What do you get when you combine a point system, aiming skills, ample space, targets and a ball? Though the question isn’t one which could be described as exact, one answer to it would be bowling, one of the most popular of sports in the world.

Utilizing a point system, to which winners are defined, the core dynamics of bowling is quite simple to understand. There are targets, called pins, positioned on the far end of a flat surface, which is often referred to as an alley. A ball, called a bowling ball, is then used in knocking down as many pins possible, thrown to roll towards the targets on the alley itself. The sport is basically a test of aim and rolling technique, testing the skills of bowlers. Considering its simple dynamics, it is also one that is fun, which all could enjoy, friends and family alike.

The Origins of Bowling

Bowling as a sport is one which is quite old, even dating back to the glory days of Ancient Egypt, where it was actively participated by the people of the time. To give credit as the inventors of bowling to Ancient Egyptians wouldn’t be far fetched, as they did bowl. Other cultures in the world also practiced bowling-like games, like those in ancient Yemen, Finland and in 300 AD Germany.

Today, the United States, particularly the Northern parts, is known for hosting some of the most well attended of bowling competitions.

Bowling Today

As a sport bowling is one which isn’t free from categorizations and variations of game types, with indoor and outdoor varieties of bowling games being played. Though not all these games work on the concept of knocking down targets using a ball, they employ the basic action of bowling out balls.

The indoor variety of bowling games entails bowling games being played in an indoor environment. The Ten-Pin Bowling variety would be the most popular of indoor bowling games, featuring a regulated pin, or target, size measuring 15 inches in height, with a standard ten-pin bowling ball weighing no more than 16 pounds, with a maximum diameter of 8 ½ inches. Finishing the construction of a ten-pin bowling ball would be finger holds, to which bowlers successfully “manipulate” the direction, speed and pitch of a ball throw.

Candlepin Bowling would be another popular type of indoor bowling game. It is basically a variation of the Ten-Pin Bowling game, featuring “double-ended” pins. These “double-ended” pins are the tallest type of pins in all bowing game types. Candlepin Bowing is commonly played in Canada.

Another popular indoor bowling game type would be Duckpin Bowling. Duckpin Bowing is basically a smaller scaled down version of Ten-pin Bowling, featuring smaller pins, measuring 9 3/8 inches in height. The bowling ball in Duckpin Bowling measures a 5 inch diameter, and has a weight limit of weighing not more than 1 pound and 8.5 ounces. Duckpin Bowling Balls require no finger holds, considering that the average person could easily hold balls of this type.

Outdoor variations of bowling exist, but work on different premises. Typically, the base concept behind outdoor bowling games would be that of positioning an eccentrically weighted ball to a designated area. The closer the ball halts to this designated area, the more the points.

Lawn Bowls would be one of the most popular variations of outdoor bowling, and is known for being quite the precision sport. Radially asymmetrical balls are being used, and is played on various outdoor surfaces, the most popular type would be that of grass, hence the Lawn Bowls name. This type of bowling is quite popular in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and in Australia.

If you’re basically looking for a sport in which all members of your family could actively participate in, bowling may be one sport you’d want to look into, considering how easy the game dynamics the sport entails.