The Joys of Bowling

First let me say that I’m not a good bowler, but I enjoy bowling. I also find it interesting on many levels. In this small social sphere many successes and defeats occur. People are cheered on with glad handing and people get discouraged when their game falls below par. Team members tease and insult each other and laugh together as well, and I find it interesting from a psychological perspective.

     There is also a philosophical aspect to bowling. I notice that I don’t bowl as well as I’m capable of bowling because I’m always thinking about everything else and so I don’t focus on the trajectory of the ball. Bowling is a very temperamental activity for me. I might feel pressure because I’m not doing well, and that is apt to make me do even worse. I may also feel stimulated by the competition at times, and those times it makes me do better.

     I study bowling and people’s reaction to it as I study most things in life. It’s funny to watch the bowler’s reactions to the results from each ball they throw. One person flips her hand backward when she had thrown a bad ball, another takes both hands and strikes downward with them. A man lifts a clenched fist in triumph when he makes a strike.

It’s traditional to give your team mates five, smacking hands together in a spirit of exultation when you have made a mark. Some people will make a fist and strike it to the other person’s fist to shake off a bad ball.

     I tend to mix up my sports and other activities. For example:  Teammates will cheer you on when you go to bowl saying strike out, strike out. I tell them that I only do that when I’m playing baseball. When I get a split, I start looking for the banana that’s supposed to go with it. So far I’ve never found a single banana!  I think I’m playing dodge ball sometimes and I dodge the pins. When I’m confused and think I’d like to be a cheerleader, I do splits.

      If you listen to what people say they will talk about hitting their mark. I’ve finally figured out that this isn’t as simple as it sounds. At first I was aiming for the center pin and when I hit it I ended up with a big split; most of the time, however, my ball often started in the middle and ended up at the right of the lane maybe hitting two or three pins.

Then I tried aiming at the center mark on the alley and sometimes that worked, but other times it was a split, or the ball went to the right. Since that wasn’t working for me I tried aiming at the mark to the left of center and then if it went right it would not go that far right. That worked better.

     Lately I’ve been looking at the mark closest to me, not the one midway down the lane and that mark gives me even better accuracy. Perhaps I’ve found my mark and when I hit it consistently, I’ll make my mark in the bowling world. It’s so funny the strategies that people will employ in order to be successful at bowling. One woman went on a diet, thinking that if she lost weight, the pins might fall for her!

     And people say the funniest things. One man came back saying, “I got robbed.”

His buddy said, “Call the sheriff.”

     Another time Louie said to Ted, “If you aren’t going to bowl, sit down.”

Ted said, “I’m going home.” Louie said, “I’m going with you!”

     Someone else suggested giving alcohol to the pins so they couldn’t stand up.

     One thing about bowling is that you get good instant feedback and recognition of your achievement. If you did well you get a high five from your team mates; that high five is to transfer the good luck to the next person. If you didn’t do well, people on my team hit closed fist to closed fist to shake off the bad luck.  Miniature tragedies are acted out in each frame of the game. Bowling is a small stage for human endeavor.
     I enjoy the bowling but it doesn’t always hold my attention. I may be physically holding the ball, walking down the alley but in my head I’m writing a speech or focused on something else. I want to make a mark, but not a black mark. The goal for me is exercise, fun, and socialization.

     Last New Years Eve some of my family members went to midnight bowling. That was fun except that they turned bright flashing lights on and played loud music that made conversation impossible. The flashing lights gave me a headache. I believe I prefer to be with a team of people who are good natured and happy, in a bowling alley that is relatively quiet. It feels good when someone cheers you on and the confidence and feeling of belonging will go with you after you leave the bowling alley also.

     If you are looking for something to do where you’ll get exercise, camaraderie and a chance to verbally spar with fellow teammates, bowling may be just the thing for you.

     The game just bowls me over!