Category: Latest News

Excellent Reasons to Bowl the Summer Away

Summer is a season that many people romanticise and can’t wait for every year. However, once summer is actually upon you, you start to remember how much there is to worry about. Sunburns, bugs, and kids with lots of free time can lead to some amount of chaos that isn’t seen in the other seasons. But don’t worry. There are still some fun things you can do in the summer that the entire family will love. When you get tired of spending time outdoors, bowling is a great summer activity to take part in.

Everyone Can Participate

With many sports, like soccer, gymnastics, and rugby, parents are left on the sidelines to watch the game. If you have other kids who hate watching the other kids play, why not take advantage of a sports everyone can be a part of. When you bowl with the whole family, everyone gets a turn, and nobody has to sit around and observe. Resting happens in between turns but there’s always another round to play.

Takes Up Free Time

When kids are in school, there are tons of things to take up time. School, homework, and extracurricular activities all add up and leave to a lack of free time. However, in the summer, kids have a lot more time to fill. One of the things you can do is offer them the chance to experience a new sport, such as bowling. It gives the kids something fun to do and allows them to develop a new skill.

Social Environment

Kids and adults alike can use extra social experience. Social skills grow through use and bowling can be an option for using those skills in a low-key environment. You can easily interact with others who enjoy something you do through bowling. Kids will make new friends and you might do the same things. The whole family can learn stress management, cooperation skills, and more.

Relaxed Exercise

With sports like football or basketball, the exercise is of a high-intensity. You need to take time in between games to keep your body healthy and avoid injuries. Bowling is a great source of exercise, but it’s also gentle on the body. Parents and kids can enjoy some exercise without any stress about getting worn out or injured. Even the grandparents can get involved and have fun with the little ones in a fun atmosphere.

These are just a few of the reasons that bowling makes a great family activity during the summer. When the kids are sick of being outside, consider visiting The Planet for bowling, laser tag, and more. You may be surprised by how much the whole family enjoys it.

Take Your Dad Bowling on Father’s Day

With Father’s Day coming up soon, you may be mulling around ideas for what to do for dear day to make the occasion a special one. While you could buy him a new tie or a gadget, something that dad might love more than a present is an experience. Parents love spending time with their kids, and we know just the place to get some bonding time in. We’ll share a few reasons why you should choose a bowling centre like The Planet to celebrate Father’s Day this year.

It’s a Ton of Fun

Even if you haven’t been bowling in ages, it’s still a whole lot of fun. In fact, those who haven’t spent any time bowling recently may realize how exciting it is and make it a new routine. Rolling bowls down the lane and spending time with family is something that dad will love and both of you can enjoy the experience. Watching your dad hit a strike will likely put a smile on both of your faces.

Anyone Can Play

Bowling centres are places anyone can have a good time. There are bumpers available for young kids or those who need them for other reasons. Nobody is expected to be great at the game, although it certainly can be fun to win a round. What’s fun is playing and spending time with your parent in an atmosphere that is exciting and full of entertainment.

Physical Exercise

If dad is getting a bit older, you might have worries about his health. If that’s the case, bowling is a fantastic option for Father’s Day. It’s a low-key activity, but it also gets you both moving. Getting a little exercise is never a bad thing, especially for someone who is getting older. When it’s also a lot of fun, you aren’t going to hear complaints about the process. You never know, taking dad bowling might lead to him visiting again and ensuring his best health.

It’s Inexpensive

When you compare bowling to the typical Father’s Day activities, you’ll find that it’s ultra-affordable. Not only is the bowling itself a bargain, but you can also grab some food and drinks at the bowling centre. There are plenty of options to fit your tastes and those of your dad. If you aren’t sure you have the cash for an expensive present or a dinner out, bowling is a good solution without emptying your wallet.

For Father’s Day fun, taking your dad to The Planet for some awesome bowling in Ireland. You can be sure to have a ton of fun while spending time with someone who matters to you. Dad will be glad to have the time together for the special day.

Bowling is at once a sport of grace and abrupt series of crashes. The two actually go hand-in-hand, however. As we will discuss, the more graceful your bowling form, the more speed—and more important, consistent speed—you’re going to be able to generate. We will focus, however, on the effect of speed on your bowling.

