# Suggest a rules change to revive bowling **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478 "2005-12-20T17:23:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/41 "2005-12-21T01:56:16Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Ten people from the audience volunteer to be the pins (they are bound so that they can’t move). The bowler gets into a giant transparent ball (kinda like a hamster ball on steroids). The bowler propels him/herself down the lane and tries to knock over the people. I’m pretty sure that’s been a staple of Japanese game shows for some time, or at least the part about making ten people wear restrictive pin costumes. Much cheerful good hilarity ensue. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/42 "2005-12-21T02:15:23Z")
For me, it is the smoking. Bowling alleys are very smoky. There is no patio to escape to. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/43 "2005-12-21T02:31:24Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > For me, it is the smoking. Bowling alleys are very smoky. There is no patio to escape to. There’s an idea: fill the alley with more smoke as the match goes on. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/44 "2005-12-21T03:18:50Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Make it interactive and BIG! > > Ten people from the audience volunteer to be the pins (they are bound so that they can’t move). The bowler gets into a giant transparent ball (kinda like a hamster ball on steroids). The bowler propels him/herself down the lane and tries to knock over the people. Let the people in costumes hop around, but no running or walking. Anyone who falls over counts as a pin knocked down. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/45 "2005-12-21T03:20:29Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Let the people in costumes hop around, but no running or walking. Anyone who falls over counts as a pin knocked down. The “pins” could be allowed to trash talk the bowler. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/46 "2005-12-21T03:50:24Z")
I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned yet. Slip and Slide bowling, no balls required. You get a running start and slide head first into the pins. Raising your arms to protect your head is a penalty. Fall into the ball pit and you are disqualified. Bonus points are awarded for first blood, first concussion, and being knocked out. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478/47 "2005-12-21T04:00:57Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’m pretty sure that’s been a staple of Japanese game shows for some time, or at least the part about making ten people wear restrictive pin costumes. > > Much cheerful good hilarity ensue. Well, now at least that episode of _Excel Saga_ makes a little more sense. Not much more, because after all, it’s _Excel Saga_, but a little more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-rules-change-to-revive-bowling/336478.md?page=2)