Make a Strike with this Look at the History of Bowling

Bowling consistently ranks high in lists of favorite sports and favorite pastimes, but even the most avid bowler may not know much about the history of their favorite activity. In fact bowling has one of the longest histories of any sport in existence, stretching back to ancient times and forward to the 21st century.

Bowling may in fact be one of the oldest sports in history, with some researchers finding that it may be more than 5,000 years old. More than 70 years ago a British anthropologist by the name of Sir Flanders Petrie uncovered evidence of a game strikingly similar to the modern sport of bowling. What he found were objects in a child’s grave, and these objects appeared to have been used for a primitive form of the game.

While it now appears that the sport of bowling is much older, the first mention of bowling in written form has been traced to England in the year 1366. Legend has it that King Edward III had outlawed bowling due to worries that his troops would let their archery practice slip in favor of their new pastime. One of his successors, King Henry VIII, had no such reservations, and the game of bowling was greatly in vogue during his reign.

In fact the sport of bowling was so popular in Europe that many variations on the game have been created by Europeans, including the British practice of lawn bowling, the Italian game of bocce and even French pentanque.

While the history of bowling in Europe is well established, the origins of the sport in America are less certain. When the country was settled the German, Dutch and English settlers all brought along their own versions of the game, but the origins of the ten pin game as we know it today have not been precisely established.

The first standardized rules for bowling did not come about until 1895, when they were formed in New York City’s Beethoven Hall. At the same time the American Bowling Congress began and major competitions started to be held throughout the country. The world of ladies bowling got its start much later, in 1917, under the auspices of the Women’s National Bowling Association.

The equipment used in the sport of bowling has come a long way as well, with the introduction of custom bowling balls and pin setting machines. The first pin setting machine did not come along until 1952; until that time the bowling pins were rest by hand using so-called “pin boys” who worked for the bowling alley. The new pin setting machines eliminated the need for this specialized employment, and these days bowling alleys use even more automation to keep score and keep the alleys clean.

The sport of bowling has long been a staple on televised sports programs, and bowling tournaments have received consistently high ratings when they are shown. Shows like Championship Bowling, Bowling for Dollars and Celebrity Bowling enjoyed widespread popularity, further increasing interest in this great sport. Bowling is seen as a sport of the people, one that nearly anyone can enjoy. Bowling alleys have long been popular hangouts for everyone from teenagers on a Saturday night to experienced league players competing in their latest championship tournament. With such a variety of players it is no wonder the sport of bowling has enjoyed such consistent popularity.