I found an interesting article called The Fading Glory of Bowling, which discusses the sports decline.
Around here I know of several alleys which have closed. Nobody I know is on a league or plays often. The last time I bowled was once last year at a birthday party. It was pretty fun though.
To me, I simply dont have the time for it.
Now Wii bowling, thats fun.
Anyone else bowl?
Relocated from IMHO to the Game Room.
I bowl about once every ten years, but when I drive by the local bowling alley the parking lot’s always jammed.
To answer the question, I have, at points in my life, been an avid bowler. I was, at one time, in three different leagues at the same time (and president of one of them). As recently as two years ago, I went bowling every Sunday morning, although I haven’t been in a league in about three years. Since I moved back east, however, I’ve been going less. Bowling alleys aren’t quite as conveniently located to me now, and I just haven’t gone very often. This, despite discovering duckpin bowling, which is fun in an entirely different way.
Since I first took up bowling seriously around 2000, I’ve definitely seen a decline in the number of bowling alleys. Many of them have either gone away altogether, or they’ve converted to the Lucky Strike/300 type outlets that are more about loud music and drinking than they are about bowling. Additionally, professional bowling on television has also really been on the decline. I don’t have a ton of hope that the sport as a whole is going to make a recovery.
My personal opinion is that most people don’t realize how hard it is to be as good as the pros are, and that recognizing that is part of what makes many other sports appealing to the average person. I get a little geeky about bowling, and many of my friends are surprised to learn about the different conditions and whatnot that the pros deal with versus what Average Joe encounters heading down to the lanes on a Saturday night.
<shrug> I love the sport with all my heart, and I hope it doesn’t disappear altogether.
i started bowling about ten years ago and currently bowl in two leagues. The place where one league bowls is doing well and is pretty much packed all of the time. The place where my other league plays is not doing well at all.
I bowl each year in a summer league, the alley is packed every time.
Here’s a good article about the glamour of bowling way back when…
Regular 10 pin bowling isn’t that popular in New England but it is easy to find thriving candlepin bowling alleys.
I am always reluctant to take up for yankee traditions but candlepin bowling is clearly superior to 10 pin bowling to me. The balls are much smaller so brute strength isn’t an issue but it is also much harder. The highest score ever recorded is 245 out of 300 and strikes are a very rare event.
In 10 pin bowling, anyone can get a strike and probably will if they can slide a heavy ball sort of quickly and manage to hit the middle of 10 pins. The rest is down to luck at least for individual frames. I know the pros use strategy and finesse but, for the average person, it is like throwing big rocks to try to break something. It is satisfying but only once in a while. Billiards and even cornhole require less elaborate equipment and have a closer correlation between skill and results.
Well, it could be worse.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/89754/when-christmas-was-only-day-you-could-legally-go-bowling
Occasionally. I’d bowl more regularly if I could talk the Firebug, now 9 years old, into going with me.
The odd thing is, he’s had his last two birthday parties at the local bowling alley - his choice - and other friends of his have had bowling parties on their birthdays. But anytime I suggest he and I go bowling, he’s not interested. Kids, who can figure them out?
My wife and I take the family bowling maybe twice or three times a year, maybe go alone once a year. I like it.
I was on a league. But between the dues, the over priced beer, and then more drinking and eating afterwords… That got to be about a $75 - $100 a week habit.
A little pricey for me.
I take my kids bowling once or twice a year.
There’s always three or four noticeboards full of league information, scores, and announcements. My mother’s been league bowling for years. Bowling alleys still have a dedicated trade in league activity.
For a few years now, my National Novel Writing Month has had a mid-November bowling party, which is always fun. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to go to the same venue twice so far… (First some people complained about the heavy 10-pin balls, then one 5-pin alley wouldn’t return my calls…) I realize that going once a year doesn’t really help to keep the alleys in business much. 
The one near me is always packed.
One of my earliest memories is of some other little kid’s birthday party at a bowling alley where we rolled duckpins. All I can really remember is one of the other attendees howling after picking up a grown-up bowling ball and dropping it on his foot.
I bowled when I was a kid. I pretty much stopped when I noticed the cost of bowling one game was more than the cost of one hour at the pool table. Not that I am very good at either, mind you.
Also, it’s probably getting harder and harder to find a bowling alley, and, as a result, the ones that are still open are crowded. A pinsetter is not the easiest thing in the world to maintain.
I went bowling a few times. I was never any good. I’ve taken up croquet instead.
I want to bowl again, but none of the usual crowd is interested and I don’t really have time for a league.
Try the 16 pound ball, it’s a hoot!
I just went with my grown kids last weekend while we were on vacation and had a blast. I went from being a league bowler way back when to a once-a-year-or-so guy now.
We bowl occasionally, maybe 3 times a year, and enjoy it. I don’t know anyone in a league, altho I am considering it. We have a recently refurbished alley in town with about 25 lanes, and there is a newer facility a couple towns over with 50 lanes, a restaurant and bar, bands on weekends, etc. Both of these seem to be doing steady business.
I guess bowling is not more popular since the advent of home gaming systems and instant entertainment on your smart phone. Kids these days, I tells ya.