bowling
Bowling is a variant of the precision sport of skittles that emerged in the United States at the end of the 19th century . A ball with holes for the fingers is thrown onto a formation of ten pins called cones.
history
Bowling arose in the USA from European bowling , which was brought to the new world by German and Dutch immigrants. Bowling itself was already known in ancient Egypt and spread throughout Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Bowling was born after a bowling ban in Connecticut in 1837 . The ban on playing on lattice tracks with nine pins was made because money was often used and cheated. To circumvent the ban, a tenth was added to the nine skittles, they were placed in a triangle instead of a square, they were called “pins” and the new game was called “bowling”. The new sport born in this way spread rapidly and is more widespread than traditional bowling. In 1891 the American Bowling Congress (abbreviated as ABC ) was founded in the USA .
The "new" game came back to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, but spread only a little here in the first half of the century. Nevertheless, the International Bowling Association ( IBA for short ) was founded in 1926 . On February 17, 1929, the German Bowling Federation ( DKB for short ) decided to take up the so-called "Amerikabahn" as a federal railway and to add it to the previous game types asphalt , scissors and plank as the fourth type of bowling . The first German men's individual championships were held as early as 1931 - women and seniors followed in 1939. From 1932 there were the first championships for men's club teams; the club championships for teams of 3 were launched in 1933. In 1937 Germany won the first gold medal at the World Cup in Berlin.
During the Second World War the IBA was dissolved. On October 14, 1950, the "Working Group for Sports Bowlers" founded in Bielefeld in 1949 again called the German Bowling Association. V. into life. 15 months later, on January 27, 1952, the Federal Republic of Germany joined the world umbrella organization FIQ . In the 1950s and 1960s, the game of ten pins became increasingly popular. The reasons for this are automatic machines and the first broadcasts on television. The first large-scale systems were installed in the early 1960s.
On September 27, 1970, the newly established men's bowling league began with twelve club teams, and three years later that of the women. The World Tenpin Bowling Association ( WTBA for short ) was founded in 1973. Bowling has been considered Olympic-worthy since 1979. On October 13, 1986, the IOC refused admission to the Olympic Games. At the 1988 Olympic Games , bowling was one of the demonstration competitions, but was not included in the Olympic program.
Rules of the game
The pins are arranged as an equilateral triangle with an edge length of 36 in (91.44 cm); one point of the triangle points to the player.
A game consists of ten frames. The aim is to knock over the maximum number of pins, i.e. all ten, in each frame. A player has a maximum of two throws per frame. If a player clears all ten pins on the first throw, this is called a strike . If all pins are only cleared with the help of the second throw in a frame, this is a spare . If not all pins can be cleared with the second throw, then one speaks of an open frame (open passage).
For the evaluation points, the knocked over pins are now counted per frame. In the case of a spare, the points of the next throw are added to the ten points (for ten pins), so the highest possible number of points is 20 (spare, a strike in the next frame). In the case of a strike, the next two throws are even counted, so that the maximum number of points per frame increases to 30 (three strikes in a row). If a spare is scored in the last frame of the game, a third ball may be thrown to determine the result. If a strike is thrown, two extra throws follow. The highest result that can be achieved is thus 300 points (perfect game), i.e. twelve strikes in a row in one game.
The bowling alley
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The bowling alley is made of lacquered wood or plastic. Usually it is regularly covered with a thin film of oil. The last third of the track is dry. With a hook ball, the oil ensures that the side rotation only takes effect shortly before the pins. If the track were completely unoiled, every rotation would send the ball straight into the groove. Advanced players have several balls of different hardness and surface properties in order to adapt to the changing conditions through more or less oil on the track.
The track is divided into the following areas:
- Approach
- the area in which the players move to make their throw.
- Foul line
- a (mostly) black line that separates the run-up and running surface. In addition, it is connected to the computer by a light barrier. If this is triggered, an F (foul) is entered for the throw, the pins that have fallen do not count.
- Running surface (lane)
- the 60 foot long area between inrun and pindeck. This area is normally not entered by the players. The ball passes through this area on its way to the pins on the pin deck. The running surface is oiled primarily to protect the track surface. The unction is also the attraction of playing for athletes, since the unction requires a more or less demanding game. The running surface is in turn divided into three areas, each 20 feet long, the heads, the pines and the backend (an area between the oil and the pins that is not oiled to give the balls grip and give them time to "hook") to hit towards the alley).
- Pindeck
- the area in which the pins are located.
- Gutter
- the deeper areas to the right and left of the running surface and pindeck.
