Basement Bowling lane project

[shing5145]

Runswick Hand setter A1

[zomgitzakitteh]

wow that pin setting machine must have been expensive!

XD lol

[XXXDJH101XXX]

we just moved into a new house, and my dad is building a bar and poker room in the basement XD

I keep asking if we could build a bowling alley and he says we might.

[RE4chainsaw]

cool

[RE4chainsaw]

i would just keep playing untill i got a 300, then i would move on to trying to make the 7 10 split xD

[TheMultiwilliam]

nice hook

[BasementBowling]

@supermonkeyballboy Thanks for the compliment. Yes, the sound wasn't working on my camera. I thought I did a good job of synching up the sound. :) The sound works on the latest videos.

[Bowlingkid94]

@tikibird1970

Duckpins are 5" tall, thus are a third the size of the official height of a bowling pin. Besides the fact that duckpins appear much more squat.

[tikibird1970]

the pins look like regular duckpins and the bowling balls remind me of duckpin balls but a little larger in size. good job though on the overall design and this is coming from a man that has witnessed several top tournaments in the state of texas.

[Tomkat53]

Thanks for the reply.

So, they are not half-weight, but it seems they are at least the proper weight ratio.

For example, the pin to ball weight ratio for actual bowling (for a 15 pound ball) is 3.375/15 = 0.225

The pin to ball weight ratio for your "lane" is 0.5/2.25 = 0.222

So, you should be seeing ball/pin action equivalent to a 15 pound ball on normal pins.

[BasementBowling]

@Tomkat53: Exactly! Makes it have very realistic pin action.

[Tomkat53]

How/where did you get "half-scale" pins?

Also, is everything half-scale in size only, or also in weight?

[BasementBowling]

@Tomkat53 : You can get them through your local bowling reseller. If you really want a set and can't find a local seller, message me and I can get them for you. It is half-size only, not half-weight. The balls are 2 pounds 4 ounces and the pins are about a half pound each.

[bowler811]

@BasementBowling This sounds about right. For a true half scale model, weight is proportional to volume which is length to the 3rd power, hence the weight should be 1/8 of the real thing.

[minn793]

That's so awesome! I'm heading for the National Bowling Championships. I wish I had that so I could get some more practice!

[BasementBowling]

@minn793: Thank you! Good luck in Reno!

[motox4lifexxx]

wow thats cool

[BasementBowling]

Thanks!

[willscoaster]

how did you curve that shot

[BasementBowling]

@willscoaster : I just released it like a regulation bowling ball. You don't need holes with the half-scale ball. The lane surface has a realistic reaction so it works great!

[sjt66]

Wow...I wish I had a lane like that. Have to check space in my basement, it is divided up into rooms. Question I have regarding the alley, did you put the laminate flooring over the MDF plywood?

[BasementBowling]

Yes. Laminate surface is on top of the mdf underlayment.

[Thegeoalc5]

This Lane looks so professional and Awesome. My wife and I are building one in our basement. How wide should your gutters be. Did you use 2x4's for them and what did you use to create the arrows on the Lane. Thanks

[BasementBowling]

The ball is just under 4 1/2" wide so the gutters should be a little wider. Around 5 1/2" is fine.

Believe it or not, for the arrows I made a template to exact half-scale and drew them on with a black sharpie.

[killerzwad80]

wow, sounds like me right now i really want a lane in my basment! that would be amazing!

[BasementBowling]

Go for it! You can do it!

[borgy32123]

what sort of a surface is it what wood/timber do u use?

[BasementBowling]

I used a commercial-grade laminate floor for the lane surface.  I would like to have used an 'official' synthetic lane surface but the laminate has worked perfectly.

[bravebelt67]

what it the lenght from the foul line to the pin pit?

[BasementBowling]

A full-sized lane is 60 feet from foul line to head pin, then 2 feet 10 3/16 inches from head pin to back edge of the pindeck. So, true half-scale would be 30 feet from foul line to headpin.

I didn't have that much space to my lane is about 22 feet long but it still works great.

[bigt385]

I'm building a lane of my own and I was wondering if you put any polyurethane on your lane. Thanks.

[BasementBowling]

No, the natural laminate surface works fine. I was worried that putting polyurethane on it would make the surface too "sticky".  If you want the laminate a little more "slick" you can use furniture polish on it before you bowl.

Thanks!

[BasementBowling]

The pindeck has a few coats of poly on it but there is none on the laminate lane surface. Thanks.

[BowlingMania14]

Is it easy to leave and pick up splits, like a 7-10? Because, this is really cool. I really like it.

[BasementBowling]

Thanks! Bowling on a half-scale lane is more difficult than bowling on a regulation lane, at least for us it is. The pin action is very realistic and yes, if you hit high on the headpin you will often leave a nasty split, just like in regulation ten-pin bowling. I have only left the 7-10 once or twice and I have never made it. I have converted a couple of 5-7 splits though.

[BowlingMania14]

By the way... Nice hook shot... with a strike!

Now, is there any lubricant on the lane or ball?

Also Gotta love the small pins!! And are they home made?

[BasementBowling]

Thanks!

No oil on the lane. I'll put a little furniture polish on it every so often.

Pins are half-scale pins made by Linds.

[MBfilmproductions]

how much does that cost to make? and its half size you say?

[BasementBowling]

Yes, it is exact half-scale in every way except for the total length of the lane (See my previous comments).

As far as cost, like any project you can skimp and buy cheap materials and have something you can still have lots of fun on, or you can use quality materials and build something that will last for a long time. It's really up to you. I went with quality materials like commercial laminate for the lane surface because I wanted something that will give us years and years of enjoyment.

[Retrobowler]

what kind of wood is this and is this actual length

[BasementBowling]

Retrobowler, the lane surface is maple laminate flooring.  It has held up perfectly for almost a year now, not a scratch on it.

Everything in the project is half-scale, except the lane length. True half-scale would be 30 feet from foul line to headpin. Mine is about 20 feet to the headpin. I only had 28 feet to work with and I have a 4 foot approach and an area behind the pit for someone to set pins and return balls.... until I can figure out how to automate it.

Thanks.

[PatrickEthan11]

I wish I had a basement :(

[testiclesDOTca]

AWESOME BASEMENT

[ima627bowler]

that's good stuff! I love seeing people make great use of the space they have....i will be posting a vid of my semi auto setter....it is pretty cool...be sure to check it out

[BasementBowling]

Thanks! Definitely post that video, can't wait to see it.

[haileyhlc]

wow... that's amazing.

I wish I could have one in my basement (:

[BasementBowling]

You do have one! :-)