The Slow Ball Myth

Some may believe that the slower a ball goes, the more effective it is. This may be because they have seen a ball bowled by a very young person strike the pins and then seemingly lumber its way around until they were all knocked down. The truth is the pins are really knocked down by each other. Hence, a ball that travels faster is going to be more effective.

Momentum Is Your Friend

The reason why has to do with momentum. The momentum of the ball is transferred to the pins, and without it, they would not move at all. It goes to follow that the faster the ball is thrown, the faster and farther the pins will move after they are hit. And as those pins hit others, their momentum is, in turn, faster as well.

How to Get More Speed

Bowling is in some ways like golf. Although the speed of the head of the club can be obtained by muscling your way through the shot, this is both ineffective and produces inconsistent results. The best technique is to properly manage the swing of the club. It’s the same with bowling. Your arm swings back and then forward again, releasing the ball around ankle height each time. A relaxed swing will produce consistent results and more speed. You can change the height of the ball as you begin your swing, and because that gives the “pendulum” of the ball and your arm more momentum, the ball will get delivered quicker. This is more effective than trying to muscle the ball down the lane.

Why Bowling Before Exams Can Help

Bowling might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to getting a bit of stress relief before exams, but it actually has a ton of benefits that can help you get better marks. Most students are cooped up with books the week before exams, but taking a break has an advantage. Spending all your time working can lead to decreased focus and productivity. But that’s not the only reason to put bowling into your exam routine, we’ve compiled other reasons below.

Stress Relief

When you spend a lot of time concentrating and focusing on studying, it can add up to a lot of stress. Taking a bit of time away from it all to engage in physical activity is one of the best ways to relieve that type of stress. Even playing a short game can help you relax so you can go back to your studies refreshed. It’s even better if you go bowling with someone else. The socialisation can help relieve stress, as well. Stress might seem like a normal part of exams, but it doesn’t have to be. Relaxation and calm can help you do better on your tests.

Easy to Learn

Even if you’ve never been bowling in the past, don’t worry. It’s one of the simplest sports to learn to play. Kids, teens, and adults are huge fans of the game and that’s one of the reasons why. Because it’s a simple hobby to take on, it doesn’t require a lot of brainpower. That can be a plus when you’re already feeling overloaded from intense studying. You can compete but in a low-key way that doesn’t ever feel overwhelming. Plus, you get the benefit of being around other people, which may not be a given when studying in your room.

Better Focus

While you’re bowling, you’re also exercising. When you exercise, several hormones are released that can have an effect on your mood. Serotonin is one of them and it is capable of boosting your mood. Another is norepinephrine, which provides motivation and mental stimulation. Dopamine is also released into the body which will help to boost your attention span and influence easier learning. Even bowling for 15 to 20 minutes can give you all of these benefits so you can go back fresh and finish your study session.

As you can see, bowling is both fun and beneficial for the studying student. It makes you drop stress and can give you a boost to studying before your big exam. If you want to make bowling part of your study routine, The Planet is here to provide the environment you need. Stop by anytime!

If you’re headed to the bowling centre soon, you may be curious about playing pool. It’s an exciting game that can be super challenging and a lot of fun for people young and old. If you have never played pool, knowing the basics of the game will make your first game a lot easier. We’ll share a few details that you may not know so you can take on an opponent for the first time without worrying you don’t have a grasp on things.

 

The Basics of Irish Pool

 

Pool in Ireland is different from pool that is played in other regions. The table itself is only about 75% of the size of an American table and the balls have similar proportions. In addition, the balls are only three colours: black, yellow, and red. Another unique aspect of Irish pool is that many locations have their own rules. That means what might be appropriate at one bowling centre may not be the same at another location.

 

Object of the Game

 

As with other forms of pool, the idea is to use a cue stick and white cue ball to hit the balls into the table pockets. The cue should hit a red or yellow ball, depending on which are yours, and move it directly or indirectly into one of the six pockets of the table. Once you or your opponent has managed to sink all of the balls of the right colour, pocketing the black ball leads to winning the game.

 

Taking Turns

 

Players alternate between taking turns. If a player manages to pocket a ball without causing a foul, they continue their turn. At the point where a ball isn’t pocketed, the opponent’s ball is pocketed, or a foul is committed, the player’s turn is over and moves to the other person. Shooting and pocketing the cue ball is also cause for a turn to end.