Dimensions
- Width of the track: 41 inches (1.04 m)
- Inrun length: at least 15 feet (4.57 m)
- Total length of the train: 62 feet and 10 3 / 16 -inch (19.20 m)
- Length from foul line to first pin: 60 feet (18.29 m)
- Length from the first pin to the end of Pindecks: 34 3 / 16 inch (0.87 m)
The pins
A pin consists either of a wooden core covered with plastic or made entirely of plastic. A pin is 15 in (38.1 cm) high and 4.75 in (12.06 cm) in diameter . The mass is between 3 lbs 6 oz (1.53 kg) and 3 lbs 10 oz (1.64 kg).
Railway lubrication and maintenance
In the last two decades, the lubrication of the lane has become an indispensable component of the sport of bowling, as it represents an extension of the degree of difficulty and the player has to adjust to different lane conditions. Originally, the membrane oiling was used primarily for wooden tracks as protection against dirt and moisture, as well as to absorb and distribute the forces that arise when the balls hit the track. Plastic sheets, as they predominantly occur, are hardly as sensitive to dirt and moisture any more, but they are very sensitive to the frictional forces of the balls. Wooden tracks have to be sanded down and repainted at regular intervals.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a real material battle began in the bowling sector. Ball manufacturers developed new surfaces (see The Ball ) that defy the oil, whereupon the track manufacturers provided new oils. This interplay has continued. For some years now there have been prescribed standards for oiling in sports bowling.
A good track maintenance machine can handle various variants of oil samples. These machines drive over the railway, first wash away the worn oil film and the dirt and apply a new oil film at the same time. At international championships or major tournaments, the oil sample used is usually displayed for information for the players (see graphics). The lanes are then oiled before each new round in order to guarantee a constant standard and thus the same opportunities for all players as possible.
Frequent oiling is not possible in daily game operations for reasons of cost. Here, the rail operators differ in their customer orientation. Operators who are more aimed at a fun audience only carry out limited track maintenance (often only once a week), which leads to both the absence of sports bowlers and faster wear and tear on the track surface. Railway operators who also want to address sports bowlers oil their lanes accordingly more frequently.
Pinsetter
Up until the 1950s and 1960s, the pins were set up manually or semi-automatically. During this period, however, fully automatic mechanical machines called pinsetters or pinspotters were developed and are standard equipment in bowling alleys. Brunswick and American Machine and Foundry (AMF) are among the pioneers in the field . Due to the sophistication of the devices, it is not uncommon for them to be in operation for 50 or more years. They were usually subsequently supplemented by counting systems.
In some bowling centers there are also rope pinsetters if no sports bowling is practiced. These have the advantage over the ropeless pinsetter that they work with relatively little technical support. The disadvantage, however, is that the pin fall is impaired due to the ropes. The frictional resistance of the ropes is negligible and has no effect on the fall result. However, it can rarely happen that the trajectory of a hit pin is such that its rope pulls other ropes or pins along without these pins themselves having been hit. What is more important, however, is that the rope pinsetter cannot establish the so-called “spot-off position” of a pin. This means that a pin can be moved from its original position on the first throw without falling. On the second throw, however, the pin should be where it was pushed. However, the rope machine resets it to its original position. Therefore, lanes with these pinsetters are not permitted for official competitions.
Counting systems
Counting in bowling is mostly automatic these days. Before the train computer was introduced, counting was done by hand. Initially using paper game forms on which the results were entered. Later in the 1960s there were projectors that projected the result onto a blackboard, which still had to be entered by hand. This was done with a wipeable pen on a transparent film.
Since the 1970s, automatic counting systems have gradually replaced manual writing and adding up. An optical reading unit (camera, light barrier, infrared sensors) reads the status of the remaining pins and transmits the result to a computer system which automatically calculates the score. If the system counts incorrectly, e.g. B. if a thrown pin is not registered, the result can be corrected manually on the computer desk of the train. Nothing significant has changed in the basics of this system, except that the once green tables have been replaced by colorful screen animations.
Playing technique
Bowling isn't primarily about strength. The main impulse that the ball receives is that from the pendulum movement before the ball is released.
Optimal impact
A beginner with a straight throw should try to throw over the third arrow while standing in the middle. If you do not look at the pins, but at the arrows in the first third of the path, this increases the accuracy. It is important that you always stand on the same point when setting up for the throw.
