Most people envision a bowling tournament as a vast, boisterous arena with all of the glamour and shine of a casino. While this is a lot of fun, it isn’t the only way to bowl well. In fact, if you know what you’re doing, you can rapidly build up a bowling alley in your own backyard.
If you often go bowling and think to yourself, “I could do this at home,” consider creating a backyard bowling alley. This fast guide will tell you how to set up a backyard bowling alley and enjoy this exhilarating game with your family on weekends.
What’s the Difference Between Regular Bowling and Backyard Bowling?
Bowling is a fun way to spend time with friends and family, whether you’re in a league or just playing for fun. But how is backyard bowling different from regular bowling? This is what you should know:
Backyard bowling is a new way to play a traditional game. You can bowl whenever you want without having to go to a bowling alley if you set up pins in your yard and use a tennis ball, a small Nerf ball, or a big inflatable ball. Instead of using the traditional bowling lanes, players roll their balls down a path lined with pins.
The main difference is that backyard bowling costs less and is easier to do. When you bowl the regular way, you have to pay for the lane, the shoes, and the balls. You only need to buy balls and pins to play backyard bowling. Also, you have to go to a bowling alley to play regular bowling, but you can play backyard bowling at home (both outdoors and indoors).
Backyard bowling is a great way to have a party, get together with family, or just spend a casual afternoon. Since it doesn’t take much work to set up a bowling alley in the backyard, anyone can set up this kit and play a fun game. This kind of bowling is getting more and more popular because it’s easier to get to and great for family time. So, if you want to bowl but don’t want to spend a lot of money, try backyard bowling.
Buyer’s Guide for Finding Kids Bowling Sets
This will offer you a brief breakdown of everything you need to know about purchasing lawn bowling equipment for kids.
What are Lawn Bowling Sets?
Lawn bowling sets are sets of bowling pins and balls that may be played in someone’s lawn or backyard. They vary from regular bowling sets in that they are meant to be used on uneven terrains or in the grass, and they are primarily sensible bowling-alley options for kids.
Why Do You Need a Lawn Bowling Set?
1. Your children may play at home
Bowling is seen as a “dad” activity, but anybody who has tried it will testify to how much fun it can be. The sensation of striking a strike is unrivaled, and playing against other players may be a terrific way to get that competitive spirit going. The difficulty is that not everyone has the time or the money to go bowling every day. This means that many individuals who like bowling are trapped at home, twiddling their thumbs and waiting for the next opportunity to play.
You don’t have to wait any longer, since a lawn bowling set allows you to bring the excitement of the sport directly to your own backyard. Sure, the game won’t feel the same with smaller and lighter balls, and you won’t be able to train your aim properly on uneven terrain, but it’s better than nothing, and you’ll be scratching that bothersome bowling itch, at least for a while. What’s the greatest part? You’ll be able to keep your kids engaged and active on a tight budget.
2. It offers family entertainment
Lawn bowling is not often taken as seriously as real bowling. For this reason, lawn bowling is best enjoyed with friends and family. Bowling at a bowling alley is a fun social and competitive event, but you’re really just restricted to bowling and maybe a meal or two depending on where you play.
However, with a lawn bowling set, you have a plethora of different alternatives. You may watch movies, grill out, and drink with your pals while simultaneously enjoying lawn bowling. You can do anything you want at home, so you can bowl one minute and meet up with friends over a cool coffee the next.
Aside from the flexibility, the act of lawn bowling may be enjoyable for you and your family or friends. Teaming up, earning points, and having prizes or penalties may all be done in good humor, and as long as no one is unduly competitive, everyone will have a nice time.
Types of Lawn Bowling Sets
Lawn bowling sets are classified according to the materials used to make the components.
Wood
In terms of quality, wood lawn bowling sets are the greatest sort of lawn bowling sets. They’re intended to be played at least somewhat seriously, and the design of both the pins and the balls is generally meticulous. Wood lawn bowling sets may be rather expensive, but if you want to get as near to genuine bowling as possible, this is the way to go.
Plastic
The vast majority of lawn bowling sets offered online are constructed of plastic. These bowling sets are extremely light and easily broken, so use caution while using them. Plastic bowling sets are also often designed for indoor usage, making them difficult to play on uneven terrain such as your lawn.
