Sunday, July 13, 2025
what is a string pin in bowling | Flying Expert Guide
Explore the mechanics, benefits, and considerations of string pin bowling, a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional pinsetters, and discover how Flying Bowling Equipment can enhance your bowling experience.

What Is a String Pin in Bowling?

String pin bowling, also known as string bowling or string pinset bowling, is a modern adaptation of traditional tenpin bowling. In this system, each pin is attached to a string connected to an overhead device that resets the pins after each roll. This innovation aims to reduce operational costs and maintenance associated with traditional free-fall pinsetters.

How Does String Pin Bowling Work?

In string pin bowling, the pins are suspended by strings, allowing them to fall when struck by the bowling ball. After each roll, the strings pull the pins back into their original positions, ensuring a quick and efficient reset. This system minimizes downtime between frames, enhancing the overall pace of the game.

What Are the Advantages of String Pin Bowling?

String pin bowling offers several benefits:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: The simpler design of string pinsetters reduces installation and maintenance expenses compared to traditional pinsetters.

  • Operational Efficiency: With fewer moving parts, string pinsetters are less prone to mechanical failures, leading to reduced downtime and more consistent gameplay.

  • Space Efficiency: The compact design of string pinsetters requires less space, making them suitable for venues with limited room.

Are There Any Disadvantages to String Pin Bowling?

While string pin bowling offers numerous advantages, there are some considerations:

  • Altered Pin Action: The strings can slightly affect how pins fall, potentially leading to differences in pin action compared to traditional pinsetters.

  • Scoring Differences: Studies have shown that strike percentages in string pin bowling are approximately 7.1% lower than those with free-fall pinsetters, which could result in average score differences of 10 pins or more.

Is String Pin Bowling Suitable for Competitive Play?

String pin bowling has been certified by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) as an independent category of equipment and competition, effective August 1, 2023. However, due to differences in scoring dynamics, additional testing is planned to determine if a conversion between string pinsetter competition and free-fall is reasonable.

How Does Flying Bowling Equipment Enhance the String Pin Bowling Experience?

Flying Bowling Equipment offers advanced string pinsetters designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable bowling experience. Their products feature:

  • Advanced Technology: Incorporating state-of-the-art features for optimal performance.

  • Durability: Built to withstand high-frequency use in various environments.

  • User-Friendly Design: Easy to operate and maintain, reducing the need for specialized staff.

  • Customization: Options to tailor the equipment to specific venue requirements.

By choosing Flying Bowling Equipment, bowling centers can enhance their offerings, attract a broader audience, and ensure a high-quality experience for all players.

Conclusion

String pin bowling represents a significant advancement in the bowling industry, offering cost-effective and efficient alternatives to traditional pinsetters. While there are some differences in gameplay dynamics, the benefits of string pin bowling make it an appealing option for both recreational and competitive play. With Flying Bowling Equipment's innovative solutions, bowling centers can provide an enhanced experience that meets the evolving needs of today's players.

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FAQ
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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Belt Conveyor: The ball reaches a conveyor belt with a textured surface to prevent slipping. This belt carries the ball up an incline.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.
Price
Cost to setup a 8 lane bowling business?

This includes bowling lanes, bowling balls, pins, scoring systems, ball return systems, shoes, and other necessary equipment. Purchasing or leasing high-quality equipment is essential for a successful operation.

The total cost can vary greatly depending on factors such as location, size, quality, and additional amenities (such as a restaurant or arcade). On average, setting up an 8-lane bowling business can cost anywhere from several hundred thousand to over a million dollars. It's essential to conduct thorough research and create a detailed business plan to accurately estimate the specific costs of your venture. 

Consulting with Flying Bowling experts can provide valuable insights into potential expenses.

How much does a bowling lane cost ?

The cost of a single bowling lane falls between $75,000 and $80,000 for a standard lane. Here's a breakdown considering different factors:

New vs. Used:

New lanes naturally cost more than used ones.
Features:

Automatic scoring systems or other customizations can increase the price.
Home vs. Commercial:

Lane installations for homes may cost slightly more to account for special adjustments.

It's important to note that this is just the lane itself.  The total cost of building an entire bowling alley will include additional costs for  installation, surrounding infrastructure, and any amenities you include.

Bowling Equipment
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.

​How much does bowling alley equipment cost?​

Building a bowling alley may seem very expensive to many people. But you don’t need to spend too much money on Flying bowling. Our prices are very affordable. You can get high-quality bowling equipment at an extremely competitive price from us.

What basic equipment is needed for bowling?​

Bowling needs lots of equipment, but the most important parts are the fairway boards and the string pinsetter equipment.

Flying Bowling - why us

Let’s Build a center Together

Partner With a Trusted Bowling Alley Design, One-Stop Solution Manufacturer.

Flying has successfully built ideal bowling alleys for more than 3,000 customers.

Technical Expert

Flying Bowling - about flying

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Contact Flying

Start Your Custom Bowling Alley Project

If you contact us now for more details, we can provide you with a custom bowling alley service. Our service team will get back to you within 24 hours normally!

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