Bowling: Map

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A ten-pin bowler releases the ball.

Bowling is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a bowling ball along a flat surface, usually a wooden or synthetic surface, either into objects called pins or to get close to a target ball. There are many forms of bowling, with one of the most recent being ten-pin bowling and the earliest dating back to ancient Egypt. Other places where bowling was first seen were ancient Finland

and Yemen

, and in 300 A.D. in Germany

.The first standardized rules were established in New York City

, on September 9, 1895. Today, bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than ninety countries worldwide and continues to grow through entertainment mediums such as video games for home consoles and hand held devices.

Health benefits

Bowling is an anaerobic type of physical exercise, similar to walking with free weights. Bowling helps in burning calories and works muscle groups not usually exercised. The flexing and stretching in bowling works tendons, joints, ligaments, and muscles in the arms and promotes weight loss. Apart from the physical benefits it also has psycho-social benefits, strengthening friendships or creating new ones in groups.

Bowling safety

Like any other physical activity, warming up helps to prevent injuries. Checking the soles of shoes for sticky objects helps to avoid falls. Since bowling balls are heavy with varying weight ranges, to avoid back and wrist injury they should be picked up with both hands. It’s recommended to bend one’s knees while picking up bowling balls to avoid back injuries. The bowling ball return mechanism has a driven wheel, and bowlers should keep their hands clear of it.

Types of pins

Four main variations are found in North America, varying especially in New England and parts of Canada.

tenpin: largest and heaviest pins, bowled with a large ball, and the most popular size in North America
candlepin: tall, thin, and bowled with a handheld ball
duckpin: short, squat, and bowled with a handheld ball
fivepin: tall, between duckpins and candlepins in diameter with a rubber girdle, bowled with a handheld ball, mostly found in Canada

Outdoor variations

The second category of bowling is usually played outdoors on a lawn. At outdoor bowling, the players throw a ball, which is sometimes eccentrically weighted, in an attempt to put it closest to a designated point or slot in the bowling arena.Included in the outdoor category:

Competitions

Major tournaments

Multi-sport events

Asian Games
Asian Youth Games
Pan American Games
Southeast Asian Games
Special Olympics World Games
Olympic Games - there are debates if 10-pin bowling should be part of the Olympic Games
World Games

References

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