About Bowling

All around the world, Bowling as a sport has been represented for several decades and is very popular in Canada, USA, South America, Asia and Western Europe. During 1998, it experienced real expansion in Russia, and then expanded to the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia... In Serbia, the first bowling centres opened at the beginning of 2007. The World Bowling Federation (WTBA) is divided into three zones: American, Asian and Euro-African. The fact that over 7,000,000 players are registered in the world, who compete in national leagues, cups, continental championships and world championships, and the most popular tournaments that bring valuable cash prizes, is the best indication of the mass of this sport. Two of the biggest tournaments in the world are held in Las Vegas and Bangkok where the first place winner receives a prize of 1,000,000 USD. In Europe, every weekend there are between 15-20 tournaments of various categories in which both men and women participate. Information about tournament dates is published months in advance on the official website of the European Bowling Federation. Apart from the sports part, bowling also has a fun and recreational character. Due to its accessibility to all generations, bowling also represents family fun, hanging out with friends, or even dates. As everywhere in the world, bowling has met with great interest among the general population, and in support of this is the fact that they reserve the game two or three days in advance.

source: Bowling Association of Vojvodina

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Scoring method

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The main goal of the game is simple: score as many points as possible with one ball thrown onto the bowling lane, where is 10 pins that need to be knocked down. It's best to do it in one throw, but if you don't succeed, you have the option of throwing another ball to knock down the rest of the pins. If you knock down all 10 pins in the first attempt (STRIKE), you will be rewarded with an extra bonus by doubling your points in the next two throws. One bowling game (GAME) consists of 10 frames, which is illustrated in the given table:

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X (STRIKE) - knocked down all 10 pins on the first try
/ (SPARE) - knocked down all 10 pins in two attempts
- (GUTTER) - fault
F (FAUL) - player goes over the foul line

source: Bowling Association of Vojvodina

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Safety

• Lift the ball with both hands. Be careful not to pinch your fingers
• If you don't need the ball, leave it on the stand. If you put it on a chair, it could fall off and hurt someone
• If anything is wrong with the track, call the staff to help you. That's why they're there
• Don't walk in the bowling alley. The track is oiled, you can slip
• If you have to go to the toilet, be careful not to get your bowling shoes wet. If they are wet, you will slip during the run. It is best to take off your bowling shoes when leaving the bowling area.
• Wait for the machine to complete its cycle after the previous throw before throwing the next ball
• You play bowling at your own risk

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Rules of behavior when bowling

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• The player on the right has the advantage. Let him throw the ball first
• When it's your turn to throw, be ready and never procrastinate
• When the player is ready to throw, allow him to do it in peace, without interruptions.
• Do not stay at the strip unnecessarily. Talk in the area that is intended for players to socialize, next to the tables
• Take care of your equipment - wear bowling shoes and do not bring food or drink onto the track. Chewing gum, spilled drinks, and food can cause injury
• Pushing or grabbing can be very dangerous
• It's really not fun if you play poorly, but despite that, behave in a sportsmanlike manner and cheer on your teammates. So what if they play better than you? There is nothing left for you, except to congratulate them.

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Bowling for beginners

Since we have special bumpers - Bumpers, which keep the ball on the track, you can start bowling as early as 18 months and you can knock down the balls every time. These tips probably won't make you a pro, but they can help you keep your balls out of the fairway and hit the pins.

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Holding the ball

Keep your palm hard all the time as you swing your arm with the ball, until the end of the ball ejection

Keep your thumb pointing upwards when throwing the ball

Pay attention to your hand with the ball throughout the release, especially the palm; with a relaxed palm, throwing the ball is less efficient and less accurate

Use your free hand for balance

Grab the ball by the holes with the first joints of the fingers (thumb, middle and ring finger). »Be careful that the ball fits well in the palm. The palm of the hand is always under the ball

Ball selection

The balls are different weights (the weight of the ball is always marked on the ball, the higher the number, the heavier the ball). Choose a ball weight that you can hold with ease. Ball weights range from 2.72 kg to 7.26 kg (6 to 16 pounds). When choosing a ball, your thumb must fit comfortably in the thumb hole. You have to pull your thumb out or pull it into the hole with ease. The balls are also marked according to hand size: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large. Choose a ball that is suitable for your hand size and insert your middle finger and ring finger into the remaining two holes. These two fingers must fit comfortably in the holes. If the ball does not fit you, choose another size.

Throwing the ball

First step

The correct starting position is five and a half steps from the foul line. Position yourself behind the foul line and determine the proper distance for the starting position. Be relaxed, the legs are elastic, the weight of the body is on the left leg (right for left-handed people). Hold the ball in the palm of your throwing hand and support it with your other hand. Hold the ball comfortably and relaxed. Hold the ball on the side, at the middle height of the body. Let the hand with which you support the other hand with the ball carry most of the weight. Have our sight set on the target point on the track. Prepare your body for the first step.

First step 'Push away'

The first step is performed with the right foot (left for left-handers), simultaneously swinging the ball forward - Pushaway, hold the ball in front of your body, in the shoulder line. The body is soft
Pushaway
bent forward, look fixed on the target point on the track. Move your free hand away from your body, at a 90 degree angle, to help you balance.

Second step

The second step is performed with the left foot (right for left-handers), the falling ball swings. At the end of the step, the ball is in the down position, the gaze is directed at the target point on the track.

Third step

Take the third step with the right foot (left for left-handed people), at the end of the step the ball is at the upper limit of its swing, begin to bend the leg for the final squat.

Forth step

Take the fourth step with the left foot (right for left-handed people), in a low sliding step, when you have reached the highest position with the ball (let the arm be stretched at the elbow), swing it forward, next to your ankle. At this point the ball will leave your hand and will first release your thumb, then the middle and ring finger, throw the ball over the foul line, the outstretched arm ends in the upper position. At the beginning of the fourth step, as you bring the ball down from the top of the swing, keep your shoulders parallel to the foul line. The left leg slides in the direction of the throw (right for lefties), the right arm (left for lefties) is straight at the elbow.

Throwing the ball

Gliding step with the left leg, which is in a slight squat (right for left-handers), the hand following the ball is stretched upwards, the pelvis is in a low position. Once you've dropped the ball, continue swinging your arm up to eye level. Keep the whole process of throwing the ball short, relaxed and above all fluid. Match your arm swing with your stride so that the ball leaves your hand when you slide your left foot to the foul line (right foot for lefties). You don't throw the ball onto the lane, you land it on the rail across the foul line. Have our eyes directed at the target point until the ball "runs over" it.

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Bowling dictionary

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Get to know some of the most important terms in bowling...