If you want to bowl like a pro, then you got to talk like one. Or at the very least, you need to be able to understand basic bowling terms so that you can converse with your fellow bowlers and friends! So check out these common bowling terms to get a grip on the lingo:

• Strike – Knocking down all the pins on the first throw.
• Spare – Picking up a spare is knocking down all remaining pins on a bowler’s second throw.
• Double – If you get two strikes in a row, you’ve just made yourself a double.
• Turkey – Three strikes in a row is a turkey.
• Badger – Once you’ve made a turkey, next up is a badger. A “four-badger” is four strikes in a row, a “five-badger” is five in a row, etc.
• Perfect Game – 12 strikes in a row is a perfect game and totals 300 points.
• Open Frame – An open frame is a turn with a score of zero points.
• Pocket – The area just to the right of the head pin (for right-handed players) or the left of the head pin (for left-handed players). This is the sweet spot you generally want to aim for to minimize your chance of a split.
• Split – When the remaining pins are left with a gap between them. Often, this is caused by hitting the head pin straight on instead of in the pocket.
• The 7-10 Split – This is one of the toughest shots in bowling and occurs when only the leftmost and rightmost pins remain (i.e. the 7 and the 10 pin).
• Handicap – Handicaps are most commonly applied in recreational leagues. Typically this is done by adding points to a more skilled bowler’s average to make a game with less skilled bowlers competitive.

Now that you know the lingo, come try it out at our Middletown bowling alley! Check out our hours and make your plans today.

With a little extra help, even children as young as 3 can bowl. You just have to make sure they have the right equipment and a good teacher!

Here are a few tips to help teach young children how to bowl:

• Pick the Right Ball – Just as with adults, picking the right ball is important. Many kids have a tendency to try to show off when selecting a ball, but it’s important that their bowling ball isn’t too heavy. Generally a 6 lbs. ball is a good fit for young bowlers.
• Ball Ramps – If your child is very young or has trouble handling their ball, our ball ramps can help them have fun and bowl safely.
• Bumper Lane – Regulation sized lanes can sometimes be a little much for young ones to handle. It’s important that kids don’t get too discouraged when learning to bowl, and that’s where bumper lanes come in. Just let us know if you have a little one playing when you come in, and we’ll be happy to set them up with bumper lanes and/or a ball ramp.
• Teach Them the Basics – Basic etiquette is important! Make sure your child knows the rules so that everyone can keep having fun. Let them know when it’s their turn, not to step over the line, and the basic rules of the game.

So bring the whole family down to our MIddletown bowling alley for a little fun. Check out our hours and make plans to spend some quality time with your kids today!

It’s that time of year again: Time to make New Year’s resolutions! The beginning of a new year is widely considered to be a clean slate; a chance for a fresh start to improve on your habits and accomplishments from the last year and to address any areas that you feel could use a little extra attention.

Check out our tips for a striking 2019 below!

• Get a hobby. Whether you’re feeling a little “blah” about the daily grind, hoping to meet new people, or just want to develop a new skill, make a New Year’s resolution to start bowling! Not only is it social, but it is also affordable, fun, and accessible to all skill levels!
• Decrease your screen time. Studies show too much screen time is not good for adults or kids. So resolve to do more non-screen-based activities such as bowling, walking, biking, or volunteering. Just make it a point to spend more time doing anything that doesn’t involve staring at your TV, phone, or tablet.
• Spend more time with friends and family. One of the biggest regrets for most people is that they don’t get to spend enough quality time with their loved ones. Whether it’s a family fun night with your kids or weekend bowling with friends, you have to make time to have fun with the people closest to you.

So make plans to visit us in 2019 for Middletown family fun! Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on all our announcements and special events.

Whether it’s because the kids are out of school for their holiday break or because you have family in town, it can seem tough looking for things to do in Middletown. But there are actually lots of fun family-friendly things to do in Middletown, and we’re here to share a few of our favorites, just in time for the holidays.

