Bowling Honor

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Give an oral or written report on the history of bowling.

   Answer: Origin around 5000 BC (pieces found in Egyptian tombs). Medieval in Germany (Kegel, 9 pins). The Dutch took it to the USA in the 17th century. In 1841 it was banned in Connecticut due to gambling — it came back with a 10th pin. AMF (1946) automated it. — Sir Flinders Petrie found stone balls and pins in an Egyptian tomb from 3,200 BC. Martin Luther recommended 9 pins in German sermons of the 16th century. The ABC (American Bowling Congress, 1895) standardized the rules. The PBA Tour is the largest professional league. Brunswick and AMF are historic manufacturers.

2. What is the diameter of the ball and its minimum and maximum weight?

   Answer: Standard diameter: 21.8 cm (8.595 inches, with a maximum allowed of 8.6"). Weight: no minimum (children's balls are usually 2.7 kg = 6 lb), with a maximum of 16 pounds (7.26 kg). Adult professional range: 14-16 lb. The balls have 3 holes (thumb and 2 middle fingers). — The USBC (United States Bowling Congress) standardizes a diameter of 8.500-8.595 inches. 16 lb is the absolute maximum due to the physics of the impact (above that the risk of injury increases). Professional balls use a urethane or reactive resin shell. An offset center of mass (weighted core) creates a controlled curve.

3. Demonstrate the correct way to hold the ball.

   Answer: The 'fingertip' grip (only up to the first knuckle) generates more rotation and is used by professionals. The 'conventional' grip (up to the second knuckle) is safer for beginners. The ball is very heavy; a misaligned wrist causes chronic injury. Typical approach: 4 or 5 steps before the throw. The foot opposite the throwing arm goes in front.

4. What is the size of the pins and what is the distance between them?

   Answer: Pin: 38.1 cm tall, base with a 5.1 cm diameter, widest point 12.1 cm, weight 1.4 to 1.6 kg. Distance between centers: 30.5 cm, forming an equilateral triangle with 10 pins in 4 rows (1, 2, 3, 4 pins from the apex to the base of the triangle). — The USBC standardizes pins made of maple (the densest wood) or synthetic with a protective plastic shell. An isosceles triangle with the vertex pointing toward the player. A 'strike' knocks down all 10. The 30.5 cm spacing ensures that the ball passes between pins without knocking them all down automatically — it requires technique and the correct angle.

5. Describe the bowling lane. Be sure to mention the size, the material used in its construction, and why and how the lane must be lubricated daily.

   Answer: Lane: 18.3 m × 1.07 m, made of maple+pine or synthetic. Lubricated with polyurethane oil to protect the wood and modify the friction. Applied by machine (Lane Master) in a predefined pattern in the morning. — The oil pattern influences the game: the 'Sport Pattern' has a uniform distribution; the 'House Pattern' concentrates oil in the center, favoring the curve. Distance from the foul line to the pins = 18.3 m (60 feet). The gutter is 23.5 cm wide. Cleaning with Lane Cleaner before the new application.

6. Make a diagram of the bowling lane.

   Answer: The arrows are about 4.5 m from the foul line — a reference for aiming. The dots near the line indicate where to step before the throw. Pins are numbered from 1 (head) to 10 (back right). Pins 7 and 10 are the hardest (the far corners). Standard USBC international diagram.

7. Explain why special shoes are necessary for bowling.

   Answer: Bowling shoes have a mixed sole: smooth on the sliding foot to glide and rubberized on the supporting foot to stop firmly. Street shoes lock or scratch the lane; a wrong slide causes a fall and damages the lubricated wood. — Bowling shoes cost R$200-800 (Dexter and Linds are professional brands). A bowling alley rents shoes for R$5-10 with sanitizing spray. Standard: sole #6 (slow) to #10 (high slide) by level. Most venues require your own shoes — street shoes are banned, with a fine.

8. Briefly explain how each game is played.

   Answer: A game has 10 frames (rounds). In each frame the player has 2 throws to knock down 10 pins. A strike (all on the 1st) or a spare (all in 2 throws) earn a bonus. In the 10th frame, if you make a strike/spare, you get 1 or 2 extra throws. The player with the most points at the end wins. — Each frame takes about 30 seconds per player. An individual game lasts about 10 min; in pairs about 20 min. Terms: 'turkey' = 3 strikes in a row; 'open frame' = did not knock down all pins in 2 throws. A professional league plays 3-6 games per session. Brunswick's AS-90 software automates the scoreboard and the throw sequence.

9. Explain the scoring system. What is the maximum score?

   Answer: Each pin is worth 1 point. Strike: 10 + the next 2 throws. Spare: 10 + the next throw. Normal frame: the sum of the pins in 2 throws. Maximum score: 300 points (12 strikes in a row = a perfect game). — 300 = 'perfect game'. World records (Glenn Allison 900 = 3 perfect games in a row). A strike in the 10th frame gives 2 extra throws (which add to that frame). Notation: X = strike, / = spare, - = none, F = foul. The PBA Tour considers only the accumulated score over 6-7 games.

10. Define the following terms:
    • Strike
    • Spare
    • Approach
    • Grip
    • Lane reading
    • Gutters
    • 1001
    • 2002
    • Back up
    • Baby split
    • Blind
    • Dead ball
    • Golden brooch
    • Face off
    • Frame
    • Fry or drill
    • Five bagger (or "quina-ligue")

    Answer: 1) Strike: knocking down all 10 pins on the first throw of the frame. 2) Spare: knocking down all 10 pins using both throws of the frame. 3) Approach: the approach area before the foul line, where the player takes the steps and releases the ball. 4) Grip: the way the player holds the ball, placing the fingers in the holes. 5) Lane reading: assessing the lane conditions (oil, friction, curvature) to choose the best line and force for the throw. 6) Gutters: the channels or troughs along the sides of the lane; if the ball falls into them, it knocks down no pins. 7) 1001: a thrown ball that goes into the gutter on the first throw, knocking down no pins. 8) 2002: a thrown ball that goes into the gutter on the second throw of the frame as well. 9) Back up: a ball that spins the opposite way from normal (it curves toward the throwing-hand side instead of the opposite side). 10) Baby split: an easy leave of nearby pins, such as the 5 and 7 or the 5 and 10. 11) Blind: the score given to an absent player, usually calculated from the average minus a penalty. 12) Dead ball: a ball thrown without spin or effect, which reaches the pins weakly and does not spread them well. 13) Golden pin (broche de ouro): a throw considered perfect, which knocks down all the pins with ideal action. 14) Facing up: positioning yourself and aiming straight at the pins before starting the throw. 15) Frame: each of the 10 rounds that make up a bowling game. 16) Missing (fritar/furar): missing the throw, leaving pins standing when a strike was expected. 17) Five bagger: a sequence of five consecutive strikes. — 1001 = 100 points in a game; 2002 = 200 points; '300' is the maximum (a perfect game). Back up = a ball that curves against the dominant hand (uncommon). Facing up = positioning yourself. Missing = missing everything. Blind = the player's absence (receives a reduced base score). The terms come from the AMF league in the USA, translated.

11. Take part in at least 3 bowling games, scoring at least 150 points in each.

    Answer: The average beginner stays between 80-120; 150 is already a good recreational level. The average professional is 200+. To reach a consistent 150: 30-40h of practice. Careful: a straight throw (down the center) rarely knocks down all the pins — the angle of arrow 2 or 3 (a side entry) is more efficient. The gutters zero out the throw.