How Technology Has Changed the Game of Bowling

Since the ancient Egyptians cast their stones at targets in 5200 B.C, technology in bowling has increased exponentially. The evolution to what is now ten pin bowling has been a long winding road of change and technology. Now you can even bowl the game through your TV in your living room as team members wait their turn on the couch.

What started out in the United States as bowling on the grass has now evolved to a sport fit for a king. Bowling along with its ever growing technology even boggles the mind of the novice and the professional alike. Maybe that's why technology in bowling has evolved to the point it has, as if in search for the perfect formula of the 300 game.

The Roots of Bowling

In the late 1800's after the game had evolved to ten pin bowling, the sport was starting to catch on in such states as: Ohio, Illinois, and New York. These days ten pin bowling had no rules or regulations. Most bowling balls and pin sizes were as varied as was the bowling lanes themselves.

The first ten pin bowling balls were hard wooden balls (mostly oak) which was known as lignum vitae. The ability make a strike with these types of balls surly must be considered an act of God. Finally in 1895 the American Bowling Congress was formed and now some rules and regulations were in order.

Shortly there after in 1905 technology opened its eyes as the first rubber bowling ball known as Evertrue was invented. Now a sudden interest in the sport was beginning to take shape. 1914 arrived as the Brunswick Corporation released the first Mineralite bowling ball, and now the game was really starting to get serious.

Increased Technology

Ten pin bowling was getting its roots when in 1946 the first automatic pin setter was shown to the public in Buffalo New York. This amazing machine was invented by Godfried Schmidt in his garage. The patent for the pin setting machine was later bought by the American Machine and Foundry Company; AMF. Shortly after in 1952 the automated pin setter was in production.

With this nifty invention bowling was starting to look like a professional sport. No longer were the "pin boys" needed as this machine could run for hours all by itself. Now you could bowl without delay and enjoy the sport even more. Interest in bowling again began to peak as the 1950's rolled into the 1960's as television got into the sport of bowling.

The first telecast of bowling was aired on NBC as "Championship Bowling," and America was definitely watching. More bowling shows sprang off of this telecast, and now bowling was on thousands of television sets throughout the United States.

Evolution of the Bowling Ball

The era of the 60's was all about peace and love; and also plastic. In the late sixties the first plastic or polyester bowling ball was manufactured. Soon after another patent was filed in 1970 for the first automated score keeper. Now you could sit back and watch your score being automatically calculated as your shiny new plastic bowling ball rolled back up the ball return.

In 1981 Ebonite began manufacturing the first polyurethane bowling ball and sold the rights of the ball to AMF. Then in the late 1980's Columbia produced the first reactive resin bowling ball and technology took another giant step forward.

In the first full season with the use of the reactive resin ball the percentage of 300 games was increased by 20%; according to the ABC. After 1990 the dynamic balance of the bowling ball was also being totally reconfigured and changed. No longer were you bowling with a hard wooden ball; you're now bowling with technology.

Now, even more powerful gripping balls have been designed such as the: particle ball, and the latest creation: the epoxy bowling ball. When you stand out on the approach lane with one of these balls all you're thinking about now is one shot at the pins, and a quick trip to the snack bar.

How technology has changed the sport of bowling could be compared to the crude beginnings of the first automobile. What started off as a rocky ride, is now smooth sailing.

Source of information: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-pin_bowling