How strong are the rake arms that protect the pinsetters?

[NewToBowling]

I keep seeing again and again people tossing the ball and hitting the bowling rake arms that protect the pinsetters. So are they designed to withstand the constant blow they receive from bowling balls?

I just saw this again last weekend. Some people really don't know how to wait.

[vdubtx]

I guess you have to ask yourself, have you ever seen a rake arm break?

I never have, so yes, they are built to withstand a hit from a bowling ball. :cool:

[NewToBowling]

I don't mean break but maybe fall out of alignment (if they actually do need to be alighned)

[Mike White]

I keep seeing again and again people tossing the ball and hitting the bowling rake arms that protect the pinsetters. So are they designed to withstand the constant blow they receive from bowling balls?

I just saw this again last weekend. Some people really don't know how to wait.

The purpose of the rake arms are to sweep the pins.

If anything, the sweep also protects the bowling ball.

In a battle between the pinsetter, and the ball, the ball loses big time.

[got_a_300]

I have never seen a rake arm broken but I did see
one get knocked loose one night and it fell down on
the lane. The guy that was bowling was a great big
giant humongous guy that was throwing the ball as
hard as he could throw it and throwing it half way
down the lane before the ball hit the lane.

I guess someone that was bowling with him must
have pushed the reset button causing the rake to
come down when he throwed the ball and all you
heard was a great big bam and crash and the ball
came flying back up the lane.

[Hampe]

Wow that's crazy....I've never seen or heard of one breaking (or even getting knocked loose before). Well....at least until now :)

[Bradski9]

I work at a bowling alley and see people throw their bowling ball and hitting the sweeps pretty often, makes a loud crack every time but usually doesn't break the sweep. Now if someone like what got_a_300 said threw one at it then it would most likely do some damage.

[NewToBowling]

Good to know. I just cringe every time I see it happen

[foreverincamo]

I've seen a few break when they were hit near the end by the gutter. Never seen one break in the middle after absorbing a hit.