Home Info Center Blog Strike Up the Fun: A Guide to Mini Bowling Equipment

Strike Up the Fun: A Guide to Mini Bowling Equipment

Sep 9, 2025

Discover the world of mini bowling! This comprehensive guide explores different types of mini bowling systems, essential equipment components, and the exciting opportunities this compact entertainment option offers for homes and businesses.


Imagine the thrill of a perfect strike – the satisfying crash of pins, the cheer of victory. Traditional bowling has long been a beloved pastime, but what if you could pack all that fun into a more compact, accessible, and versatile package? Enter the world of mini bowling, a rapidly growing entertainment option that's making a big impact in homes, businesses, and entertainment venues everywhere.

This blog post will serve as your guide to the exciting world of mini bowling equipment. We'll explore the different types of systems available, break down the essential components, and uncover the fantastic opportunities this "small ball" revolution offers for homeowners and entrepreneurs alike.



What Exactly is Mini Bowling?


Mini bowling delivers the complete bowling experience on a scaled-down lane, utilizing smaller balls and pins. This ingenious design makes it an ideal attraction for venues with limited space and opens up the fun to a much broader audience, including young children and individuals who might find traditional bowling balls too heavy. The lanes typically range from 25 to 45 feet, a significant reduction from the regulation 60-foot length of a standard alley.


Types of Mini Bowling Systems


The world of mini bowling isn't a one-size-fits-all affair. Several variations exist, each offering a unique gameplay experience:

  1. Duckpin Bowling: A classic variation that uses short, squat pins and a smaller, lighter ball without finger holes. Duckpin is known for being challenging yet incredibly rewarding.
  2. Five-Pin Bowling: Popular in Canada, this version uses taller, slimmer pins with rubber rings that increase pin action, leading to higher scores.
  3. Rollerball: Often featuring even shorter lanes and sometimes an automated ramp or "hyper-bowling" system, Rollerball is exceptionally accessible, making it a perfect choice for the youngest of players.
  4. String Pinsetters: A game-changer in the industry. Many modern mini bowling systems utilize string pinsetters. Instead of a complex mechanical sweep, nearly invisible strings are attached to the tops of the pins, allowing them to be quickly and reliably reset. These systems are known for their high reliability and significantly lower maintenance requirements compared to traditional free-fall pinsetters.


The Essential Components of a Mini Bowling Setup


A complete mini bowling installation, regardless of the specific type, is comprised of several key components working in harmony:

  1. Lanes: Constructed from durable synthetic materials, these lanes are built to last and often feature eye-catching graphics and even glow-in-the-dark patterns.
  2. Pinsetters: The heart of the operation. As mentioned, string pinsetters are the dominant choice in the mini bowling market due to their efficiency and reduced operational costs.
  3. Scoring Systems: Forget paper and pencil. Modern mini bowling alleys boast automated scoring systems with vibrant LCD monitors, engaging animations, and a variety of game options.
  4. Bowling Balls & Pins: Sized appropriately for the smaller lanes, the balls are lighter and easier to handle, while the pins are designed for optimal action upon impact.
  5. Ball Return System: An efficient and safe system that quickly transports the bowling balls from the pin deck back to the player area.
  6. Player Console & Seating: The user interface where players enter their names, alongside comfortable and stylish seating that completes the bowling lounge atmosphere.


The Big Appeal: Mini Bowling for Businesses


For entrepreneurs in the entertainment space, investing in mini bowling equipment presents a compelling value proposition:

  1. Smaller Footprint, Bigger Opportunity: The compact size allows a wide range of businesses—from family entertainment centers (FECs) and arcades to bars, restaurants, and even hotels—to add a high-revenue attraction without requiring massive square footage.
  2. Broader Demographic Appeal: Mini bowling breaks down age and skill barriers. It's an activity that families can genuinely enjoy together, from toddlers to grandparents. It also serves as a perfect "social-tainment" option for millennials and adult groups looking for a casual, fun night out.
  3. Increased Revenue Streams: As a unique and highly engaging anchor attraction, mini bowling can significantly increase foot traffic, encourage longer stays, and boost food and beverage sales.
  4. Lower Maintenance, Higher Uptime: Systems equipped with string pinsetters are notoriously reliable, meaning less downtime for maintenance and more time generating income.



Taking the Fun on the Road: Mobile Mini Bowling


One of the most exciting trends in the industry is the emergence of mobile mini bowling alleys. Housed in custom-built trailers, these portable lanes can be brought directly to private parties, corporate events, festivals, and community gatherings, offering a truly unique and memorable entertainment experience.