 

Black Ball

 

Before trying to pocket the final black ball, the player must state which pocket they will be shooting for. If they make it into the correct pocket, they win the same. If not, play goes back to the opponent.

 

This should get you started with your first game of pool at a bowling centre. As you play more games, you’ll begin to discover new ways to keep ahead of the team or person you are playing against. Just remember to have fun and take things slow, it can take time to become a skilled player.

Candlepin bowling, in some communities, is like the neglected stepchild of bowling. However, there are many people who actually prefer it to ten pin or “regular” bowling. Here are some of the similarities and differences.

What They Have in Common

First of all, to differentiate between the two by calling one “ten pin” is a bit misleading. Both types of bowling utilize ten pins. This is the primary similarity between the two.

Some of the Differences

In candlepin bowling, not only is the ball smaller and the pins thinner, there are some key differences in the rules. The biggest is perhaps the fact that you can bowl three times in one frame. This allows you more chances to try to get a spare if you don’t bowl a strike on the first roll.

You also get another advantage when it comes to the pins. After bowling, the pins that are knocked down can be left right there in the lane. This means you can aim for a downed pin and use that to help you knock down those that are still standing.

Another big difference is in the way you go about deciding when to bowl your ball. In ten pin bowling, you have to wait until your ball is rolled back up to you. In candlepin bowling, this is not the case. You just have to decide when you want to bowl next and you can then simply grab whatever ball is available.

It is possible to use this to your advantage. One way is to try to benefit from the pins that are left in the lane. If one of them is moving, you can take advantage of that and strike it when it’s in the best possible position. Not having to wait can make this possible.

There are a lot of different ways the two types of bowling differ, particularly in strategy. Your best bet is to try both and enjoy each for the great fun they provide.

When it comes time to start planning for your young child’s birthday party, you want to make sure you do things right. Your kid has been waiting all year to celebrate another year and it’s important to make things exciting and fun. There are tons of themes to choose from and it can be difficult to narrow them down. We’ll share a few that are especially interesting, and you can decide which best fits your child and their personality and interests.

Mermaid Birthday Party

While the Little Mermaid came out decades ago, mermaids have never been more in favour than today. You can easily set up some decorations like plastic shells and fish to immediately bring everyone into the feel. One great idea that can be a lot of fun is transforming rock candy into tasty coral for the kids to eat. You can also put grapes on long sticks to make something that looks like seaweed.

Lego Birthday Party

Kids of all ages and every gender enjoy playing with Legos. It’s also super easy to turn into a theme for a little one’s birthday party. You can get moulds to make chocolate toppers that look like Lego bricks for your cupcakes. Use Lego trays to hold food and have lots of the building blocks themselves for an activity. If you have older kids, you could even have a building contest.

Bowling Birthday Party

Have a kid who is a budding athlete? One of the best options is renting a party at a bowling centre. Not only will the kids have a blast, but you won’t have to plan every second of the affair. Even kids that aren’t into bowling can try out laser tag or sit and munch on bowling centre snacks. The best part is that you can bring a cake of your choosing and turn the bowling centre into the theme you want without all the hassle.

Cars Birthday Party

Everyone loves cars, especially little boys who enjoy smashing the matchbox version into each other. The party grab bags are easily made with a couple of cars and some snacks the birthday boy enjoys. Pop those tiny toy cars around the edge of the cake or as toppers on the cupcakes. If you prefer edible ones, you can use a simple mould and some chocolate. Make fun invitations shaped like race cars to get the guests excited to show up.

These are just a few of the ideas that work well for a young child’s birthday party. Remember that you can avoid the mess and some of the planning by holding your party at a bowling centre. You’ll get to enjoy the fun instead of rushing around the entire party.

How are Bowling Balls Made

Bowling balls have historically been made out of a very hard wood called Lignum vitea. In 1905 the first rubber bowling ball was produced. After this, rubber balls dominated the industry. No matter what center you went to you would find rubber balls. That lasted until the 70s. Then a new material came on the scene, polyester. In the 80s yet another material became popular, urethane. Then around 1990 there was a big change in the design of bowling balls. The design of the ball cores. The cores were dense bocks inside of the ball that affects the ball’s balance.

