Bowling for 4 at The Bowling Academy which includes one hour of bowling and shoe rentals

The sport of Duckpin Bowling began, crudely speaking, in Maryland during the summer of 1900.  While most Ten-pin bowling centers closed for the summer months, a very select few would remain open for practice.  The bowlers would practice, however, with a ball only about 6 inches in diameter.  Bowlers would play games such as "back five," using only the 5,7,8,9, and 10 pins, and "cocked hat," which used only the 1,7,and 10 pins.

During the summer of 1900, some bowlers at Diamond Alleys in Baltimore thought it might be interesting to resize the pins to match the 6 inch ball.  Manager John Van Sant used a wood turner to do exactly that.  A new bowling game was born.

We are proud to say that Bowling Academy has its place in Duckpin Bowling history.  The first ever automatic Duckpin pinsetters, invented and installed by Ken Sherman, were tested on what are now lanes 9 and 10 at Bowling Academy.