Just because I can. I love bowling. I follow the professional sport, I bowl in league (only one, currently – I used to be in three leagues simultaneously), I used to be league president…it’s my thing. I don’t know very many people who enjoy bowling as much as I do, but bowling is supposedly the #1 participation sport in the country and second worldwide behind soccer (I don’t have cites for where I’ve read that at the moment, but I’ll bring them if and when I find them). So here are my questions for you:
**1. How often do you go bowling?
When’s the last time you went bowling?
Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?**
I’m mainly referring to ten-pin bowling, but please answer the same questions and make a note of it if you participate in one of the other forms (duckpin, candlepin, etc.). And now to answer my own questions.
How often do you go bowling?
Generally, twice a week because I’ve been slacking on practice lately. I bowl in my league on Wednesdays and usually practice on a Saturday or Sunday morning (when I can bowl for 99 cents per game).
When’s the last time you went bowling?
I was busy with Superbowl party preparations this past weekend, so I didn’t make it to practice. I haven’t bowled since last week’s Wednesday league.
Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Well, leagues, obviously. I’ve also bowled in city, state and the U.S. national tournament.
Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
I have, and I do. And I’ve attended the pro tournaments in person. It’s fun to me because I admire professional bowlers as much as I do professional athletes in other sports, but in baseball, for example, you can’t sit 20 feet away from a player and watch him work, then casually ask for an autograph and a picture afterward. It’s a great atmosphere if you’re into it.
I loves me some bowling but I’m in no way as committed as our OP here. That said, if you suggest bowling to anyone within earshot, I’m there. Even if you’d rather I wasn’t.
How often do you go bowling?
I have no schedule & will go through phases where I go every other week, then will skip a half year. No rhyme or reason to it. It’s a favorite group activity for me & I just don’t go alone, so when I can get a group together, we’ll go.
When’s the last time you went bowling?
Month ago—right after New Years.
Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
I was in a league in college, which meant, basically: getting drunk every week and hoping no one got injured. That said, we took it fairly seriously. I’m in a touring band so league play is simply out of the question for me.
Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
No way.
My question:
5- Curious as to your top scores & averages. For me, I topped out at 212 and probably average somewhere between 130 and 140.
My highest score was a 279 (stupid 4-pin left in the fourth frame!), and I was fortunate enough to do it in a state tournament, so I got some commemorative glasses to mark the occasion. My current average is about 175. The highest average I’ve ever held was a 207, about four years ago.
1. How often do you go bowling?
About once every two years.
**2. When’s the last time you went bowling?**This X-mas vacation, visiting family near Albany NY. It was a lane that was evenly-oiled and nothing seemed to stick. Using a house ball didn’t help matters, of course, especially since I am left handed. But I still got in the 140’s and 180s in my two games (after not having bowled in 2 yrs.)
3. Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Was in a league in late middle school/early high school for about four years, several city tournaments and one state tournament. Didn’t win anything cause at the time I didn’t properly adjust for lane conditions. I’ve only bowled two games above 210, and those were 222 and 268 respectively!
I also notice that the less I bowl the better I bowl. Usually when I haven’t bowled in awhile I get in the 160’s on average (this last time was an exception due to very weird lane conditions and house balls [didn’t seem like I could find a 16 lb’er that fit my hand]).
**4. Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?**Yes, but I couldn’t tell you the names of any current pros. It’s not that interesting to me anymore.
1. How often do you go bowling?
Once a week – I’m on a league as well. During the summer, I usually bowl on a league during the week and practice one day on the weekends (up to three games of practice each week are free for league bowlers during the summer).
2. When’s the last time you went bowling?
Last night.
3. Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Not in a tournament – just leagues (for the past two years).
4. Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
A couple of years ago, I would’ve said no – if it was available now, I’d definitely watch it (but we don’t have cable).
5. Top score/average:
I’ve come awfully close to breaking 200 several times – I think I hit 198 once. My current average is 136 or something like that. I’ve certainly hit a plateau of some kind with my current skill set, and I’m thinking really hard about taking lessons.
Pardon the minor hijack, but just go for it, seriously. I felt really silly the first time I looked into taking lessons. But at the same time, there is nothing more frustrating for me than knowing that I should be able to do something but not being able to get my body to cooperate. Having someone unlock that potential for me made me much, much happier when I bowled. Find yourself a reputable coach and do it!
