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What’s A Good Bowling Score? (Explained)
Bowling has been a staple of human culture for centuries.
One can trace its origins back to ancient Egypt.
Although the rules have changed over the centuries to what is modern-day bowling, the game itself is one of the oldest in human history.
The goal of bowling is to hit all the pins at the opposite end of a lane.
You get two opportunities to do so before your turn is over.
The number of pins that you knock down awards you a set number of points.
You may wonder after a session of bowling if your score was good or poor.
Here’s what you need to know about bowling and what makes for a good bowling score.
What’s A Good Bowling Score?
For a professional bowler, a good bowling score is between 230 and 270 points.
A perfect bowling score is 300 points.
However, rolling a perfect game to achieve 300 points is extremely rare.
Even professionals struggle to achieve such a feat.
That’s because there are tons of different variables that a bowler can’t control which can impact the game.
If you’re an average bowler, then a good score rests somewhere around 100 and 150 points.
For a beginner, a good score is between 50 and 70 points.
What Variables Impact How Well You Score In Bowling?
Bowling seems easy enough.
You have a ball, and you hurl it down a lane to strike pins at the back.
However, after a quick game of bowling, you’ll quickly realize that it isn’t as easy as it seems.
There are a few things that can impact even a professional’s performance.
Here are some variables that can impact a bowling score.
1. Weight Of The Ball
One of the things that can impact how much or how little you score is the weight of your bowling ball.
Professionals use their own bowling balls that are of a weight that they prefer to use.
Some leagues may also issue certain weights of balls to ensure everyone is using the same equipment.
This can prevent cheating or give one player an edge over another.
When you’re simply bowling outside of a league, however, you’re usually subject to picking a bowling ball that the alley provides.
Depending on the alley, you may have basic black bowling balls or ones with pretty colors.
The younger bowlers will likely gravitate to the prettier bowling balls regardless of their weight.
However, weight is an important part of bowling.
Heavier balls are harder to throw, but they also generate a harder impact on the pins.
You may also find that they tend to stay on track better than lighter balls since it takes more resistance to alter their path.
The problem with heavier bowling balls is that they’re difficult to use.
You need a good amount of strength to throw it down the lane.
This problem becomes worse as the game progresses.
Your arm and wrist become tired.
Enough fatigue can start to impact your performance.
Lighter balls might be a better alternative for some bowlers.
However, they don’t hit the pins as well and can drift along the lane.
While you may not be as tired by using a lighter ball, you will have to overcompensate to correct the problems that the lighter bowling ball gives.
Your game can fluctuate drastically depending on the weight of the ball that you choose.
2. Surface Of The Bowling Ball
Besides the weight of the ball, another important factor is the ball’s surface.
Older bowling balls may not be the best to use.
Over time, they can start to develop dents that impact how well they roll.
You might aim the ball one way, but because of the dent, it ends up going another direction.
Since you never know how the ball is going to land, it’s impossible to correct your throw to avoid the dent.
This is also why professionals like to use their own bowling balls or why leagues provide them.
It ensures that each bowling ball is in good condition and won’t impact performance.
When bowling outside of leagues, you’re subject to the alley’s bowling balls.
Some alleys take care of their bowling balls and invest in new ones when their older ones start to dent or chip.
Other alleys that don’t have much of a budget have to hold onto their older bowling balls for as long as possible.
Because of that, you’ll find lots of balls with dents and chips in them.
It can be difficult to grow as a bowler when you’re working with damaged equipment.
If your bowling ball has a dent or chip in it, then it’s going to impact your bowling score.
3. Surface Of Pins
Coinciding with the surface of the bowling ball is the surface of the bowling pins.
Like bowling balls, the pins also start to become damaged with time.
On particularly hard hits, the pins can receive a dent or chip.
This can impact how well they sit on the floor.
It might mean that they’re easier or even harder to tip over.
Even if you bowl perfectly, you may face a pin that refuses to go down because a dent has it leaning a certain way.
Your score will alter because of the damaged pin.
Like bowling balls, not all alleys have the budget to regularly change out their pins when they become damaged.
The worst part is because you’re not allowed to walk down a lane in most alleys, you won’t even be able to tell if a pin has a dent or chip.
They’re too far away to see.
If the pin has some form of damage, then your bowling score may either increase or decrease as a result.
4. State Of The Lane
Another factor that can influence your bowling score is the state of the lane that you’re using.
In bowling, a lane is a hard strip of wood that you toss the ball down.
The ball travels down the lane and strikes the pins at the back.
Because lanes see a lot of abuse, they’re also subject to dents, chips, and other damage.
The problem with damage is that it can completely change the direction of a ball.
If an alley has a dent, then the ball can hit the dent and roll in a different direction.
The same goes for a chip.
