Bowling is the most popular social games in America today. It is stated that the recreational bowler constitutes the largest part of the estimated 30 million bowlers in America (Reference).
Purpose of the game:
Bowling is a sport involving the test of accuracy and precision (reference). The main purpose of the game is to knock down all of the ten pins that stand at the foot of the lane. If this is not achieved on the first try, the bowler may have a second chance to known down all the pins. A strike is considered clearing all the pins with one ball, and if a bowler cannot hit a strike, then he will attempt to spare. Spare is a term used when the bowler does not hit a strike, and now has to clear all the remaining pins with the second ball. This effort constitutes the division of scoring called the frame (reference). There are a total of ten frames per game and three games for a competitive match.
History of the game:
The first historical record of a game similar to bowling came from Egypt (reference). According to some historians, there have been pictures found on the walls of historic ruins depicting Egyptian men rolling round rocks down an alleyway at rough stonelike objects (reference).
According to (authors), at about the time of Christ, the Romans played a game that had been adapted from their war maneuvers. The Romans did much of their fighting in hilly areas, so one of their tactical maneuvers was to roll rocks down a pass to attract or bowl over the oncoming enemy. The soldiers practiced to develop skill in this tactic and before long began to ‘play’ this game for fun.
Until the early 1900’s the game was played almost exclusively by men. In the 1980’s a group known as the American Bowling Congress (ABC) was formed. This organization set up rules, tournaments, and awards for all-male bowlers (reference). it wasn’t until the 1916 when a small group of women organized the Women’s International Bowling Congress. The second world war brought women into bowling alleys in increasing numbers. When men went overseas to fight battles, young women had the opportunity to engage in bowling leagues. Because of the large number of women coming to the alleys, it changed the environment of the bowling arenas to more of a family centered area. Today, the total number of females involved in the competitive bowling program is about 500 per cent greater than when it was 25 years ago.
Characteristics seen in highly skilled and less skilled performer:
When it comes to the skilled versus an unskilled bowler, the difference in comparison is obvious. The skilled bowler will have movements which look polished, and their movements will be in a smooth transition. They will also have the same consistency and quality of movements per bowl, as compared to the unskilled bowler, whose movements may differ from one bowl to the next. There may also be a discrepancy between the quality of each bowl for the less skilled bowler, meaning that their differing movements will produce different results each time in regards to scoring.
Some of the obvious mechanical errors seen in unskilled bowlers include: dropping the ball too soon, short or none backswing phase produced by the arm, no power or roll, little to no flexion of the knees, and lastly little to no rotation on the ball itself.
Some of the advanced techniques that may be seen in a skilled player include: inside-outside line technique, moving up or moving back, and other techniques unique to the performer themselves. (explain these techniques). Page 52
Positions important to the performance:
There are multiple important movements that must be carried out correctly to ensure ‘
Pick up technique: the bowler should never pick up the ball with his fingers in the holes, since the fingers have a tendency to perspire, it is best not to grip the ball until just before striking. Also, since the finger muscles are not that strong and can tire easily.
Stance position of the feet: there are three positions the feet may be in to ensure optimal performance. The first position involves the back and pass position, which is generally recommended. In this position, the right leg passes the left. Most of the weight in this position is on the forward foot, and this is the most natural stride position.
In the forward slip position, the right foot is forward and most of the weight is still on the left foot; the right foot in this stance slides forward in a short motion.
The third position is the side stride, which is generally not recommended because the less skilled or beginner player has a tendency to roll the weight of their body back on the heels, which may deviate the direction of the ball.
Stance position of the ball:
The bowler should face the pins squarely. Other starting positions may be seen in more advanced bowlers. (page 27).
– Three, four, or five step approach
Biomechanical analysis of bowling 5-step approach:
Objective of the sport of bowling is to knock down a set of ten pins by approaching and rolling a bowling ball behind a foul line (reference). The goal is to knock all ten pins on the first try, which is referred to as a strike. If this does not take place, the bowler is given a second chance to knock down the remaining pins. Scoring of the game depends on how many pins the bowler knocks don during each frame, with frames accumulating a total (REF). some technical terms relevant to the sport of bowling include a strike and spare. A strike is a term that is used when a bowler is able to knock down all 10 pins on the first bowl. Knocking down all ten pins on the second bowl is termed a spare (REF). possible scoring will range from 0-300 after a game. The highest score an individual can achieve is 300, which indicates that there had been a total of 12 strikes successfully.
