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"The Bowling Book"
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Bowling Etiquette |
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What is "Bowling Etiquette"?
'Bowling Etiquette' is how you handle yourself on the lanes. In a nutshell, it is the
proper (unwritten law) way to bowl. I have put together a list of things you should do and things
you shouldn't during your league play (or even during your open play), and more importantly why.
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DO: Give the bowlers on the lanes next to you the right of way
Before getting on the approach to begin your bowling shot, you must pay attention to the
lanes next to you. If someone is already on the approach on the lane on either side of you,
you should wait. It is especially irritating to the seasoned bowler, if he/she is on the
approach beginning their shot and you run up and throw your ball.
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DON'T: Talk to bowlers while they are in the process of making a shot
Some bowlers will even say that you shouldn't talk to them between the 1st and 2nd
balls in a frame. It is important that a bowler has every opportunity to concentrate on
what he/she is doing when they are bowling. Once the frame is complete, talk away!
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DO: Be polite
Don't antagonize the other bowlers on your pair of lanes. Everybody deserves to have
a good time bowling and there is no place for pestering and insulting other bowlers in
bowling. If someone does well, slap their hand (this is a regular practice amongst regular
bowlers), if they don't (i.e. they throw a split), offer condolences by tapping their fist
with yours.
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DON'T: Use another bowler's equipment without asking
This kind of goes without saying, but other's equipment can be very important to them.
This rule applies to everything from balls and bags to towels and hand cleaner. Nowadays a
lot of the equipment that bowlers use to bowl is pretty expensive as well. A lot of bowling
balls go for more than $200.
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DO: Keep your hands out of the ball return
It is dangerous to put your hand in the ball return, there are moving parts in there and
balls come out of there pretty fast. It is not hard to understand that a 16 (or for that
matter a 12 or even an 8) lb ball coming out at any velocity would not be a good thing.
- DON'T: Take the bowling alley's equipment (shoes and balls)
They need this equipment for the next bowler coming in behind you. If you take their
equipment, they have to replace it. If enough people do this, the price goes up and this
causes everybody pain.
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DO: Enjoy your bowling
Don't let anybody take away from you having fun! The game is supposed to be fun and
if you get to worried about what is going on, it can make you bowl worse (see my article
on Attitude).
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DON'T: Forget to pay for your bowling
This is a cardinal sin. The bowling alley relies on your paying for your bowling. A lot of
bowling alleys have gone to having you give them one shoe when you get your shoes so that
you won't leave without paying.
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DO: Stay behind the foul line
The lane has been oiled (at some point) beyond the foul line (the line before where the gutters
start). If you go across the line, the oil will get on your shoes and you will track it back on
the approach, not to mention that you may slip and fall.
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DON'T: Allow your children to run around the bowling alley, or worse yet get down on the lanes
This is dangerous (not to mention annoying to the bowlers)... not just for your child, but for the
other bowlers. While we all enjoy seeing how cute your kids are, they do need to be kept off of the
lanes.
If you follow these general rules of bowling etiquette, the people that you are bowling with and
the establishment that you are bowling at will enjoy having you around. Please be courteous when
you bowl and follow all of the rules of etiquette to the best of your ability.
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