Bowling is not just a fun activity to do with friends or family – it is also a beloved American pastime enshrined in cinema and television! Check out some of our favorite, fun bowling scenes below – how many have you seen before?

The Simpsons “Team Homer”

In this classic Simpsons episode, Homer and his friends join a bowling league as the “Pin Pals!” But when the devilish Mr. Burns joins the team, he threatens to ruin Homer’s fun (and the Pin Pals’ chances at winning). Of course, even after the Pin Pals do win, Mr. Burns still manages to ruin it for Homer.

Grease 2

Grease 2’s bowling scene has it all including a truly unfortunate musical number and fun retro costumes! Thankfully, the movie also has the very talented Michelle Pfieffer. “Let’s bowl!”

The Big Lebowski

We had to save the best for last! There are so many great bowling scenes in this movie, but the most iconic has to be the musical number featuring Jeff Bridges’ “The Dude” and Julianne Moore’s “Maude” dancing to the Kenny Rogers hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)!” Of course, the opening credits are pretty great, too. We love how the camera shows off all the classic bowling alley components like the pin-deck, ball return, and beautiful wooden lanes. Fans of the film will be excited to learn that there’s a spin-off in the works. Going Places will feature John Turturro as Jesus Quintana in a crime comedy that’s sure to be as hilarious as its predecessor.

And when you’re ready to bowl for yourself, make plans to visit our Staten Island bowling alley! And don’t forget to check out our upcoming Staten Island events!

If you’re serious about upping your game in 2019 and you don’t already have your own ball, then it’s time to pony up. Here’s how to pick the perfect bowling ball for you:

• • Core Weight – Don’t overdo it on the weight. Picking a heavier ball than you need will not improve your game. Pick a weight that is heavy enough without straining yourself. Remember, you’re going to be using this ball a couple dozen times a game. What feels good on your first throw isn’t necessarily going to feel right a game or two in. In general, the heavier the core, the sooner the ball will start to hook, while lighter cores hook further down the lane.
  • Finger Fit – Finger holes on house balls scale with ball weight, but your own ball can be custom drilled to perfectly fit your grip. Finger holes should be loose enough that you can easily slip your fingers out but not so loose that you lose control of the ball.

• • Ball Cover Stock – Urethane cover stocks are good for bowlers who want to increase speed while retaining some hook. Reactive, resin, and particle ball cover stocks tend to be even better for hooking, but have the potential to lose a little speed. Most bowlers tend toward reactive resin over urethane. Of course, cover stocks of any material can be polished to increase speed (at the expense of hook).

Need help finding the perfect fit? Visit Country Pro Shop, our onsite full service bowling pro shop. We’ll give you tips on how to choose the best bowling ball, teach you about the benefits of various materials, and even give you bowling lessons.

Once you have your perfect ball, it’s time to bowl! Check out our upcoming Staten Island events and bowling specials, and then make your plans to visit Rab’s Country Lanes!

If you know someone who loves bowling, encourage their hobby with an awesome bowling gift this holiday season! Check out these holiday gift ideas for bowlers:

• Ball – Of course a bowling ball would make the list of great gift ideas for bowlers, but which one should you get? The Brunswick TZone Indigo Swirl makes for a inexpensive second ball (or first ball for a less seasoned bowler). If you’re budget is a little higher, then check out the Storm Mix.
• Ball Bag – If your bowler is already set with their ball, then consider a quality bowling ball bag.
• Gift Card – Pay now, play later! It’s easier than ever to gift an experience your favorite bowler will love. And this month only, we’re offering bonus bucks on all gift cards, so your holiday gift will go even farther.
• Wrist Brace – Serious bowling can put a strain on a bowler’s joints. That’s why a high-quality bowling wrist brace is important. There are lots of great ones on the market, but if you’re looking for a high-end brace for your loved one then check out the PowrKoil Wrist Positioner XF Right Hand.
• Apparel – Help your bowler bowl in style with some new bowling apparel like our Limited Edition Rab’s Johnny Cupcakes T-Shirt or our Rab’s Socks by Sock Panda!
• Cleaning Equipment – A good see saw (like the Brunswick Microfiber See Saw), ball cleaning spray, and a good shoe brush are all essentials.
• A Night Out at Rab’s – Treat your favorite bowler to a few games, dinner, and drinks. The best gift you can give is quality time with them. We even offer Rab’s County Lanes gift cards to make your holiday shopping easier.

However you plan to celebrate, make some time for fun with friends and family this holiday season! Visit us at Rab’s Country Lanes for a little break from the cold and the holiday hustle and bustle.

STEAM is a major focus in education these days, and bowling is the perfect way to demonstrate and teach STEAM principles!

Why is STEAM a focus in education?

If you’re not familiar with the acronym, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. It has been estimated that by 2020, nearly 5 million jobs will have been unfilled because of a lack of STEAM-based skills in the US workforce. STEAM jobs are the future, and children with a solid grasp of STEAM concepts are more likely to do well in school, have access to better opportunities, and are more likely to be successful in finding good jobs once they graduate.

STEAM principles are not only important, but they’re also fun to teach! When demonstrated with real world, hands-on teaching, STEAM principles are incredibly engaging for students.

