| What is "Bowling Etiquette"? | | | | towels and hand cleaner. Nowadays a lot of the |
| "Bowling Etiquette" is how you handle yourself on | | | | equipment that bowlers use to bowl is pretty |
| the lanes. In a nutshell, it is the proper (unwritten | | | | expensive as well. A lot of bowling balls go for |
| law) way to bowl. I have put together a list of | | | | more than $250. |
| things you should do and things you shouldn't | | | | DO... |
| during your league play (or even during your open | | | | Keep your hands out of the ball return and stay |
| play), and more importantly why... | | | | behind the foul line (the line where the gutters |
| DO... | | | | start). It is dangerous to put your hand in the ball |
| Give the bowlers on the lanes next to you (i.e. if | | | | return, there are moving parts in there. The lane |
| you are on lane 4, the bowlers on lane 5 and lane | | | | has been oiled (at some point) beyond the foul |
| 6) the right of way. What does this mean? | | | | line. If you go across the line, the oil will get on |
| Before getting on the approach to begin your | | | | your shoes and you will track it back on the |
| bowling shot, you must pay attention to the lanes | | | | approach, not to mention that you may slip and |
| next to you. If someone is already on the | | | | fall. |
| approach on the lane on either side of you, you | | | | DON'T... |
| should wait. It is especially irritating to the | | | | Take the bowling alley's equipment (shoes and |
| seasoned bowler, if he/she is on the approach | | | | balls). They need this equipment for the next |
| beginning their shot and you run up and throw | | | | bowler coming in behind you. If you take their |
| your ball. | | | | equipment, they have to replace it. If enough |
| DON'T... | | | | people do this, the price goes up and this causes |
| Talk to bowlers while they are in the process of | | | | everybody pain. |
| making a shot. Some bowlers will even say that | | | | DO... |
| you shouldn't talk to them between the 1st and | | | | Enjoy your bowling. Don't let anybody take away |
| 2nd balls in a frame. It is important that a bowler | | | | from you having fun! The game is supposed to |
| has every opportunity to concentrate on what he | | | | be fun and if you get to worried about what is |
| she is doing when they are bowling. Once the | | | | going on, it can make you bowl worse (see my |
| frame is complete, talk away... | | | | article on Attitude). |
| DO... | | | | DON'T... |
| Be polite. Don't antagonize the other bowlers on | | | | Forget to pay for your bowling. This is a cardinal |
| your pair of lanes. Everybody deserves to have a | | | | sin. The bowling alley relies on your paying for |
| good time bowling and there is no place for | | | | your bowling. A lot of bowling alleys have gone to |
| pestering and insulting other bowlers in bowling. If | | | | having you give them one shoe when you get |
| someone does well, slap their hand (this is a | | | | your shoes so that you won't leave without |
| regular practice amongst regular bowlers), if they | | | | paying. |
| don't (i.e. they throw a split), offer condolences by | | | | If you follow these general rules of bowling |
| tapping their fist with yours. | | | | etiquette, the people that you are bowling with |
| DON'T... | | | | and the establishment that you are bowling at will |
| Use another bowler's equipment without asking. | | | | enjoy having you around. Please be courteous |
| This kind of goes without saying, but other's | | | | when you bowl and follow all of the rules of |
| equipment can be very important to them. This | | | | etiquette to your best ability. |
| rule applies to everything from balls and bags to | | | | Keep bowling and having fun! |