A material called reactive urethane was introduced as a new product for a surface layer. This new material was coupled with new innovative core designs. This combination changed the sport drastically. Once the reactive balls were introduced, the first full winter season saw an increase of perfect games by 20%.

Some core shapes are a light bulb, spherical, and elliptical. There is also a method called combination cores where one core of a specific shape and density is within a second core with a specific shape and density. Cores are made by adding a heavy substance like bismuth, graphite or barium to a resin or ceramic to make the core very dense. A ceramic core is said to produce harder hitting balls because the ceramic does not absorb any energy by that part of the core.

Final stages of ball creation are to confirm the ball is the right size, sand the ball to the desired texture and then box it and ship it. The process of making a bowling ball is complex in its own right. The combination of a dense core and rock solid surface layer help to make a great bowling ball.

Easter With the Kids at a Bowling Centre

If you’re looking for something new and exciting to do on Easter, you probably want to choose an activity that people of all ages can participate in. The holidays are the best time to get together with family and friends to have a good time, but you don’t have to do the same thing you do every year. Instead, why not find a popular bowling centre and bowl the day away?

No Age Limits

Sometimes, finding a location for the whole family on Easter can be a problem if the activities you want to take part in have an age limit. That isn’t the case when you go with bowling. Everyone from the young kids to the great grandparents can have a fun time and spend it with the people they love the most. Even those who may not be big on bowling can try some of the other activities at places like the Planet.

Food & Drink Available

Every bowling centre offers a selection of food and drinks and you can expect something to fit the taste of everyone in your group. The kids can enjoy chicken nuggets or sausages with chips and soda while the adults can choose something a bit more sophisticated. The best part is that you aren’t responsible for cooking and the prices on meals are inexpensive.

Long Opening Hours

Whether you want to bowl in the morning, afternoon, or evening, bowling centres are available for you. Many of these bowling facilities open early and close late so you can bowl according to your schedule. If you have a few hours in between other Easter activities, stop in and bowl a few rounds with your family and friends. Check opening hours here. ( link to each location)

No Need to Plan

If you suddenly find yourself needing to plan Easter activities, that’s no problem. Bowling centres are typically open to taking groups on a walk-in basis, so you can get up and go. Make a quick phone call before you leave if you’re concerned that the bowling centre will be too full. Someone will be happy to let you know what your options are. It’s a lot easier than planning out something at home or another venue.

Bowling is a fun activity, even on holidays. Adults, teens, and kids alike will enjoy rolling their balls down the lane. You can even make teams and compete with kids against adults. The Planet is a great place to spend Easter and we’d love to make your holiday a true success.

Everyone wants to throw a fun and exciting birthday party for their child, but sometimes finances can make that more difficult than normal. Don’t worry, though. There are many ways to pull off a party your child and the guests will love without spending everything in your bank account. We have some great tips to take some of the pressure off you while helping you pull off a brilliant party for your child.

 

Think About Time of Day

 

If you want to plan your party at a time when you won’t be expected to provide a full meal for the guests, try to host it in the early afternoon. Make it past the normal time people grab lunch but before dinner time usually starts. This means that you can get by providing a few snacks instead of having to spend a ton of money on a huge meal that will cut into your budget.

 

Do Your Planning Early

 

For those who plan to have lots of party essentials like tableware, balloons, or even pinatas, you might want to start planning the party early. When you have extra time to shop around, you can get some great discounts and sales on all the things you need the most. If you wait until the last moment, you may end up overpaying for the basics.

 

Consider Digital Invites

 

While paper invitations can be fun to design and send out, they are no longer a requirement. If you want to save a bit of money, consider sending out digital invites instead. You can do this via social media or websites that exist solely to offer free digital invites. Sure, you might not save a lot, but everything adds up in the end.

 

Look at Inexpensive Venues

 

If you like to have your child’s birthday party outside of your home, there are inexpensive options out there. Call your local bowling centre and find out what sort of party options they offer. Sometimes you can get almost everything you need for a cheap price and you also don’t need to worry about the clean-up. In many cases, you get entertainment, music, food, and staff all for a single price.

 

Choose Simple Goody Bags

 

You may think you need to buy all sorts of expensive candies and toys for goody bags, but that simply is not the case. Kids are going to be happy with almost anything. You can grab inexpensive toys at a shop and do the same with large bags of single size candy. Nobody is going to mind, and the kids will be happy all the same.