Pendulum Bowling

Pendulum Bowling arose out of a suggestion given to a small group of students for an assignment in 1985. The basic concept was that of the “pendulum action” and tumbling skittles to parallel the old traditional ‘bar skittles’ but in a macro format. Funding was provided and under guidance the prototype was constructed.

The prototype was used on a range of occasions which included:

• student courses
• school based initiatives
• friendly competitions with NTU involving local community schools in a potted rotation sports format
• Nottingham Panthers Sports Club for the Disabled
• Demonstrations including Disability Sport England mini games at Stoke Mandeville Sports Centre.

The activity was carried out by the youngsters with the more severe impairments, high support needs and mainly wheelchair bound. Typical movement profiles of youngsters involved at this level include: muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and those with severe learning difficulties who possibly also have limitations with their arms and hand control.

Prior to 2006 no effort was made to consider any commercial production of the equipment. However in 2006 it occurred to me after browsing through a Sportime catalogue that a piece of equipment already in use (The Big Red Base) could be the base for a pendulum skittles device. After proposing this idea to Sportime the “shoulder” device was agreed and a contract created. This is now one of a number of modifications which can be used with the original base. In 2008 the base went into production and listing in the catalogue. In contrast to the original device a much larger ball was produced and, given the adjustable nature of the arm and pendulum attached, a smaller or heavier ball could now be used to create a new challenge.