Age to start a child bowling

[scottymoney]

Just wondering what you guys think. My son will be 2 years old in April and already shows some interest in bowling. He likes to watch it on tv and laugh when the ball hits the pins. He even likes to take me over to my bowling bag and wants me to take out the bowling balls for him to play with. Obviously he can't really do much with the 16lb. balls but he likes to roll them around the kitchen floor.

so what do you guys think? should I give it a try?

I believe Belmonte started at 18 months if I remember correctly.

[Zothen]

Take him bowling and watch him laugh as the ball hits the pins=Priceless!

Zothen

[crimsoneyes]

My kid isnt quite 1 yet but once he can walk well I plan on bringing him to the lanes and having him roll the ball down the ramp to spark some interest at a young age.

[eugene02]

Bring up the gutters and let him throw the ball!

[ssclary]

I take both of my kids bowling every Sunday. Son is 3 and daughter will be 6 in April. My daughter asks me all the time if she is my bowling partner. I am joining a adult/child league with her in April. My daughter is more interested than my son. My daughter is actually pretty good, can get a few strikes and spare and will throw quite few balls that stay on the lane.

[Perrin]

Mine started bowling at like 3 and 6.


Joined leagues at 8 and her younger sister when she was 6
Now they are 7(first year without bumpers) and 11

My youngest still struggles to keep the ball on the lane and averages ~30
My oldest just got her first fingertip ball (13lb Stinger) and took first in a local tourney bowling a 395.

The biggest struggles we had were
1. keeping the game fun week after week in league
2. keeping it as a game and not getting too frustrated by the ball not doing what they want it to do.

[billf]

Take him bowling. Eventually he may even want to do a bumper league. I have kids as young as three in our bumper league and they all have a blast.

[75lockwood]

The Moment the kid is bigger than the ball! LOL

If your son is showing interest then take him out, if he can consistantly get the ball to the end of the lane and is enjoying it then sign him up for a bumper league

[RoccoRock]

Yes, Belmo, and Osku Palermaa as well both started when they were 18 months. My daughter is 8 months, and I'm counting the months to get her started ;)

[scottymoney]

It will be soon. He is 21 months now and can almost pick up a 15lb bowling ball. He weighs 32 lbs, he tried like hell to pick the ball up then I stopped him before he got hurt. He will have no problem picking up one of the light alley balls. Now just to get him to understand to chuck it towards the pins. Of course I will bowl with him and see how close I can come to the bumpers without touching them.

I have to start grooming him now as in a few years we will totally be bowling adult/child leagues.

I was talking to my brother about taking him bowling and of course he had to prod me with the "trying to create the next Tiger Woods". I smiled and said, "some people have different retirement plans than others". Totally joking though.

[Zothen]

Creating the new Tiger Woods is an insult to our sport! You need to create the new Pete Weber,this way your son can go around saying"Who do you think you are,I am the new king of bowling."

Zothen

[scottymoney]

Creating the new Tiger Woods is an insult to our sport! You need to create the new Pete Weber,this way your son can go around saying"Who do you think you are,I am the new king of bowling."

Zothen

Tiger Woods was used as it was also a shot at me as I want to teach my son to golf at a young age when they are easier to teach form.

[budda]

My son just turned 5. He is growing up in a bowling alley. His mother and I are both tournament bowlers. We are in a different house almost every weekend, and if they have an open lane, you will find him bowling on it. Its nice to watch the crowd of people he gets to watch him throw the ball. He started bowling when he was 2. When not in school he averages about 6 games a week. This is his first year of league bowling, he averages 95 with a high game of 170. Two handed....rips the cover off the ball.
Even when we are at home, he plays bowling on the floor in the basement. He calls it his "carpet Shark pattern". Priceless....

[unclemantis]

As soon as the child can walk and has structure in their lives and can follow spoken direction, that is a good time!

Also make it fun! The heck with the gutter balls or how many pins they can take down. Focus on form and getting the routine down pat!

[unclemantis]

My son just turned 5. He is growing up in a bowling alley. His mother and I are both tournament bowlers. We are in a different house almost every weekend, and if they have an open lane, you will find him bowling on it. Its nice to watch the crowd of people he gets to watch him throw the ball. He started bowling when he was 2. When not in school he averages about 6 games a week. This is his first year of league bowling, he averages 95 with a high game of 170. Two handed....rips the cover off the ball.
Even when we are at home, he plays bowling on the floor in the basement. He calls it his "carpet Shark pattern". Priceless....

Carpet Shark Pattern... LOL! Sounds like an awesome Trick Shot pattern for Norm Duke to tackle!

[unclemantis]

Take him bowling. Eventually he may even want to do a bumper league. I have kids as young as three in our bumper league and they all have a blast.

Bumper league you say? Sounds like fun! I should tell my sister about this. We took her oldest (6 years old) bowling a couple of weeks ago and he had a blast! The bumpers where broken on the lane we where on but he didn't do too bad! Around 40 was his average.

[unclemantis]

Yes, Belmo, and Osku Palermaa as well both started when they were 18 months. My daughter is 8 months, and I'm counting the months to get her started ;)

Belmo's dad owned a alley. So that helps.