| All the rules and regulations of the game | | | | the pins or from a ball rebounding from the |
| have been laid down by the American Bowling | | | | rear cushion, they do not count and should be |
| Congress with certain standards. You don't | | | | re-spotted immediately. The removal of or |
| need to know every technical aspect of the | | | | interference with pins by a pin boy before |
| official rules. But it is necessary to know | | | | they stop rolling is cause for the umpire to |
| what will directly impact your game. | | | | order the pins re-spotted. All these |
| | | | regulations have been developed over a period |
| Certain standards laid down by the American | | | | of years, with only slight changes made |
| Bowling Congress govern all sanctioned | | | | recently. Nevertheless, I still hear bowlers |
| bowling lanes and must be complied with if | | | | ask if they can't count pins toppled by a |
| official recognition is to be given to any | | | | ball that has rolled into the gutter before |
| competition held thereon. I am not going to | | | | reaching the pins. |
| name all of these regulations, because many | | | | |
| of them are rather technical, but I would | | | | The regulations of the game of bowling are |
| like to set down a few that have a direct | | | | the responsibility of the ABC, which is doing |
| bearing on your game. Here are the important | | | | a never-ending job of rooting out evils and |
| ones: Your bowling ball weighs not more than | | | | standardizing the game to a point where |
| 16 pounds nor less than 10 pounds. The | | | | bowlers all over the country play on the same |
| circumference of the ball is 27 inches, and | | | | basis. Many of the rules put into effect were |
| the diameter of the ball is 8.59 inches. | | | | absolute necessities, such as the laws on |
| Tenpins are 15 inches in height, and must | | | | weight and size of the ball. In the old days, |
| weigh not less than 2 pounds, 14 ounces, nor | | | | it was considered smart to drill balls in |
| more than 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The design of | | | | such a manner that they became weighted on |
| all pins is clearly prescribed by the ABC. | | | | one side making it possible for the owner to |
| | | | deliver such a "dodo ball" with amazing |
| The distance between each pin is 12 inches | | | | accuracy and effect, giving him a tremendous |
| from center to center. The length of an alley | | | | advantage over an opponent using an ordinary |
| is 60 feet from the foul line to the headpin. | | | | ball. Thanks to the ABC, bowling is the great |
| The Width of the normal alley is 42 inches, | | | | game it is today. |
| and the length of the normal alley approach | | | | |
| is 16 feet from the foul line to the back | | | | The various rules and regulations of the game |
| edge. A foul occurs any time after the ball | | | | of bowling are the responsibility of the ABC, |
| leaves the bowler's hand and passes over the | | | | which is doing a never-ending job of rooting |
| foul line if the bowler permits his foot, | | | | out evils and standardizing the game to a |
| hand, arm, or any other part of his body to | | | | point where bowlers all over the country play |
| touch the alley, gutters, division boards, | | | | on the same basis. The game has improved to |
| walls or uprights that are beyond the foul | | | | its present day condition because of the |
| line. | | | | ABC's tireless works on it to improve it. |
| | | | These rules and regulations have helped all |
| When pins are knocked down or displaced by a | | | | from different parts of the country to play |
| ball, which leaves the alley before reaching | | | | the game in the same way. |