Numerous bowlers like the 4 step approach because it helps them have a nice smooth, coordinated way and the time to perfect their release of their ball at the proper rhythm.

Many bowlers readily like changing over to a four-step approach after they first try it. Attend a bowling instructional session with a good instructor, and you will hear: “out for one, down for two, back for three and then slide!”

This approach is very comfortable, you will use a small amount of effort to get the full amount of results.

Now lets look at step one in this delivery with 4 steps. This step is the push away step with your right foot (if you are right handed)  and where the phrase comes in that is, “Out for one”. To this step one is the push away.

With the push away step you should also launch the ball forward and a little to your right (if you are right handed), to allow room to do the step 2 and your pendulum type swing for your arm. You you don't push the ball a little to the right you will collide with your right leg as you take step 2.

As you take step number 2, your left hand should be taken off the ball. This is done very quickly for the most part, but can vary. Sometimes bowlers remove their left hand as they do the push away step, or a moment before the full step is done. Just don't leave the left hand touching your ball going into the step number 2. That could create you a problem.

Your ball should do a swing like a pendulum during the step number 2. don't ever force this. Let your ball's weight do the work.

“Back for three, and then slide.” After you finish the slide your left foot needs to be about 3 inches back from the foul line. Don't try too hard to make long strides, the fact is that short strides usually work best.

For every bowler, the number 3 step should have the ball in a total back swing. At this point if you have made any mistakes it is most likely too late to correct them, you are committed. Actually after you began the push away is the point where it is too late.

For step number 4 this is the slide step and your ball moves quite easily forward, due to the ball's weight doing the swing. Here again do not force the ball.

Be certain to lean forward when you do your slide, and keep you right foot far enough back to balance yourself, and also it can act as a brake to your slide when needed. As you finish your slide you should find the left foot at least 3 inches in back of the foul line.

Changing to four steps from three, you need to remember that your steps need to be like you are walking.

No need to force your strides into long ones; the fact is, that the strides that are short are more advantageous. You will discover, that a few bowling places have shorter approaches to work with, so the shorter strides help in these cases.

One other thing that is very important with your approach, no matter what number of steps you take, is the fact that you need to keep the right arm right next to your side. Your elbow should practically rub against your side.

Bowlers need to practice their approach, they will not go back to another after they do!

To Discover the Many Bowling Tips and Tricks to Make You an Expert Bowler

Visit: http://www.bowlingtips.org/

Of course bowling would be rather simple if the only thing one needed to do to obtain strikes was to throw the ball.  Unfortunately there is no more chance of that than there is of coming across a naturally blue dog!  It is not far from true that each lane is unique.  Although it is not entirely true one often discovers that a pair of lanes do differ.

In bowling lingo some lanes you play run out of the window.  You discover that instead of having difficulty hooking the ball you end up with too much hook.  On the other hand you might encounter a lane that holds the ball.  Instead of being able to have much hook you end up having problems getting the ball to come up in the pocket.

When it comes to the way lanes may differ these are the ones that are most often encountered, however there will be ones that hook appropriately so that it is perfect for you.  Of course you need to bear in mind that a lane that is perfect for you might not necessarily be so for your teammates, so if they are not enjoying as much success as you are you should not give them a difficult time.

Depending on what type of lane that a bowler is bowling on he or she is able to govern their standard delivery in a way that is natural to them.  Therefore, no matter what lane you are bowling from the first ball you bowl should be delivered from your normal position.  You need only move once you have seen the way the ball moves, not before.  The most basic rule for moving is:

You should move slightly to the left, assuming you are a right-handed bowler but still use the same spot as before, however this move is made only if the ball is coming up too fast or is crossing over.

This would be necessary on lanes one would describe as too slow.

When spot bowling you need to take the spot down lane from which the ball breaks toward the pocket into account.  In most cases this occurs around two thirds of the distance down the lane and is definitely not as far to look as the number one pin.

You need to imagine a line drawn from where you take your stance all the way down the lane, depending on how much your ball breaks.  From the spot where the ball breaks, you then move to the foul line and release the ball so that it rolls over your spot.  Although some bowlers find that this spot is too far down the lane, others find it to be rather beneficial to their game.

When you are playing on so-called fast lanes it can be helpful to move a bit to the right of your usual spot.  This is necessary if your ball does not reach the number one, or head, pin.

You might find that the method used by more experienced bowlers is the one for you.

