When it comes to hobbies, many people consider bowling as a recreational activity only played to celebrate special occasions or just to have fun. However, considering the degree of difficulty along with excellent hand-eye coordination required, bowling should also be thought of as a professional sport. 

Bowling is relatively not a very hard game; it is very easy to learn the basics but mastering consistency in bowling is very difficult and could take years of hard work. You can easily become a decent bowler as a hobby but bowling at a professional level will require a ton of practice.   

When most individuals think of bowling, they think of going to a bowling alley, renting a pair of shoes, choosing a ball and trying to knock down all ten pins within a few tries. 

 This is done ten times in a full bowling game. There are, however, many different types of bowling, other than the traditional ten-pin bowling, that have been played for centuries around the world. 

The earliest form of bowling known to exist has been traced back to ancient Egyptian time, around 5,000 BC. The ancient Egyptians rolled stones at various objects with the goal of knocking them over. 

Additionally, in the Roman Empire, a similar game was made and later became Italian Bocce, or outdoor bowling.  Over time, the sport had evolved and grown more popular. Today, 100 million people, with 70 million being in the United States, play traditional ten-pin bowling. 

 Over time, different ways of playing were developed, such as traditional ten-pin bowling to nine-pin bowling, candle pin bowling, duck pin bowling, and five-pin bowling. 

 A perfect game of bowling is getting 300 points. Expecting to get a 300 is not very realistic, especially as a beginner. In order to come to level of bowling over even 200, you must be aware of fundamentals including: oil patterns, revolutions, release technique, ball speed, and approaching the lane. 

Jesse Messick, the head Blackman High bowling coach, says, 

“Bowling is very individually competitive. There are a lot of levels to being a good bowler. My bowlers do a great job with that.”  

On January 19, 2022, Dylan Hubley, Nick Lannom, and Abby Bland all competed in the individual bowling state tournament. After the first three games, the scores are: 

Boys’ Division 1: 

Dylan Hubley (Fr)- 546/ 12th place 

Nick Lannom (Jr)- 546/ 24th place 

Girls’ Division 1: 

Abby Bland (Jr)- 523/ 22nd place 

 In most cases, when a sport is deemed as difficult or hard to play, people think that it is for specific individuals with certain talents. However, when it comes to bowling, it is for anyone. 

 Anyone can bowl, even you.