Advanced bowlers give the ball a side-to-side rotation, causing it to arch or hook. If the ball enters at an angle between the first and one of the two pins behind it, this increases the chance of a strike compared to the frontal impact of a straight run. Changing the angle of attack by means of a bow or hook allows the ball to run through the pins in an ideal way: In the case of an exemplary strike, the ball (for right-handers) runs between pins 1 and 3 and then reaches pin 5, which in turn hits 8. Distracted by the 5, the ball hits pin 9. Pins 1 and 3 hit first fall to the side. Pin 1 falls on 2, this on 4 and 4 hits 7. Pin 3 clears pins 6 and 10 in the same way. Without rotation and with a shallower angle, the probability is higher that the ball will no longer reach 5 after being deflected by pin 1, the 8 also stops. A slightly worse angle can also prevent the chain reaction on the sides from being completed. Then pin 7 or 10 (in the worst case both) remain. Even if the ball hits the 1 too head-on, a chain reaction to the sides is a matter of luck, which often results in splits that cannot be cleared (pins stay on both sides of the lane in such a way that they can only be hit by extremely precise throws at the same time) .
The optimal entrance described above (called "alley" in bowler language) is called "in the pocket". However, if the ball passes the headpin to the left (for a right-handed player), this is called a “Brooklyn” alley.
Ball hold
Usually the middle finger , ring finger and thumb are in the three holes (conventional drilling).
Start-up
The four-step technique is the most common start-up technique:
The player stands approx. 4½ steps from the fouline. The position of the location is chosen depending on the style of play and the nature of the course. This means that an experienced hook player chooses an appropriate point at the approach taking into account the displacement of the ball. This point may vary during the game due to changes in the track quality.
The first approach step (right-handed with the right foot) is shorter than the others. At the same time you bring the ball, which you previously held in a comfortable position in front of your body (about chest height), straight forward. The weight of the ball should be carried by the other hand to avoid tensing the pendulum arm. In the second step, the ball swings backwards from the front position - here you just let the weight of the ball work. In the third step, the ball is now at the highest point behind the body. From there it comes forward again with the help of gravity. The fourth step is the "sliding step". The player shifts his weight to his left foot (for right-handers) and climbs on the ball of the foot to slide the last piece to the fouline (the length varies greatly depending on how you play). Meanwhile, the ball comes forward - the hand is under the ball as if it were in the palm of the hand.
Ball delivery
As soon as the ball passes the stand, the delivery process begins. The thumb is "closed", so it slips out of the thumb hole - in the meantime, you slow down the sliding phase with the heel of the stand. The hand goes forward and follows the natural movement, that is, the joint makes a 90-degree turn inwards. The fingers (which are still in the fingertips) are tensioned and the ball is released to the side in approximately the handshake position, which creates a left-hand spin for a right-handed person. Consequently, the target between pins 1 and 3 must be sighted. A left-handed player's right spinning ball targets between pins 1 and 2.
There is no rule that tells you to throw the ball with one arm. The ball can be wielded with both hands until it is released. In contrast to muscular beginners, international professionals are increasingly using this technique to increase ball rotation. However, this leads to an odd posture at the end of the run-up and in the phase of the ball release.
Since the professional is also aiming at the triangular arrows, he looks for an arrow further to the side to include the rotation. A right-handed player will choose one of the three arrows on the right half and run all throws over it. He will not use a completely different arrow for correction (or only if the nature of the path makes it unavoidable), but usually change the basic position. The standard markings in the approach part of the path are useful for this. The individual bars are counted from these points. Most of the throws on the pins that have stopped are done in this way.
- Movement sequence
The ball
Types
There are basically two types of bowling balls: reactive balls (also called strike balls ) and plastic balls (also called clearing or saving balls ). The house balls provided by the bowling alley are usually plastic balls. Usually only experienced players have reactive balls, as they are familiar with the playing technique of starting. These special balls are able to hit a hook due to their core and their rough surface, which allows an optimal impact when throwing (see The Strikeball). The common clearing ball with a plastic shell and without a core can only do this to a very limited extent, which is why it is best suited for straight play, such as with the spare, or with beginners (see The Spareball).
The diameter of the balls is no more than 8.5 inches. This corresponds to a diameter of 218.3 mm. A bowling ball weighs between 6 lbs and 16 lbs (2.7 to 7.2 kg) and is often written on the outside of the ball. The ½ pound steps are rare.
The strike ball
The strikeball (also called hook ball, reactive ball or throw-off ball) is used for throwing, i.e. for throwing on all ten pins. Due to its running property - the bow or hook - that the ball strikes, as well as the energy that the ball builds up while running, a strike should be achieved with this ball or the knocking over of the largest possible number of pins. Since the ball makes an arc (to the left for right-handers or to the right for left-handers), the ideal entry into the alley should be achieved here (between pin 1 and 3 for right-handers), which enables the pinfall for a strike.