I, too, am on a Wednesday league and thus go once a week (and it is the highlight of the week; I LOVE it!)
2. When is the last time you went bowling?
Last Wednesday! And I’ll be hitting the lanes in an hour or so.
3. Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Just leagues. But we’re more competitive with out beer drinking than our bowling.
4. Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
I have never done so, but if it came on I would watch it.
5. Curious as to your top scores & averages.
My average is 147. My high game was three weeks ago–257. It was so much fun!
6. If you are in a league, what is the name/motto of your team?
We are EBOWLA. We have black shirts with yellow trim. On the back there is a Biohazard symbol with our name and a team motto, “It’s not EZ being diseasy”
How often do you go bowling?
Last year a group and I went every week. Dollar per game night. Even bought my own shoes ($25 Dexters that are super comfortable) to save money since renting the shoes cost more than all the games. The group fizzled so I don’t go as much anymore.
When’s the last time you went bowling?
About 3 weeks ago.
Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
No, I kinda suck. But if there was one of those beer n’bowling leagues where it doesn’t matter that you suck, then I definitely would. I’m never good and inconsistent between ‘meh,’ ‘that wasn’t too shabby,’ and ‘wow you suck.’
Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
I have once. I was sick in bed. It wasn’t too exciting to me. They get strikes almost every time.
2. When’s the last time you went bowling?
Never
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3. Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.**
No
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4. Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?**
Good lord no.
But I do shoot pool and sometimes will watch women’s 9 ball on ESPN.
What he said – it’s a lot cheaper than real bowling, I can blow through a game in five minutes, and I can do it at one in the morning. I used to bowl for real, but the Wii is a lot more convenient.
(Best Wii Sports bowling score is 230, and I’m finally getting the knack of throwing strikes fairly consistently)
I had to give it up when I came down with arthritis.
1987
Yes. I bowled in numerous leagues, and was an active competitor in TBOA. I used to bring in an extra couple of hundred bucks a week from bowling. My last year of bowling, I had a league average of 202.
Yes. I used to love the PBA tour on ABC. In fact, their early color commentator, Billy Welu, taught me how to bowl. He and his dad owned the Pladium Lanes in Houston, and I was very active in the junior leagues there. Billy used to bring in his friends from the tour and they would give clinics. I got lessons from Dick Weber, Carmen Salvino and several others.
How often do you go bowling?
Probably a couple of times a month. Maybe three if we take a night out and do some candlepin (hooray for New England!).
When’s the last time you went bowling?
Um, two Fridays ago.
Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.
Nope. Haven’t really had the occasion to.
Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?
I have at times. I’d never seek it out as something to watch, but I’d certainly leave it on if there was nothing better.
Top scores & Averages
I average somewhere in the 150-160 range, pretty consistently - you can be almost certain that I’m going to bowl between 130 and 180 in any given game. My top score is somewhere generally around 200; it wasn’t high enough that I really remember it. If I were interested in it as more than a casual hobby, I’d definitely be at the point where I’d be considering formal lessons to go any farther. Also, as something considerably more impressive, I average 100 or so at candlepin. It’s a lot of fun, often moreso than ten-pin.
As an aside, I have a very close friend who could have written the OP. He’s an officer in his college bowling club, he bowls 2-3 times a week between league and pleasure, and he is pretty bowling-obsessed. He did manage to put up a 300 a few months ago… and naturally, it was on the lane in the corner in the dark at a Friday night “cosmic” session where we were trying to hide from some high schoolers. He averages about 205, and on any given night, he’ll have at least one 250+ game… blows me away
Not many people get into bowling the way they do other sports, but every alley I’m at is always full in the evenings… so bowling has to still be doing pretty well, I think.
1. How often do you go bowling?
Rarely. I’ve gone three times in the past year, but before that I hadn’t bowled since I was 11.
2. When’s the last time you went bowling?
April or May last year?
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3. Have you ever bowled competitively? Explain.**
No, but my grandmother used to. She was quite good.
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4. Have you or would you watch bowling on TV?**
I did as a child just because it seemed so neat. But I never would now.