In this method you do not need to move to the left on a slow lane, instead you move the spot you have chosen a bit to the right and begin from the same place on your approach.

Also, if you are on a fast lane you move the spot a bit to the left and proceed as above.

If you find that there is too much hook you might find that moving the spot slightly to the right, instead of your position, is more suitable for you.

Remember not to make any big moves whether of your position or of your spot.  One board can have a significant effect.

If you bowl in unfavorable conditions often it will aid you in learning how the ball will perform.  You know you are a pro when releasing just one ball lets you know what the proper adjustment to make is.

Finally, in order to find the strike pocket you can change your ball’s speed.  If your ball does not reach the head pin slow the speed, or, alternatively, increase it if your ball keeps crossing the lane.

It is necessary to mention that this method is not in line with basic bowling rules which call for the bowler to master a smooth delivery and not to change it.

The more experience you have the more capable you will be of not only reading your lane but also of making the correct adjustments.

If you want to play better and amaze your fellow bowlers you will love the hints and bowling tips you will find at http://www.bowlingtips.org

Here is something you should know that will be a completely surprise to you. There are twelve inches between each pin and it’s a good distance to travel. A pin will not travel this distance the same way, each time it’s knocked down. You can get permission from the alley you go bowling and check closely the placement of each pin.

The distance from the number one pin (or head pin) is 60 feet.  What looks like a perfect strike ball will hit that pin differently, by a fraction of an inch, each time and from the distance you are bowling it’s not noticeable.

A perfect, by the book, strike is when the ball hits into the 1-3 pocked deflecting left of the 3 pin into the 5 pin, the 5 pin to the right into the 9 pin dropping into the pit. The 1 pin moves left into the 2 pin and the 2 pin into the 4  pin taking out the 7 pin.  The 5 pin moves into the 8 pin and the 3 pin carries the 6 pin and 6 takes out the 10 pin.

A real punisher is the 8-10 split. You may have missed the perfect strike by less than a quarter of an inch, when this combination of pins comes up. Your ball hit the 5 pin a fraction too light and shot across in front of the 8 pin. Your ball too light on head pin (1 pin)  and the 6 pin did not move directly toward the 10 pin, going around it.

In the game of bowling (10 pin) it is necessary that several pins move in a straight line in order to get a strike. You should know that it’s easy to have one or two pins standing. Even though the ball looks good from 60 feet.

These are just facts and not meant to discourage you. So that you know the reason your strike ball may not produce a strike.

If you watch the championship on AMF in action either on television or at an actual tournament you may have seen them spill the pins in a league. You may, as one among average bowlers and even been amazed how easy these stars score 200 and higher and their 700 and sometimes 800 game series.

A 153 average is a long way from a 200 average. The male bowler scores, for the last season, average around 153 and for women bowlers the average is around 130. Remember you are an average bowler, because that’s what you want to be, maybe you are strictly a beginner or not really interested or maybe you’re bowling just with friends for the fun of it. However, before you know it…your hooked!

A major difference from a star bowler and those who in the 170 - 180 averages is the ability to be able to shrug off a bad game. Even a champion occasional hit’s a game in the low 100’s and it only takes a couple of eight or nine counts, several splits (maybe 3 or 4) or even one miss and a champion has a 140 game.

With some practice your 10 pin game of bowling will improve and so will your scores. The more you practice the more your improvement. You will be surprised how easy it is to accomplish that improvement.

Learn All The Bowling Tips And Tricks On How To Become A 10 Pin Bowling Expert.

Visit: http://www.bowlingtips.org/

Bowling alleys were checked in California, South Carolina, Maryland, and Texas.  Some regular items available at most establishments were pizza, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, tacos, fries, nachos, chicken, etc.

There was also food typical of the local area such as Cuban Rueben in Miami and pulled pork sandwiches in Atlanta.

Also found on some menus was calimari, sushi, and lobster kebabs. Some of the newer alleys feature dejays, dance floors, plasma tvs as well as billiards and video games.

There are also all kinds of drinks available including beer, wine, mixed drinks, soda, and coffee.

This is certainly different than Laverne and Shirley and Al Bundy experienced. From a personal view, eating at the establishment while bowling is very relaxing.

The Gravity Shift offers the strongest ball reaction in the Shift series to date.