The Final Frame


Mini bowling equipment has successfully reinvented a classic American pastime for a new generation and a wider variety of settings. Whether you're a homeowner looking to create the ultimate game room or a business owner seeking a profitable and popular attraction, mini bowling offers a world of fun and opportunity. With its compact design, broad appeal, and strong return on investment, mini bowling is poised to keep rolling strikes in the entertainment landscape for years to come.

FAQ

where the bowling lane equipment for sale?

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Some friends from different country and regions planning to open a bowling alley may assume they can buy bowling equipment near their home.

This is not the case. Bowling equipment is manufactured in only a few countries worldwide, such as the United States, China, and Germany.

Thus, people from most countries who want to purchase bowling equipment need to look for suppliers in these countries.

Beijing Redsun Bowling Technology Co., Ltd is located in Beijing, China, with a showroom in Guangzhou, China. We also have distributors in several countries in the Middle East and Europe.

Bowling equipment is generally shipped from our factory in Beijing to the nearby port of Tianjin, where it's then shipped to your destination.

Our installation engineers can travel to various countries and regions around the world to install and commission bowling equipment.

So, if you're looking to purchase bowling equipment from anywhere in the world, please feel free to contact us. We offer high-quality, affordable bowling equipment, meticulous installation services, and consistent after-sales service.

What type pinsetter red sun bowling equipment use?

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Red Sun pinsetter is a string-type bowling equipment. Red Sun string bowling equipment

It uses strings for transmission to arrange the bowling pins.

This equipment has the following advantages:

1. Pin setting speed is more than 40% faster than traditional free-fall pinsetters.

2. Simple mechanical structure with extremely low failure rate.

3. No need for professional technicians for maintenance; general staff can master equipment operation and maintenance after simple training.

4. Low noise and low energy consumption during operation.

5. Powerful electronic control system; the reset button can solve most operational problems.


How to solve the string bowling pinsetter can not lock pin problem

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The Red Sun String bowling Equipment report the fault code, when the string bowling pinsetter operation.

How to analyze the bowling equipment failure through fault codes? How to solve the problem?

As follow let us analyze and solve them one by one.

The fault code --from 40 to 49 show from the pin 1 to pin 10-- shows the pin has been put down which one should be lock.

Fault code and pin series comparison relationship is as follows


Fault Code

Pin No.

Existing Status

Correct Status

40

Pin 1

Falling

Should not falling

41

Pin 2

Falling

Should not falling

42

Pin 3

Falling

Should not falling

.

.

.

.

49

Pin 10

Falling

Should not falling


Let check the quiz question

In the bowling play, the first ball knock down the bowling pin 1 2 3 5 7.

The pin 4 6 8 9 10 keep stand.

Before the player play the second bowling ball,the pinsetter reset the bowling pin 4 5 6 8 9 10。

Please answer the bowling lane should report what fault code ?

The Answer is report fault code 44.

Why? Because the first ball have knocked down the pin 5 , before play the second bowling ball the pin 5 should not be lay down.

The pin 5 cable did not be lock by the white lock block(ZC 004 is the white lock block).

How to check this fault?


1.The white block (ZC004) move no smoothly. ---Loosen the fixing screw(ZC004 fix screw) of the white lock block.

  1. The small Spring (ZC003) which one pull the white lock block fracture --- replace the small spring (ZC003)
  2. The angle of the angle iron (ZC007) used to lock the cable together with the white lock block (ZC004)is not correct,so even when the white lock block is pulled to the extreme position by the spring,it still can not lock the pin cable together with the angle iron(ZC007).----adjust the angle of the angle iron so that the pin cable can be easily locked.
  3. Check whether the pin cable at the guide pulley correct track,the pin cable can’t run into the gap between the pulley(ZC005) and the iron hoop(ZC006).
  4. The electromagnet (ZC002) have been damaged or burnt. ---Replace it directly.



Follow is String Bowling Pinsetter Lock pin's cable device



How to Delivery these bowling equipment to destination?

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Our company is near Tianjin Xingang Port, China, so we delivery these bowling goods to all world from Tianjin Xingang of China. 2 lanes complete bowling equipment need one 20 feet container. 4 lanes complete bowling equipment need one 40 feet container. All components are securely packed in reinforced cartons for safe transportation to your venue.


Why so many people like to play the bowling game?

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Bowling sports can help to relieve modern society people's potential destructive desires and ease the work pressure.

Regardless of age, genderand children can participate, regardless of personal physical fitness is good or bad, can get good results.

It makes up the daily life and work lack of exercise.

Bowling sports are not affected by weather or seasonal influence.

Bowling is long unfading sport , bowling alley is a civilized social place.

According to the calculation, participate in bowling exercise and  can be compared with  several common sports exercise comparison.

  1. 3 game bowling sports= 20 minutes by bike
  2. 3 game bowling sprts= running 15 minutes
  3. 3 game bowling sports= Tennis 20 minutes


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