1. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Environment

2. FUNdamentals Instructor
Module Objective and Learning
At the end of this module you will understand the following;
What the bowling arena looks like and the names for key parts
The specifications and composition of bowling lanes
How a bowling pin is made
The specifications of a bowling pin
The layout of bowling pins

3. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Lanes
APPROACH
MID-LANE
PINDECK
HEADS
BACKEND

4. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Lanes
Original wooden lanes were literally a series of boards nailed together.
The width of one lane is 39 boards (41 inches)
To help targeting are a series of 7 arrows positioned 15 feet from the foul line. If you are right handed the board numbers start from the right hand side and the arrows are on boards 5,10,15,20,25,30, and 35. Left-handers start counting from the left hand side.
The lane is 60 feet in length from the foul line to the centre of the headpin.

5. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Pins
HEIGHT is
15 inches
+or- 1/32 inches
( mm)
WEIGHT is
3lb 6oz – 3lb 10oz (1531gms – 1645gms)
DIAMETER is
4.755 – inches
at 4.5 inches high
BASE Diameter is
2.25 inches

6. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Pins
Over time the bowling pin has altered in width and height, from all wood, to plastic covered wood.
Today every pin is certified via the United States Bowling Congress testing process to ensure legality and consistency

7. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Pins
Click on the link opposite to read about the process of making a pin (takes you to an external site)
HOW TO MAKE A PIN

8. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Pin Numbers
It is critical to learn the numbers of the pins and more important that your bowlers learn them too.
Being able to recognise the pins that are left is key to sparing methods.
Lane adjustments for striking are also made by understanding pin numbers.
These methods are covered later on.

9. FUNdamentals Instructor
Bowling Pin Placement
Bowling Pins are laid out in an equilateral triangle as indicated in this diagram
The large triangle has sides of
36 inches measured from centre of pin to centre of pin
The smaller triangles (e.g. 2*4*5) have sides of 12 inches

10. FUNdamentals Instructor
Our Playing Environment
GUTTER
CAPS
LANE
APPROACH
BALL RETURN
GUTTER
PLAYERS AREA

11. FUNdamentals Instructor
Our Playing Environment
FLAT GUTTERS
KICKBACK
PINDECK

12. FUNdamentals Instructor
Check your understanding
How high (in inches) is a bowling pin?
15 inches (+ or – 1/32 inch)
2. How long is a lane from foul-line to the centre of the headpin?
60 feet
3. What is the minimum and maximum weight of a pin?
3lb 6oz to 3lb 10oz
4. How far is it from the centre of the headpin to the centre of the 7 pin?
36 inches
5. Name the five part of the playing area and lane?
Approach; Heads; Mid-lane;
Back-end; Pindeck
5. How many “arrows” are on the lane? 7

13. FUNdamentals Instructor
Check your understanding
What is the widest diameter of a pin ?
4.775 – inches
2. How far from foul-line are the arrows positioned?
15 feet
3. What board numbers are the arrows situated on?
5 – 10 – 15 – 20 – 25 –
4. What is the minimum length of the approach?
15 feet
Approach; Lane; Gutter; Flat
Gutter; Gutter Caps;
Pindeck; Playing area;
Kickback; Ball Return
5. Name the 9 areas of the environment stated in the pictures?

14. FUNdamentals Instructor
Check your understanding 7 8 9 10 4 5 6 2 3 11 1
Press RETURN to reveal each number in turn