Bowling Rules
A standard set of bowling rules have been developed by the nation’s premiere bowlers to ensure that players play in a standard setting. The American Bowling Congress was formed in 1895 and the Women's International Bowling Congress was formed in 1916 to oversee these standards. In this section of the Bowling Coach, I will discuss the standards for some of the bowling equipment, including specifications on the bowling ball, bowling pins, and bowling lanes.
Bowling Balls
A bowling ball has to be round, solid, and have a circumference of no more than 27 inches. It must weigh between 10 and 16 pounds. Most bowlers use a ball drilled with 3 holes: one for the thumb, one for the ring finger, and one for the middle finger. You may also see some bowling balls with more than 3 holes. This allows players to be able to adjust their hand position on the ball during a game.
Bowling Pins
A standard bowling pin is made of hard maple. It is 15 inches high and has a diameter of 2.75 inches at the base and a circumference of 15 inches at its belly or widest point. Its weight has to be between 2 pounds 14 ounces and 3 pounds 10 ounces.
