Aim for the Pins! Beginner's Guide to Strike Up Some Fun at SM Bowling

For all you first-timers out there, let us clue you in: bowling is suuuper fun! Knocking the pins down—whether it’s just one or ten—gives a totally different vibe! That satisfying crash when the ball meets the pins? Chef's kiss! That, and it also unleashes the competitive side in you, especially when played with a whole bunch of people.

So if you're thinking about giving bowling a shot, here are a few tips to get you going.

Getting the Hang of It

So here’s the lowdown on bowling: it is a game where you roll a ball down a lane with the goal of knocking down the 10 pins arranged in a triangular formation at the end of the lane. Players take turns to roll the ball, and the player with the highest score wins the game.

Gearing Up

Bowling alleys already have bowling balls available for you to use. They vary in weight, ranging from 6 pounds (extra small) all the way to 16 pounds (extra large). Pick one that feels comfy to avoid any oopsies.

Bowling shoes are also available at the bowling alleys, usually for a minimal fee. At SM Bowling, shoe rental costs PHP 50.00 per person. There usually is a wide variety of sizes, so you should be able to find the pair that will fit you well. Just don’t forget to bring with you a pair of socks too.

Getting in the Zone

Stand in the middle of the alley with your dominant foot jutting forward and hold the ball at waist level. Take a few steps forward (but no more than 4 steps!) to build momentum and release the ball, aiming for the pins. To increase your chances of hitting a strike, aim in between pins 1 and 3 if you are right handed, or 1 and 2 if you are left-handed.

Scoring it Up

Each player gets ten frames, and they are given two chances (called rolls) to knock down all 10 pins. 

• When a player does knock down all ten pins, it is called a “strike” and is marked with an “X” on the scoreboard. A strike is equivalent to 10 points plus the total number of pins knocked down on the next two rolls.

• When a player doesn’t knock down all pins on the first chance but does so on the next roll, it is called a “spare” and is marked with a “/”. A spare is equivalent to 10 points plus the total number of pins knocked down on the next roll.
  

• When a player doesn’t knock down all the pins after two rolls, the total number of pins is calculated and added to the previous scores. 
• The maximum score in bowling is 300.

Chill Vibes Only

The other thing you need to remember is to respect the other players’ turn by not making any unnecessary noise or movements that may distract them. The one last thing you need to know is to just have fun! Enjoy every swing, every gutter ball, every strike and who knows? You just might love bowling so much, you’ll become the next Paeng Nepomuceno.

Special Offer Alert!

Here’s more incentive for you to go out there and try bowling: Birthday Blowout and Student Promo From February 15 to December 31, 2024,  at any participating SM Game Park branches!  See full mechanics on SM Game Park page!

Bowling is available in 9 SM Supermalls nationwide! Plus, some spots like SM Southmall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Fairview, and SM CDO Downtown have the SM Game Park where you can dive into a bunch of fun activities. A round of bowling here at SM starts at PHP 225 per person—what a steal!

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