Why is the sport of bowling so popular?
Almost everyone asked will admit to enjoying a game or two of bowling from time to time. It is a sport that is relatively new, only around forty years old, but it is one of the most popular sports. Why is that? Well, for starters, it’s a game for anyone. It’s fun for everyone, from those who play once every few years to those who play competitively.
Bowling is a relatively cheap sport to play and is hard to beat in terms of fun per dollar. There are many ways to play, from family games to tournaments. For a family or a group of friends, there are multiple ways to play. Depending on the skill level of the bowler, the number of people, or whether the bowlers like to take their time, there are several ways to pay. Bowlers can rent lanes by time, paying for blocks of time. This can be good for fast bowlers or larger groups, especially useful if a large group of people are planning a bowling outing. In addition to renting lanes based on time, people can also pay per game released. Also, if the kids are coming to bowl with the parents, most alleyways feature bumpers that rise out of the lanes, making gutter balls a thing of the past. Some alleys even have a feature now where bumpers will appear based on the selected bowler, so adults and kids can bowl in the same lane.
As well as being an individual or small group sport, league play is a large part of bowling. Bowling leagues are a great way for large groups of people to meet and play competitively. Some leagues meet once a week, others once a month, and anything in between. Leagues are generally based on a common interest, from church leagues to beer leagues to charitable leagues. Competitive leagues usually have a large number of teams competing for trophies, prizes, etc. Leagues are also a way to get a lot of bowling at a relatively low price. Some leagues can be as cheap as $10 per person, including a pitcher of beer/soda and a pizza for each individual team. Most league games pit one team against another over three competitive games, with the winner being determined by the average score.
Whether you’re an individual looking to blow off steam or a group of people looking to get involved in some serious competition, bowling is a sport to consider. With so many options and such a low price, bowling is a great way to spend an afternoon with the family or a night in with the guys from work. Bowling is a game that anyone can learn, few can master, but everyone can have fun.