Bowling Games for College

For students who want an exciting way to spend their free time with friends, look no further than your local bowling alley. While a traditional game of bowling usually brings friends closer together, a few twists on the classic game can really up the camaraderie.

  1. Alternating Frames

    • If you have a large group of bowlers, add some excitement to your game by alternating frames with a teammate. One teammate will bowl the first frame and the other teammate will bowl the next. Switch on and off frames until you complete the game. To ensure that you have the most fun, pair the best bowlers in your group with the worst bowlers. Remember that scoring for a strike or spare continues into the next frame. A frame with a strike includes the next two balls' pin counts in its score, and a frame with a spare includes the next ball in its score. Thus, if a great bowler bowls a strike, his or her less capable partner will need to step up and bowl more than gutter balls to capitalize on the strike. Since this game has the potential to embarrass sensitive bowlers, keep it light and noncompetitive.

      Since college is a time for romance, form teams with chemistry in mind. As you and your teammate work together closely to get the best score, connections may arise.

    Goofy Bowling Games

    • For a fun spin on bowling, put restrictions on allowable techniques. Require all bowlers to bowl backward. Bowlers face the other players and look over their shoulders or between their legs to gauge shots. Then players throw the ball between their legs and hope for the best. The best bowlers may throw nothing but gutter bowls, while the worst bowlers may find that bowling backward is easier.

      For another twist, require players to bowl with their weak hands. Some bowlers may have an easy time bowling with their left or right hands, while others will throw gutter balls every time. Games that force players to adopt new techniques are perfect for college. Since most players will struggle with the new techniques, a sense of camaraderie will often emerge.

    Set Up a Bowling Alley on Campus

    • If you don't have a bowling alley near campus or simply want a new twist on bowling, set up a makeshift alley in your dorm hall, campus parking lot or anywhere else with the proper space. Purchase a kids' bowling set or use empty bottles or cans as pins. For a ball, use any spare ball you can find, such as a tennis ball or a soccer ball.

      Once you have your lane set up, bowl ten frames with some friends, set up a tournament or throw a party to celebrate your bowling alley. If your first lane works, look for a large on-campus space and set up a few lanes. Soon you may have a full-scale bowling alley steps from your dorm.