Depending on your weight, you may only burn 1.2 calories a minute in a traditional bowling game. However, when you combine bowling with dancing, for example, you can more than double the number of calories burned per minute, notes the American Council on Exercise. Instead of the old 10-pin game, challenge yourself with a new game at your favorite bowling haunt.
Party Games
Put a silly twist on your 10 frames with party games. For "Funky Bowl," play each frame a different way, such as with your off hand, standing backward, granny style through the legs or while hopping on one foot. Make Bingo cards for Bingo Bowl. Each space on the card represents a different score from one through 10. You can also include spaces for a strike, spare and split. The first team to cross off each square on their card wins the game.
Xtreme Bowling
Depending where you live, Xtreme bowling goes by many names, including glow bowling, boogie bowling and moonlight madness. Played at night, Xtreme bowling gets the dance party started with neon lights, strobe lights, loud, popular music and even fog machines. Some bowling alleys have disc jockeys who take requests and play their own mashups. The rules of the game are the same as traditional bowling, but the music and lights create a club-like atmosphere that can help or hurt your game, depending on your personality.
Arcade Games
Many bowling alleys have arcades filled with everything from traditional pinball games to modern virtual reality games. You can try to skate like Tony Hawk or race a motorcycle on an off-road dirt course. For a cardio workout, challenge yourself with a dance game that gets your legs hopping from step to step. Try to save the planet from space-invaders or catch the bad guy in a shoot-'em-up game. If you're willing to risk your money, you may win a stuffed animal or a new hat in a claw-game. Some bowling alleys stick gift certificates in their claw games for free bowling games, or free hole drilling of a new ball, or discounts on lessons.
Room Games
Large bowling alleys have separate game grooms for activities such as pool, laser tag and indoor rock climbing. For pool tables connected to the bar, you may have to be at least 21 years old to play. Laser tag and rock climbing are usually open for all ages, although you must pay an additional fee to play. Rock climbing and laser tag both provide you with exercise as you climb the wall or run around the course, ducking behind corners and dodging incoming shots.
Member Comments