The Bowling Center
The bowling facility or center is comprised of an even number of lanes on which the game is played. The lane is between 41 and 42 inches wide and is made up of 39 boards across. The bowling ball is rolled or delivered 60 feet down the lane lengthwise from the foul line to the rack of 10 pins. On each side of the lane is a 9-inch wide channel. The bowler begins the delivery on the approach. The approach consists of the area where the wood starts, from the settee area to the foul line. There is one person on the approach at a time.
There are guide dots, also called locator dots, along the approach that are also in line with dots at the foul line and out on the lane that are used for accuracy in steps and delivery of the ball. There also are target arrows out on the lane used for this same purpose. Lanes are normally oiled daily to prevent friction and to allow better tracking for the ball.
The rack of pins is located in the pit and is arranged in a triangular formation, 12 inches apart from the center of another. A bowling pin is 15 inches tall and each pin weighs between 3 pounds, 6 ounces and 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The pins are numerically identified 1-10, 1 being the headpin.
- Facing the pins, the number 2 pin is in the second row to the left of the number 1 pin.
- The number 3 pin is in the second row to the right of the number 1 pin.
- The third row consists of the number 4 pin to the left, number 5 pin in the middle and the number 6 pin to the right.
- The fourth row consists of the number 7 pin to the left, number 8 pin next, number 9 pin next and the number 10 pin on the right.
- Discuss the general layout of the bowling center with the athlete identifying the major components — control counter, lanes, approach area, pit area, etc.
- If permitted, you may want to take the athlete behind the pit area to see the pin-setting equipment in action.
