Baseball may be considered America’s past time, but bowling is just plain fun for everyone. No matter your age, your fitness level or your sports abilities, you can still have a great time bowling. The game itself is challenging and can be a great deal of fun, however the social aspect of bowling is probably its greatest benefit. While some people choose to bowl by themselves for practice, bowling is much more fun with a group of people. It is because of this that bowling leagues are so popular for people of every age. And lets face it, during what other sport can you so easily drink beer?

In case you have never heard of bowling or Ten Pin Bowling as it is sometimes called, there are a few basics that you should know. Bowling is played in a bowling alley with lanes. The lane is approximately 60 feet long and 42 inches wide and has ten pins at the opposite end of the lane. The pins are arranged in an equilateral triangle, the back row has four pins, the next one has three, and the next has two and the last row (front of the lane, also called the head pin) has only one pin aligned at the center. The goal of the game is to knock down as many of these pins as physically possible. You will have two chances during each frame to knock down all the pins, and there are ten frames to a game. If you knock all of the pins down on your first shot, it is considered a strike, if you knock them all down by the second shot, it is considered a spare.

When you bowl, you will use a bowling ball that ranges in weight from six to sixteen pounds, depending on how strong you are. Some people find it easier to bowl with a heavier ball as it goes faster and hits the pins with more force, knocking them down easier. The maximum score you can achieve or the “perfect” game is 300. This occurs when you get a strike in each frame and then two strikes in the last frame.

Luckily, with the improvements in technology, bowling alleys are almost fully automated. The pins are set up automatically by a machine and your score is tracked by the computer. This allows you to focus entirely on the game and having fun with your friends.

Bowling can be such an entertaining sport to watch and participate in. If you have never tried it, now is a great time to gather up some buddies and head down to the bowling alley for a fun filled afternoon!