Origin: Bowling has its roots in ancient Egypt and was later developed by the Romans and Germanic tribes. However, the modern version of the sport originated in the United States and became popular in the 19th century.
Ten-pin bowling: The most common form of bowling is ten-pin bowling, in which ten pins are set up in a triangular formation and knocked over with a ball.
Bowling balls: Bowling balls are usually made of plastic, urethane or reactive resin. They are 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) in diameter and weigh between 6 pounds (2.7 kg) and 16 pounds (7.26 kg).
Finger holes: Bowling balls usually have three holes – one for the thumb and two for the fingers. These holes allow the player to better control the ball and create more spin.
Bowling lane: A standard bowling lane is 63 feet 10 7/32 inches (19.5 meters) long and 41.5 inches (1.06 meters) wide. The web is covered with a layer of oil, which reduces the friction between the ball and the web and thus affects the speed and spin of the ball.
Strikes and Spares: A “strike” is the overturning of all ten cones with the first throw, while a “spare” is the overturning of all ten cones with two throws. Strikes and spares bring bonus points for the player.
Maximum score: The highest possible score in a ten-pin bowling game is 300 points. To achieve this, the player must score twelve strikes in a row – ten in the regular frames and two bonus throws in the last frame.
Scoring system: In ten-pin bowling, there are ten frames. In each frame, a player has up to two throws to knock down all the cones. The score for a frame is the number of cones knocked down plus any bonus points for strikes and spares.
Bowling Federations: The largest international bowling organizations are the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the World Bowling Federation (WB). They organize national and international competitions and set rules and standards for the sport.
Bowling as a sport: Bowling is practiced both as a recreational activity and as a competitive sport. In professional tournaments, players compete in individual and team events. The largest professional league is the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) in the USA.
