With the temporary closures of bowling alleys across the United States, dedicated bowlers are definitely missing the game. Not even the largest chains, such as Brunswick, have been spared from the closures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
But who says that you have to miss out on the enjoyment of the game? You can still practice at home with do-it-yourself pins and a lane! By the time the bowling centers open, you will still be in competitive form, too.
Make Your Own Pins
Many bowling centers allowed players to take home dented, damaged and broken pins for practice at home. Many serious players also bought plastic pins for their at-home training. Their common goal: To polish their skills even when they are unable to practice at the bowling alleys.
You can make DIY pins with materials that are readily available in your home. You will need these supplies:
- Large 1.5-liter bottles with their labels removed, their caps still present, and their insides cleaned and dried
- White and red paint to mimic the real pins
- Paint brush and painters’ tape
- Dried beans, sand or pebbles, or uncooked rice as weight
- Hot glue
Pour a few squirts of white paint into the bottles. Replace their caps and check that these are securely closed. Shake the bottles one at a time until their insides have been coated with white paint. Pour out the leftover paint and let the bottles dry overnight.
Mask a few lines on the outside of the bottles with painters’ tape. Spray over the tape to get the stripes. Let the paint dry again for an hour or so.
Pour equal amounts of weight into each bottle to make them heavier. We like to use sand since it’s easily available and it’s heavy enough to serve as weight. Replace the lid and secure it tightly.
And there you have it: DIY pins!
There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a professional-grade bowling alley in your home, especially if you don’t have the extra time and money for it. Any paved, flat surface will do as you practice lane.
But if you have planks of wood just lying around, you can make a smooth and strong DIY lane. You will find dozens of YouTube tutorials on this matter.
Of course, you should have your own bowling ball! While a soccer ball may suffice if you don’t have one, there’s nothing like a bowling ball to actually improve your bowling skills.