Photo by Jeff Baughan Kim Knight watches as her bowling ball heads toward the pins at Pike Street Lanes in Parkersburg.

PARKERSBURG — There’s something about the sound of a bowling ball striking a wooden pin; it’s music to a bowler’s ears.

Duane Smith, who has been with Pike Street Lanes for 12 years, said the lanes has 17 leagues which compete over six days of the week. “The leagues are made up of men-only, women-only, mixed, senior and youth,” he said. “Each league lasts about 36 weeks and it’s handicap bowling, so it’s balanced to help the less experienced bowler compete as well.”

“The mixed leagues are more for fun, exercise and the camaraderie,” he said. “There are 32 lanes. In a league session, a bowler will get three games, but sometimes in a summer session, you’ll get four games.”

John Fazio, who is the general manager at Emerson Lanes, said the leagues there “almost are strictly co-ed leagues. We have three females leagues and two seniors leagues. We don’t have a male-only league. We have about 25 leagues altogether.”

Fazio stated learning to bowl at any age is a lifetime of camaraderie and exercise. “Anyone can compete for a lifetime,” he said. “And with the kids league, this is different than other sports because no kid sits the bench. Everyone plays. Everyone gets the chance to compete. It’s all about having fun.”

Photo by Jeff Baughan A ball smashes into the pins at Emerson Lanes in Parkersburg.

Smith said, “If anyone has interest in being in a league, we will try to get you on a team. You don’t have to be good, just come and have fun.”

Both said it is best for a bowler competing in a league to have their own bowling ball and shoes. “It’s more to the benefit of the bowler to choose something to give them comfort and consistency,” Smith said. “The bowler having their own equipment gives them same consistency weekly. Otherwise, the bowler can never be certain of getting the same ball each week.”

Fazio said shoes are right around $30, while a bowling ball can go from $69 to $300. “But for most people, the beginner bowler can get shoes and a beginners ball for $135. The average cost for a league bowler is about $12 for three games a week if they compete in one league, but bowlers can compete in an unlimited amount of leagues but they can only compete in a one league in a time slot.”

“If the average bowler competes in one league, then that $135 is going to be a long term investment. Those shoes and a bowling ball may last you for several years,” Smith said. “For the length of time a bowler may be using the equipment, it’s one of the most affordable sports a person can participate in.”

Smith said Pike Street Lanes will offer a league membership.

“A league fee is paid for and members get 10 percent off the pro shop and snack bar. The league bowlers can do a practice game for about 50 cents. We’ve got about 80 people doing the memberships and we have about 600 in the leagues.”

Fazio stated the league bowlers will use bowling balls in weight between 6-16 pounds “and the lighter weights make it possible for a person to compete at any age. People make lifetime friendships. And it’s the social aspect which attract people to bowling leagues,” he said.

“Some people have personal goals with bowling, such as improving their scores and using it for exercise, but a lot of people use it for social interaction. Bowlers get to see people they know every week for 6 weeks. They talk, they laugh, they share good and bad times. They have a great time. The emotional and mental aspects are just as important as the physical.”

Smith said, “You’re never too old to do this; this sport of bowling. You can be any caliber of bowler. Just as long as you like to have fun.”

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Pike Street Lanes

The days and hours of operation for Pike Street Lanes are:

* Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.

* Monday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

* Tuesday: 10a.m. to 9 p.m.

* Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

* Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Friday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Emerson Lanes

The days and hours of operation for Emerson Lanes are:

* Sunday: noon to 10 p.m.

* Monday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Thursday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

* Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

* Saturday: noon to 1 a.m.