Inflatable
Inflatable lawn bowling sets are typically built to be bigger, resulting in what’s known as “giant bowling”. Giant bowling is quite straightforward, and since the pins and balls are completely inflated, you don’t have much control while playing. Giant bowling accessories are designed for casual enjoyment, and the games that use them should be seen as such.
Things to Consider When Buying a Lawn Bowling Set
Who’s playing?
You have many alternatives depending on who you’re purchasing a bowling equipment for. If you’re looking for a set to play with your buddies, you should obtain a professional lawn bowling set. If it’s for your children, a bowling set with bright colors and wacky patterns will most likely keep them occupied.
Where are you playing?
Despite the name “lawn bowling sets,” these bowling sets are often designed for both indoor and outdoor usage. Some sets are designed to be played on the grass or by the driveway. Other sets, such as those constructed of plastic, are designed to be played solely inside.
How to Setup a Backyard Bowling Alley for Children
Bowling is fun for kids because of the action: the moving ball, the smashing pins, and the run-ins with the bumpers are all exciting. The game is popular among parents because it is a pleasant approach to teach good sportsmanship. With this open-air DIY, you can bring everything your family enjoys about a day at the bowling alley into your own backyard. Whether you create this small bowling alley for a party or a playdate, this activity will be a hit with both adults and children.
Step 1: Build the base
First, you need to build a base that lifts the bowling alley a little bit off the ground. This will make the surface even and protect your grass. Clamp one of the 1×2 boards to a side of the plywood, making sure it is lined up with the plywood’s ends. Drill a pilot hole through the plywood about an inch from each end and three more pilot holes about 16 inches apart along the 1 x 2’s length. Then, put screws in each pilot hole to hold the boards together. Do the same process on the opposite side of the plywood.
Step 2: Provide a bumper
If there are no bumpers, the ball might never get to the pins. On one end of each 1×4 board, make a curve with a pencil. You can use a bowl, cup, or planter as a guide to draw the curve. Next, use a jigsaw to cut off the extra piece and sand the edge until it is smooth.
Align each board with the base, and then use clamps to hold the boards in place. Then, drill pilot holes and drive three screws evenly spaced into each side to attach a bumper.
Step 3: Stencil and paint the boards
Make a template circle and triangle to help you paint the board more easily. To identify the position of each pin, place ten 1-inch triangular symbols at the end of the board. Then, to replicate genuine bowling lane markings, add seven 1-inch triangles at the beginning of the board in the form of a “V” pointing toward the pins. Paint them in alternate colors to match the corresponding pins. Then, have some fun decorating the bowling alley’s side with simple lines, polka dots, or dashes. This is your chance to express yourself.
Step 4: Paint the bowling ball and the pins
Before you add a stripe around the neck of each pin, give your unfinished pins a solid coat of spray paint.
If your 5-inch ball is a solid color, all you need to do to make it look like a bowling ball is put three dark circles on one side. If your ball has a pattern that makes it hard to see, you should spray paint it first.
Step 5: Bowl in the backyard
Make sure to tell your little bowlers how to play the game before you start: put each pin on its own circle, and take turns rolling the ball down the lane to knock down the pins. Over ten rounds, keep track of how many pins are knocked down and celebrate each win!
How to Play a Backyard Bowling Game?
Your backyard bowling alley won’t be too different from a regular one, except that you’ll be in charge of setting it up. Follow this quick guide to have the most fun with this game once your backyard bowling set arrives:
Find a flat surface to play on first. This could be your driveway, patio, or even a patch of grass in your backyard.
Next, set up your “pins” by putting whatever you use for bowling balls (pins, small rocks, plastic balls, etc.) at the end of the playing surface.
Bowling time is here! Have each player take turns rolling their “ball” down the playing surface, trying to knock down as many “pins” as possible.
Keep track of the score by giving one point for each “pin” that falls. At the end of the game, the winner is the person with the most points.
So, that’s it. You can bowl in your backyard as much as you want, which will make your Sundays more fun. In this game, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for extra rounds or penalties.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to set up a bowling alley in your backyard, you have no reason not to try it out. It’s a fun way to get some exercise, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the outdoors. By following the easy steps in this guide, you can set up a bowling alley in your backyard that will keep you busy for hours. The best part is that you don’t have to buy any equipment or pay any fees. All you need is a flat surface and some bowling pins. If your family’s summer weekends aren’t very exciting, put a bowling alley in your yard to spice things up.