A few simple guidelines to help make your bowling experience more pleasurable.
Be ready to bowl when the pins are set, but wait until the pinsetting machine has completed its cycle and the sweepbar is raised to make your delivery. Throwing a ball before the machine is ready may damage the ball or equipment.
Observe one lane courtesy. The bowler on the right should bowl if both reach the approach at the same time. Stay off the approach while you wait.
Taking too long to aim or get set up when you are on the approach delays the game.
Try to remain in your approach area while delivering the ball.
Step off the approach once you have delivered the ball.
Good bowling requires concentration. Have fun, but keep in mind excessive movement or noise could be distracting when others are up to bowl.
Excessive “lofting” hurts your game and damages the lane.
Get permission to use another player’s ball.
Refrain from using abusive language or obscene gestures.
Play the game to win, but be a gracious loser. Good sportsmanship is always the key to a successful game.
Wet shoes are a safety hazard, watch where you are walking.
Tips for parents, when taking your small children bowling.
1) Don't put small fingers between bowling balls on the return rack. Another ball coming back can really hammer little fingers.
2) Never, ever, reach in to the ball return to get a ball that has not come fully out. If the ball "catches", it could possibly break a small arm. It will hurt an adult a lot.
3) Never step past the foul line. That area is oil covered and extremely slippery. Please watch the video to the right to see just how dangerous that can be.
4) Only one child at a time on the approach. Kids roll balls accidentally backwards, or drop them - hopefully not on any ones toes.
5) If the bowling ball stops part way down, please don't go after it -- for the same reason as #3 above. You would have a longer way to fall.
6) Don't have small children on the approach when YOU bowl. I have seen them run up behind an adult in their approach and (almost) get one right in their small faces from the back swing. It is a scary sight.
Please instruct your kids on these simple, but very important items and have a fun and safe time.