The ball consists of three components, the coverstock (outer shell), the core (core) and a filler material that fills the space between the core and coverstock and, depending on the compression, serves to regulate the weight.
The coverstock is made from a wide variety of different plastic compounds. Many companies have their own, legally protected names for it. Each of these surfaces differs in the composition of the plastic and various foreign bodies ( particles ) incorporated into it . Depending on the properties of the ball, the surfaces are either "sanded" or "polished". This must be stated in a “ball profile ”. Grinding stands for rough and non-slip surfaces with so-called "oil balls"; these are used on freshly or heavily oiled tracks. They also grab "still in the oil" earlier and can therefore roll up earlier and thus execute the "backend motion", the curve or hook. Polished balls, on the other hand, are for dry or played tracks. These have a longer gliding phase and can still build up enough energy.
The core , also called the core, is the highly compressed center of a strikeball. The cores have evolved a lot over the years. A multitude of variations developed from initially pear or bottle-shaped parts. The position of the core is indicated by the so-called PIN on the ball. The pin is a colored point about one centimeter in diameter. The PIN does not designate the center of gravity of the ball, but this is measured and marked separately, usually with a small, punched point. With the help of the center of gravity and the pin position, you can influence the running properties by drilling the ball accordingly (see drilling). Furthermore, the removal of the core from the shell influences the running properties. This is called RG (Radius of Gyration). This value is expressed in inches, so a distinction is made between High RG and Low RG balls. The smaller the RG, the easier it is to set the ball in rotation.
The hole in interaction with the core gives the ball an intentional imbalance, which helps to generate more dynamics when it hits the pins. International rules limit this imbalance to a maximum of one ounce more weight in the direction of the fingers or thumb (from the grip center) and a maximum of one ounce more weight on the left or right side (also from the grip center) and a maximum of three ounces more weight on the Side of the grip center (topweight) or opposite the grip center (bottomweight). In order to get the ball back in compliance with the rules if it is outside the permitted limits after drilling, a weight compensation hole may be drilled in the ball.
The running properties of the ball are determined by the interaction of the above components. These running properties are z. B. the length of the ball run, the type of arc (hook) and the speed (energy) that the ball builds up when "hooking".
The Spareball
The name "Spareball" only became common after the development of other shell materials (Polyurethane 1982; Reactive Polyurethane 1992). The Spareball, on the other hand, does not make a curve, so it runs straight ahead. This is used to clear away pins that have remained standing.
Clearing balls, also called house balls or saving balls, are usually made of polyester, which can develop significantly less friction than polyurethane. These clearing balls typically have a "pancake" core that has a 0.019 inch differential. The combination of shell and core creates a straight run for these balls. However, this is not mandatory, because with certain pin positions the strikeball (with bow) can also be used for clearing.
In contrast to strike balls, there are spar balls in many colorful designs. The polyester shell means that there are hardly any limits to the imagination of designs and images. There are “show balls” which are made of clear plastic and have a figure or symbol cast in the middle (e.g. snakes, skulls). Like a strikeball, a Spareball is also adapted to the player's hand (see hole).
The house balls are rather simple polyester balls, which are usually color-coordinated according to weight (same weight, same color). They are usually between 6 and 16 lbs in bowling centers and are all conventionally pre-drilled. The player has to try through a series of balls to find a suitable one.
The hole
The finger holes on a bowling ball are called a hole. A distinction is usually made here between the conventional hole, as found in house balls, and the fingertip hole, which is common with sports bowlers.
With conventional drilling, the holes are positioned so that the thumb disappears completely in the hole and the middle and ring fingers fit into the holes up to the second finger joint. Since no inserts are worked into the holes here, a secure grip is possible.
With the fingertip drilling, the thumb is also fully seated in the thumb hole, but the middle and ring fingers or index and middle fingers only up to the first finger joint. This increases the span (the distance between the thumb and finger holes), which means that the contact surface of the ball in the hand increases, which increases ball control. In order to ensure a secure grip here, so-called inserts are usually worked into the holes. For the thumb, this is a PVC insert which, thanks to its smoothness and hardness, ensures that the thumb can slide out quickly and safely. These thumb inserts have recently become interchangeable, so that if there are changes during a tournament, the thumb hole diameter can be adjusted if the thumb is swollen due to the heavy use. The finger inserts are made of rubber or silicone and are therefore very handy with a good grip and the ball can be given the necessary rotation. Only then is it possible to give the bowling ball the twist it needs for a hook in the end area of the lane (back end) when it is handed over.
