Bowling for the Blind

Accessibility to the Sight Impaired Makes Bowling a Popular Pastime

Jul 21, 2009

Few sports have proven as adaptable as tenpin bowling, whose tournaments for the blind draw as many as 1,500 participants from over 125 leagues throughout the US.

Bowling exploded in popularity in the late 1940s and participation among the blind and visually impaired was immediate. Institutions such as the Kentucky School for the Blind made recreational bowling available to students, and the first national tournament for blind bowlers took place in 1949.

One reason for bowling’s popularity among the blind is that it needs only minor modifications to be made accessible and that many aspects of the sport, e.g. the heft of the ball and the sounds of its heavy roll and the splatter of pins, are experienced with equal satisfaction, regardless of sight.

The American Blind Bowling Association (ABBA) is the sport’s main governing body in the United States, each year organizing regional and national tournaments throughout the country. The ABBA has also helped develop the sport in other countries and, with the United States Association of Blind Athletes, is leading the push to make bowling a part of the Paralympic Games.

Making Bowling Accessible to the Blind

Bowling is made accessible to the blind in two ways: the use of sighted guides and the use of rails that help orient the bowlers on the lane to line up shots.

Sighted guides help properly position bowlers, squaring their feet and shoulders, and leading them up to the foul line. The guide helps the bowler align their shot on the approach, replacing the arrows or other reference points sighted bowlers would use.

The guide rails blind bowlers use measure 12 feet and are made of wood or aluminum. They set up, break down, and store easily and do not damage lanes or interfere with alley operations. The rails (available from the ABBA) are set alongside the approach, extending back from the foul line, and are held in place with bowling balls.

The guide rail lets bowlers know where the foul line is and where to line up their shots. Bowlers slide one hand along the rail’s surface and throw the ball with the other hand. The rail runs straight along the first board outside the width of the lane, enabling bowlers to determine whether the ball is being released in the lane’s center or near one edge.

Whether a bowler uses the rail or a guide, a sighted assistant is usually is needed to tell a blind bowler what pins have been knocked down or left standing by calling out the numbered locations of the pins — information that enables the bowler to adjust delivery of the second shot.

Beginners usually need assistance to learn where to stand in relation to the rail. Soon after, most bowlers develop their own positioning techniques.

In May 2008, Dale Davis of Alta, Iowa, who lost most of his vision to macular degeneration, became the fourth legally blind bowler to roll a perfect game.

Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired Bowlers

The ABBA sponsors competitions throughout North America, including a national tournament each Memorial Day weekend and many regional tournaments in the east, southeast, and Midwest.

Its publication, The Blind Bowler, published three times a year, includes information on ABBA business, events, and standings.

Bowling affords blind and visually impaired people the opportunity to participate in a popular sport, develop skills to enable them to compete at every level, from local leagues to national tournaments, and, most importantly, to enjoy and experience an activity in much the same way as non-disabled persons.

The copyright of the article Bowling for the Blind in Accessible Recreation is owned by Andrew Leibs. Permission to republish Bowling for the Blind in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.