What is Bowling?

Bowling is a free ten-pin game played down a full lane with gutters on both sides. Three taps set up each roll: the first locks your line as a marker slides across the lane, the second sets power as a bar fills, and the third sets the spin that curves the ball on its way down. That curve is the point - a dead straight ball hits the head pin flat and tends to leave splits, while a hooking ball comes in at an angle and carries the whole rack.

How to play Bowling

Controls: Tap for aim, power, then spin

1. 1Tap once to lock your aim as the marker slides across the lane.
2. 2Tap again to set the power while the bar fills and empties.
3. 3Tap a third time to set the spin on the sliding scale.
4. 4The ball rolls, curving according to the spin you set.
5. 5Knock all ten down on your first roll for a strike, or across both rolls for a spare.

Bowling tips and strategy

• Aim right of centre and curve left (or the mirror image if you prefer). Hitting the pocket between the head pin and the one behind it is what carries all ten.
• A straight ball down the middle is the worst shot in bowling. It splits the rack and regularly leaves the two corner pins standing.
• Full power is not always right. A slightly slower ball has more time to hook into the pocket, while a fast one runs through the pins too straight.
• On your second roll at a few remaining pins, aim at the gap between them rather than at one pin, so the ball can catch both.

Bowling FAQ