The origins of bowling can be traced back to 4000 years ago in Rome and Greece. Today, this game has become very popular around the world.
1. Bowling was originally played outdoors, and the first indoor bowling alley was opened only in 1840 in New York City. Americans loved it so much that in the first years in New York, there were more than 200 bowling alley.
2. Initially, the game used only nine pins in a diamond formation. In the United States, the game quickly became gambling and until 1870 it was banned in all states. In order to save this sport, it was decided to add another skittles (pins), since the game with ten skittles was not formally banned, and at the same time they started to place skittles with a triangle.
3. By the early 20th century, bowling balls were mainly made of wood. Today, they made primarily from synthetic polymers.
4. For a long time bowling was considered just entertainment. But now this game has become a professional sport. And in 1982, Earl Anthony was able to become the first player on the planet to earn $ 1 million in a bowling game.
5. The weight of a ball is indicated by a number and measured in pounds. So, the lightest ball is number six and it weighs 6 lb, and the heaviest ball is number 16 and weighs 16 lb.
6. Only at the end of the 20th century was invented an automated mechanical device that sets bowling pins back to their original position, and a computerized scoring system introduced in 1970.
7. From 1984 to 2008, International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame was located in St. Louis (USA). In 2010, it was relocated to Arlington, Texas. If you visit these institutions you can purchase souvenirs, equipment for the game and learn about the history of bowling.
8. In Germany, bowling was a religious ceremony: the one who did not knock pins down was recognized as ungodly and he needed to be better, but if he did knock all the pins down, he was leading a good life.
9. According to the “classic” bowling game, a maximum score is 300 points. In professional games, the best players score at least 200 points per game.
10. Bowling is very popular in the US, in the 2016 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) had over 2.5 million players. Bowling is played by 100 million people in more than 90 countries and is the subject of many video games.
