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Author Topic: It's expensive too  (Read 4648 times)

xrayjay

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It's expensive too
« on: February 11, 2012, 06:30:48 AM »
I get four free games, then pay $1.59 after that, practice is still not cheap. Lately, I've been bowling over 15-20 games a week, not including leagues. I work on various things, but mostly I play low ball. Or, I just pick a spot down lane and try hitting the box using different lines and/or balls.

Looking at my records, I spent $80 on practice last month and $59 in Dec. (but, i took more days off for holidays). I've spent $38 this month already...It's worse than my golf spendings lol


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Juggernaut

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2012, 02:57:45 PM »
Don't feel bad.

 

Back in the 1980's, when I was learning the game and practicing a lot, I worked part time at the center in return for a "special" rate. I paid  0.75 a game. Thing is, I practiced about 50-60 games a week.

 

That's not counting the three weekly leagues I was in, nor the times I went to casually bowl with friends (which was often).

 

In 1985, I was spending close to $100 a week (60 X.75 = $45. 3 leagues at $10 = $30. Casual bowling with friends at $1.50/game= $15. $45+$30+$15=$90)

 

Bowling, at least bowling a lot, gets expensive.
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Track_Fanatic

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2012, 05:34:53 PM »
 Im sure some people would like to see the big B come back out with those lifetime open bowling passes again.  Probably would cost at least an arm now and possibly a leg to go with it!

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don coyote

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2012, 05:46:17 PM »
Some houses have a monthly price for ALL you can bowl, with Saturdays as black out days. Check with your local alley manager. Worst case,  make Him an offer! don coyote 

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rymacatthedisco

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2012, 06:33:09 PM »
golf is still more expensive all around. Average green fee with cart around my area is $60. plus a drink or 2, tip the guys cleaning clubs. one round of golf can be upwards of 100. do that 3x a week...not fun, unless your making money off the guys you are playing with!

Ryan McDaniel... 
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xrayjay

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2012, 09:02:24 PM »
 I do miss the $0.75 to $1.50 games after 9:30pm on mon-thursday. And, they allowed shadow bowling for free for an hour or so.. Private houses
Up in WA..

AMF in NorCal... It's a different story, especially where I bowl...

Gosh, I don't remember how much bowling was back in 86'....Damn

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Smash49

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2012, 01:52:35 PM »
At one time I made a deal with the center.  If I coached the kids I bowled for free.  On average I only bowled 6 to 9 games a week.  Pretty much I have the same deal with 2 of the centers I coach at.  There are a number of things you can do to reduce the cost of bowling.
 
Smash49


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dizzyfugu

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2012, 09:05:36 AM »
As a local pro shop owner put it with a snicker: "You play bowling - you cannot be poor."


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qstick777

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 10:34:36 AM »
I stopped practicing a while ago.  Recently took the wife and kids up to the center to roll a few games and remembered why.
 
Evening and weekend prices are $4.29 per game, and $4.25 for shoes.
 
I think weekday prices are around $3 per game before 5 or 6pm.
 
League bowlers receive a $1 per game discount.
 
Prices used to be $1.89 and $2.49 per game, with league bowlers getting a "3 for 2" deal.
 
Not sure what caused the price increase - center still has the same crappy carpet, paint, 10 year old TV, and 20+ year old scoring systems.  Menu still has the same 10 over-priced items, and the workers still have the same crappy attitude.  If I'm dropping $10 for a burger, fries, and soda, you can at least show me your toothless smile instead of giving me the same "huh?, what do you want?" attitude.  I get it, your job and life suck, but that's not my problem.  Maybe there's a reason your "tip" pitcher only has 58 cents in it!
 
Of course they still offer the $10 all you can bowl after 9pm on Sunday-Thursday, and $13 on Friday.  Cheap bowling for all the youngsters to come out and no-thumb and chuck the house balls down the lanes.
 
Meanwhile I spend $20 per week for 3 games - $12+ goes for lineage.   I'm pretty sure this will be last year as a full time league bowler.  I can think of better ways to spend that $700.  ;)
 
 
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Track_Fanatic

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2012, 12:17:22 PM »
I can't understand why they would say this.  I would if it was golf.  



 
dizzyfugu wrote on 2/13/2012 10:05 AM:
As a local pro shop owner put it with a snicker: "You play bowling - you cannot be poor."


DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section


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kidlost2000

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2012, 03:36:12 PM »
I wish I got that rate. Our league rate is 2.50-2.69 a game + tax, or get a lane by the hour for $15
 
Now the best deal if I didn't hate the center and lived closer is for $360 a year you can get unlimited bowling when lanes are available/not on a wait. 


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Track_Fanatic

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2012, 04:09:51 PM »
 Am I glad I was lucky enough to get one of those lifetime open bowling passes through the big B back in the 80's!!

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dizzyfugu

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2012, 12:39:25 AM »
Equipment prices are MUCH higher than in the US (a high end ball comes at about $250+, plus drilling, a 3 ball roller is ~$150, etc.), and to make practice affordable you HAVE to join a club - otherwise frequent training is prohibitively expensive. Worst things for open bowlers I have seen is EUR 5,- (which is ~$7!) per game. With a club registration, centers who are a club's home base or which feature sanctioned league or tournaments offer special rates, but you rarely get less than EUR 2,- per game (~$2.50+).

 

You really have to have some passion for the sport, and a rather big wallet... 



Track_Fanatic wrote on 23.02.2012 1:17 PM:I can't understand why they would say this. I would if it was golf.




 



dizzyfugu wrote on 2/13/2012 10:05 AM:
As a local pro shop owner put it with a snicker: "You play bowling - you cannot be poor."



DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section


DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
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Strapper_Squared

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Re: It's expensive too
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2012, 06:18:32 AM »
 Open bowling in the area is $4+ a game.  I've learned to be happy with my performance with only bowling 3 games a week...

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