The biomechanical analysis of a bowler can be divided into 3 phases.
1. Preparation
2. Movement
3. Follow through
Preparation
The phase consists of all the movements involving preparing for the action phase or movement. It involves grasping a ball off the ball return, aligning the body in the direction of the target, and assuming starting position (ref). this allows the bowler to get ready to deliver the ball (burglund, 1983, kours, 1976). Some of the biomechanical movements seen in this movement include: right hip joint extension, right/left knee joint flexion of approximately 15 degrees, right shoulder joint elevation, right shoulder girdle upward rotation, right elbow flexion at 90 degrees, right wrist joint flexion, wright hand phalanges flexion.
The left hand is generally used for stability purposes and is placed under or to the side of the ball to provide support (burgulnd, 1983). In the left arm, the following movements are seen: left elbow joint medial rotation, abduction of left shoulder girdle, left wrist and finger joint flexed to hold the weight of the ball.
The next phase experienced by a typical bowler is the movement or action phase. It begins when the bowler takes the first step, leading to the release of the ball. In addition, the five step approach will be analyzed using the movement phase.
First step
It is the very first step the bowler takes towards the foul line. It is usually the left foot which leads. The biomechanics involved in this step include: left hip joint flexion, left knee joint extension, right hip joint extension, right knee joint extension, right ankle plantar flexion.
Second step
This step usually involves stepping forward with the right foot after the momentum is initiated from the last phase. The bowler initiates the ball into the armswing. This stage is also commonly known as the ‘pushaway’. In general, the right arm is extended forward allowing it to drop into the armswing (Kouras, 1976). The action of the left arm is intended to support the weight of the ball. Critical movements seen in this step include: right knee joint extension, left hip joint extension, left knee joint flexion, left hip joint extension, right ankle joint plantar flexion, right shoulder joint flexion, right shoulder joint abduction, right elbow extension, right wrist and finger joints flexion, left shoulder flexion, left shoulder girdle abduction, left elbow joint extension, left wrist and elbow joints flexed.
Third step
Taken with left foot usually. Left arm which supports the weight of the ball moves off the ball, allowing the right (or dominant) arm to descend from starting position. The weight of the ball and gravity itself act synergistically to initiate the downward motion of the right arm, generating a pendulum type of motion. The left arm should at this point extend horizontally in order to provide balance and stability to the body. Movements associated with this phase include: left knee joint extension, right hip joint extension, right knee joint extension, right ankle joint plantar flexion, right shoulder girdle adduction, right elbow joint extension, right wrist and finger joint flexion, left shoulder joint horizontal extension, left shoulder girdle adduction, left elbow joint extension.
Fourth step
This step is also known as ‘the moment of truth’ for the bowler. Usually the right foot leads this movement. It is the moment just before the bowler releases the ball. Peak of backswing should be reached by the right arm at this point. The backswing height is determined by several factors including: shoulder and chest flexibility, excessive adipose tissue (preventing full range of motion), amounts of trunk flexion, and external rotation degree of the shoulder joint. Movements observed in this step include: right hip joint flexion, right knee joint extension, left hip joint extension, left knee joint extension, left ankle joint plantar flexion, right shoulder joint extension to flexion, right shoulder girdle adduction to abduction, right elbow joint extension, right wrist and finger joints flexion.
Fifth step aka delivery of the ball
Left foot forward with right leg exerting extra force to push the bowler into the slide. Slight drop of the hips occur at this stage, as well as the right arm swing will reach the bottom of its arch, parallel to the body and perpendicular to the ground. Actions seen in this stage include: right hip joint flexion, left knee joint extension to flexion, right hip joint extension, right knee joint extension, right ankle joint plantar flexion, right shoulder joint flexion, right shoulder girdle abduction, right elbow joint extension, right wrist and finger joint flexion, trunk flexion.
Follow through phase is the third phase:
Begins when fingers and thumb realease the ball. Armswing follows upwards and outwards. Actions: left knee joint flexion, left hip joint flexion, right hip and shoulder extension, right knee joint extension, right ankle joint plantar flexion, right shoulder joint flexion, right shoulder girdle upwards rotation and abduction, right elbow joint extension, right wrist and fingers remain static.