Pin to PAP(5 1/8" over 1/8" up) - 5 5/8"

Mass Bias Position - 3" right of thumb
CG Placement - center of grip
Balance Hole - none

Surface Preparation - Box Finish (1500 grit polished)

What I Was Looking For In This Ball Layout:
This layout was intended to give me much needed skid through the heads and mid lane with a very angular motion on the back part of the lane. I have used this layout before on Storm Dual Density cores and it tends to roll very strong for me. The Cover/Core combo on the Gravity Shift looked perfect to try this layout again.

What I Ended Up With in the Ball and Layout:
Exactly what I wanted. I do not know that this is really the best ball for me int he first game when the shot is fresh, but when they start to break down and I need to get in and know I can clear the heads smoothly and have the ball make a left from wherever I want this is it.

The ball motion is awesome, the first few times I threw it I was worried. Because of the darker coloring of this pearl cover, the ball looked like it was skating down the lane never to return from the right side. After I got more comfortable with this motion I knew it would come back from any part of the lane I wanted.

The last two weeks I have not thrown this ball until the start of the second game but from there on out I used nothing but the Gravity Shift. It compliments the Attitude Shift better then anything else I have thrown since I drilled my Attitude.

If you are looking for something for medium/medium-heavy oil lanes or something to get through the front and middle part of the lane and have
plenty of energy left for the backend the Storm Gravity Shift should be in your bag.

Embezzlement scandal throws NY bowlers into gutter Newsday, NY - 1 hour ago The association that represents the nation's bowlers kicked out the New York chapter and its 85000 bowlers over an embezzlement scandal. ...

Embezzlement scandal throws NY bowlers into gutter - Newsday

Wii bowling keeps Fillmore residents active Bennington Banner, VT - 16 hours ago Two teams play every Wednesday afternoon, but bowlers were only practicing the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Members of the Golden Girls said they don't ...

Wii bowling keeps Fillmore residents active - Bennington Banner

A true bowling shirt is a box cut, short sleeved, with a button up front, pocket, and small collar. Most bowling shirts are very colorful, with panels of different colors, such as black and red. They also have piping along the shoulders.

They are usually made of a cotton/polyester blend. Charlie on the Two and Half Men TV show is fond of wearing bowling shirts for every occasion. Bowling is enjoyed by about 100 million people over several continents.

There are also team shirts which league bowlers favor as they can be customized with the team name, etc. Often referred to as "retro bowling shirts", older bowling shirts from the 40s, 50s, and 60s are very sought after by collectors.

Some modifications work well; some do not. The downswing is more stringent in keeping with fundamental technique; a complicated process, it affords little deviation.

Consider: In the downswing, your arms, shoulders, legs and hips all move at the same time, with varying speed and directions in order to set the ball down on a specific board on the lane. Is it any wonder many beginners frequently roll gutter balls?

The key to a successful downswing is found primarily in the transition point between the end of the backswing and the beginning of the downswing. Concentrate on letting the weight of the ball initiate the downswing. If this is done, it affords the best opportunity for the arms, hips and legs to coordinate so as to provide an ideal swing speed, leverage and the correct swing direction. If all the parts move in correct sequence, you will be more consistent.

The downswing movement starts from the ideal position at the top of the backswing. Your best preparation is to create a strong coil with the upper body so there is tension between it and your lower body. This tension allows the weight of the ball to easily drop into the ideal swing on the way down.

Having made a strong coil, you then check out the position of the ball at the top of the swing. The ideal backswing height is determined by the number of steps taken, the spacing of those steps and personal physiology. With these factors in mind, experiment to determine which backswing height best suits your swing, then achieve that height shot after shot. If you fi nd this is a problem, then choose a more appropriate height for your game. Consistency with the height of the backswing is a must.

Another factor to address at the top of the backswing is the ball’s side-to-side location. Ideally, the ball should be behind the elbow of the bowling arm, perhaps even tucked a “dab” behind the body. Also, at this point, the bowling arm is tucked in close to the body. That’s what helps keep your swing on plane. Otherwise, your arm will tend to work away from your body, which often causes your swing to come inside in the delivery, while also causing your hand to “top” the ball.

The challenging part of the initial downward movement is getting the proper sequence of motion between the arms and body. Aside from an ideal swing plane, this leads to good swing leverage. I believe this is made easier if you pause an instant at the top of the backswing to give yourself time to instinctively assemble the many movements that follow. This process should be deliberate and uncontrolled without conscious effort (which takes practice, practice, practice).

