National Bowling Day: Looking at some fascinating facts about bowling

Celebrate National Bowling Day with fellow enthusiasts as they head to bowling alleys for a day of camaraderie and friendly competition. Explore the surprising history and facts that have shaped America's favorite pastime sport.

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 12 August 2023 11:09 pm

Bowling, as a sport, has fascinating tidbits in its history

Bowling enthusiasts across the United States are celebrating National Bowling Day on 12th August by gathering at bowling alleys for a joyful session of bowling with friends and family. As America's cherished pastime sport, this day offers an opportunity for bowling lovers to come together, fostering camaraderie while infusing a touch of friendly competition.

Bowling is not only a source of entertainment but also brims with fascinating historical facts that might surprise you:

1. Bowling's roots trace back to around 400 AD in Germany, where it started as a religious practice to cleanse oneself of sin by rolling a rock into a club (kegel), giving rise to the term "kegler."
2. Even King Henry VIII of England enjoyed bowling in 1511, but he later banned the sport among the common people, reserving it as a "pastime of the elite."
3. The first million-dollar endorsement deal wasn't secured by a basketball or football player; it was bowler Don Carter who signed the groundbreaking contract with Ebonite International in 1964.
4. Evidence of a game akin to bowling was found in Egyptian tombs in 1930, suggesting the game's existence around 3200 BCE, close to the emergence of written language.
5. Early bowling balls lacked finger holes and were made of round stones; bowlers used rubber or wood. The transition to polyester resin and multicolored plastic began in the 1960s.
6. Japan houses the world's largest bowling alley, the Inazawa Grand Bowling Centre, boasting an impressive 198 lanes.
7. Apart from Texas, nine-pin bowling is prohibited in all states. Texas adopted nine-pin and ten-pin bowling in the 1830s when strikes with wooden balls were more challenging.

Intriguing history and remarkable facts enrich the world of bowling, making it more than just a game. As American bowling aficionados celebrate National Bowling Day today, recounting these fascinating facts reminds them of the captivating legacy of this renowned sport. In the middle of these fascinating historical details, this day stands as a tribute to the lasting attraction of this beloved sport.