Frankly, I may be slightly biased because I have been bowling for nearly ten years, but hear me out. Most people pass bowling off as a fun thing to do with family or friends when the weather’s kind of yucky, but you don’t want to be stuck in your home all day. And, yes, it is great for situations like those, but bowling is so much more than a pass time. What most people don’t realize is there is a lot that goes into the sport of bowling especially if you are an avid bowler.

One of the best decisions I have made to date would be getting into bowling competitively, but I think I underestimated the challenge I would be posed with. Bowling is not only a physical game; bowling also challenges you mentally. If you’re not focused enough, or even if you’re too focused, you can fall apart. A level head and a good attitude are key; without them, who knows how you’ll play. Of course these things can be said about most other sports as well so let’s talk about part of the physical game that so many tend to overlook like the equipment, the approach, and, most importantly, the lane conditions.

Equipment varies from standard to personalized from bowler to bowler. Your personalization comes with the types of bowling balls you have, the way they are drilled, and other items you fill your bag with. Bowling balls come with different cover stocks, solid, pearl, hybrid, etc, and with different weight blocks within them. The combination of these two things, along with the individual approach of the bowler, creates the way the ball reacts down on the lane. The approach is different for every bowler give or take a couple standard parts like steps and release. Some bowlers have high revs, others have high speeds. I personally have a relatively low revolution rate and my speed is nothing out of the ordinary so I tend to rely a lot on my release.

The most dynamic, and what I consider most important, part of bowling’s physical game is the lane’s condition. The oil on the lane always varies, even from lane to lane and especially from alley to alley. Each alley has their own house shot which are all a different length and/or volume. As time goes on and the lane is used, the oil breaks down depending on where the balls have been rolling. However, the change is invisible to the naked eye so as a bowler it’s important to be able to watch the ball’s reaction and adjust on each shot. There are also sport shots which are typically used in tournaments. These shots are classified as long, short, or medium depending on where the oil finishes down the lane. Each of these patterns break down in unique ways that, again, cannot be seen.

Clearly, I did not touch on every aspect of the sport, but, considering that could take days, I think its best. Bowling is a great pass time and great for recreational fun, but it is so much more than something to do on the weekend when it’s raining outside. Bowling is an amazing way to work strategy and a positive attitude into a sport that you can take part in at any time of the year. Next time you’re out bowling I hope you keep in mind all of the different things that go into the sport and maybe it will spark your interest in it as a competitive activity, but of course the most important over all aspect of bowling is that you remember to have fun!