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Bowling Highlights

Bowling still No. 1 recreational activity

Ed Townsend
Posted 9/16/22

Bowling is still the number one recreational activity in the US according to an article from Bowling Seriously.

A recent study showed that 67 million people bowled at least once in the prior …

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Bowling Highlights

Bowling still No. 1 recreational activity

Posted

Bowling is still the number one recreational activity in the US according to an article from Bowling Seriously.

A recent study showed that 67 million people bowled at least once in the prior year, with over 95 % of those people there to party and or enjoy the food and drink.

While that’s great for bowling centers, it means only 1 out of every 34 bowling centers customers today is a serious bowler.

You will face an uphill battle if you want to bowl seriously. The decline in serious bowling is a popular topic among those who have been bowling seriously for many years, with lots of grousing and finger-pointing going on, as well as fond talk about serious bowlers who left the sport because of the way it has changed over time.

It will be your challenge to listen respectfully to the long-time bowlers (after all, they do know a lot about bowling and its history) while not letting their negativity get to you. 

A good mental state and attitude is one of the keys to good bowling. Besides, there is hope. There has been a dramatic increase in high school and college bowling in the last few years that is leading to a bit of revival.

It is too soon to tell, however, how many of these new serious bowlers will continue to bowl after college.

So, what exactly has happened? To answer that we have summarized some of the key points from the resources on what is taking place in the sport of bowling today. 

The game has changed.

Advances in technology have had a big impact on the game of bowling. In the early days, pins were set in place by pin boys, bowling centers applied oil to their wooded lanes using spray cans and other makeshift devices, bowlers calculated scores by hand and one bowling ball was all you needed, if you had a lot of skill.

Some US bowling centers have recently replaced their pinsetters with a model that places pins on the deck using strings attached from the top of the pins to the overhead machinery. The “string pinsetter” was actually developed in the 1960’s but had mostly been used in mini-bowling and other amusement settings, but, bowling center owners, looking to reduce costs to stay in business, have been attracted by the fact that string pinsetters have many fewer moving parts and therefore can be maintained (usually just untangling a string) by the food and beverage servers, resulting in less down time and little need to employ a more costly mechanic.

For some serious bowlers who have been in the game a long time, the changes have either been welcome or have made the game too easy or too hard or too expensive to continue bowling, or all the above. 

We will talk more about the changes in the sport of bowling in future columns.

Ed’s Outlook 

In our upcoming columns we will do features on the new name change and owner at Memorial Lanes (the former Port Jervis Bowl), the many changes at Memory Lanes and will also bring you scores of Sullivan County bowlers at The Fox Bowling Center in Hancock and bowlers from Sullivan County who are bowling at the former Middletown Lanes now called Quinnz Pinz.

Bowling Tip by Mike Luongo

How many people are thinking about or following safety guidelines while at the bowling alley?

Bowling safety is a topic that is not on many people’s minds when they enter the alley.

There are so many ways in which you can get hurt while bowling.

First, when you are just walking around, you should make sure of where you are. You should never be behind a person that is swinging a bowling ball.

While bowling, you should be the only person standing on the approach to the lane.

If there is someone in a lane next to you then you should wait because some bowlers tend to walk off to the sides after throwing their ball and do not realize that they have walked into the next lane.

It is absolutely necessary that you properly warm up before starting to bowl. This will prevent you from getting strained muscles.

Ensure that you are wearing proper footwear and any bowler will want their own properly fit bowling shoes.

Be aware of any liquid on the floor as this can lead to sudden painful stopping or slipping.

Always pick up your bowling ball with both hands. This will reduce strain by at least 50%.

Make sure you stay behind the foul line as the area after that is completely oiled.

Be alert while bowling. Safety should be considered at all times.

Mike Luongo is a Certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor Special Events Assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question? Email him at mike.luongo@stormbowling.com

Local Scores

Memory Lanes

Monday Night Mixed

League President Paul Minton

League VP Jason Jones Sr.

Sect.-Treasurer Serafin Rodriguez III

A nice 717 triple the first night of bowling by Kevin Stackhouse off single games of 256, 252, and 209, Clayton Tingle 223, Wences Acevedo 260, 697, Jaryl  Scott 222, 655, Pedro Agaito III 207, Mike Scuderi 222, Jason Jones Sr. 202, Marianna Monaco 208, 575, Bill Schubert 256, Keith Smith 234, Liz Stubits 168, Lizzie Giumarra 171, Dan VanAken 257, 666, Dean Shattuck 201, JoJo Van Keuren 216, Serafin Rodriguez III 238, 618, Will Townsend 215.

Tuesday Night Mixed

Anka Scott 210, Richard Gaglione 246, 653, Kyle Felter 210, Jaime Fedorick 205, Josephine Zych 182, 530, Fran Luzzi 221, 587.

P.J. City League

President, Billy Van Wie

Vice Pres. Rich O’Neill

Monticello’s Pedro Agapito III opened the 2022-23 season with a booming 8l4 series off single games of 268, 258, 288, Matthew Terwilliger 232, Frank Eichenlaub 244, 627, John Jashembowski 235, Justin Traynor 269, 691, Steven Faireather 210, 605, Chris Morgan Sr. 222, 603,  Brittney Morgan 187, 526, Gregory Conklin 268, 651, Shelly Morgan 200, 560, Tom Hinkley 267, 720, Joe Miederna 221, Joe Kaufman 231, 609, Joe Miller 233, 627, Mike Holt 235, 656, Tommy Palmer 235, 655.

Thursday Women’s

President Robin Tobey

League Secretary Jeanne Steuhl

Erin McDonash 216, 178, 210, 604, Carol Flynn 188, 173, 136, 497, Michele Macedonia 163, 154, 171, 488, Kim DeGarmo 124, 105, 154, 483, Kristin Banse 134, 189, 143, 466.

Ray Willis Sr. Memorial League

President Jason Csencsits

Brigette Willis 184, 509, Doug Romer Jr. 214, Jacob Loske 203, 602, Wayne Sniffen Jr. 263, 698, Kyle Matthews 244, Jaryl Scott 226, 633, Brian Yennie 237, Michele Bensley 232, 574, Ray Willis Jr. 214, Neal Bensley 201, Bryan Shauger 232, 650.

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