Men vs. Women at the Bowling Alley



Photo from Etsy seller PenguinPalace

Here is a personal revelation about yours truly...I love to bowl. I came to this realization late in life, as I wouldn't have taken the time to bowl before; I even thought it was a little silly. Now, I actually take time to go to my local lanes by myself to practice. I don't always bowl alone, however. This all started two years ago when I was asked to join a friendly ladies league. It was brave of them to invite the gal who hadn't bowled for 20 years to join in. Women bowlers, at least some of them, seem to be like that. I may be different...I'm afraid I am getting way too serious about my bowling...let me explain.

I think I like a little competition with myself. I like knowing that there is a definable skill set and that with practice, I can see improvement. My score gets higher, I have more fun, it is a great sport for my over-achieving personality. I am on a team, and I like that sometimes our team is in the number one spot, but mostly, I like watching my average grow.

Here's a little bowling observation for you, if you are still reading along.
There is a real difference between men and women at the bowling alley (perhaps in other places, too.)

This past Thursday, I had a large group of women using 4 lanes to my left. I was next to them with my coach, in lane 34, practicing how I'm supposed to keep my wrist position locked into place (I have it bad...did I mention that?) To my right there were 2 lanes of men bowling.

• Here's what I heard from the women whenever their friend missed  picking up a spare, "Awwwwww. Too bad." I don't mean that one woman said this. The group of women said it in unison. I couldn't help but overhear them.
• Here's what I heard when a man missed picking up a spare, "Slacker!" One loud guy would yell this...the rest of the men would just quietly laugh.

It kind of went over my head the first time I heard the differences of the sexes reacting to the same situation. Then, I realized that the women appeared to be having more fun. They were high-fiving, laughing, and stayed in close quarters with one another. The guys would wander off to fetch another beer, sit quietly and punch each other on occasion. The men were louder! Their pins would crash together with the force and speed of their bowling ball. And they kept giving each other grief. The women were patting each other's backs and making plans for lunch. "It's okay, we'll go to Olive Garden and have some lunch." Guess which group said that!

I am trying to decide which group I'd rather have bowled with, and after some consideration, I think I would have joined in with the guys. It isn't that I don't love a good Olive Garden bread stick, it's just that I think I would have been motivated to bring out my A-game with the guys. I would have wanted more to avoid the punch in the arm. With the ladies, I wouldn't have felt bad about the gutter ball...I would have felt loved.

Before anyone shows this to a psychiatrist and decides I need help, I'll leave it right there. Bowling is not my life, but it is a fun way to take a break from my sewing table :)

Thanks for stopping by, and give me a call if you want to go bowling. I promise a trip to Olive Garden afterwards,
Georgianne