By Hannah Andrews
Getting a strike, or knocking down all ten pins in one roll, is one of the best feelings for bowlers, casual and professional alike.
Nonetheless, the feeling hasn’t been able to revive the sport for younger bowlers.
According to this study on bowling’s popularity, the US has lost nearly three-quarters of its bowling alleys in recent decades.
Bowling is significantly popular in the midwest, because of the convenience of it for factory workers after long shifts.
Now, bowling in the midwest is popular for college students, with the best teams being located there.
In other states, bowling remains on the decline. It does well at connecting families and friends, but league bowling has declined in recent years.
Despite this loss, there are many dedicated Gen Z bowlers who seek out the sport’s survival.
Speaking with Cesar Padilla of the Arizona State University Bowling Club, he spoke about the decline of the sport.
“I don’t see any of our (Gen Z) generation passionate about it,” Padilla said.
A movement, though small, seems to be increasing the market.
HBO’s “Born to Bowl” is a documentary following the best of the PBA. The series is a great example of bowling and how it positively impacted people from all walks of life.
In an interview with Ben Stiller on the documentary, which he produced, he laments on the uniqueness of the sport.
A common note bowling receives that pushes away potential professionals, is the lack of money in the industry.
Including that there is not a lot of money to be earned, there are still high prices for bowling equipment, such as the bowling balls themselves.
For professionals, having a so-called “arsenal” of balls can be useful to help with every scenario on the lanes, and become necessary expenses.
In conversation with Aliyas Sargento, a member of the ASU Bowling Club, he shared his thoughts on the money.
“If you want to get into it very competitively, you’re gonna have to shell out a lot of cash,” Sargento said.
In conversation with the ASU Bowling Club, they left specific insight on the topic of money, and how they combat the high fees for tournaments and equipment.
For Gen Z bowlers, especially college students, this can be a deterrent in trying the sport.
Casually bowling, however, can have wonderful deals that can work into busy college schedules.
Bowlero, a popular bowling alley company, has deals all around the country based on your local alley.
They have a summer pass for two games free a day, as well as free shoe rental.
Certain days also have special discounts after certain times, such as unlimited game passes at this Bowlero.
Due to the casual nature of bowling, there is no need to purchase balls or shoes.
Leagues used to be a large generator of money for bowling. Up to 70% of the bowling industry used to earn its money through leagues.
These days, from the aforementioned expenses bowling entails, leagues and professional teams are rare, especially for college students and Gen Z.
Jason Schmidt, coach of the ASU Bowling Club, shared his views on the decline.
“(Men’s teams) seem to be going strong… but the women… it seems like schools are cutting the programs here and there,” Schmidt said.
Aside from the money in the sport, there are other reasons bowling is a good choice for Gen Z.
Alleys often are colorful, usually with music or video playing in the background.
The carefree vibe of bowling alleys can be fun, and a casual place for Gen Z to relax and converse with friends.
Similarly, bowling’s classic alley designs are a common inspiration for “vintage” furniture, often being dubbed “retro”.
The same can be said for clothing as well, as bowling-style shirts and even shoes inspired by bowling shoes are in trend for fashion.
The vintage vibe of the sport can be a fun way to participate in something niche, a good distraction for the uncertain youth these days.
Bowling alleys are also very accessible.
Using the aforementioned graph on bowling alleys by state, there are nearly five alleys per 100,000 people in many states.
They are everywhere, meaning it is easy for youth without cars (like out-of-state college students) to simply walk to them.
Bowling all in all is rooted in friends for a gender neutral challenge.
The sport connects people from all walks of life; from factory workers to college students, bowling can be an outlet.
New age generations are seeking out a revival – spare the sport!
(Photos and graphs by Hannah Andrews)
Hannah Andrews 