Bowling is a sport in which players attempt to score points by rolling a bowling ball along a flat surface in order to knock down objects called pins.

What is bowling ?

There are many forms of bowling, with the earliest dating back to ancient Egypt; it is now known that the Egyptians had invented bowling. Origins can also be traced to ancient Finland and Yemen, and much later in 300 A.D. in Germany. In the US the best known form of bowling is probably the North American game of ten-pin bowling. This form, in both amateur and professional versions, is played around the world, making it one of the largest participation activities.

Indoor variations

Included in the indoor category:

• Ten-pin bowling, which evolved from ninepin bowling in the 19th century. A regulation pin for this type is 15 inches (38 cm) in height and about 4¾ inches (12 cm) in diameter at its widest part; it may not weigh more than 3 pounds 10 oz (1.7 kg). The standard ball has a maximum diameter of about 8½ inches (22 cm), a circumference of 27 inches (69 cm), and a weight of no more than 16 pounds (7.3 kg). Each has two or more drilled holes in which to insert fingers for gripping the ball.
• Candlepin bowling, played in eastern Canada and New England, is a variation of ten-pin bowling, with "double-ended" pins that are the tallest in any bowling sport.
• Duckpin bowling, commonly found in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England United States and eastern Canada, is a variation of ten-pin bowling involving small, squat pins, sometimes with rubber at their widest points (rubber band duckpin bowling). The official small pin is about 9 3/8 inches (24 cm) high and 4 1/8 inches (10 cm) in diameter at its widest part. It weighs no more than 1 pound 8½ ounces (0.7 kg). The standard small-pin ball has no finger holes. The maximum diameter is 5 inches (13 cm). For duckpins and candlepins, the maximum weight is 4 pounds 12 oz (1.7 kg).
• Five-pin bowling, played in Canada.
• Nine-pin skittles, played in Europe.

Outdoor variations

The second category of bowling is usually played outdoors on a lawn. Here the players throw a ball, which is sometimes eccentrically weighted, in an attempt to put it closest to a designated point.

Included in the outdoor category:

• Lawn bowls
• Bocce
• Pétanque

Related Links

• The Professional Bowlers Association - http://www.pba.com/
• Bowling Ball and Bowling Lane Equipment and Accessories