How to Build a Bowling Alley | Flying
How to Build a Bowling Alley: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
Building a bowling alley is more than just setting up lanes and pins; it's about creating an immersive entertainment experience that appeals to all ages. Whether you're a commercial developer, a business owner looking to add an entertainment feature, or an enthusiast eager to create a personal haven, understanding how to build a bowling alley is crucial. Here at Flying, we have been at the forefront of bowling technology and services since 2015, offering top-notch equipment and tailor-made solutions for your bowling alley needs.
Why Build a Bowling Alley?
Before diving into the "how," it's important to understand the "why." Bowling alleys provide a unique blend of sports, leisure, and social interaction. They are family-friendly, offer a competitive challenge, and serve as an excellent opportunity for socializing. As a business venture, bowling alleys are lucrative, given their broad demographic appeal.
Steps to Building a Bowling Alley
1. Planning and Research
The first step in building a bowling alley is comprehensive planning and research. This involves deciding on the scale of the project—are you looking for a full-scale commercial alley or a smaller, personalized setup? Assess location, target market, and budget.
2. Designing Your Alley
The design phase is where Flying's expertise comes into play. Our team can help you conceptualize a space that is both functional and stylish, ensuring everything from lane number to interior design aligns with your vision. We specialize in a variety of layouts, including Medium Bowling, Standard Bowling, Duckpin Bowling, and Mini Bowling.
3. Acquiring Equipment
No alley is complete without the right equipment. Flying offers a complete set of commercial-grade bowling goods, including our innovative bowling string pinsetters and reliable bowling ball return machines. Our products are quality-assured, reflecting standards set by European and American manufacturers but without the heavy price tag.
4. Construction and Installation
Construction is where planning comes to life. Our team can oversee the entire construction process, ensuring timely and efficient completion. We manage the installation of lanes, seating, scoring systems, and more.
5. Finishing Touches
The right ambiance can make or break the bowling experience. Consider elements like lighting, music, and decor that enhance the atmosphere. Incorporate modern amenities such as interactive screens and lounge areas to appeal to a tech-savvy crowd.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Flying offers an array of options to suit all alley styles and budgets. Our equipment is designed with durability and reliability in mind, ensuring longevity for your investment. Explore our offerings from Medium to Mini Bowling setups, all crafted with precision.
FAQs
How long does it take to build a bowling alley?
The timeline can vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. Generally, commercial alleys can take several months from planning to completion.
What are the maintenance requirements for a bowling alley?
Regular maintenance is key to a successful bowling alley. Routine checks on lane surfaces, pinsetters, and ball return systems should be part of your maintenance schedule. Flying offers ongoing support and maintenance advice.
How much does it cost to build a bowling alley?
Costs depend on scale, design complexity, and the type of equipment chosen. While this can range significantly, Flying is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective solutions to fit your budget.
Conclusion
Building a bowling alley is an exciting venture that can yield rewarding results. With Flying as your partner, you can be assured of industry-leading insights, top-quality equipment, and comprehensive design and construction services. Our commitment to excellence and competitive pricing makes us your ideal partner in bringing your bowling alley vision to life.
About Flying
Since 2015, Flying has been pioneering the development of cutting-edge bowling equipment, including string pinsetters and ball return systems. Our mission is to deliver unparalleled quality at competitive prices, ensuring that our clients can offer the best bowling experiences worldwide. Whether you're setting up a full-scale bowling center or a compact home lane, Flying offers the expertise and equipment to make your project a success.
Partner with Flying today and roll into the future of bowling!
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Bowling Equipment
How wide is the bowling lane?
We have four types of bowling lanes. The width of the 4 standard bowling lanes is 6.9 meters. The width of the 2 duckpin bowling lanes is 3.48 meters. The width of the four mini bowling lanes is 5.66 meters. The width of a single children's bowling lane is 0.9 meters.
Who makes new bowling equipment?
Flying specializes in manufacturing brand new bowling equipment. All the equipment, fairway boards, balls, and pins we provide are brand new. Including the scoring and management systems of our bowling lanes, they are all unique and developed by ourselves.
How many feet is a bowling lane?
We have a total of four different sizes of bowling lanes. The length of a standard bowling lane is 84 feet. The length of Duckpin Bowling Lane is 39.4 feet. The Mini Bowling Lane size is 39.7 feet. The size of the children's bowling lanes is 14.1 feet. In addition, the length of our standard bowling lanes and duckpin bowling lanes can be customized.
Product
How many lanes does it take to open a bowling alley?
There's no strict rule on the number of lanes required to open a bowling alley. It depends on your business goals and target market.
Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
- Small niche alleys: Some bowling alleys might focus on a specific audience, like a boutique bowling alley with just a few lanes catering to a high-end clientele. They might have other revenue streams besides just bowling, like a fancy restaurant or bar.
- Traditional bowling alleys: These typically have many lanes, often around 8 to 24 lanes , to accommodate a larger number of bowlers and maximize revenue through lane rentals.
- Mini bowling: Certain alleys might offer mini bowling, which uses lighter balls and shorter lanes. This could be a good option for a family entertainment center and wouldn't require a large number of standard lanes.
Ultimately, the number of lanes is a business decision based on your target market, budget, and the overall experience you want to create.
How a bowling ball return machine works?
A bowling ball return system uses a combination of gravity, belts, and sometimes lifts to bring your ball back to you after your roll. Here's a breakdown of the typical process:
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Ball Exit: After rolling down the lane, the ball exits into a channel at the end. This channel might have a slight incline to help guide the ball towards the return mechanism.
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Transfer Tray: The ball rolls into a shallow tray or trough. This tray might have a diverter at the end to ensure balls from adjacent lanes don't collide.
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Elevator or Incline (optional): In some setups, the ball might be lifted to a higher level before entering the return system. This creates a steeper decline for the ball to travel down, helping it gain momentum.
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Belt Conveyor: The ball reaches a conveyor belt with a textured surface to prevent slipping. This belt carries the ball up an incline.
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Gravity Channel: Once at the top of the incline, the ball is released onto a long, U-shaped channel. Gravity takes over, pulling the ball down through the channel.
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Ball Deflector: At the end of the channel, there might be a deflector that diverts the ball slightly towards your lane. This ensures the ball ends up in the correct return slot.
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Ball Return Tray: The ball finally reaches a tray or cradle positioned in front of your lane, ready for your next roll.
Here are some additional points to note:
- Modern systems might have sensors to detect the presence of a ball and activate the return mechanism accordingly.
- Some higher-end systems use quieter materials and designs to minimize noise during ball return.
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Flying Smart Duckpin Bowling (FSDB) innovative design, standard 9.2-meter short lane, can be shortened in length, compact layout suitable for small spaces. The game rules are simple but challenging, attracting players of different ages to actively participate.
Suitable for social entertainment venues such as bars, billiard halls, and game centers, it not only enhances interactivity but also increases the popularity and consumption frequency of the venue. The fun and competitive nature of FSDB will make it a new focus of social activities.

