| Every sport has its rules of etiquette. | | | | your body encroaches onto the next alley |
| In golf, for example, one does not talk | | | | and bothers the adjoining bowler. Try to |
| or move while a player is shooting. In | | | | cut down on your "body english" in |
| basketball, the crowd is silent when a | | | | practice and you will use less of it in |
| free throw is made. Even in such a | | | | league and tournament play. |
| rugged sport as boxing, a man who has | | | | Give the bowler on your right preference |
| scored a knockdown retires to the | | | | at all times. Because you swing your |
| farthest neutral corner to allow his | | | | ball at your right side, you have to be |
| opponent a chance to get up after a | | | | more careful of the man on your right |
| count. So it is in bowling. What it | | | | than the one on your left. Let him shoot |
| really boils down to is courtesy, once | | | | before you do-if you are both beginning |
| you have an inkling of the rules. Here | | | | at the very same time. |
| are some points to remember: | | | | Eliminate dilly-dallying between shots. |
| Observe the foul line at all times. | | | | Don't fall into the habit of going |
| This goes for practice as well as for | | | | through a dozen meaningless motions, |
| tournament or league play. You owe it to | | | | such as scraping your feet back and |
| your teammates and to those around you | | | | forth, wiping your hands on your |
| to refrain from any such action as | | | | clothing three or four successive times, |
| fouling, which would penalize your score | | | | moving your ball back and forth or up |
| and consequently that of your team. | | | | and down without moving your feet, or |
| Fouling frequently brings on loud and | | | | any such actions which not only delay |
| unpleasant grumbling, in itself another | | | | the game but serve to make you more |
| breach of etiquette. | | | | tense than before. Get into your |
| Never two-ball a pinboy. By this, I | | | | starting stance, sight at the target and |
| mean don't fire another ball down the | | | | roll the ball. |
| lane before the first one has been | | | | Don't distract or bother other players. |
| returned to you. You might injure the | | | | Before going to the rack for your ball, |
| pinboy, and you are sure to make | | | | make sure that you will not interfere |
| yourself mighty unpopular with those | | | | with other players. After you have |
| around you, even if you don't hurt him. | | | | selected the ball, be careful not to |
| Remember, if the pinboy should be | | | | back into anyone's path. These are |
| injured, you might find yourself liable | | | | important safety rules as well as good |
| for damages. | | | | bowling manners. |
| Don't mar alley approaches. If you have | | | | Be ready to bowl when it is your turn. |
| any slippery or gummy substance on your | | | | Don't carry on long conversations with |
| bowling shoes (one should never bowl in | | | | outsiders or engage in activities not |
| street shoes), get rid of it before you | | | | directly concerned with your bowling. |
| step onto the approaches. If your shoes | | | | You owe it to your teammates and your |
| leave skid marks, remove the marks with | | | | opponents alike to keep your mind on the |
| steel wool. Avoid excessive use of | | | | game at all times. |
| chalk. Do not mar the alley approach or | | | | Confine your remarks to those on the |
| the alley bed with pencil, crayon, chalk | | | | bench. Do not talk to or attempt to |
| or any such substance. | | | | gain the attention of a bowler already |
| Remain on the bench until it is your | | | | on the approaches. |
| turn to bowl. If you get up before your | | | | Control your temper and Be a good loser. |
| time you will interfere directly or | | | | By that I don't mean that you should |
| indirectly with those who are already on | | | | give up easily, for everyone likes a |
| the approaches. Give others the same | | | | real competitor. But once beaten, take |
| common courtesy you would want for | | | | your defeat gracefully. Don't give |
| yourself. | | | | advice unless asked for it. In short, |
| There is no rule against "body English." | | | | simply do unto others as you would have |
| Lots of bowlers, even the experts, are | | | | them do unto you. |
| prone to use it at times. But when you | | | | Concentrating on what you're going to |
| use it, remember that you have the right | | | | do, that is bowling and don't engage on |
| to use only the space enclosed by the | | | | unnecessary things, which could distract |
| width of your own lane. You are not | | | | your attention. And be cool and accept |
| expected to teeter or lean so far that | | | | your defeat gracefully. |