With fingertip drilling, three criteria are taken into account: the bowler's hand (the hole is precisely measured), his playing style (especially the position of the pin and the center of gravity of the ball) and the properties of the bowling ball itself (running properties, coverstock, removal of the core from the shell, etc.).
It may, according to international rules a maximum of twelve holes are drilled into the bowling ball, but this rarely happens in practice: five finger holes for the handle, the finger hole, a vent hole (vent-hole - a maximum of 1 / 4 inch diameter), a counterbalance hole (balance hole - a maximum of 1 1 / 4 inch diameter) and a material balance hole (mill hole - a maximum of 5 / 8 inch diameter and a maximum of 1 / 8 inch depth).
The drilling of a personal ball (in contrast to the "house balls" that can be used on the bowling facilities) is generally carried out by a specially trained ball drill, because apart from a perfect fit (diameter of the holes, distance between the fingers and the thumb and the angle of the finger / Thumb holes) in today's high-end balls, the running properties of the ball can be changed again (except through the surface) due to the position of the hole in relation to the core in the ball.
equipment
Shoes
The bowling shoe, along with the ball, is the most important part of the player's equipment. Since the last start-up step is a sliding step, the shoe has a sliding sole - made of leather or Teflon - and a heel made of rubber. Nowadays, entry-level shoes come very close to modern sports shoe models and have a standard sliding sole - this usually on both shoes in order to make them universally usable for left and right-handed people. The cut and look of the rental shoes in the bowling center still correspond to the traditional bowling shoes, often in the colors red / white / blue. Most of these are elaborately processed (welted soles) to ensure a long service life.
Serious bowling shoes are technically more sophisticated. Many brands offer shoes with so-called "interchangeable soles". This means that the soles and heels can be varied depending on the nature of the contact surface. From Maximum Slide and Minimum Brake to the reverse variation. Usually this means choosing from four to six soles and two to four heels. The soles here range from extremely rough and long-fiber leather (minimum slide) to felt (maximum slide). The heels have different rubber hardnesses up to a zigzag pattern (maximum brake). The different soles and heels can easily be exchanged because they are attached with Velcro . The sliding sole of these shoes is only on the side with which one glides, ie here a distinction is made between left and right-handed models. The other shoe has a normal rubber sole. Such shoes also have a relatively large tread to give the player a secure footing. The modern shoes are mostly made of kangaroo leather, as this is very light but hard-wearing. The shoes are often very expensive, but they last a very long time.
Wrist rests
Wrist supports are used to give the bowler support for the wrist. The back of the hand should be straight when the ball is released. Since many people lack the necessary strength, this can be corrected with an appropriate wrist brace. There is a wide variety of these, as a rule one distinguishes between three categories:
- Support gloves are gloves that extend about 5 to 10 cm beyond the wrist. The glove has a recess for the thumb and is cut off at the middle and ring finger. This allows the ball to be held without any problems. A metal rail is worked into the top of the glove to support the back of the hand. The entire construct is fixed with a Velcro fastener . The splint can be removed so that the glove can be washed. Usually these gloves consist of a combination of leather and plastic.
- The glove is missing from the simple rails, which means that these are only attached to the back of the hand using Velcro fasteners. The structure usually consists of a layer of foam that rests on the back of the hand, and on top of the actual rail made of metal or plastic. Often these have a small extension that also supports the index finger so that it stays on the ball during delivery to support the rotation effect.
- High-tech splints are similar in structure to the splints mentioned above, but they have an adjustment option for the angle of the wrist inwards or outwards and also up and down. It is hoped that this will further influence the running properties or the number of rotations of the ball.
It is recommended to wear a terry cloth undersuit under this palm rest. This absorbs sweat, prevents odor and makes cleaning easier.
There are gloves without a support function. These are constructed like the glove described above, but the excess length and the splint are missing. These gloves are usually worn to increase grip, as the inside (contact surface) is rubberized or provided with rubber studs.
Bandages
There are also bandage-like supports or supports for the joints. These are available from sports stores, orthopedic stores or specialist bowling vendors.
Tapes
Self-adhesive bandages, so-called tapes , come in two versions:
- Tape inserts are short, prefabricated adhesive strips that are glued into the thumb hole of the bowling ball. They are made from a mixture of plastic and tissue and reduce the diameter of the thumbhole. Sports bowlers often have the thumb hole made slightly larger than necessary and correct this in this way. During a tournament, in the event of a thumb swollen due to heavy use, the hole can be adjusted by removing the previously glued in strips.
