Bowling

Bowling is a fun game played in a building called a bowling alley. Players roll a heavy ball down a long wooden lane. The goal is to knock down ten pins at the end. Each player gets two tries per turn. Bowling is a good game for families and friends.

How to Bowl

A bowling ball has three holes for your fingers. Players swing the ball back and let it roll down the lane. Knocking down all ten pins with one roll is called a strike. Knocking them down in two rolls is called a spare. A perfect game is 300 points, which is very rare.

Players roll balls across a flat green lawn in a bowling game.
Players roll balls across a flat green lawn in a bowling game. (Lewis Clarke / Wikimedia Commons)

History of Bowling

Bowling is a very old game. People played it in ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago. Old bowling balls have been found in tombs. Today, bowling alleys have machines that set up the pins for you. Millions of people bowl each year for fun or in leagues.

Fun Facts

  • The heaviest bowling balls weigh about 16 pounds.
  • Bumper bowling puts rails in the gutters so kids do not miss the pins.
  • A bowling lane is about 60 feet long from the line to the pins.

Did You Know?

Bowling pins are not thrown away when they get too worn out; they are often turned into toys or decorations.