The slightest imperfection can alter the ball’s spin and make it go elsewhere.
You may find yourself in a situation in which you rolled the ball down the middle, but a sudden dent made the ball go into a gutter instead.
Besides the floor’s condition, lanes also use mineral oil.
The oil helps perfect surface tension on the lane and contributes to the lane’s health.
However, as balls pass down the lane, they pick up the oil and remove it.
This impacts how the game progresses.
Professionals call the oil on lanes “lane dressing.”
When their ball starts to struggle because of the lack of oil, they call it “carry down.”
That’s because the previous bowling balls have carried down the oil across the lane.
The oil is no longer spread evenly across it.
That’s why some of the best bowling occurs in the morning after the alley owners have spread oil on the lanes.
Since they’re busy taking care of customers during normal business hours, they aren’t always able to re-oil the lanes during the day.
A bowler who comes in at the end of the day is going to bowl on lanes with hardly any oil left on them.
Of course, that isn’t always the case.
Since the mineral oil also protects the lane, many alley owners will try to keep their lanes oiled throughout the day.
They’ll even shut the lanes down for a brief period to oil them.
There are also several patterns that the alley will use when spreading the oil on the lane.
The most popular pattern is the House Pattern.
This type of pattern requires the worker to spread most of the oil in the middle of the lane and less on the sides.
By the time the oil reaches the gutter, it doesn’t exist.
Once bowlers start to use the lane and their balls spread the oil around, it helps move the oil around the lane more.
Depending on the state of the lane, it could impact your performance substantially.
If you want to ensure you get the best results, then you should consider bowling in the morning or asking the alley owner when they oil the lanes.
5. Bowling Shoes
Strikeforce Flyer Mesh Lite Black/Royal Mens Bowling Athletic Shoe with FlexSlide Technology (Black/Royal, Numeric_12)
Another variable that can impact your performance is your bowling shoes.
When you’re a beginner, you likely don’t own a pair of bowling shoes.
Most alleys require the use of bowling shoes when bowling because the shoes are clean and gentle on the floor.
Using sneakers or other types of shoes on the bowling floor can ruin the wood or leave skid marks behind.
Bowling shoes come in a variety of shoe sizes, but the availability of them depends on how busy the alley is.
If the alley is very busy, then you may discover that all the shoes in your specific size are out.
This means that you’ll need to use shoes a size smaller or larger than what you’re used to.
As a result, your performance is worse because you’re either sliding around in your shoes when you move or you’re in pain because they’re too tight.
As a bowler, you need to have a firm connection to the ground.
It helps you use your strength to roll the ball down the alley.
If you’re unable to get a good grip on the floor, then you may not be able to deliver much power behind the ball.
You may not be able to ground the direction in which you want to roll the ball either.
That’s why professionals and experienced amateurs will purchase their own bowling shoes.
It ensures that they have a pair of shoes that fits their feet perfectly.
They’re able to get a good grip on the floor which allows them to use their full strength to throw the ball and ensure it goes in the direction that they want.
Having the right shoes can seriously impact how many points you earn in bowling.
6. Distractions
A final thing that can impact your bowling score is the number of distractions around you.
In a professional league, there are few distractions.
It’s a far more serious game where people tend to be quiet to allow the bowler all the concentration they need.
This is a stark difference from the average bowling lane that you go to recreationally.
There are tons of noises and activities going on in a bowling alley.
From birthday parties to arcade games, there are flashing lights, shouting, and laughter that can distract you from your game.
Most alleys also play loud music to keep the area lively and fun.
For people who are trying to do their best to bowl, however, these distractions can be a nuisance.
It’s even worse when there are children on the loose and running all over the place.
They may cut across you just as you’re about to throw your ball.
With as many distractions that exist in a bowling alley, your concentration faces a challenge.
Without proper concentration, you may find you’re unable to score as well as you could otherwise.
Distractions definitely impact your performance and bowling score.
How Hard Is It To Bowl A Perfect Game?
A perfect game in a bowling match requires rolling a strike on every round, which is called a frame.
A strike refers to a situation in which you roll the ball once and knock every pin down without leaving any standing.
You have to do this for all 10 frames of the game.
There are also 10 pins to knock down, each pin being worth one point.
A strike is worth 10 points plus double the points on your next two rolls.
When you score a strike in the 10th frame, then you get two additional rolls for that last frame.
If you manage to score a strike in every frame, including those two bonus rolls in the 10th, your total score is 300.
It’s the maximum number of points that you can score.
Back in the early days of bowling, this was incredibly hard.
Only a handful of people ever managed to accomplish the task.
Over time, however, as bowling ball technology and different types of lane oils have advanced, it has become a little easier to bowl a perfect game, though it is still incredibly difficult and rare.
One only needs to look at the statistics to see that this is the case.
