What do you think of when you think of bowling? You rent your shoes at a bowling center, diligently pick out a ball while knowing next to nothing about what each color represents, and then shoot. Of course, the scene is incomplete without a group of friends on the sideline with their drinks, cheering you on while eyeing the scoreboard. Bowling as a sport, regardless of how you play it or what colored bowling ball you pick, one thing is always present: a group of friends, partners, or your parents and siblings in a friendly competition.
The history of bowling also indicates that sports were always meant to be a competitive game between friends. In 5000 B.C, the Egyptians are believed to have invented bowling, a simple game of rolling stones to knock down odd objects. Even in this early form of bowling, the game of rolling stones was played among kids of similar ages as a form of entertainment.
Later, as the game developed and started being played across Europe’s cities, it was again played as a friendly competitive sport at fairs or royal events. In 1325, the game had become so popular among the people of Berlin that the council of King Frederick the Fair passed a law limiting bets to 5 shillings. In England, however, in 1511, King Henry VIII banned bowling for the lower classes, believing it to be a game of the wealthy. This, however, did not stop the people from bowling because it is thought that the game was still played by peasants in taverns or fields, while the lords and ladies planned bowling along with other games during the Christmas season for their workers.
By the 20th and 21st centuries, bowling became much more significant than King Henry VIII wanted, and players from all economic classes became fans. As part of the pop culture, various bowling centers were established, associations of women, children, and men’s bowling teams were formed, and bowling leagues made the sport competitive.
However, regardless of how bowling was presumed by people or played throughout human history, one thing always remained constant: the necessity of socializing when a bowling game was being played. Beginning from the Egyptians to today, bowling has always remained a game meant to be played in large groups, with a friendly competition among players.
How bowling is perceived for socializing has led sociological theorists like Putnam to argue that bowling directly affects social identities and the perceived value of an individual. In his works, Putnam has proved that bowling leagues today help bridge any social gaps, creating a unified identity that strengthens social bonds. One, however, does not have to bowl competitively in leagues to socialize through the sports because anthropological studies have also revealed that bowling has cemented relationships among working classes in the rural communities within the USA.
That leads us to believe that bowling inadvertently is linked to the innate human need for connection. As we strive to bond with people who vibe with us, bowling is instrumental in allowing people to do precisely that. To prove this, Putnam interviewed various individuals for his research who were avid bowlers. One of the interviewees, Boschma, shared her story about receiving a kidney from a friend, Lambert. She had met lambert while bowling, and they played the game with their group for over five years.
This proves that bowling fulfills the inherent human need to thrive in social groups so that they can form communities based on friendship. It helps us create a sense of belonging to a group of people we bowl with, be it family, friends, or strangers who become friends after bowling. Over time with recurring social interactions, research has shown that mental well-being is improved. Being the social animals that we are, humans seek to belong to social groups, approval from a social group and enable a sense of belonging with others. As long as we are given such social interactions, through bowling, in this case, it often means that the person is happier after bowling than when they arrived at the bowling arena.
However, the extent of happiness depends on the kind of friends you make while bowling. If bowling can make you feel that you belong, it can also leave you feeling inadequate if you don’t choose wisely. So please do yourself a favor, bowl with the closest people, and notice how it changes your mood.