did you know?

I had no idea.

Staying on topic, did you know your local bowling association inspects lanes every year as part of the center's sanctioning with USBC?

The lanes are checked at several specified points down the lane for levelness and tilt -- the amount the lane at that point "leans" left or right, if at all. Standards are extremely rigid.

Then the gutters are checked and must meet specific depths.

The pin deck also is checked for being level and for tilt, left and right and front to back.

The kickbacks also must meet standards and the pinsetter is checked several times to ensure the pins are being set on the full dots where each pin goes. If there is any offset, the center must correct the problem and undergo another inspection.

That applies, too, for the other inspection areas and the foul lights. Any deficiency must be corrected and re-inspected then meet standards set by USBC before the association can certify the center.

It is a time-consuming task and tough on the inspectors' knees. Generally, only younger directors or officers check the pin deck and kickbacks because they have to crawl under the pinsetter and twist on their sides to check gutter depths, the pin deck, and the kick backs.

Others tally the inspection numbers and draw diagrams of the numbers.

For an association such as our Orlando Regional USBC, completing 14 centers with any re-inspections takes weeks.

Lou

Edited by: IUHRYTR at: 7/9/2019 (20:30)

I did not know about the pin deck dimensions. Thanks for this useful info, Lou.

Bowling Facts:

* Bowling balls can weigh up to 16 pounds, and must have a diameter of 8.5 inches.

* Bowling pins are 15 inches tall with a 4.75 inch diameter at their broadest point. Pins may weigh from 3 pounds 6 ounces to a maximum of 3 pounds 10 ounces.

* Bowling lanes may vary from 41 - 42 inches in width but must be 60 feet long from the foul line to the center of the head pin.

* Pin decks are the area in which the pins are spotted. Pins must be spaced 12 inches apart in an equilateral triangle. The head pin must be equidistant from both gutters and never less than 30 inches from its center to the kickbacks, nor less than 34 3/16 inches from the pit.

* Kickbacks are the vertical side boards between lanes in the pin deck area. On most hits, the pins bounce off the kickbacks to knock down additional pins.

* Pit is the open area behind the pin deck where the balls and pins gather after a delivery.

Lou

Didn't know. My guess it was started by a few blokes out having a 'few' pints and tosses stone to out do one another.

Did you know that "Road Bowling" is an Irish game played by two players each of whom throws a 28-ounce iron ball along two or three miles of rural roadway to a specified destination? The winner is the player who covers the distance with the fewest throws. -- Lou

Fun fact: in duckpin and candlepin bowling, two variations of the sport, no 300s have ever been rolled. -- Lou

Do I see a bowling field trip for her class in the future?????

What a terrific fact!

That is cool!

What a creative idea for her paper. Another way to get the word out about bowling. -- Lou

My daughter did a report for her pe class and she did it on bowling, did you know 3 games equals 1 mile walking. Awesome always wondered.