournament in 1994. In the United States, the youngest ever bowler to achieve this in a sanctioned competition is Japanese 10 year, 3 months and 16 day old Michael Tang. He achieved this competing in the Daly City All Stars Scratch Trios League at the Sea Bowl in Pacifica, California on March 11th 2006. Tang was 3 months younger than the previous record-holder, Josey LaRocco of Louisville, Kentucky, who scored his 300 game on February 14th, 1998. <ref name="USA 300">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Professional Bowlers Tour on ABC was the second-longest live sports series on network television, behind only college football. ABC had been broadcasting PBA tournament finals since 1962. Events can now be seen on ESPN. Norm Duke is the youngest person to win a PBA Tour tournament. He won the 1983 Cleveland Open at age 18. The youngest person to bowl a PBA event is 15-year-old Jack Perry of Ontario, Canada, who rolled in the 2004 PBA World Championship. On Feb. 2, 1997, University of South Dakota sophomore Jeremy Sonnenfeld became the first person ever to roll three perfect games of 300 in a three-game series (as approved by the American Bowling Congress). The International Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri, includes separate wings for honorees of the American Bowling Congress (ABC), Professional Bowlers' Association (PBA), and Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC). The museum does not include the new Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour Hall of Fame, which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

See also

World leading bowlers

Living

Paul Moor - (England, UK)
Stuart Williams - (England, UK)
Kirsten Penny - (England, UK)
Zara Glover - (England, UK)
Dominic Barrett - (England,UK)
Nikki Harvey - (England, UK)
Lasse Lintila - (Finland)
Tomas Leandersson - (Sweden)
Jens Nickel - (Germany)
Britt Brøndsted - (Denmark)
Tore Torgersen - (Norway)
Wim van der Veen - (Holland)
Pete Weber - (Missouri, USA)
Tim Mack - (New Jersey, USA)
Bill Hoffman - (Ohio, USA)
Mike Mullin - (New York, USA)
Tony Manna Jnr - (Nebraska, USA)
David Haynes - (Nevada, USA)
Chris Barnes - (USA)
Linda Barnes - (USA)
Wayne Webb - (USA)
Walter Ray Williams Jr. - (USA)
Michael Schmidt - (Canada)
Jason Belmonte - (Australia)
Guy Caminsky - (South Africa)

Deceased

Dick Weber - (USA)
Earl Anthony - (USA)

Famous Bowling Quotes

"Americans don't spend as much time as they used to together, either in Bowling Leagues or other common activities. This must change." - Bill Clinton <ref name="Quote">Template:Cite web</ref>

"Bowling's a blast. I mean it's the ultimate family entertainment. You can talk about having bowled together and that's about as apple pie as you can get." - Mark Cuban, former techie and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. <ref name="Quote">Template:Cite web</ref>

"...you don’t realize how important bowling is in America… Bowling is big in America. More Americans bowled last year than voted… And bowling is up, up by 10 percent over this last decade or so…" - Robert D. Putna, Clarence Dillon Professor & Directoc Center for

Harvard University <ref name="Quote1">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="Quote">Template:Cite web</ref>

"Big bellied, beer-drinking, smoking idiots. I mean, that's what the whole bowling world looked like." - Pete Weber. <ref name="Quote">Template:Cite web</ref>

Reference

<references />

External links

UK

British Tenpin Bowling Association Homepage - official BTBA website
Tenpin Tour UK - A comprehensive listing of Tenpin Bowling Tournaments in the UK
[Yorkshire BTBA - official website
Lancashire BTBA - official website
National Association of Youth Bowling Clubs (UK)
British Tenpin Bowling Coaching Association
Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association, Trade Association for Ten-pin bowling of Britain & Go Tenpin magazine website

USA

Leading Ten-pin Bowling Magazines, Forums & News sites

BowlingDigital - The Worlds No. 1 Ten-pin Bowling News site as advertised in Go Tenpin - The Best Bowling Magazine Online.
'Go Ten-pin' - Britain's Premier Ten-pin Bowling Magazine by the BTBA - The Worlds Best Bowling Magazine In Print & Online.
Yorkshire Area Association Forum
Bowlers Journal Online Second to the Best Bowling Magazine In Print & Online
Bowlers Journal Forum
Bowling This Month magazine
Australia's Leading bowling forum
The World of Tenpins - Bowling Columns in USA Today by Tom Clark

Other

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Categories: Articles with sections needing expansion | Bowling | Precision sports

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