I kind of get the dismissive sort of reaction too. It seems like when I tell people I bowl they are astounded, almost like I told them the sky is falling. I don't really care although sometimes I feel like I'm in this secret cult or part of some secret society that no one else knows about.

I will say though I would have to say bowling is bit more challenging than football (a supposed real man's sport, even though football players are some of the biggest pansies in the world). I like how it challenges you to preform at your best the whole time whereas in other sports you can take plays off. You can't take a frame or even a shot off in bowling because chances are you'll have a very pleasant frame.

I've gotten those reactions. My former business partner, who so happens to be my best friend as well, and I would often talk about bowling on the jobsite, since we were teammates in one league, bowled on the same night in the same center another night. We would get some strange looks, but at the same time would get others joined in on the conversation who also bowl. Of course some of them wouldn't be as committed to we are. You also get the strange reaction when talking about owning multiple bowling balls.

Heck, my brother and his wife bowl in the same league I do. They are always giving me grief for how often I will bowl in a week.
The funny part is their life revolves around golf and the swimming pool.

The more I do this, the more people accept it as part of my life. Friends often ask how I am doing now. Family checks my bowling schedule to see if I am available. And, I am developing more and more acquaintances from various lanes who don't even ask about bowling, except whether I am available to join them.

But, you are right. Bowling is NOT a Country Club Sport (golf, tennis, swimming, etc). Nor is it a totally athletically recognized effort (football, volleyball, baseball, etc). Most view it as recreation, and not even a sport. We bowlers understand the looks you get. Wish others would too.

I got strange looks when I would go on my boat, and bring my bowling ball. Since, a couple of miles up river, there was a bowling alley with docks. It was a much nicer route than the highway. Many bowlers got there by boat.

So, why was it OK to go boating, but not bowling by boat?

Just don't bowl on the boat, 'cause sooner or later that ball is going through the hull!

i bowl on my highschool team and usually when they announce the players or something like that my friends will be like your on the bowling team? and ill say yes, and some will say that would be pretty fun and then others will give me a wierd look and laugh and go on, and i just ignore them and keep goin. Also sometimes when im at the bowling alley, i will see people i know come in there wit their friends just to mess around, and they will see me actually bowling and trying and usually they will point and laugh or something like that, but it really tells u who ur real friends are and also wich friends are supportive. Like a couple of u said, if i know someone that is really into a sport and know matter what it is im all for it because if they love doing it then thats great!

i get that still when i say i play video games. most people say " oh my kids love video games . do you play it with your kids?" so you can imagine what i get when i say i like to bowl and i'm in a league. funny thing is most of the guys that are in my department like to race cars on saturday. so whats the difference i ask. i do point out the my bowling balls cost less than that $6000 race car. so guys have more than that in there cars. its hard to belive that i payed 210 for a ball but they paid 300 for a intake manifold or $4000 for a super charger. so its no different than that really. but i get laughed at too till tell them how much the end of the year tournaments money pay out is. $10,000

Outside of equipment, bowling has NOT cost me one dime in my 4 years back. I have either received money back, won brackets, and placed in a couple of tournaments that have paid for everything. I even keep Track of nightly pot games winnings, and I still have a bag of quarters that I won from that stupid quarter if you miss a spare thing our team did last year.

I don't have another activity that cost me '$0'. I've paid more to the Library for overdue books.

When my wife's sister, a golf widow, asks how much I spend on bowling, my wife proudly says nothing. She really likes that.

nothing is always a good thing. wish i could say that about all the video games i have well over 250 to 300 of them. possibly more very big collection. so i dont mind putting money in thing i love

I've never been laughed at, or really even made fun of for bowling. Most people think it's pretty cool because I can shoot over 200. There was no bowling for my high school, or I totally would have done it. The closest thing to being made fun of for bowling I've gotten is one of my friends who claims no need for more than one ball. He has no understanding of the game except how to throw a ball down the lane and knock some pins down so you can't really blame him. Oh yeah and get this one, he believed that if he got his own "special ball" he could be just as good if not beat me.