| Any lady interested in the game of bowling? You are | | | | important to the ladies than to the men. Men, as a rule, |
| welcome here to learn more about the game. The | | | | have more powerful muscles which enable them to |
| participation of the ladies has taken the game to the | | | | control the ball despite poor footwork and timing, |
| family level. It was played by men before. And you | | | | something that the average woman beginner cannot |
| have to know that there are some things different | | | | do. If she should get started wrong, it is far more |
| between the men's type and that of the women's. | | | | difficult for her to improve. |
| And there have been a lot of changes in the places | | | | CHOOSING A BALL |
| where and how the game of bowling are played since | | | | To begin with, a woman should determine for herself |
| the ladies have taken up the game. | | | | the weight of the ball she can control one that she can |
| Thanks to the ladies, bowling has become a family | | | | handle without dropping, or getting excessively tired, |
| game. Years ago, it was a game strictly for men to | | | | especially in the final game of a series. True, many |
| enjoy, because bowling alleys were places in which | | | | women can, and do, handle a limit-weight 16-pound ball |
| women and girls could hardly afford to be seen. Poorly | | | | with ease, but others, due to weaker wrists, or |
| lighted and poorly ventilated, equipped with a goodly | | | | because of their size or the work they do, must |
| supply of cuspidors and shady characters, and located | | | | choose one of lighter weight. After you have bowled |
| in dingy basements, the alleys were anything but | | | | for some time and have become familiar with the |
| inviting. The entrance of the first good-sized contingent | | | | fundamentals of the game, you will find that you can |
| of feminine bowlers into the game was the signal for a | | | | handle a heavier ball, because a proper delivery makes |
| tremendous change. Owners and operators of bowling | | | | the ball seem lighter. A heavier ball tends to increase |
| establishments realized that to attract this desirable | | | | your accuracy and improve your average, but that is |
| element they would have to clean up and police their | | | | true only when it is handled without effort. Bowling balls |
| premises. | | | | range in weight from 10 to 16 pounds. You might begin |
| Out went the cuspidors and the seedy characters in | | | | at any weight over 10, and work to perfect your timing |
| came modernistic furnishings and illumination. Later | | | | and footwork, so that when your delivery is at the |
| came air conditioning. And now proprietors are vying | | | | point where you feel it is "grooved" and the ball seems |
| with each other to outdo themselves in erecting | | | | to be too light, you can graduate to a ball of more |
| splendid palaces for the sport. It was a wonderful thing | | | | weight. |
| for the women, too. Those who had been sitting at | | | | The questions of how many finger holes the ball |
| bridge tables day after day suddenly discovered that | | | | should have are debatable where men are concerned |
| they could get a fine type of exercise which would | | | | but not with women. I would say that 99 per cent of |
| allow them to keep their trim figures without effort. | | | | the ladies would be better off using a three- fingered |
| The thrill of real competition was furnished to many of | | | | ball. Once in a great while we find a girl who can |
| them for the first time in their lives. Any fears that they | | | | handle effectively the two-fingered type, but this is |
| might have had that the game was too strenuous | | | | quite the exception. I advise the three-fingered variety. |
| were disproved by the performance of such mites as | | | | The reason for this is quite simple. When you use a |
| Allie Brandt, the 122-pound kegler with the 886 series | | | | three-fingered ball, you support a weight of 16 pounds |
| rolled with a ball no faster than that rolled by a woman. | | | | or close to that with your two fingers and thumb. In |
| Girls weighing just over 100 pounds began shooting | | | | using a two-fingered ball, you are forcing one finger to |
| 200 games. | | | | do the work of two in lifting. Men, possessed of |
| Obviously, brute strength was not a necessity and, in | | | | stronger fingers and muscles, can do this fairly well, but |
| fact, often proved to be a hindrance. The ladies are | | | | for an overwhelming percentage of women bowlers, it |
| coming up fast in the bowling game now, and why | | | | is exceedingly inadvisable. The strain put upon them by |
| shouldn't they? When you analyze it, the sport is a | | | | the two-fingered grip is tremendous, especially after |
| natural one for them, for it puts a premium on | | | | they have bowled several games. |
| smoothness, gracefulness and rhythm, with which the | | | | As you may see that there are many changes in the |
| average woman is born. We have already pointed out | | | | ways the men and women play the game of bowling. |
| that mere brawn has no advantage in the game, for | | | | From the weight of the ball to the numbers of finger |
| excessive speed and power are actually a detriment | | | | holes etc. But it is for sure that the ladies cannot match |
| rather than a help. Getting started correctly is far more | | | | the power and stamina of the men. |