Been trying to get into bowling for relaxation and as a way to grab some oat sodas with a couple of friends after work, but I'm finding that bowling has become quite expensive.
Anyways, just wondering if any of you Dudes bowl on the reg and if there's any way to differ the cost a little.
I'm joining a league next Monday and the rates seem cheaper when you go that path.
Yeah I noticed the same thing.
Some time ago myself and my special lady friend decided to get a lane on a weekend morning. We do roll on shabbas.
Very expensive.
A buddy of mine, plays in a scratch singles league on a Monday and only pays like £7.50 for 3 games! I'd join too if not for other commitments.
I haven't noticed it being expensive. Perhaps it's because I'm in a more rural area. I try to go in the early afternoon when I can. I don't like to go when it's packed. Ideal is right when they open. It's quiet, relaxing, maybe the league players are practicing but you don't have a bunch of beer swilling amateurs harshing your mellow.
Bowling is a great way to meet other Dudeists or potential practitioners of Dudeism. I took my fledgling congregation on the Day of the Dude this year (4 of us in total) and met several others, having a good time, letting go, and drinking white russians. I think it ran us about $10 each, which is about the same as a movie in our area, but we had more time and fun at the lanes.
Yeah same here... not just expensive but every alley near me needs to be a fuckin' laser light show with music blaring, TVs at the end of the lanes and shit. I wish they'd ditch the novelties and realize that some people, those who'd come in consistently, just want a burger, beer, a few laughs, and to fucking roll without all that ADD distraction!
I did find a league that gets better rates but that's an upfront cost I can't swing right now since my career has slowed down a bit lately.
I resort to just playing bowling mobile games and just bowling monday nights when it's $15 for unlimited games + shoes... that I can afford for now... even if it's still a seizure show.
Shit, that would be incredibly annoying. I'm rethinking my analysis in the other thread about bowling alleys dying off. It may be better for the struggling ones to die off, rather than morph into some bowling alley zombie abomination with lasers, loud music, tvs, and dancing bears (okay, I made up the last one). At least there'd be less risk to infect the healthy alleys.
Myself and my special lady have just seriously started bowling to relax, get off the rug and out the house. Here in the UK the price is ridiculous we go twice a week and together it costs us around ?50/$70 including a cheap night. On a recent visit we got told that a membership to an association will open up some cheaper options. So maybe there is an option for you to go that route, your league should be able to point you the right way. I've yet to get into the league as the season has just finished. Time for plenty practice.
We did splash for our own balls and shoes etc.
And most of the cheap nights here have the beer swilling Walters to unbalance your Dudeness so it's cheap or rowdy, a fine choice.
I absolutely love bowling it's one of those games where the more limber my mind the better I do.
I tend to have a 3 beer/ 1 doob limit. Anything after that, it all goes to shit! I go from the odd couple of strikes per frame, to gutterballs and a few pins.
Quote from: Brother D on June 25, 2016, 01:29:08 PM
I tend to have a 3 beer/ 1 doob limit. Anything after that, it all goes to shit! I go from the odd couple of strikes per frame, to gutterballs and a few pins.
I can usually throw rocks with one doob and about 10 beers, then my friends jokingly threaten to make me walk home lol
I've been dabbling on and off. I go to the lanes and rent a lane for like an hour, but it's troublesome because my wrist swells up like a motherfucker afterwards.
Expense wise, my advice is to invest in some bowling shoes. Thats what I did. after 5 trips they've paid for themselves.
I'm terrible however, I still struggle to throw the ball straight, haven't even thought about trying to learn to hook until I can master the spare throw.
I will say, it really irks my inner walter to wander that I haven't gotten the best customer service at the AMF lanes. A lot of snippy attitudes, which ya know... I know. Let it go. But it comes from a place of doing customer service work for years, and I know simple politeness takes just the very basic effort to produce.
It seems to me ( at least around here) bowling is becoming less and less of a popular pastime. I actually enjoy hitting the lanes quite a bit but here lately all my local bowling alleys are following the example of the roller rinks and closing up shop. It's kind of sad really.
New bowling alley opened near me and, since I bartend part time, serving industry gets free shoe rentals and free bowling after 10pm on Monday. Pretty sweet deal.
Every bowling alley I know local to me (UK) has turned into a party/video arcade/child party area/holiday camp clone. Not once have myself and my special lady been to the lanes and rolled with some other like minded individuals. Always fighting the toddlers and the drunks and shouting over the too loud music. It's a bit shitty, I can understand that if bowling is going to survive then the lanes have to change, but there isn't an option to go, hang out and roll for those that want to. Especially at the price they charge, hate to say it but it's better value to go to the movies. We still go though, adapt and overcome.
Quote from: Rev Nicholas Rehfeldt on June 27, 2016, 06:16:15 PM...I'm terrible however, I still struggle to throw the ball straight, haven't even thought about trying to learn to hook until I can master the spare throw...
I'm far from being an expert, but pay attention to the line your throwing arm and hand make as you roll, even after you've released the ball (i.e., "follow through"). If your arm/hand is pointing more in the direction of the lane on either side of you than where you wanted the ball to go, odds are your ball will be rolling in that direction.
Years ago the father of the girl I was dating at the time gave me the strangest sounding advice I've ever received: "Give the middle finger to the ball as you watch it roll away from you." This was essentially his way of saying, "Make sure your hand is pointing where you want the ball to go," but it helped.
Quote from: Reverend Al on July 01, 2016, 07:23:10 PM
Quote from: Rev Nicholas Rehfeldt on June 27, 2016, 06:16:15 PM...I'm terrible however, I still struggle to throw the ball straight, haven't even thought about trying to learn to hook until I can master the spare throw...
I'm far from being an expert, but pay attention to the line your throwing arm and hand make as you roll, even after you've released the ball (i.e., "follow through"). If your arm/hand is pointing more in the direction of the lane on either side of you than where you wanted the ball to go, odds are your ball will be rolling in that direction.
Years ago the father of the girl I was dating at the time gave me the strangest sounding advice I've ever received: "Give the middle finger to the ball as you watch it roll away from you." This was essentially his way of saying, "Make sure your hand is pointing where you want the ball to go," but it helped.
Give it the middle finger, eh? That some sort of eastern thing?
Actually that sounds like good advice, I think my other problem is I keep trying to throw the pro-weight balls (15 LBS) and my wrist keeps breaking (bending backwards) under the weight. Curse with some very limber joints man.
Quote from: Rev Nicholas Rehfeldt on July 03, 2016, 04:49:14 AMGive it the middle finger, eh? That some sort of eastern thing?
Actually that sounds like good advice, I think my other problem is I keep trying to throw the pro-weight balls (15 LBS) and my wrist keeps breaking (bending backwards) under the weight. Curse with some very limber joints man.
That
is another issue--finding the right ball (assuming you don't have your own, of course). I tend to prefer lighter bowling balls myself, but they don't quite have the "punch" that makes the pins scatter the way heavier balls do. And then there are the finger holes; being able to hold the ball properly helps. Or maybe you just need a little advice from someone who actually knows what they're doing. A lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous.