Winter 2026: We're Back, Baby!

Pindependent
Feb 15
3 min read

Smiling bowling ball and pin with a red heart background. Text reads: You "BOWL" me over - VALENTINE! Blue and white setting.

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF):

We're back tonight! We'll start the season over tonight
We'll continue through 5/3/26 with a break for Easter
How about them Seahawks?

Welcome back, my funny valentines! We're back to bowling tonight! Or maybe I should say, more correctly, we're starting over tonight. We'll treat tonight as week 1 since our real week 1 was roughly 50 years, several snowstorms, and a by-God Seattle Seahawks Superb Owl win ago.

In case you forgot how this works, please reference the Pindependent website (this post specifically: Winter 2026 starts today!) for information on how the league and scoring will work. Please show up tonight at 6:15 ready to rock and roll. Since the teams are pretty well set, we'll count the points for this week toward the scores that will eventually seed our playoffs toward the end of the season.

I can't wait to bowl with y'all again. If you aren't going to be there tonight, if you pre-bowled or if you have other questions, please reach out to me.

Quick reminder: If you are going to miss a week, please tell someone! I can't tell you how many nights teams wind up standing around extra time wondering if their teammate is just running late or not coming. So let me know or, better yet, let your teammates know! (Also remember to let me know if you've pre-bowled, and send me your scores!!)

Everyone should be up to date in the roster at this point, but you know I can't make any promises. Some of our players got categorized as subs, for some reason, so if that's still the case, let me know and we'll fix it tonight. Otherwise, we should be set more or less for smooth sailing here on out.

Tips for a better season:

Swap contact info with your teammates, and be sure to communicate when you'll be out, if you pre-bowled, etc.
Be on time. League starts at 6:15, practice starts no later than 6:20 and competitive games should start no later than 6:30.
Have patience with the bowling alley when things break.
Helpful apps:
- Leaguepals (www.leaguepals.com) is an app that will show you schedules, scores, leaderboards, etc., for our league.
- LaneTalk (www.lanetalk.com) allows you to track your games in real time by syncing up with Bowlero's software. If you're afraid your scores are incorrect, this is a handy way to go back and double check. Unfortunately, their best feature (tracking your individual games) has become locked behind a paywall, so it's not as great as it used to be, so you can take it or leave it.
Read the periodic emails I'll send out. You can also follow us on FB or Instagram.
Have fun! Remember that this is a social league that's mostly about having fun and hanging out. Don't lose sight of that.

Bowling etiquette:

Be ready to bowl when it's your turn.
Be aware of other bowlers: if 2 bowlers make the approach side by side, the bowler on the right has the right of way.
Once your turn is done, finish up and get out of the way.
Wear bowling shoes.
Keep an eye on food and drink.
Don't be a jerk.