Bowling History: Timeline & How it started

Objects resembling pins and balls were found in an Egyptian grave dated around 3200 BC, and ten-pin appeared in America when nine-pin was banned.

The timeline runs from Roman soldiers rolling stones at targets to the automatic pinsetter AMF introduced in 1952, and covers the United States Bowling Congress, the perfect game of 300 and why bowling has never made the Olympic program.

Key Facts

How old is bowling?	Artefacts resembling pins and balls were found in an Egyptian grave dated around 3200 BC, and Roman soldiers rolled stones at targets.
Where does ten-pin come from?	The United States in the 19th century. Nine-pin bowling was banned in several states for gambling, and a tenth pin sidestepped the law.
Who governs it?	The United States Bowling Congress at home and the International Bowling Federation worldwide.
What is a perfect game?	300, which is twelve consecutive strikes. Fewer than one league bowler in a thousand has rolled one.
Is it Olympic?	No. Bowling was a demonstration sport in 1988 and has been rejected for the programme several times since.
What changed the sport most?	The automatic pinsetter, introduced by AMF in 1952. It removed the pinboys and turned bowling into a mass leisure industry.

Bowling History Summary

⏳ Origins and Evolution: Bowling’s origins can be traced back thousands of years, spanning numerous cultures. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Germans all played early forms of the game. The modern ten-pin incarnation emerged in the United States during the 19th century.
🚀 Rise to Prominence: The establishment of the American Bowling Congress in 1895 and the Women’s International Bowling Congress in 1916 provided organization and standardization to the sport. Bowling’s inclusion in the 1936 Olympics and the introduction of televised lanes in the mid-20th century bolstered its growing popularity.
🥇 Noteworthy Growth and Adaptation: Over time, bowling continued to expand globally and adapt to new technologies and challenges. The sport embraced automatic pinsetters, computerized scoring systems, and even introduced candlepin and duckpin bowling variations. Its resilience and continued innovation solidified its influence in the world of sports and leisure.

Timeline

Year	What Happened
3200 BC	Egyptian grave goods include objects resembling pins and balls, the oldest suggestion of the game.
Around 300 AD	German churches use a kegel-knocking rite in which toppling the pin symbolises defeating sin.
1511	Martin Luther is credited with settling on nine as the correct number of pins.
1609	James I bans bowling in England as a distraction from useful trades, which does nothing to stop it.
1840	Knickerbocker Alleys opens in New York, the first indoor bowling lanes in America.
1841 to 1800s	Several American states ban nine-pin bowling, and a tenth pin and a triangular rack are introduced to get around it.
1895 and 1916	The American Bowling Congress and then the Women’s International Bowling Congress standardise the rules.
1952	AMF introduces the automatic pinsetter and bowling centres multiply across the country.
1958 to 1960s	The Professional Bowlers Association is founded and televised bowling becomes a Saturday afternoon fixture.

Ten-pin bowling exists because of a legal loophole. The nine-pin bans of the 1840s were aimed at gambling, and adding a pin created a technically different game that the statutes did not cover.

Bowling is played far more often for an evening out than for a title. See the full recreational sports list for the sports that live in the same place.

3200 BC to 300 AD

One of the earliest known instances of a bowling-like game dates back to 3200 BC in Egypt, where archeologists uncovered tomb artifacts resembling primitive bowling pins and balls. Around 50 AD, Roman legionaries played a game where soldiers rolled stone balls towards smaller stones with the goal of positioning them as closely as possible.

In Germany, around 300 AD, a game resembling bowling was played in churches as a religious ceremony. Participants would try to knock over a Kegel (a club-like object) with a round stone, symbolizing the destruction of one’s sins.

1300s to 1600s

Bowling continued to evolve across Europe throughout the Middle Ages. In 1299, King Edward III of England allegedly banned the game to keep his troops focused on archery practice. In 1511, Martin Luther helped standardize the game in Germany by determining that there should be nine pins.

In 1609, England’s King James I outlawed bowling because it distracted citizens from practicing more essential trades. Despite this, the game continued to gain popularity among the nobility and rapidly spread throughout Europe.

1700s to 1800s

English, Dutch, and German settlers brought bowling to America in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the early 19th century, bowling was a fixture in New York City, with many alleys operating in Manhattan. In 1841, Connecticut saw the first official legislation against bowling, with a fine for those hosting nine-pin games.

As a response to the ban on nine-pin bowling, ten-pin bowling emerged in the 1840s. In 1895, the American Bowling Congress (ABC) was established, and it started standardizing rules, equipment, and permits for championships, marking the beginning of a more structured era for the sport.

1916 to 1930s

The Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) was founded in 1916, providing a separate organization to govern women’s championships and advocate for women bowlers. This helped the sport grow in popularity among both men and women across the United States.

Bowling’s first major technological advancement, the automatic pinsetter, was invented in 1936 by Gottfried Schmidt. This revolutionized the sport, simplifying the game and making it more accessible to a wider audience.

1950s to 1960s

The advent of television in the 1950s dramatically increased bowling’s popularity. Shows like “Championship Bowling” and “Make That Spare” brought the game into the homes of millions of Americans, creating a surge in interest and participation. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) was established in 1958, helping attract media attention and sponsorships for the sport.

In the 1960s, automatic scoring systems started to replace manual scorekeeping as the sport continued to modernize and improve. Computerized scoring devices made it easier for both casual and professional bowlers to track their progress and enhance their skills.

1970s to 1980s

The 1970s were a golden age for professional bowling, with players like Earl Anthony and Mark Roth dominating the sport. Competitions boasting lucrative prize funds enhanced the sport’s prestige. Bowlers Journal International reported that in 1979, the PBA tour offered a total prize pool of more than $3 million, a sizable sum for the time.

In the 1980s, the rise of video games and other entertainment options led to a slight decline in bowling’s popularity. However, the sport still maintained a strong following, and the construction of new, family-oriented bowling centers helped keep interest alive.

1990s to 2000s

The 1990s and 2000s saw continued advancements in technology that impacted both equipment and gameplay. New materials for producing bowling balls, like reactive resin and particle coverstocks, provided bowlers with more power and control than ever before.

During this period, bowlers like Walter Ray Williams Jr. Pete Weber, and Kelly Kulick made their mark on the sport with record-breaking achievements and memorable victories. Their successes showcased the sport’s timeless appeal and continued to inspire new generations to take up bowling.