Just curious to know about everyone's first memories regarding bowling and what made them continue on. For me it was my parents who bowled every night of the week in a local bowling center- so that became an instant babysitter when I was a child. I first started to pick up a ball when I was 3, and my father insisted that I was right handed because everyone else in our family was (my older brother included). After 2 tries at throwing it right handed he let me try left handed and voila...I've been a wrongsider every since. Started up in my first youth league when I was 6 (had to convince the house owner that was ok, because Bantams were usually supposed to be at least and I started up in travelling leagues when I was 9.

What made me continue on? The socialization, the chance to meet a new group of people, the love of the sport, the desire to learn more about equipment, different lane conditions, different hand positions, spare shooting- and the challenge bowling gives me.

Matt

Both my parents bowled before I was even born, so when I was 4 my parents put me in my first bumper league.  After that, I got into bowling regular youth leagues, at age 11 I shot a 276 with my plastic blue Falcon, and from then on my only goal was to be the best bowler in my family.  It's really close between my dad and me now, I got him in average by 10 pins, but I bowl at a cake house at school and my dad bowls in a pretty competitive league.  Also, going to tournaments and meeting new people really kept me going.  I've met lots of cool people from this and I see no reason to stop.
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Dan Chambers
Winona State University Bowling

Matt, I think I am the exact opposite of you.  I can string a full game of strikes, but putting together 3 very solid games to make an 8 just seems so far away from me right now.  I can have a good first game, a mediocre 2nd game, and a very good 3rd game, but I can never seem to be consistent and carry well for 3 games.
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Dan Chambers
Winona State University Bowling

The first time I ever played bowling was on my 18th birthday... So for was a love at first sight thing... (My girlfriend was the one with the idea, I think she's a bit jealous now... )
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Gendou Ikari... Bowl to Win!!!

My Family bowled and it was a great way to get out and do things as a kid on saturdays. i have bowled since i was 8 in junior leagues till i was 18. Didn't start bowling again till i was 20 then i bug got me and i have been hooked ever since. I bowl to get better every week and every year. 4 years ago i started in my first real competitive league i had a 180 average and thinking i suck. Now i captain my own team and average 210. Of course this only keeps me going till golf season starts.
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy

My parents bowled all the time when I was a child.  Mom was from Baltimore, which is a pretty decent bowling city - Danny Wiseman country.  I went bowling from time to time as a child, but no leagues or anything.

I started bowling with intent in college.  Having no friends or acquaintances at the universtiy for me to hang around with, I went bowling with another guy from the marching band.  Before the end of the semester, I was bowling several times a week.  I was on the college team 4 times, All-Campus champion twice.  ACUI Singles Champion, Doubles Champion, Team Champion all in the same year.  All of this with a well worn Columbia 300 Black U-Dot and Black Knight.

I joined my first league after I graduated and despite having to quit the game for a few years, I joined the PBA in December 2003.  I have never posted a sanctioned 800 or 300 (299/796 is about as close as I've come); credit those goals for keeping me going in the game.  Not to mention I'd like to make match play and eventually win a PBA event.

Gotta have a goal.
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Nut

If horse racing is the sport of kings, then surely bowling is a very good sport as well.

Went with my church group when I was about 8 years old, I was so proud that I was the only one to get a spare!  My father took me again when I was about 13, then we started watching the Championship Bowling shows after church on Sundays.  Started in AJBC at age 16, and have only missed a couple years since.  --  JohnP

i remember starting bowling seriously in a league when i was 12, i used a house ball and shoes for the first couple of months and averaged 130 but i wanted more so i got an old track ball and dexter shoes and averaged 160 by the end of the year and by the next i was at 180 and last year i bowled a 796 series left a ten pin second shot in the 10th to mis the 800 i have bowled probably about 50 279 games, i always leave 1 10 pin somewhere last night i bowled a 269, 2 ten pins that game and i had 4 ten pins and the rest strikes in the first game, but i do average 215 i just dont have any rings or 290 games
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black cherry bomb and golden nugget combo equals 230 average