- Finger tapes are special tapes for the player's fingers. These are comparable to adhesive plaster strips with improved properties for this purpose (stretchability, grip, etc.). They are used on the back of the thumb of the player, as so-called "clinging", an attempt to bend the thumb in the hole, often causes wounds at the thumb joint. But they are also often used for the other fingers of the hand, either to support the tendons in the fingers (e.g. volleyball players) or to increase the grip on the index and little finger. They are used more and more often as described above to reduce the thumbhole diameter. Since tapes that stick in the thumb hole are often very difficult to remove and then there are still adhesive residues, the handling of the finger tapes is much easier.
Other Accessories
- There are also a variety of products for cleaning and maintaining the balls. Most of them have the job of neutralizing the oil absorbed by the ball during play. Dirt that comes mainly in the machine and ball return on the ball is removed. With some means the running properties of the ball can be changed.
- Further aids are sometimes a wire brush for treating the sliding soles on the shoes, a variety of towels for yourself and for the ball, microfiber towels for cleaning the ball , products for treating small wounds and shoe covers.
- Some bowlers carry tools. There are tool combinations here that enable a bowler to work on the finger holes while playing, be it by scraping the thumb hole if it is too narrow, or filing the edges, but this is mostly done by rules at official tournaments during the competition forbidden is.
Bowling in Germany
Bowling has existed in Germany since 1929, and the first individual championships were held in 1931. There are a number of tournaments with sometimes high prize money. A league operation for teams with Bundesliga and multi-track sub-leagues has been established for decades. The men's bowling league was founded in 1971, followed by the women's league in 1973. A total of 57 men's teams and 53 women's teams played in the top German division.
Most of the participations - 33 seasons - went to ASC Spandau Berlin, which was a member of the Bundesliga from 1971 to 2003 and was dissolved in summer 2004. This is followed by 1. BC Duisburg with 31 and the teams Kraftwerk Berlin and ABC Mannheim with 29 and 28 seasons respectively. The men's record champions are 1. BC Duisburg with 10 titles (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008), followed by ASC Spandau Berlin with 8 (in 1974–1978 5 × in a row) and BSC Kraftwerk Berlin with 6 titles. In the women’s category, the NSF Berlin team is the most successful of all times with 12 titles.
| rank | club | LV | Number of titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1. BC Duisburg | NRW | 10 |
| 2 | ASC Spandau Berlin | BER | 8th |
| 3 | BSC power plant Berlin | BER | 6th |
| 4th | Final Kassel | HES | 6th |
| ABC Alliance Mannheim | BATH | 4th | |
| 6th | TSV Chemie Premnitz | BRA | 3 |
| 7th | Viktoria Delphin Munich | BAY | 2 |
| 8th | VFL Wolfsburg | NDS | 1 |
| BC Wuppertal | NRW | 1 | |
| OBC Stuttgart-North | WÜR | 1 | |
| BCT Stuttgart-North | WÜR | 1 | |
| BCT Filderhof Stuttgart | WÜR | 1 | |
| Nodding. Foxes Berlin | BER | 1 | |
| Ratisbona Regensburg | BAY | 1 |
Membership numbers are not easy to determine. In Germany bowling is played together with skittles or is a subspecies of skittles like plank, scissors and asphalt. Bowling also has a high level of participation in the company sports leagues.
While bowling is very popular in the USA , Japan and many European countries (such as Scandinavia ), it remains a marginal sport in Germany even after many decades . At least some attention is paid to the “game”, but not to “sport”. After a stabilization phase in the 1980s and 1990s, the bowling alleys in many cities are usually fully booked by amateur players. Tournaments and league games take place at the weekend, so the tracks are often occupied by club players during the day .
There are many reasons for this development.
- Bowling alleys in Germany are always catering establishments and not sports facilities. That is detrimental to the image as a sport to be taken seriously.
- Since smoking was previously allowed there, the gastronomy as a sports facility always brought health problems to the detriment of bowling as a sport to be taken seriously. In addition, this deterred non-smokers. This cause has become obsolete since the non-smoking protection laws in Germany came into force in 2007.
- Bowling is an expensive sport in many ways. By investing in balls, shoes, bowling bags and additional fees for every use of the lanes. The membership fees are often lower than those of other sports clubs, but do not include the possibility of free use of the track and thus training, tournaments or league games. A club player is usually granted a discount, but using the track remains a cost factor during intensive training. An entry fee is usual for tournaments, but the first placed in their age and ranking groups can win prize money. As is customary in gastronomy, it is forbidden to consume anything brought along, so drinks are a significant cost factor for the players.