Flying Classic Standard Bowling (FCSB) is designed according to international competition standards and equipped with an accurate automatic scoring system, providing bowling enthusiasts with a pure professional experience. Whether it is for competitions or leisure entertainment, FCSB can meet high-level needs.
Suitable for family entertainment centers, luxury resorts, private villas, or clubs, it is an ideal choice for customers who pursue high-end quality and professional experience. Its classic design and excellent performance will add lasting appeal to the venue.

Flying Cute Mini Bowling (FCMB) is a mini bowling experience designed for children and families. The lane length is fixed at 12 meters, equipped with lightweight balls without finger holes (only 1.25kg) and small pins, specially designed for children and family fun.
It can not only help children feel the fun of bowling, but also stimulate their interest and competitive consciousness. Suitable for children's playgrounds, theme parks and parent-child centers, it is the best choice for places focusing on the children's market.

Flying Social Medium Bowling (FSMB) is tailored for small venues, with flexible lane lengths (customizable from 9.6 meters to 18 meters), a small ball design suitable for players of all ages, and light pins that are easier to knock down, increasing participation and fun.
Whether it is a gathering of friends or a casual social, FSMB can easily create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Its efficient space-utilization design is particularly suitable for cafes, bars and community entertainment venues, allowing people to fall in love with bowling in a relaxed interaction.
Contact Flying
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