In the bowling season of 1968–1969, there were a total of 905 perfect games in all the tournaments and leagues recognized by the American Bowling Congress.
In the season of 1998–1999, that number jumped to 34,470.
Statistically speaking, that’s an increase of 3,700%.
Part of the reason perfect games have increased has to do with the advancements in the design and materials of the bowling ball.
Back in the ’60s, bowling balls were primarily made out of rubber or plastic.
These days, they’re made out of different materials all mixed together to create a ball that provides incredible traction and friction.
The exact chemical makeup of bowling balls is a secret since bowling ball manufacturers are trying to get an edge over one another with their recipes.
The result is a ball that’s easier to handle on the lane.
From there, the only thing a bowler needs to worry about it is their own techniques.
They can increase their skills through practice.
Without the bowling ball to handicap them, their chances of rolling a perfect game increase.
Conclusion
The best possible outcome that a bowler can receive is a perfect game with a score of 300 points.
However, most professionals tend to average between 200 and 270 points.
Beginners are lucky if they can earn around 50 to 70 points.
Intermediates are somewhere in between with an average of 100 to 150 points.
There are various aspects that can influence how well someone performs, but thanks to advances in bowling ball manufacturing, it has allowed more people to increase their skills and roll a perfect game.
The post What’s A Good Bowling Score? (Explained) appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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Did Corey LaJoie help or hurt his chances for a premier ride? | Fast Thoughts with Bob Pockrass
Which trend would hold? The Denver Nuggets remaining undefeated at home in the playoffs or the underdog Miami Heat being the team that won’t die?
That was the question as the NBA Finals teed up Game 2 on Sunday in Denver, after the Nuggets won comfortably in Game 1.
There were plenty of other subplots: would the Heat figure out how to at least make something difficult for Nuggets star Nikola Jokic? Would Jimmy Butler return to ‘playoff Jimmy’ form? Would the Heat role players show up? Would Jamal Murray keep doing his convincing Steph Curry impression?
Well, Miami won 111-108 as Jokic finished with 41 points on 16-of-28 shooting but was limited to just four assists as the Heat were more judicious in their double teams and took away easy passing lanes.
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Butler didn’t exactly tear it up for most of the game, but he was a willing playmaker, helping find looks for his teammates. In the fourth quarter, he looked for his own offence more as he scored eight of his 21 points down the stretch while adding nine assists.
Meanwhile, Murray looked relatively ordinary as the Canadian’s streak of 25 points or more in the post-season ended at six games as he finished with 18 points and 10 assists. He did hit big three as part of the Nuggets’ 11-2 run late in the fourth that helped Denver turn a 12-point Miami lead to a one-possession game, but Murray missed a long three on the final possession that would have sent the game into overtime.
The Nuggets take the series to Miami for Game 3 on Wednesday after losing at home for the first time in 10 playoff starts, the series evened at 1-1.
Some takeaways.
Would Playoff Jimmy please stand up?
Butler has alternately looked like the best player in the world during these playoffs — he averaged 37.6 points a game in Miami’s five-game upset of the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round — and just a guy.
A pretty good guy, but a long way from the second coming of Kobe Bryant.
Heading into Game 2, Butler – who scored just 13 points on 14 shots in the opener – was averaging just 20.7 points on 39-per-cent shooting over his previous six starts this post-season.
Not surprisingly, the Heat were just 2-4 over that stretch.
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There were no signs Butler was going to change course in the early going. On possession after possession, the Nuggets would funnel Butler to the baseline, content to take their chances with him dribbling through the paint without even looking at the rim.
Normally it’s a compliment to say a player of Butler’s calibre wasn’t forcing anything, but not in this case as the Heat likely would have been happy to their star try to put his imprint on the game. Instead, when Butler hit traffic he’d make a harmless pass to the corner, the Nuggets would rotate and not much would happen.
It wasn’t like Butler was a non-factor: he finished the first half with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go along with four assists, but in my view the Heat need Butler to be creating offense for himself if they’re going to keep up with the Nuggets juggernaut.
In the third quarter with the game separated by a three-point field goal, Butler got out on a break but fumbled the ball away when chased down by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It’s just one play but not one that Butler would have made a month ago.
But Butler began to heat up in the fourth as a three and a three-point play gave the Heat a six-point lead that they stretched to 12. The Heat hung on from there.
The great undrafted
The collection of undrafted role players the Heat have come to rely on to round out their lineup in support of Butler and Bam Adebayo came to play.
Miami jumped out to a 10-2 lead as Max Strus – 0-of-10 from three in Game 1 – hit a pair of quick triples early, taking advantage of some lax Nuggets defence.
Meanwhile, Gabe Vincent hit a pair of jumpers and showed why he’s been the right choice by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra to supplant Kyle Lowry as a starter.