Ever notice how your best shots often feel they were made with little effort, while your more aggressive efforts went awry? The problem doesn’t necessarily stem from adding force; it’s a question of where the force was applied. If it is applied at the beginning of the downswing, you’ll likely lack leverage in the delivery. The key to good leverage is to let the swing’s speed build slowly until the point of release, at which time you pour on the power.

Finally, what works for some doesn’t work for all. There are many theories on how the downswing starts. Nelson Burton Jr. often likened it to the “moment of truth” where the second-tolast step shifts into the sliding step. Paul Krumske suggested that everything (arms, legs, hips, feet) start down together. And the great Earl Anthony was very meticulous about having his second-tolast step planted at the exact time the backswing reachedits ultimate and ideal height.

Bowling is a set up for neck pain. The weight of the ball as well as the motion needed to launch your ball can lead to neck strain. Bowlers use their brains less and their shoulders more (to hurl the ball down as quick as they can while forgetting about good technique).

You even have some bowlers thinking that if they can bench press 130kg or gain 10kg in muscle, then they'll be a great fast bowler. Overuse injuries are gradually appearing pains, aches, stiffness or injury brought on by repeated, mild physical stress to a particular area of the body.

Right arm bowlers almost exclusively develop pain to the left side of the lumbar spine at a point named the pars interarticularis. A combination of rotation coupled with hyperextension and left sided lateral flexion is known to give rise to such fractures.

The bowling action involves repetitive twisting, extension and rotation of the trunk at the same time as absorption of large ground reaction forces over a short period of time. Overuse injuries are also common. Fast bowlers often suffer overuse injuries in the lower back region.

Sports injuries are too common and getting your bowling ball checked by a certified pro-shop operator is a simple step to take to avoid such pain. An overuse injury is usually a sprain, strain or fracture to part of the body that has been used repetitively.

In recent years, however, the field of sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery has begun to develop techniques such as transplantation of one's own healthy cartilage or cells to improve healing. At present, this technique is used for small cartilage defects.

Most doctors agree that the single most important advance in sports medicine has been the development of arthroscopic surgery, or arthroscopy. Arthroscopy uses a small fiberoptic scope inserted through a small incision in the skin to see inside a joint. It is interesting to read about injury statistics for more common sports.

The NSC Injury Facts reports that in 1999, 339,775 people were treated in American emergency rooms for injuries related to baseball and softball, 372,380 were treated for football injuries, 175,303 were treated following soccer games, 22,639 were treated for bowling injuries, and 2,486 were treated for injuries following participation in horseshoe pitching.

No athlete in any sport starts out at full speed. That's what warming up is all about, gradually allowing your body to get into the athletics of your sport. Use of intimidating tactics used by fast bowlers are often unsportsmanlike and promote violence, and are shunned by many teams and players.

The Sports Science Institute at Newlands was contacted for assistance in providing visual and technical aids for our Bowling Academy players. They invited some quick bowlers to take part in a study based on bowling injuries.

It is almost inevitable that if you put a fast bowler through several consecutive competitive matches, he will pick up injuries. While no one considers bowling a contact sport, there are injuries that occur. The most common injuries are to the hand and wrist of the bowling arm.

Bowling, like many other endeavors, is easy to learn but hard to master.  This especially true regarding picking up spares.  Few of us are so good that we never leave pins behind after the first ball.

It's important to be concerned at the beginning of each frame with what you are left with as far as spares to pickup. So plan ahead.  and, whatever you do, avoid the 7 - 10  split.

Picking up spares takes a lot or practice. It has been said "Pick up the spares and the strikes will come." That is quite true.

There are around 1,000 different spare combinations. Some people have a special ball to pick up their spares which is drilled differently.

Below is a diagram of the pins and their positions. If you are a beginning bowler, it is important to familiarize yourself with this pin diagram.

The 7 pin leave and the 10 pin leave are usually picked up by a far right (7) or far left (10) roll of the ball.

Some spares can be picked up by rolling a strike ball, if the 5 pin is part of the leave. Taking out the 5 pin hopefully will pick up the other pins.

The following are some spares and possible solutions for picking them up:

• The 6-9-10 leave would be picked up by the far left starting position and going cross lane.
• The 4-7-8 leave would be picked up by a starting position on the far right and going cross lane.
• The 1-2-5-8 would be picked up by rolling a strike ball and taking out the 5 pin which will take out the others.
• 1-3-5-9 could be picked up by starting left of center.
• The 5-9 would be picked up by rolling from left of center. This is a hard spare to pick up because it is easy to pick off just one of the pins.

