Bowling gets a bad rap when compared to sports like soccer, baseball, or even golf. Can something truly be a sport if it’s performed adjacent to laser tag arenas and Street Fighter II cabinets? Playboy Creator Goldie Moon thinks so.
“It’s full of technicality,” Goldie said. “And I even sweat sometimes.”
Goldie started playing when she was in college, when she tried out and later made the team. Her skills weren’t exactly polished, so she often found herself discouraged. After years of practice, and casual bowling nights with friends, when her average grew to an impressive 170.
During the summer, Goldie takes a break from bowling, but she plays in two different bowling leagues, her Monday night league is aptly named “The Monday Night All Stars.”
Her Monday night team is called Balls Deep, and the Tuesday night name is called Dolls with Balls. Goldie loves both leagues, and the camaraderie she experiences when she’s out on the lanes.
“There’s senior citizens and then there’s 12 year olds,” Goldie said. “And yeah, it’s a lot of fun.”
Goldie rarely rolls a ball down the lane without zoning out to music.
“Headphones plus music, It just pumps me up, any song by Bathory or Nine-Inch Nails,” Goldie said. “It really gets me going.”
Aside from sticktoitiveness, Goldie’s secret to striking has always been connected to her balls. One of her go-tos is a custom Rubicon bowling ball.
“It’s important for your balls to be drilled out to your fingers,” Goldie said. “The weight has to be proper and it’s really all about the release. Wrist action is important.”
Goldie is eager to get back to the lanes in September, and swears that despite the many punchlines surrounding bowling, it absolutely deserves to be treated like a real sport.
“It’s not an action-packed sport, but it definitely a sport,” Goldie said. “I’ve even injured myself playing it!”