Interesting article on the decline of Bowling

[muskyed]

What area are you writing about? Sounds like a great place for pool and bowling.

Mid Wisconsin.

 

[westcoast]

Mid Wisconsin.

Seems like the Midwest is a hotbed for bowling and pool- weather is so cold in the winter that you have to turn to indoor recreation and real estate is still relatively cheap. I used grew up in Michigan and back then (1980s and 90s) pool and bowling were big

 

[MitchAlsup]

Those bowling prices are outrageous.

Expect to average $50/person

I remember getting up Sat morning for the frat house bowling league, and we paid $5 each for 1.5 hours, and were allowed to bring our own keg (hair of the dog and all that)...

Since that was 1977, that $5 converts to only $25 today.
Nor would they let you bring your own keg .....

 

[muskyed]

Seems like the Midwest is a hotbed for bowling and pool- weather is so cold in the winter that you have to turn to indoor recreation and real estate is still relatively cheap. I used grew up in Michigan and back then (1980s and 90s) pool and bowling were big

It's a huge place,they have volleyball and corn hole leagues in the summer, and do big banquets all year there.
The other 8 table place 15 miles away is starting up something for kids to get them involved and I think mentoring.
They also sponsor tmt players heavily, of which my wife and some of her friends partake in.

 

[7stud]

Nor would they let you bring your own keg .....

 

[u12armresl]

I bowl, albeit very badly, and I can tell you another reason that there would be a decline is the wear and tear on the body.
Pros get brand new balls at every tour stop and give their old balls away (not much help because no 2 people are going to have the exact same finger cut) you have to get in side boards, pots, room with several people, etc. in order to make it.

 

[billiards_watch]

The guy with the fancy ball doesn't look as cool as the guy with the fancy stick.

Our hands are very delicate. We don't lug around heavy crap. We need our hands to have dexterity and touch.

LOL

 

[Taxi]

A few years ago, my local paper had a bowling column each week. In an interview with a proprietor, it said their liability insurance went up to 80k a year. It would be hard to operate any business where you basically paid an employee 80k who just sat there doing nothing.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

Sports Illustrated had a regular bowling columnist for the first two years of its existence, and once even featured a bowler on its cover.

 

[billiards_watch]

Sports Illustrated had a regular bowling columnist for the first two years of its existence, and once even featured a bowler on its cover.
View attachment 833931

It was probably in between the offseason for major sports.

 

[dquarasr]

Pros get brand new balls at every tour stop and give their old balls away (not much help because no 2 people are going to have the exact same finger cut)

ya plug the holes and redrill the ball to match another person’s hand.

 

[Tobermory]

I’ve enjoyed this exchange immensely, and I am amazed at the developments in bowling, as a non bowler. Thanks for wising me up. Who knew!

 

[u12armresl]

ya plug the holes and redrill the ball to match another person’s hand.

A lot of people, majority don't like to play with plugged balls, think it affects the rev rate.

 

[eg9327]

Bowling used to be fun, but as I aged my shoulder and hip joints aged even faster. It is now an impossibility. I expect to play pool until I'm 95.

 

[garczar]

A lot of people, majority don't like to play with plugged balls, think it affects the rev rate.

'Plugged balls'. sounds painful.