A sleeper spare is where one pin is left almost directly behind the front pin and the ball will pick off the front pin unless the hit is straight on.

The above examples are only a few strike combinations that are possible and maybe a solution to pick them up.

7 Bowling Tips To Improve Bowling Game
by John Tenn

We've heard it many times before... practice makes perfect. And for good reason-it's the truth! The best way to get better at anything is to practice; bowling is no exception. However, how you practice will mean the difference between slowly improving and supercharging your game!

Bowling Tip #1: Use the right tools

In any sport, using the correct equipment for the job you have to do improves your performance. In bowling, the ball is the most important piece of equipment you will use, so choose the right one for the job! Be sure to try out many, and select one that's the right weight, material and finger-grip fit.

Bowling Tip #2: Are you bowling enough?

To progress at bowling, you need to bowl at least once or twice a week. The most economical way to get this amount of practice in is by joining a league. Usually, the more experienced players show up before the game to practice. This is when you can learn the most, from people committed to the sport.

Bowling Tip #3: Learn to walk the walk

While professional bowlers tend to use a 5-step approach, that's just not suitable for someone just learning the sport. Beginners are usually more comfortable with a 4-step approach. You can practice your approach without throwing a single ball. Keep your shoulders square to the front, your head up, arm swing smooth, and your pace consistent and even.

Bowling Tip #4: Let 'em roll

Spend time rolling the ball. A bowling ball should never be thrown. How do you tell the difference? A thrown ball will land with a loud "clunk" and then slide a few feet before beginning to roll. A rolled ball lands quietly and quickly rolls down the lane. If you find that you're in the habit of throwing the ball, simply slow down. Try taking a slow, deep breath or two before bowling to settle any anxiety. You will hit more pins with a rolled ball than with a thrown one.

Bowling Tip #5: What you think is what you do

Spend time visualizing and analyzing your shots. Visualize your movements and your shots before you do them. If your ball goes consistently too far right, begin a little further left. You will learn to "feel" when you've bowled a good ball. When you do, write it down before you forget. What did you do? How did the ball feel? Where did the ball hit? Keep it for future reference so you can do it again.

Bowling Tip #6: What if I can't be at the alley enough to practice?

Any smooth surface with a long, clear distance is suitable for practicing your approach. It's not safe to practice the release, however, as a bowling ball will easily roll straight through walls if you miss your target! Not to mention you'll ruin the surface of your ball. When practicing at home, mark your foul line and arrows in masking tape or other material that will not damage your floor. Also mark where your toes need to be for each step. Practice your approach until it's second nature.

You can practice your arm swing outdoors with a bucket of water with a small hole at the bottom. The water drops on the ground will mark the path of your arm and the direction the ball would go. It's a good way to see if you arc around your body when you bowl and which direction your arm is going. This can be a very enlightening experience.

Bowling Tip #7: Don't spare yourself the trouble

It's a very good idea to practice picking up your spares. A bowler who can consistently pick up his spares can easily hold a 180 average without getting any strikes. It's especially useful to practice bowling at the 7-or 10-pins by aiming at them and bowling across the strike zone (the "x" on the lane) from the opposite side of the lane.

By practicing these bowling techniques on a regular basis, you'll be honing the skills that will help you improve your bowling game!

ImproveBowling offers bowling tips for bowlers who want to take their game to the next level. Visit http://www.ImproveBowling.com for more information on improving bowling score and techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Tenn

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The great Earl Anthony - Pro Bowlers Tour 1981

Earl Anthony

He was born in 1938 in Kent, Washington and passed away in 2001. The first sport he was involved in was baseball. He was offered a contact with the Baltimore Orioles, but tore his rotator cuff at spring training, which put an end to the baseball career.

Earl Anthony joined a company bowling team where he was working and was very good. He turned pro in 1963 and in 1970 won his first PBA tournament. In 1982, he was the first bowler to win $1,000,000. He continued bowling over the years but won his last tournament in 1997 and passed away in 2001.

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Dick Weber vs George Pappas 1985

Dick Weber

He is one of the most well known bowlers. He was born in 1929 and died in 2005. He won many titles over the years such as National Bowler of the Year in 1961, 1963, and 1965. In 1970 he was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame.

