Bowling could never be a sport...I mean, why does it even exist? It's not like it's difficult.
Anyone could go in and consistently throw 12 strikes in a row, right? It's not like people work day and night to perfect their speed, backswing or shot in general.
Like, really. It's so easy. Just get out there, buy the ball you think looks prettiest, get some shoes, and you're all set. You'll be a pro in no time, right?
Wrong.
If you think bowling is easy to become good at, you're absolutely wrong. Bowling is not only a difficult sport to pick up on, it's also sometimes hard to love, and hard to read. There is so much more to bowling than throwing a ball and knocking down some pins.
You have to take in oil patterns, ball speed, revolutions, your release, and the way you approach the lane into consideration to actually be good at it. That's not even all of it.
There's also the equipment you throw, the shoes you wear and where you're bowling that can affect the game.
Now, you may be asking yourself, "What is a sport, anyways?!"
A sport, according to Dictionary.com, is, "Anathleticactivityrequiringskillorphysicalprowessandoftenofa competitivenature. Suchasracing,baseball,tennis,golf,bowling, wrestling,boxing,hunting,fishing,etc."
What was that? Bowling? Bowling is a sport, and here are some reasons why:
1. Anyone can do it.
Yes, it is true. Anyone can bowl. You don't have to be in great condition, although it helps. You don't have to be tall, or skinny, or even have all of your limbs.
You can bowl two-handed, one-handed, right, left, with a ramp, etc. Bowling is non-discriminatory. Literally anyone with a heartbeat can bowl. You don't even have to have a talent for it. If you want to bowl for fun, go ahead. You can!
2. It's easy to learn.
I say this with as much hesitation as ever. Yes, it's easy to learn the basics of the game and what it takes to keep your ball on the lane, but no, it's not easy to get better, and it's not easy to be good.
You have to put in work to get your 140 average to a 180, or higher. It's easy to learn where to stand, where to look, and to figure out how many boards left you need to move for the ball to actually hit the pocket, rather than go through the nose.
The hard part is disciplining yourself enough to train how you release the ball, how to read the lanes, how to bend your knee and not your back, and more. The easy part is the learning, the difficult part comes with seriously everything else.
3. There's no age limit.
My nephew is two years old and he loves to bowl. One of my closest friends grandfather is 85 years old. Quite obviously, it doesn't matter what age you are. As long as you have love in your heart for the sport, you can bowl.
4. The role models are the perfect balance between helpful and fun.
When you bowl with pros, they're always willing to lend a helpful hand or a laugh. Regardless of the situation, they're always kind enough to stop for a picture, a conversation, or an autograph. Some pros even become pretty good friends who check up on you and remember every interaction you've had with them.
The pros are what make this sport great. They're always there to help you with your shot, your approach, and many other things, and that's why they're an awesome part of this sport.
5. Pro-Am's.
This one sort of speaks for its self, but I'll elaborate anyway. Pro-Am's are a huge part of what makes bowling a sport. If you only got to see some of the kids' faces when they get to bowl with Sean Rash, Jason Belmonte, Jakob Butturff, Bill O'Neill, etc. You would understand where I'm coming from.
Pro-Am's help build the future of this sport and they are the backbone of the interest in this sport. People come from everywhere to watch these guys bowl, talk to them, and Pro-Am's give these people that chance. It's like a smalltime singer getting to sing with Christina Aguilera.
6. Bowling tournaments and leagues.
Leagues are possibly one of the best things about bowling. They allow you to socialize while having a beer or two, and it's some friendly competition with the friends you've grown up around in the bowling center.
Even if you haven't bowled, join a league. It's a good way to start introducing yourself into the bowling world, and you might even make some lifelong friends along the way.
Tournaments, however, are not so friendly. Of course, you're still cordial and friendly to all that you bowl, but odds are, you're bowling for either scholarship money, a title, a cash prize, or two of the three.
Tournaments are a good way to experience the way others bowl, while also building your physical and mental game as well.
7. The physicality and skill is real.
Bowling is a mental game, whether other people believe so or not. You have to decipher how to bowl well in a competitive stage, and even when you're not bowling competitively, it still requires a mental aspect.
The physical aspect of the game is just as important as the mental aspect. You don't have to be in top physical condition to bowl, but it sure helps. The stronger you are, the heavier the ball you can throw. Both the mental and physical part of the game is super important to how you perform.
8. It's competitive, but also creates camaraderie between players.
Like I stated earlier, bowling is very competitive, but through tournaments, leagues, and sometimes even practice, you can create friends you'll have forever. Who knows, maybe you'll meet someone who you click well with and you'll make an unstoppable pair in doubles.
9. Mentality is a huge part of the game.
Contrary to popular belief, the mental portion of bowling is possibly the biggest part of bowling. If you don't know how to play mentally, you don't know how to play at all. You have to be able to read into the lanes more than your opponent to even gain the upper hand, and sometimes there's even more than that.
You need to know where to move for specific shots, you need to be able to determine if the right lane is dryer than the left, etc. There's so much more to this sport than throwing your plastic White Dot down the lane, and yet people still don't understand.
10. It can be either an individual or a team sport depending on what you're bowling.
You can bowl in teams, doubles, or singles. It's not like you're going to be alone all the time. Don't want to be a lone wolf? Cool! Create a team of your best pals and bowl city. You wanna bowl with your best friend from high school?
Sweet!
Bowl a doubles tournament! This sport has options, and if that doesn't make it great, I don't know what does.
11. It's an outlet.
Bowling, just like many other sports, can act as an outlet for those who need it most. Rocketing the ball down the lane at 17 miles per hour is just as riveting and stress relieving as throwing a football halfway across the field, or hitting a home run.
Bowling is something you can put all your anger and emotion into, and when you're done, you'll feel brand new, content and so exhausted that what you were mad at won't even matter anymore.
From one bowler to many readers who may or may not agree with me, I hope you've enjoyed reading this. I know there is controversy on whether or not bowling is a sport, but these are the reasons why bowling is a sport to me.
I believe almost anything can be a sport, and with as close as bowling is to my heart, and what I've seen, I find it hard to believe bowling could be anything but a sport.
These eleven reasons are only the beginning of a long list proving bowling is a sport. I believe bowling has a place in the definition of "sport," and I believe the rest of the bowling world would agree with me, too.