It does not matter if you are a newbie in bowling or an expert with most of the equipment for bowling. What matters is having the correct tools and learning the best way to effectively get high scores. The site beginnerbowling.com will go through the essentials of bowling gears equipment that are available and by what means they can make your gameplay cooler.
The essential gear for bowling
In the 1840s, the first alley for bowling indoor was made at Knickerbockers, New York City. The sport has not really changed muchsince then. Though the material and technology used have improved quite a lot. The standard gear of most players include:
- Bowling shoes
You are required to put on bowling shoes if you want to play at most bowling alley. It is a basic item provided on rent to the entire public by the bowling centers. These shoes are known as house shoes. Since it is not specifically made for individuals, most might be uncomfortable and lack sufficient support needed by your foot.
Shoes are mainly for performance and safety since the flat surface at the majority of the alleys is slick and super clean. You can get hurt badly if your ordinary shoe gets stuck on the oiled lanes because your accumulated momentum is suddenly brought to a standstill. The common injuries resulting from this accident are strained back, ankles, and wrists along with extra types of injuries.
Bowling shoes are made in such a way that each sole has a special function – one glides while the other brakes. The sliding sole helps the bowler to move effortlessly while launching the ball. The braking sole is made from a material with high friction, like rubber to enhance grip.
You can choose to rent the house shoes or have your custom-made shoes to suit your bowling style, for hygiene and comfort reasons. Since the shoes at the alleys are generic and made to fit any individual that needs to rent them. They cannot ever be as clean as your own personal shoes. Bowling footwear is a sure plus and will give you the stability required for playing on different surfaces.
- A proper bowling ball
Just like shoes, the ball provided for a player at the alley is called house ball. They are often made with cheap plastic and presented in different weight – about six to eight pounds for children and up from ten to sixteen pounds for grown-ups. The ball usually has large holes drilled randomly to fit the hands of bowlers of all size and age. Read more here.
Which means you are unlikely to get a ball that is appropriate your hand. The disadvantage is that you might sustain an injury on your fingers and hands with prolong gripping of the ball. It will also be hard for you to release the ball in a precise and accurate manner.
It is advisable that you go to a professional bowling shop and buy your ball. They will take a measurement of your hand so the ball can suit you perfectly. The most essential part is for the ball to fit your hand’s contour and the gripping holes should be right for your fingers.
The conformation of your fingers, as well as the size and shape, will determine the pitch angle made in the ball. Well drilled holes will improve the effective release while playing. Your hands will be safe from most gripping injuries and your accuracy will increase.
For most people that bowl once in a while, they just want a ball that is comfortable and fits the size of their fingers. However, the expert bowlers need balls that have certain features such as porosity, external resistance, and distribution of mass that dictates how the ball rolls in motion.
Other Gear
In addition to theballs and shoes, bowlers use various gear or equipment to prevent injuries and enhance their skills. These include:
- Bowling bag
A bag is essential because you can use it to move around your balls, shoes and other things with ease. The ones on the market currentlyare availableastotewhich has space for 1 to 2 balls as well as shoes and towel. The other popular variety is the roller ones that have with folding handles, it is not really expensive and you can wheel it to the alley from your car after bowling.
It is recommended that newbies buy a bag that can fit 2 bowling balls. When you put one bag in, you can use the extra space for the other accessories you need in the lane areas. If you do ultimately buy a second ball, you won’t need to get a new bag to carry the balls to the alley.
- Wrist guards
Just before you deliver the bowling ball, thisdevice for wrist support will not allow the bowling hand’s hind to slant or fall.Basically, the device is mainly to reduce the wrist tilting which enables you to get constant throws.
- Finger Adhesive tape
Sometimes the fingers get injured or scarred due to the friction caused when the ball is released. That is the reason thatmost bowlers wrap their fingers with tape to keep them blister-free. Though some say that the tape improves their grip while holding the ball.
- Powder
Inorder to improve grip on the ball and lessen moistness of the hands, some bowlers use powder since grip has a huge part in the swingand release of the ball. You can use any powder that you like but the common ones are talc or baby powder.
- Absorbers for Elbow, Wrist, and Ankle
The main reason why bowling is detrimental to your joints is due to the monotony.Soft shock absorbers are used by most players to lessen pain and damage to the joints.
- Microfiber Cloth/Towel
After each throw, some bowlers clean their ball. The minor benefit seems to include removal of the oil or sweat that accumulated on the tracks. As a bowling ball rolls down the oiled lane, some oil builds up on it. This may reduce the friction in the middle of the ball and the lane, this makes the ball to glide on instead of spinning.
There is much other optional equipment that bowlers use, but then the essential part is that you watch out for your safety as you launch the ball. The additional equipment apart from the shoes and ball are just add-ons which might enhance your performance.
