6 Fun Games To Play While Bowling

Are you one of those people that can’t get enough games? For fun outings with friends and family, we have some ideas for fun games to play while bowling.

Game #1: Bingo Bowling

Bingo bowling is exactly what it sounds like – pairing bingo with bowling! Playing a classic game like bingo with candlepin bowling can be a lot of fun. Here’s how bowling bingo works:

What to Bring:

• Special bingo cards
• Bingo board – filled with bowling outcomes squares will be filled with the numbers 1 through 10 and other bowling outcomes like strike, gutter, spare and split.

How to Play:

The squares on the bingo board should be filled with numbers 1 through 10, along with other bowling outcomes like strike, gutter, spare, etc. During the bowling game, each player will mark off their bingo cards as each bowling outcome happens. To make it more interesting, provide prizes for the winners.

We also have a bingo board to print out and play with!

Game #2: Bowling Relay Race

The bowling relay race is a game that requires skill and agility. Experienced bowlers will take their time in order to play their best. No reason to rush when you are trying to get the best score you can. Well, this bowling variation takes all that and throws it right out the window.

What to Bring:

• A flag or baton

How to Play:

Split up your bowling party into teams and get two lanes right next to each other. Players try to roll the bowling ball as fast as they can. After each player completes their bowling, they pass the baton stick to the next player. The first team to get through all their players wins.

Game #3: Bowling Checklist

With this game, you form into teams to achieve goals, and the first team to achieve them all wins the game.

What to Bring:

• A list of bowling tasks to accomplish

How to Play:

The two teams play each other to achieve the tasks listed. There’s no need to complete the tasks in any order (unless the game is for professional players) and the quickest team to have all items checked off the list wins!

Game #4: Poker Bowling

Combining the card game of Poker with candlepin bowling can be a great time for fun. You can either split off into small teams or play as individual players.

What to Bring:

• Deck of Cards
• Poker Chips (optional)

How to Play:

Playing cards can be collected until the end of the 10th frame. With every strike or spare, you collect a card. With the cards collected, each player or team will try to make the best poker hand they can. The team or player with the best hand at the end of the game wins.

Game #5: Bowling Jenga

Much like combining poker and bowling, Jenga also pairs well with bowling. For the most part, the rules of regular Jenga apply to Bowling Jenga, with a few exceptions.

What to Bring:

• Jenga set
• A flat table to play on

How to Play:

For the most part, the rules of regular Jenga apply to Bowling Jenga, with a few added rules. Every time you bowl a frame, you then make a move in the Jenga game. If you bowl a spare, you skip your turn. Every time you bowl a strike, you skip your turn twice. If you roll a gutterball, you make two turns. The game turns into a game of pace – you have to make a move by the time the person behind you has finished bowling.

Game #6: Superlatives

For smaller groups, superlatives are for players that achieve a certain score within the group. For this game, everyone is rewarded for something—no matter whether it’s a good or bad thing.

For example:

• The highest score
• The lowest score
• The most strikes
• Never scoring a strike
• The most spares
• The most gutter balls

The Superlatives game is a fun way of getting everyone involved, not just the winner of the game.

Bonus Game: Trivia Night Bowling

Trivia and bowling at the same time? It makes for a great time!

Split off into two teams. While one member of one team bowls, another member reads a trivia question to the other team. The other team tries to answer the question before the first team is done bowling. For each question answered correctly, 2 points can be added to the end of the team score. You can buy weekly trivia packets online to use while you bowl.

We hope you enjoyed our list of games to play while bowling!