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As the Nuggets chipped into Miami’s lead and then threatened to run away with things in the second quarter, it was Vincent who kept the Heat in touch after Denver cut the lead to three by the end of the first quarter and pushed in front by double figures in the second. Vincent hit a big three that kept the Nuggets’ lead at 10 and then a steal and three-point play helped the Heat come back from down 15.
Vincent wasn’t the only Heat role player to find a way to contribute early. Lowry hit a three as did Kevin Love, who started for an ill Caleb Martin.
Strus finished the first half with 14 points and Vincent 12. But the Heat still trailed at half, 57-51.
They didn’t stop there. It was Vincent’s fourth three that gave Miami its first lead in the fourth quarter and by that time Duncan Robinson – another member of the Heat’s undrafted brigade – was making plays too, nailing threes and driving to the rim as well for 10 points in a quick burst.
A Martin triple – his first field goal of the game – with just under four minutes left gave Miami a 12-point lead. In all, 50 of Miami’s points came from undrafted players.
Rocky Mountain Monsters
Jokic and Murray are at their best when playing together and working in concert to create scoring opportunities seemingly at will. Their cat-and-mouse, two-man game is likely the best in the NBA, with Murray doing a reasonable impression of Steph Curry and Jokic playing the role of Draymond Green if the Golden State Warriors centre could shoot better than 40 per cent from three and score 30 points a game at will.
Heading into the series, ESPN.com reported that Murray and Jokic had created 24.5 points per game directly from handoffs and on-ball screens when working in tandem, more than any other duo in the past five years. But each player can lift the team alone, too.
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In the first quarter, it was Jokic turning up the offence as the rest of his teammates were slow to get into the game and it seemed like Miami might put the Nuggets in a deep hole early. He was 5-of-9 in the first quarter – Jokic took just one shot in the first quarter of Game 1 – while the rest of the Nuggets were 5-of-12 and Murray was 0-of-3.
But with Jokic on the bench in the second quarter, Murray began to heat up. In a two-minute stretch early in the second quarter, Murray hit a triple in transition, made a steal and scored a three-point play when he was fouled at the rim on his dunk and then hit an impossible fadeaway jumper over Adebayo at the end of the shot clock to put Denver up 12.
Not a lot of teams even have one player that can reliably raise their game in the post-season. Denver – in a sense – has three: Jokic and Murray together and then each of them on their own.
Murray’s playoff scoring average is 8.5 points more per game than his regular season average, the most of any player with at least 20 post-season games played, per ESPN.com. Second on that list is Jokic, who averages 7.1 points more per game in the playoffs than the regular season.
But give credit to Heat for adjusting. They stayed home on Denver’s shooters, taking away much of Jokic’s playmaking options and turning him into a scorer. By playing so much zone, a lot of Murray and Jokic’s two-man game was minimized — reflected by Murray’s reduced scoring and Jokic’s limited playmaking opportunities.
Random Jokic appreciation
There are almost no words to fully capture how good Jokic is at basketball. Whether he’s the best in the game now (I think so) or will end up one of the best of all time (he’s already on his way) is almost pointless to debate.
But what’s not an argument is how fun he is to watch figure out plays on the fly. In various sequences in the third quarter, he backed down Heat centre Adebayo – a perennial all-defence candidate – eventually winning a protracted, twisty, physical game of one-on-one with a delicate floater at the rim.
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A moment later, he surveyed the floor and calmly drained a triple and why not? He’s shooting 47 per cent from three in the playoffs.
Adebayo then said ‘not again’ and fouled Jokic on an overly aggressive close-out, sending him to the line for three points.
Then Jokic picked up a loose ball just over half, winning a race for it against Vincent, and won another twisty, turny game of one-on-one against a point guard in space, finishing with another floater.
His most prominent skill is passing, but Jokic’s real genius is he can beat you (on offence, at any rate) any way he decides he needs to. He scored in the post with fundamental jump hooks, he scored ambling up the floor going end-to-end as the world’s biggest, slowest, best point guard.
He scored 18 points in the third quarter as Denver started the fourth leading 83-75 and it was a joy to watch.
And some love for Lowry
The former Toronto Raptors star isn’t worth the $28 million the Heat are paying him this season or the $29 million his contract calls for next season, a big reason why it’s widely expected that the Heat will try to use his contract in a blockbuster trade – possibly including Tyler Herro – to add another star this off-season.
But it’s not like Lowry can’t play. He still can make plays that only someone with his combination of hustle and IQ would even think about: plowing into a crowd of Nuggets on a missed free throw to get his hands on the ball, allowing the Heat to score a much-needed three, or an expert pocket pass to Adebayo for a lay-up, or some clutch threes.
Lowry finished with nine points, added three assists and was on the floor and +11 in the fourth quarter.
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