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Author Topic: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling  (Read 4447 times)

sneaky PETE

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so the other day i bought a really beat up bowling ball on ebay and a set of pins that were not usable for a bowling alley anymore and was gonna bowl out side with them, but today i thought "hey why not make a lane for them." so i calculated the price for some wood to make a 12 ft lane from home depot (would have done 16 ft but don't have space to store it.) it would come out to around $150. anyway is this a good idea or would it be a waste of money.
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HankScorpio

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2018, 08:56:26 AM »
Really not sure what you’re expecting to hear...

If it’s fun for you, it’s worth the money.

If it’s not, it’s a waste of money.

It’s your life, do whatever you want.

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2018, 11:02:09 AM »
Not an expert but 12 ft sounds really short for a full size ball and pins.  That won't even get you to the arrows (usually) on a regular lane but enough I guess for release practice if don't loft.  Be ok for smaller kids maybe also not sure.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2018, 11:20:49 AM by BowlingForDonuts »
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sneaky PETE

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2018, 11:59:39 AM »
i would be using it more for just messing around and maybe showing people how to bowl
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2018, 02:10:07 PM »
Just keep in mind that the pin deck area is about 3 ft and you would need a foot or two beyond that (bowling ball diameter is just a bit more than 8-1/2 inches) for a drop off and backstop.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2018, 02:11:52 PM by MI 2 AZ »
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2018, 02:42:51 PM »
Why not just do 15ft and scale everything down to 25% so it remains proportional?
GTx2

MI 2 AZ

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2018, 02:56:22 PM »
GTGT,

He said in the OP that he did not have the room for larger and if he is using regulation pins, not sure if he can go 1/4 scale (width).

Thinking further on it, 1/4 width would be about ten inches, it would be difficult to keep the ball on the lane.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2018, 03:00:25 PM by MI 2 AZ »
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2018, 03:00:05 PM »
GTGT,

He said in the OP that he did not have the room for larger and if he is using regulation pins, not sure if he can go 1/4 scale (width).

Scale to 20%......  :P
GTx2

Good Times Good Times

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2018, 03:01:46 PM »
This whole thing, mentally, makes me think of.....



Is this the image anyone else is getting to?
GTx2

MI 2 AZ

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2018, 03:02:13 PM »
GTGT,

He said in the OP that he did not have the room for larger and if he is using regulation pins, not sure if he can go 1/4 scale (width).

Scale to 20%......  :P


I don't think he wants to replicate the entire lane, just to have a short stub lane to practice release.  ???  Will wait for him to answer for himself.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #10 on: June 11, 2018, 03:06:52 PM »
Okay, learn something new everyday.  Did not know that typing in three question marks would result in a smiley emoticon.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2018, 03:10:41 PM »
Here is a link to someone else asking about a stub lane in another forum site:

http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3159

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milorafferty

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2018, 03:28:06 PM »
Anyone accepting bets for the Over/Under on the number of times it actually gets used? I'm taking 2. I figure that two times of manually setting up the pins should do it.

Make sure you use wood that can be burned in your fireplace...
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2018, 03:33:49 PM »
Let's all just step back, take a second and contemplate what we're talking about.....
GTx2

sneaky PETE

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Re: thinking about making a 12 ft bowling lane for backyard bowling
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2018, 04:01:42 PM »
just wanted something to do while i am looking for work as i am pretty bored most of the time. thought it might be fun at parties too.
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