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1985 US Open - Marshall Holman vs. Wayne Webb

Marshal Holman

He was born in 1954. He started watching bowling on tv at about age 12. He mostly taught himself to bowl and has gone on to become one of the most recognized bowlers. Over the years he has won 22 titles. At age 21, in 1976, he became the youngest to win the Firestone Tournament of Champions.

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1981 Showboat - Mark Roth vs. Earl Anthony

Mark Roth

He was born on 1951 in New York. He won his first PBA title in 1975. He is known for his hard throwing style. He has won other numerous awards over the years such as PBA player of the year.

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1993 PBA Phoenix Open: Winning Never Gets Old Tip - Dick Weber and Camen Salvino Classic Clip

Carmen Salvino

He was born in 1933. Over the years, he won 17 PBA titles. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975. He was known as the "Spook".

These are just a few of the top professional bowlers in the 20th century. The PBA is going strong and the sport of bowling continues to produce many great bowlers and new fans to support them. The pro bowlers are excellent role models for bowling techniques and style.

One important aspect of bowling a strike is having the right size ball which has been drilled properly for the finger holes.The release of the ball is very critical to bowling a strike. Putting a lift on the ball is key to success in bowling a strike. This is accomplished by squeezing the ball which causes the ball to rotate to the left hand side of the headpin.

Releasing the ball at the foul line rather than following through and getting the ball out onto the lane is not as likely to result in a strike. The ball can also be released without a lift which is a straight ball. A straight ball isn’t as likely to produce a strike.

There are three step, four step, and five step approaches used by bowlers. Four step is the most common, starting on the right foot and ending with a slide on the fourth step, which is the left foot.

The five pin is very crucial in bowling a strike. Putting the ball in the 1-3 pocket will hopefully take out the 5 pin which creates the pin action to take down the rest of the pins.

Stone balls were used in the early days of bowling. Stone balls were replaced by wood, hard rubber, plastic, polyurethane and resin balls. The early balls did not have finger holes.

Plastic, polyurethane and resin are used mostly in modern times. Plastic is a good choice for a beginner bowler or for someone who only bowls occasionally. Urethane and resin balls grab the surface of the lane better to allow for more hook. Urethane and resin are generally preferred by the professional bowler or someone who bowls quite often.

Balls come in a weight from 6 to 16 pounds. Most women prefer 10 to 14 pounds with men going up to 16 pounds. Balls come in a wide variety of colors with swirls and characters such as Betty Boop and Superman. Inside each ball is a core which makes each ball behave differently. There a three finger holes drilled in the ball at time of purchase. There is a thumb hole, middle finger hole and ring finger hole.

The two types of finger grips are conventional and finger tip. The conventional grip is gripped up to the second joint of the finger and the fingertip is gripped up to the first finger joint. There is a middle grip sometimes used which is in between the conventional and fingertip grip.

A fingertip grip allows for more control but requires strength. There are several measurements taken of the hand and fingers when the ball is drilled to ensure the best fit. Some people have a couple of extra holes drilled for control.

In the 3rd century in Germany, bowling was a religious rite. There was a club carried called a kegal, used for protection. The kegel was stood up in the church cloister symbolizing a heathen and a ball was rolled at it. If the kegal was knocked over, the church member was said to have killed the heathen and was honored at the banquet.

Bowling spread from Germany to Holland and Switzerland and later to France, England and Spain. The first public establishment in England was in the 15th century and was associated with taverns.

The original bowling surfaces were clay, slate, and cinders with wood being used later. A maximum score of 200 was used toward the beginning, but was later changed to 300 to allow for more chance to improve the game. 10 pins were also adopted later as bowling grew in popularity.

The sport of bowling came to America with the Dutch colonists in 1626. German immigrants used bowling as an outdoor family activity.

In about 1840, America's first indoor bowling establishment was opened in New York. Gamblers were drawn to the sport. Bowling spread to other areas of the country, however, bowling was played with different rules in different parts of the country. Eventually bowling groups were formed called clubs. Uniform rules were adopted.

The National Bowling Association was formed in 1875 to ensure certain standards, however, it didn't survive. The American Bowling Congress was formed later and most bowlers today belong to ABC.

Automatic pin setters were introduced in 1952 and bowling continued to gain in popularity. With the computer age came the computer scoring which eliminated keeping score by hand.

League bowling is popular in modern times as well as individual bowling with friends.