STEAM in Bowling

Speaking of engaging, bowling is a fun, novel, and hands-on way to teach physics. Kinetic energy, friction, and other types of forces are all wonderfully demonstrated in bowling. Hook balls, for example, are only possible with a good grasp of physics. Hook balls require the proper amount of torque applied to the ball so that it hits the pins at a roughly 30° angle. This angle of impact better distributes the force of impact on to the pins, resulting in more strikes than a ball thrown straight down the lane!

Looking for STEAM field trips in Staten Island? We can help you plan a STEAM field trip that is not only educational, but also fun! Contact us to book a bowling field trip as part of your STEAM curriculum today.

There’s always something fun going on around Staten Island, and this month is no different! Check out a few of our favorite October Staten Island family-friendly events below.

Fall Festival at the Mount

This amazing fall family event will have the largest pumpkin patch in Staten Island, music, food, fun rides, cool games, scarecrow-making, lots of vendors, and more! This family festival will take place on October 20th and admission is free!

Halloween Harbor

This cool upcoming Staten Island family event has a ton of planned activities! There will be a science workshop on creepy worms, a fun create-a-monster event, spooky (but not scary) family-friendly movies, a Halloween art workshop, trick-or-treating at the Staten Island Museum, pumpkin painting, live performances, a costume contest, and more, not to mention some fun craft vendors and delicious food.

Movie Night at the Staten Island Mall

On October 30th, Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 will be playing at the Staten Island Mall. Check out these hilarious family-friendly movies and enjoy a delicious dinner from local food trucks.

Bowl at Rab’s Country Lanes

It’s always a great time to take the family bowling! Plus, we have lots of wonderful upcoming Staten Island events, including the 16th Annual Bowling Against Breast Cancer Bowl-a-Thon on October 28, Live Music: Karaoke every Thursday, Rab’s Gold Shootout on October 20th, and the Rab’s Youth Baker Classic on October 21st!

There’s always something fun going on at Rab’s Country Lanes. Check out our calendar for even more fun events to look forward to.

Can you believe that the history of bowling may date all the way back to 3200 BC? According to Sir Flinders Petrie, an early form of bowling was actually played in ancient Egypt!

Of course, bowling as we know it today is a much more recent invention. It is believed that the sport took form in Germany sometime around 300 AD, although the English and Dutch also have a history of pin-based games. We know for a fact that bowling was so popular in England that in 1366, King Edward III had to outlaw it because his troops were so busy bowling that they were neglecting their archery practice.

English, Dutch, and German immigrants brought the sport to America sometime prior to 1670. Bowling was so popular in New York that the heart of the Financial District is still known as Bowling Green today.

By the 1800s, there were so many different variations of bowling and bowling clubs in America that it was starting to become a problem. With so many regional differences, no one could seem to agree on the rules! That is until Joe Thum brought everyone together.

Thum called together bowling club representatives from all the major regional bowling clubs. Together they founded the American Bowling Congress in 1895. The Congress worked to standardize the rules and equipment used by bowlers which finally allowed for major national competitions and bowling leagues to be held! If you’re interested in joining a league, check out our Staten Island bowling leagues! Or if you’re looking for a more casual experience, then book a lane for open play at our Staten Island Bowling Center today.

With Staten Island schools back in session, it’s important to make time for some family bonding! So fight those back-to-school blues with a fun after-school trip to Rab’s Country Lanes!

Here are just 5 reasons to go bowling after school with your kids:

1. All work and no play is not good for kids! By making time for fun, you’ll help your kids de-stress after school. Spacing out school work and homework with some recreation time can actually help children focus.
2. Bowling helps kids unplug. It’s important to give kids active, social, IRL (ie “in real life”) things to do after school instead of just binging Netflix, playing video games, or being on social media 24/7.
3. It’s a great activity to learn! Bowling is a good family activity that you can all enjoy together, rain or shine. Bowling could even turn into a lifelong hobby or sport that will help them stay active and social their whole lives. What’s more, bowling teaches patience and hard work!
4. Sportsmanship is important. Not only can bowling help improve family bonding, but it’s also a wonderful way to teach teamwork and sportsmanship at any age.
5. Bowling is good for your health. Bowling helps improve flexibility, arm and core strength, and hand-eye coordination. Plus it can be enjoyed by any age group or fitness level.

So get your kids involved in bowling for a little after-school fun in Staten Island. And if your kids are really into it, sign them up for one of our youth bowling leagues. Fall registration is happening now!

The summer is drawing to a close, National Family Fun Month is over, and the kids are back in school, but that doesn’t mean the family fun has to end! At Rab’s, we keep the fun going year round.

Bowling Fun for the Whole Family

Bowling is a great activity for adults and kids alike, and at Rab’s, we have something for everyone. We rent bowling shoes ranging in size from a toddler 5 to an adult men’s 20 and offer a variety of bowling ball sizes, from 6 lbs to 15 lbs. We also have bumpers for kids who are learning how to bowl and dragon ramps for the little ones.

Join us for Open Bowling 7 days a week! We also offer Cosmic Bowling on Friday and Saturday nights, with an LED light show and your favorite music videos accompanied by black lights and neon.  

A Little Friendly Competition

Want to take your game up a notch? We host both adult and youth bowling leagues where you can test your skills and meet other bowling enthusiasts. But bowling is just the beginning. You can also head over to the Laser Maze Challenge to test your skills against your friends and family! Channel your inner spy or action hero by navigating your way through the laser beams in the shortest time.

Don’t let the daily grind of work and school get you down. Make time for family fun and keep the good times going at Rab’s! Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on announcements, events, and more.