| The game of bowling is played by rolling a | | | | foul line to the center point of the head |
| ball along a bowling lane towards a set of | | | | pin, or first pin. The bowling lane is |
| ten pins, with the objective of knocking down | | | | regularly conditioned with an approved oil to |
| as many pins as possible to score the most | | | | reduce the friction and wear of the boards |
| points. Bowling lanes are constructed under | | | | caused by the constant traffic and impact of |
| tight requirements to maintain their | | | | bowling balls. Because oil is a slick |
| uniformity among all lanes. | | | | substance, this causes less friction between |
| | | | the ball and the lane, and therefore |
| There are four parts to a bowling lane. The | | | | minimizes any motion from the ball due to the |
| approach leads up to the foul line at the | | | | spin the bowler applies to their delivery. |
| beginning of the bowling lane. The foul line | | | | There are several patterns by which to |
| marks the end of the approach and the | | | | condition a lane, but the oil used must be |
| beginning of the lane. The lane is the | | | | the same from edge to edge of the lane. The |
| majority of the planks where the ball is | | | | oil is generally applied beginning at the |
| released and travels towards the pins. The | | | | foul line and continuing along the lane until |
| final part of the bowling lane is the pin | | | | a point several feet before the pin deck. |
| deck where the ten bowling pins are set. | | | | This allows for additional friction where no |
| Bowling lanes were originally constructed of | | | | oil is present to increase ball movement into |
| planks of hard maple and pine wood. However, | | | | the pins. The length of the bowling lane is |
| lanes are now constructed of approved | | | | bordered on both sides by a 9 1/4 inch gutter |
| synthetic materials similar to wood. In | | | | that catches balls that do not stay on the |
| total, the standard bowling lane is 41 to 42 | | | | lane. |
| inches in width and 77 feet, 10 3/16 inches | | | | |
| in length. | | | | The pin deck is the final 2 feet, 10 3/16 |
| | | | inches of the bowling lane. This is the |
| The approach is a 15-foot starting point | | | | section of the lane where the pins are set |
| where the bowler takes aim and begins their | | | | equidistant from each other in equilateral |
| movement forward towards the bowling lane. | | | | triangle formations. Each pin is 12 inches |
| Two sets of approach dots assist bowlers in | | | | apart from the next, measuring from center to |
| aligning themselves to the pins for proper | | | | center of each pin. |
| aim. | | | | |
| | | | Maintaining uniformity from one bowling lane |
| The foul line is between 3/8 and 1 inch in | | | | to the next is extremely important in order |
| width. This indicates the end of the approach | | | | to allow a level playing field for all |
| and the beginning of the bowling lane. | | | | bowlers. Although the oil on the lanes can be |
| Players are not allowed to cross this mark; | | | | pushed around the lane by rolling bowling |
| if they do, they are awarded no points in | | | | balls, these guidelines give bowlers the |
| their bowl. The foul line must stretch the | | | | confidence that each bowling lane they play |
| entire width of the lane at a minimum. | | | | on will offer the same consistency as the |
| | | | next. |
| The bowling lane comprises 60-feet from the | | | | |