- Bowling alleys are usually only found in larger cities, so there are only few offspring in rural areas. Up until the 1990s there were countless railway companies in the cities, often together with skittles or billiards . In the course of the 1980s, more and more railways disappeared, so big cities sometimes no longer have half as many play options as before. In some large cities even the only railway closed, so that some clubs were suddenly without a sports facility. In the course of the 2000s, a number of tracks were reopened: the players of yore often did not return after years of abstinence. Outside of the cities there are a few bowling alleys where the pins are hung on strings like bowling. However, these lanes do not allow a comparable training because the pins behave differently than on tournament courses.
- Bowling is rarely seen on television. Only the special interest channel Eurosport shows individual tournaments.
Well-known German bowling players
The 1975 World Cup can be cited as an example of the many successes of German bowling players. Anne-Dore Häfker from Hanse Hamburg became bowling world champion, the German eight-team of men became world champions and the German women's team won the bronze medal.
- Men's
- Fritz “Itzer” Blum (died 2014): 1968 first European ever to win the Bowling World Cup; 17-time German champion, 38-time national player
- Horst Comes (deceased 2007): 15 times German champion
- Utz Dehler: 20 times German champion
- Norbert Griesert: German national player from 1975 to 1995, 3 × individual European Cup winner 1989 to 1992 (Vienna, San Marino, Tours), 1 × vice-individual European Cup champion 1988 (Dublin), Bowler of the Year 1989 of the WBWA (World Bowling Writer Association), amateur bronze medal at the PBA Brunswick Memorial World Open 1989 (Chicago), world championship bronze medal in doubles in 1983 in Caracas together with Bernd Bauhofer, 5 participation in world championships (1979 Manila, 1983 Caracas, 1987 Helsinki, 1991 Singapore and 1995 Reno as interim coach), EM gold medal singles 1989 s'Hertogenbosch, 3 times vice European champion in singles, trio and team (1977 Helsinki and 1989 s'Hertogenbosch), EM bronze medal team (1985 Vienna), 3 participation in European championships (1977 Helsinki, 1985 Vienna and 1989 s'Hertogenbosch), 10 × German team champions (ASC Berlin and BSC Kraftwerk Berlin), 2 × German single champions 1987 and 1988, 1 × German double champion 1983, 1 × German club cup champion 1982, 1 × German youth champion 1975, 34 national and international tournament victories, first and until 2006 only amateur to achieve a 300 (perfect game) on the professional tour, the PBA Tour (1989 PBA Brunswick Memorial Open in Chicago)
- Achim Grabowski: 15 × German Champion, 5 × Vice European Champion, 3 × Vice World Champion
- Jens Nickel : multiple German champion, World Tenpin Masters winner 2005, Vice World Champion 2003, European Champion 1997, Bowler of the Year 2003 and 2005
- Peter Knopp: multiple German champion, bowler of the year 1992, member of the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) from 1991 to 1994, since 2010 member of the PBA Senior Tour
- Ladies
- Martina Beckel: 2 × World Champion, Bowler of the Year 2009, WTBA Hall of Fame
- Tanya Cuva (Petty): 1 × world champion
- Patricia Luoto (black): national player, winner of the 1997 World Games, winner of the German Open 1999, winner of the Ladies Open 1999 + 2001, winner of the Vienna Open 2008, over 20 national championships and titles (including 12 silver and 11 bronze medals), several silver and bronze medals at World and European Championships, first perfect game (300) ever at the World Games 2009 (Kaohsiung / Taipei)
Bowling as a leisure event
Many bowling centers organize "fun bowling days", also called "disco bowling", "moonlight bowling". The lanes are illuminated with disco lights and the bowling balls are fluorescent. In different game types, a colored pin sometimes appears, which signals that a strike must now be achieved or that only certain pins may be cleared. If you are successful, you will receive prizes. Due to the ever increasing number of recreational bowling players, so-called house leagues have been established in many bowling centers. These house leagues are based on very different sets of rules and structures and cannot be compared with the official DBU competitions. Occasionally over 1,000 hobby players already play in a house league.
Differences from bowling
- The running surface of the bowling alley is three times the width of a scissors or plank bowling alley (105 cm compared to 35 cm) and is somewhat narrower than the classic bowling alley (asphalt bowling alley) with 150 cm in the board version and 134 cm in the version with a false throw . In contrast to the scissors and screed taper variants , it is not fluted, but flat.
- The bowling lanes are covered with an oil film. This is typically 40 feet (12.19 m) long from the foul line to the non-oiled back end area, which consists of the rear 20 feet (6.09 m).
