Bowlers who have had some success playing the game casually–be it at a corporate event or outing or just nights out open bowling with their friends–are often curious to take the next step in their game. Joining a bowling league is a great way to add more competition to the sport and also start to approach it in a more serious manner.
Or if you share the sentiment of the ever-wise Homer Simpson who said, “I’m tired of being a wannabe league bowler. I wanna be a league bowler!” look no further than this article where we’ll break down everything you need to know.
Types of Bowling Leagues
In general, most bowling leagues work similarly but there are some key differences to be aware of.
In most bowling leagues, your team faces off against another team each week for a series of three games. Variables include the number of players, the level of competition, and whether the league is handicap or scratch (the former being far more common).
The number of bowlers on a team usually varies from 3-5. In some leagues a team may have more bowlers on the roster but rotate them in and out for each game. (The non-bowlers often cheer their teammates on while enjoying a beverage of their choice.) You may be picturing a bowling league as a male-only affair, but that is far from true these days as there are tons of all female leagues all around as well as mixed leagues with both men and women.
In handicap bowling leagues, the average of each bowler is used to calculate their handicap, or a score added on to make competition equal among teams of differing skill levels. The exact way this works can vary, but there is usually a team handicap which is the difference between the average of all the players on each team. (And sometimes this figure is multiplied by a percentage such as 90%.)
When it comes to the level of competitions, bowling leagues really run the gamut. You can find some filled with beginner bowlers or competitors more interested in having a good time with their friends (and maybe a couple of beers) than winning. But in other cases, the leagues can be fiercely competitive.
In sum, although there are nearly countless varieties of bowling leagues when you factor in all of these characteristics, the ones that matter to you will be limited to what the alleys in your area actually offer. So with that we’ll get to the next section of this article: how to find and join a bowling league.
Where to Find a Local Bowling League
If you’re looking for a league affiliated with one of the large bowling alley companies (AMF, Bowlero, Bowlmor) they have a handy league finder on their website. There is also a bowling league search tool on the League Secretary website which includes independent alleys.
But there’s another easy way to find all of the options in case they aren’t on these lists: simply look up all the alleys in your area and ask about their league offerings. It’s not likely you’re going to find a bowling center that doesn’t offer leagues; it’s a vital part of their business.
You may want to actually pick up the phone and call someone at the alley if you have questions, or depending on the level of detail on their website you may be able to get the info you need that way. From there once you’ve identified a league you like it’s time to get started.
How to Join a League
You may be in a situation where you have a group of bowling companions, so the most straightforward way is to sign your whole team up for an upcoming league of your choice. It’s also a good idea to have some alternates on the roster in case your main members have conflicts or obligations from week to week.
But what if you don’t have a whole team? if you are an individual bowler hoping to get into a league, you still have options. You can get in touch with whoever serves as the league manager at your bowling center and he or she may be able to connect you with a team at an appropriate skill level which has an opening for a player.
So once you’ve signed up, what do you need to have to begin league bowling? Having your own accessories like your own bowling ball and bowling shoes is a good idea when you are playing more competitively. Many teams opt to design and purchase their own matching bowling shirts, but this is not a requirement.
You’ll want to make sure you have enough money set aside for the league fees each week. In addition, find out if your league has any additional opportunities for a strike pool or other jackpots where you put in a few dollars for a chance to win a large payout. And also make sure to factor in any food or drink you plan to consume during or after play (leagues will sometimes offer specials).
Finally, make sure your whole team gets signed up for the USBC which sanctions league play (the league secretary can help with this), and has a chance to review all of the rules and regulations of the league.
Once you’ve found a league and handled all the details, the next thing to do is show up and bowl! We wish you the best of luck on your league bowling journey.