Check out these fun ideas for making quality time with your family this holiday:

• Get active – First of all, get off the couch and get ready for some real fun. We know it’s cold outside, but vegging out in front of the TV is a wasted opportunity. Instead, take a walk at a local park or indulge in some traditional winter fun like taking the kids sledding or out to build a snowman.
• Make memories – A fun activity lets everyone talk and interact, as opposed to just sitting in a movie or staring at the TV at home. And while outdoor winter fun is great, sometimes it’s simply too cold. Thankfully, bowling is a fun indoor activity that the whole family can play! As a low impact sport, it’s great for all ages and skill levels. It’s the perfect way to get a little friendly competition going and make some lasting holiday memories.
• Give back – Volunteering in Middletown with your family is a great holiday activity! There are many food banks, animal rescues, and homeless shelters that could benefit from your family’s help.

So have a happy holiday, and we hope to see you soon at our Middletown bowling lanes!

What’s the real point of company outings? A good company outing is good for morale, helps with team building, and is actually fun for your employees. To be a successful company outing, it’s important to choose an activity that lets people mingle and chat with each other, while not interfering with the fun activity at hand. Here are a few good company outing ideas around Middletown:

1. Bowling – Yes we may be a little biased, but bowling is a great company outing! It’s a fun activity that everyone can do regardless of age or ability and it allows people plenty of time to hang out and get to know each other better. Plus we offer other fun activities like our arcade and laser tag arena!
2. Sporting events – Make plans to attend a sporting event. Maybe hit up a Wilmington Blue Rocks game. You could even arrange a tailgate beforehand with catering, or you could plan for everyone to bring a potluck dish and have a cookout.
3. Volunteer – Volunteering can be very rewarding. Plus, working on a hands-on goal with one another is a great way to team build. There are lots of great options for volunteering such as building a Habitat for Humanity house, participating in a charity walkathon or fun run, or even spending the day working for a dog or cat rescue.

If a laid back afternoon of bowling, food, drinks, video games, and friendly competition sounds good to you, give us a call to reserve your lanes today! We can help make your company outing or event a winner!

Blurry bowling ball in motion about to strike pins

Everyone knows bowling is fun! That’s why there are so many great bowling alley scenes in TV and film. Here are just 3 of the funniest bowling scenes in film:

The Big Lebowski

When it comes to bowling movies, it’s hard to beat The Big Lebowski! We especially love the opening credits scene as it’s essentially a love letter to bowling alleys. It perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the film as the camera lovingly showcases the wooden lanes, pin-deck, and ball return we’re all so familiar with. See what we mean below.

Men in Black 3

Men in Black 3 offers a more slapstick bowling scene. When an alien interrogation goes nowhere, Will Smith’s character breaks out some impressive (and ridiculous) bowling skills. Check out Agent J’s skills for yourself.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Curb Your Enthusiasm is full of awkward comedy, and when Larry goes to the bowling alley things are of course no different. An embarrassing shoe mixup is compounded in a way that only Curb Your Enthusiasm could pull off. (Don’t worry, your shoes are safe at Mid County Lanes!) Watch the embarrassing and bizarrely entertaining exchange for yourself.

Did your favorite bowling movie, TV episode, or scene make our list? Share your favorite with us below in the comments!

And when you’re ready to stop watching other people have all the fun, plan your next bowling trip to Mid County Lanes. Check out our hours and upcoming events now!

With Middletown schools back in session, it can be hard to make time for quality family bonding for you and your kids. Thankfully, bowling makes for the perfect after-school activity for the whole family!

The ACPeds agrees that spending quality time with your kids is important for their development. Research shows that children who spend more time with their parents tend to behave better in school and are less likely to get into trouble. Spending time together also helps children and their parents relieve stress and can lead to healthier living. And of course, it increases family bonds!

Not only is family bonding good for mental health, but it can also be great for your family’s physical health too! Bowling, in particular, can help tone and strengthen lower body muscles and arm muscles. It also lowers the risk of heart disease, can aid in weight loss, and improve hand-eye coordination!

Our Middletown bowling center has something for the whole family! We have bumpers and ramps for the little ones and no age limit for bowlers. While you’re here, you can also check out our Family Fun Galaxy! Our fun center has laser tag, bumper cars, mini bowling, dozens of arcade games, and of course, our Frog Hopper free fall! We also have a snack bar in case you or the kids need a little after-school or after-work snack.

So next time you’re looking for a fun after-school activity in Middletown, stop by Mid County Lanes to spend some quality time with the whole family!