Ten-Pin Bowling Safety – an Overview

There is always some risk of injury in any sport you play, and ten-pin bowling is no exception to that rule. Remember, you’re taking a big ball – that weighs anywhere between 6 and 16 pounds – and throwing it with all your might down a slippery lane. Just think about that, and you can already imagine what might go wrong. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you stay safe while you enjoy bowling.

1. One person on the lane at a time – this is probably the most ignored rule among casual bowlers, and one of the easiest ways to avoid injury. If only one person is on the lane, then the bowler doesn’t risk accidentally hitting someone with the ball as they swing, or even dropping it onto their own, or even someone else’s foot. Of course, the exception to this rule is when very little children are attempting to bowl. In this instance, it may be a good idea for an adult to be with them on the lane to make sure they don’t drop the ball or hurt themselves.

2. NEVER step beyond the foul line – this is another essential safety rule, that’s easy to avoid. The foul line is the black stripe that separates the approach from the lane. While alleys don’t usually oil the lanes prior to non-league games, there is always some amount of oil left on them. The special slide pieces on the soles of the shoes combined with the oil makes for an extremely slippery surface, that’s almost impossible not to make you fall. If you don’t step beyond the foul line, you won’t step into any of the oiled surfaces, and thereby will avoid this danger.

3. Use balls that fit your fingers as properly as possible – the biggest causes of injury from bowling are the danger of dropping the ball and the ball getting stuck on your fingers. If the ball has holes that are too big for your hands, it might also be too heavy for you, and you won’t be able to control it, and could drop it. Due to the weight of these balls, one falling on your foot can be very dangerous. On the other hand, if the ball has holes that are too small for your hand, it could get stuck on your fingers as you try to release it. This could cause injury from something as minor as a simple blister on your finger to something major like dislocating, wrenching or spraining your shoulder, elbow, wrist or fingers.

4. Use balls that are a proper weight for you – again, you could dislocate, wrench or sprain something if you try to throw a ball that’s too heavy for you. The rule of thumb is to use a ball that is no more than 10% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 100lbs, you’ll want a ball that weighs 10lbs or less, if you weigh 150lbs, you’ll want one that’s 15lb or less. This also means that a child who weighs less than 60lbs might not be able to bowl, since the lightest balls weigh 6lbs. On the other hand, a ball that is too light for you might tempt you to throw it too hard, which isn’t good for your game and someone who is very strong could end up throwing the ball down the adjacent lane (no joke, it actually does happen)!

5. Take the right size bowling shoes – wearing overly tight shoes will obviously hurt your feet. Wearing overly loose shoes could make you slip on the lanes, causing you to fall. It is also a good idea to bring two pair of socks with you – one thin and one thick. In this way, if the shoes you get are a bit tight or loose, you can wear socks that compensate for these anomalies. (Of course, if you own your own bowling shoes, you can ignore this tip!)

6. Be careful around the ball-return rack – again, these balls are not feathers, and the return mechanism pushes the balls onto the rack at a swifter pace than you may realize. If you’re fiddling with the balls in the racks when a bowled ball returns, you might not have time to take your fingers away. Getting your fingers smashed between two bowling balls is extremely painful, and could badly bruise or even break a bone. You would be wise to pick up the balls by placing your hands on the sides of the ball, where neither hand is in line with the adjacent balls. In addition, don’t try to help a ball that’s gotten stuck coming onto the rack. If that happens, call a technician to fix it for you.

7. Don’t take drinks or food onto the lanes – anything that falls onto the lanes automatically becomes a safety hazard. Stepping on a drink or some food could make a bowler slip or skid when they’re about to bowl, and cause them to fall.

8. Be a good sport, and enjoy – remember it’s just a game! There’s nothing to make you forget all the above safety tips than taking the game too seriously. Leave the fights and arguments at home, and you’ll be both more aware of your surroundings as well as more able to have a great time!

Bowling is hardly a dangerous sport, but these simple precautions will help you be certain that when you go out with your friends and family to bowl, you’ll not have to worry about getting hurt. If you can do that, you’ll be certain to have fun playing one of most enjoyable games around. So get out there, and have both a safe and fun time knocking them down!Just to be safe you should get yourself latest safety accessories as well. Bowling wrist is one such accessory that can prevent severe wrist injury that may occur during bowling. You can visit to https://bowlingadvisor.com/best-bowling-wrist-support/ check the latest wrist supports available.