Ive noticed an odd new trend over the last year or so, as people are listening to music while they are actually bowling, not just in between shots. Mostly a youth girls thing, but ive seen a handful of adults doing it too. Really? Little irritating bowling people who are wearing headphones, dont know why.

That's just like, your opinion, man.

Crankenstein300 wrote on 1/13/2011 1:20 PM:

You guys act like you can't hear anything but the music with earphones on. With the standard iPod/iPhone earbuds in, unless the music is at a stupid high level, I can hear people talking around me. So you wouldn't have to scream at me to get my attention or even talk to me.

 

For the record, I don't wear them bowling, but it's not as bad as some of you make it sound.

9~ Internet Tough Guy and
Cyberspace Sheep Lover

Here's a situation I witnessed, a woman in the mixed league was bowling next to the men's league a while back. One of the men was on the front 11 when Ms Headphones not aware of anything but her music walks up on this guy going for number 12 . He made a bad shot pulling it inside leaving a 6-10. He was civil about it but you could tell he wasn't happy about the distraction. I will say that I've tried practicing with them on but would never wear them in league. It seems very anti social and somewhat rude. Having headphones on may help you focus but it also makes you unaware of your surroundings and adjacent lanes. 

I just got back from nationals. And saw a sign that said you could not wear headphones or use any electronic device.

I've been bowling with them for years, since MP3 players came out and I had to run the wires up through the shirt. Ever since the wrap around the neck style bluetooths have come out I have used those. I wear them because typically I bowl in leagues with jukeboxes allowed and the music is so awful or speakers blown that it annoys me. My earpieces only go in when I go up to the ball return for my shots, if I'm not up my music is off as I do enjoy socializing with others and I'm pretty much the one always catching issues with pins missing etc. to alert others even though i'm "not paying attention" as some would say.

I avg 224, have shot multiple 300's and 800's while wearing my headphones listening to my music. I use it as a method of preventing distractions.. I don't have to hear the obnoxious idiots on the team 1 pair over or the baby crying 5 lanes down or the random announcements that have nothing to do with me while I'm trying to focus. To me bowling is pure mental, I get messed with quite often because in my stance I hold the ball in front of my face so I don't even see the lane. I have been bowling long enough that it's all muscle memory, I try to zone out and not let anything deter me from my routine which really is nothing more then counting my steps 1-5 to keep myself in a smooth rhythm. You can mock it all you want, you can say it's not for good bowlers but how many said that about Belmo and 2 handed bowling at first?  Everyone is not going to conform to the same style/methods as everyone else.