Bowling equipment specifications have remained basically the same for the last century:
THE BALL must be round, have a circumference of 27 inches and weigh no more than 16 pounds.
THE PIN is 15 inches high, 4 3/4" wide at the belly and weighs between 3 lbs. 6 oz. and 3 lbs. 10 oz.
THE LANE is 60 feet long and 42 inches wide. (Lanes must be level to within 40/10000's of an inch!)
The pins are set in the form of a triangle. The lead pin closest to the bowler is known as the headpin or No. 1 pin. The other pins are numbered from 2 through 10.
Bowling is popular because it is a terrific recreation for people from every walk of life. Bowling is also played in nearly 100 countries overseas. You can enjoy bowling if you are short or tall, thin or fat young or old, rich or poor. Most people start bowling in "open play", rolling a few games (or "lines") whenever lanes are available at their local center. To get the most enjoyment from the sport consider joining a league. The friendly counter people at your neighborhood center can tell you about various types of leagues. There's a league for every lifestyle.
Some leagues are run during the weekday, some at night, some on the weekend. Some leagues are all male, some are exclusively for women, some are co-ed. There are leagues for seniors, singles, shift workers and juniors. There are even special leagues for church groups, fraternal organizations and industrial groups. Whatever your schedule or way of life, there's a league for you!
If you're a beginner, don't be intimidated. You'll get lots of help from
the center staff and your teammates. And most leagues are "handicapped", which means new bowlers can compete equally.
