How Many Hours of Bowling Practice Each Week?

I was talking to a friend last week and the subject of bowling practice came up.  He said that he averages 6 hours a week of practice on his bowling game and I had never really stopped to consider exactly how long I practice each week.  As I thought about this question I realized that it has change a lot over the years, and the amount I bowl each week can change several times throughout the year just depending on what is going on.

Before marriage I used to bowl an awful lot of frames.  I was enlisted in the Marine Corps for 6 years and one of the benefits of being in the military is the abundance of cheap bowling.  I was not much of a dancer and would rather spend my time in a bowling alley than a dance club, so many a weekend was spent bowling frame after frame until the early morning hours.  I would guess that I spent as much as 20 hours a week practicing my bowling in those days.

The amount of time spent bowling decreased after I was married.  My wife was not a bowler, and while I did drag her to the lanes on occasion, for the most part early on in our marriage there was not a lot of bowling going on.

I got back into the sport and started playing in a couple of leagues after a few years of marriage, but after our first kid was born my time at the alleys declined again.

This ebb and flow continues today.  During the winter months when my son is playing basketball I spend very little time in a bowling alley, but other times of the year there is more time available.  If I had to take a guess at how much time per week I practice bowling I would say 2 hours a week.

I am wondering how much time each of you spends at bowling practice each week.  Leave a comment and lets us know.

It’s All about Those Styling Bowling Shoes

Bowling shoes are an important part of the game, and are essential if a bowler would like to increase scores and improve bowling performance. A casual bowler may think that all bowling shoes are the same, what they don’t know are that bowling shoes contribute immensely to the performance of a bowler. If someone would like to excel in bowling, then he/she may want to consider getting their own pair of bowling shoes.

Bowling shoes also help preserve the lanes, the soles of the shoes do not scuff up the lanes and as if normal shoes were allowed. With street shoes the lanes would eventually form grooves and the wear and tear would disrupt the way the ball rolled.

Popular Bowling Terms You Should Stick in Your Mental Glossary

Bowling balls may seem simple to the common eye, but they are much more than solid spheres with finger holes in them. The balls are designed to perform on various surfaces, and to compliment the style and strength of each individual bowler.Popular Bowling Terms You Should Stick in Your Mental Glossary

If you’re a newbie bowler, sometimes hitting the alley can be a little intimidating. It can seem like everyone has been bowling longer than you have. Also, in many places, the bowling alley has its own little community talking its own language and lingo that may sound like Greek when you’re the new kid on the block. So can you start to fit in? Take a little time to learn some common bowling terms, and soon no one will be able to tell you didn’t know your break point from your foul line a few weeks ago.

The words you should concentrate on learning first are the words associated with the equipment and basic scoring. Most people know what a strike is – knocking down all the pins – but some people may not know that a strike can only happen on your first ball. Knocking all the pins down with your second ball, whether you hit any balls the first time or not, is known as a spare. When you approach the lane to make your shot, the line at which you must stop and throw your ball is the foul line – step over that, and your shot will be disqualified. If your ball rolls off the lane on either side, it will be in the gutter and called a gutter ball. If your ball moves from side to side when it hits the pins and knocks some down on each side, it is called a hurricane. If it goes directly down the middle and knocks down those pins, leaving pins on each side, it is called a split.

You should also familiarize with the words for a few common bowling techniques. Straight bowling is the “point and shoot”, straight down the center lane style of bowling that most beginners rely on. Hook balls are balls that thrown so that they arc out and then hook back in to knock down certain pins. Hook balls are the primary balls thrown when bowlers want to aim at a specific target. Axis tilt refers to how much vertical spin you put on the ball, and axis rotation refers to how much horizontal spin you put on the ball. Axis tilt and axis rotation all influence how, when, and where a hook ball makes its turn. The point where the hook ball does begin to turn towards its target is known as the break point.

If you’re getting into league bowling, there are a few league related terms you should take note of. The anchor on any bowling team is the player who bowls last; usually the best player. The first person who plays is called the lead man. The foundation frame is the last frame of a match, and a box is any single frame. If everyone fails to get a strike in any particular frame, the frame is called an open frame. If someone talks on your team tells you to hit the barmaid, they’re talking about the pin behind another pin. Slow balls are known as creepers, and if you roll a gutter ball, it might be also called a poodle. ABC stands for the American Bowling Conference – the people who make the rules.

Like most sports, bowling has tons of slang, and some of it is regional, so getting to know all the little ins and outs of bowling lingo will take some time. Get to know these basic terms, however and you won’t sound like the odd man out at the bowling alley. Pretty soon you’ll be telling the keglers (bowlers) to watch their chicken wings (elbows) when throwing their apple (bowling ball).

Simple Suggestions to Get your Kids Bowling

There are many fun and simple ways to get your kids interesting in bowling.  Whether you are looking for something fun for your family to do together, or a way to get your child interested in something new, there are many options to explore when you want to get your kids bowling.  Consider a bowling part, or purchasing some cool bowling gear that they can be excited about.  Try playing games while at the lanes, or using bumpers to encourage their confidence.  Bowling is a great way to have some family fun, but it is important to remember to lighten up and have a great time!

Many local bowling lanes will host birthday parties for your kids.  Check with your local lanes for details, but throwing your child a bowling birthday party can be a great way to get them interested in the sport of bowling.  These parties can include food and fun but also will encourage team work and friendship among the participants.  You can reserve some lanes and even invite the parents along for some adult fun.  The kids will love the game as well as keeping score and encouraging each other.  Hosting a bowling party is a great way to have some fun while encouraging and introducing the sport of bowling.

Another great way to get your kids excited about bowling is to purchase them some of their own gear.  Most of the bowling balls at the lanes are too heavy for children, or too large.  By purchasing them their own ball, you can encourage the sport and make them feel like a special participant as well.  There are many kid friendly balls for sale and many of them include images of their favorite characters.  Disney makes a line of kid’s bowling balls that feature their favorite Disney characters as well.  Other bowling gear such as t-shirts and shoes are a fun way to look like the team that you are!

There are many exciting and fun ways to bowl besides the traditional 10-pin bowling games.  If you are looking for a way to include younger children or just have a great time with your family, consider playing the game a different way.  Maybe just dividing into teams or partners will do it, or asking your local bowling lanes for ideas on ways to make the game more fun for children and the whole family is a great way to include kids and make them feel like equal participants in the game!

Many bowling lanes offer the use of bumpers for children.  These are padded rails that lay in the gutters along the lane to prevent “gutter balls.”  Since many children can’t throw the ball straight, or very hard, use of these bumpers can make the game more fun for your kids as well as inspire some interesting ways to roll the ball.  Ask your local lanes about this option as you may have to reserve it ahead of time.  Using bumpers can inspire confidence and creativity in your child and make the sport more fun for everyone.

Bowling is a great way to have some family fun.  Many lanes have family fun nights where there are special games and prizes, as well as other exciting features such as glow-in-the-dark bowling or moonlight bowling.  There are tons of ways to make bowling fun for the whole family and if you want to get your kids excited about it, you should have fun too!  Contact your local lanes to find out what services or programs are available for families, and maybe when and if there are non-smoking hours offered.  Since many bowling centers have league play going on, it is important to find out when the open bowling hours are before you head on in.

The most important thing to consider when getting your kids excited about bowling is to lighten up and have fun.  If your child sees you getting frustrated or pouting about that bad roll, they are not only going to pick up that behavior, but it will make them not want to play.  All sports should be fun and enjoyable for children and if you are looking to get your child to be excited about bowling, the best way is to have a blast yourself!