- The ball is called a ball in bowling and is much larger and heavier. To be able to throw them in a controlled manner, there are three holes for the two middle fingers and the thumb. The term "ball" was adopted from the English-speaking world, as there is no distinction between "ball" and "ball" in English.
- It is thrown on ten pins instead of nine skittles (hence the term "tenpin bowling"). The pins are arranged in an equilateral triangle. One point of the triangle points towards the player.
- Various terms of bowling come from the American and therefore differ from bowling.
- In bowling, the pins are set up by so-called pin-setter machines and are therefore free (in contrast to bowling, in which the pins hang on strings). There are bowling alleys with cords, but these are not allowed for official competitions.
- Bowling differs greatly in the course of the player's movements. In bowling schools, the 4-step technique is usually trained, which, unlike bowling, ends with a sliding step.
glossary
English expressions are common in bowling coming from the USA and have been adopted.
- Approach : " Approach " - the area of the bowling alley on which the player approaches the foul line
- Backend : "back end" - the unoiled last third of the bowling alley in front of the pin deck
- Ball : Designates on the one hand the bowling ball, on the other hand also a throw in a frame
- Ball return : "Ball return" - the part of the bowling alley that brings the ball back to the front of the player
- Brooklyn : Entering the bowling ball on the left side of the headpin (for a right-hander)
- Core : "core" - of a bowling ball (cf. Strikeball)
- Coverstock : "Cover" - outer layer of a bowling ball.
- Curve : "Curve" - a smooth curve movement of the ball towards the pins
- Double : "Double" - two strikes in a row are called a double
- Five Bagger : five strikes in a row
- Foul Line : " Foul line " - if this line is crossed when the ball is released, the throw is invalid
- Four Bagger : four strikes in a row
- Frame : "frame" - but is referred to here as a single round of a game; a game has 10 frames
- Gutter : "Rinne" - the depression on the left and right of the bowling alley. If the ball comes off the track, it is guided back to the machine with the help of the gutter.
- Gutterball : "Zero throw" - a throw into the channel without touching a cone. In German this is often referred to as "poodle".
- Headpin : " Head cone" - the pin closest to the player has the number 1
- Hook : "Hook" - a fast, very strong change in direction of the bowling ball on the way to the pins is called a hook as opposed to a curve
- In the Pocket : "In the pocket" - the ideal entry of a ball into the pins, for right-handers to the right of the headpin (1 and 3), also called an alley
- In a row : “In a row” - From the fifth strike in a row, one speaks of a “… in a row” (rarely “… in a row” is also used for two to four strikes).
- Inserts : "Inserts" - this is how the inserts in the holes of the bowling ball are called
- Kingpin : "Königskegel" - this is how the pin behind the foremost pin is called. He wears the number 5.
- Lane : " Lane " - name for the bowling alley
- Pin : "cone"
- Pindeck : " bowling board " - the space on which the pins are located
- Polish Process : "Polishing process" - indicates the degree of polish a bowling ball has - this has an impact on the running properties
- RG, Radius of Gyration : " Radius of gyration " - indicates how far the core is from the coverstock. Important in the drilling pattern of a bowling ball
- Sanding Process : " Sanding process " - indicates the degree to which a bowling ball is sanded - this has an impact on the running properties
- Six pack : "Six pack" - six strikes in a row
- Save : "Replacement" - if all 10 pins can only be cleared with the 2nd throw, jokingly for a replacement strike
- Spareball : The ball with which individual remaining pins are cleared away , not to be confused with a replacement ball
- Split : "Splitting" - when one or more pins stay apart, but the headpin has fallen
- Strike : "Strike" - if all 10 pins are immediately cleared with the first throw
- Strikeball : the ball with which the first throw in the frame (throw-off) is made. This differs in structure and design from the Spareball
- Tape : "Adhesive tape" - tapes that are used to support or protect the fingers when playing bowling
- Tape insert : "Adhesive tape insert" - is usually stuck into the thumb hole of a ball to reduce its diameter
- Turkey : “ Turkey ” - three strikes in a row
- Washed Out : " Washed out" - if two or more pins remain apart after the first throw, but the headpin is still standing
- Wrist Glove : "Glove" - a glove with a support function for the wrist
- Wrist Support : " Wrist Support " - a splint that supports the wrist, but without a glove
Web links
Associations
- Germany
- Bundesverband Bowling eV
- German Bowling Union
- German Bowling Association
- Freizeit-Bowler-Vereinigung 1979 eV
- Austria
- Switzerland
- International
Individual evidence
- ↑ USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions, Chapter 7 - USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications