Bowling 101: Etiquette On The Lanes
Author: John Tenn

We're all here to have FUN!

At first glance, bowling looks as simple as throwing a heavy
plastic ball down a shiny wooden hallway in order to knock down
ten pins at the end. As you'll soon find out, it's so much more!
It's a sport that requires physical strength and coordination
and mental strategies that are second to none.

Whether you're just going bowling with friends or are starting
in a league, you're here to have fun! There are 8 basic rules of
etiquette to follow to make the game more enjoyable for
everyone:

1. Mind your manners. It's important to follow the rules of any
bowling alley you visit, to be polite to staff and courteous to
fellow bowlers. Some of the machinery is dangerous, and you can
be hurt badly by engaging in horseplay.

2. Wear appropriate attire. Loose, comfortable clothing, socks
and bowling shoes are a must. Most people don't relish the idea
of putting their tootsies where thousands have gone before, but
it is a necessary evil. Not only do bowling shoes protect the
finish on the lanes, they protect you from slipping and
consequential injuries. If you bowl regularly, you can purchase
a pair of your own at the pro shop in your bowling alley or at
many shoe stores.

3. Remain behind the foul line. As tempting as it might be to
get closer to the pins (They seem so far away at first!), any
ball bowled from over the line is considered "dead." In other
words, it doesn't count!

4. Give way to the bowler on your right. Instead of rushing to
bowl as soon as it's your turn, always give way to a bowler in
the lane to your right who is ready to go. If you allow other
bowlers to concentrate on their games, they will afford you the
same courtesy.

5. Roll, don't pitch the ball. Releasing your ball on an upward
swing, or worse yet, pitching it overhand, will damage the lane
and, more often than not, end up in the gutter. Release the ball
on the forward swing when your arm is lowest to the ground.

6. Cover any extra holes in your ball. If you're bowling with a
ball that has additional holes in it, the rules state you must
cover them with the palm of your hand before releasing the ball.
If you don't the ball doesn't count and is considered "dead."

7. Keeping it out of the gutter. We all get them in the
beginning. The dreaded gutter ball can be disheartening at
first. A gutter ball cannot contribute to a score. With
practice, you'll learn how to keep the ball in the lane. In some
leagues, they've modified the rules. If you bowl a gutter ball
and it hops out of the gutter and knocks pins down, the pins do
count. Be sure to ask what to do if this happens to you.

8. If you have a question, ask. The staff at your bowling alley
will be happy to answer questions about anything related to
bowling. From the rules of the game to how to complete a
scorecard, they are there to help you.

By following these 8 basic rules of etiquette at the bowling
alley, everyone will have more fun while learning to bowl!


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