The Worst Foods to Eat While Bowling (and Why Your Score Just Dropped)
Love bowling but hate greasy fingers ruining your grip? Discover the absolute worst foods to eat while bowling—and what to order instead if you want to keep your score up.
The Worst Foods to Eat While Bowling (and Why Your Score Just Dropped)
Picture this: You're on a hot streak. Three strikes in a row. The pocket is yours. Then you grab a handful of nachos between frames, wipe your fingers on a napkin, and step up for your next shot.
The ball slips.
You throw a gutter ball. Your streak is over. Your teammates groan. And you realize too late: you just became a victim of bowling alley food.
Don't get us wrong—we love bowling alley food. But some snacks are straight-up sabotage when you're trying to bowl your best game. Greasy fingers, sticky residue, and sauce-covered hands are the fastest way to ruin your grip and tank your score.
Here are the absolute worst foods to eat while bowling — and why they're a disaster for your game.
1. Buffalo Wings (The #1 Grip Destroyer)
Why they're terrible:
Let's start with the obvious: buffalo wings are bowling enemy #1.
Between the grease from frying, the slippery hot sauce coating, and the fact that you have to eat them with your hands, wings are a catastrophe waiting to happen. Even if you wash your hands twice, that buffalo sauce residue lingers like a curse.
The damage:
- Greasy fingers = no grip
- Hot sauce burns = distracted bowling
- Orange fingertips = everyone knows you're the one who ordered wings
- Sticky palms = the ball won't release cleanly
What happens to your game: Your ball will either stick to your hand (launching it into the ceiling) or slip out early (hello, gutter ball). Either way, you're not hitting the pocket.
Verdict: Just say no. Save the wings for after bowling.
2. Nachos with Extra Cheese (The Slippery Slope)
Why they're terrible:
Nachos seem innocent until you realize they're a triple threat of bowling destruction:
- Melted cheese that clings to your fingers like glue
- Greasy chips that leave orange residue on everything you touch
- Liquid toppings (sour cream, salsa, guac) that drip everywhere
Even worse: nachos are shareable, which means multiple people are contaminating their hands and then touching the same bowling balls.
The damage:
- Cheese grease on your thumbhole = zero control
- Jalapeño juice on your hands = burning eyes if you rub them
- Chip crumbs everywhere = stepping on a landmine of mess
What happens to your game: Your ball won't come off your hand cleanly. You'll overthrow or underthrow because the cheese residue changes your release point every single frame.
Verdict: If you must order nachos, bring hand wipes. Lots of them.
3. Fried Chicken (Especially Bone-In)
Why it's terrible:
Bone-in fried chicken might be delicious, but it's a grip nightmare.
You can't eat it with a fork (well, you could, but who does that?). You have to tear the meat with your hands. The breading leaves grease and seasoning on your fingers. And the bones? Forget about it — you're touching everything.
The damage:
- Grease coats your entire hand
- Seasoning powder = slippery fingers
- Bones = sticky, messy hands no matter how careful you are
What happens to your game: Your thumb will slide around inside the ball. Your fingers won't grip properly. And you'll leave greasy streaks on the ball that affect everyone else's game too.
Verdict: Boneless tenders with a fork? Maybe. Bone-in fried chicken? Absolutely not.
4. Sloppy Joes / Messy Burgers (The Inevitable Disaster)
Why they're terrible:
These are called "sloppy" for a reason.
Any burger or sandwich that drips sauce or has loose toppings is a disaster waiting to happen. Add in greasy beef, melted cheese, and condiments running down your wrists, and you've got a recipe for ruined bowling.
The damage:
- Grease from the beef soaks into your hands
- Sauce drips onto your fingers (and the ball)
- You're guaranteed to need multiple napkins—but napkins don't remove grease
What happens to your game: Even after washing your hands, the grease film remains. Your ball will slip, your thumb won't release, and you'll be fighting your grip all night.
Verdict: If the menu calls it "loaded," "ultimate," or "messy," skip it while bowling.
5. Hot Dogs with All the Toppings (The Hidden Threat)
Why they're terrible:
Hot dogs seem safe. They're not.
A plain hot dog in a bun? You might survive. But the second you add mustard, ketchup, relish, onions, chili, or cheese, you're asking for trouble.
The damage:
- Condiments squeeze out the sides and onto your hands
- Chili drips everywhere
- Onions fall off and leave juice residue
- You're eating it one-handed while trying not to make a mess (spoiler: you will)
What happens to your game: Mustard and ketchup are surprisingly greasy. That vinegar-based slickness stays on your skin and makes the ball feel weird in your hand. Plus, if any relish juice gets in your thumbhole, good luck with your next shot.
Verdict: Plain hot dog only. And even then, eat it between games, not frames.
6. Pizza (Yes, Really—When Done Wrong)
Why it's terrible:
Wait, pizza? Isn't pizza the official food of bowling?
Yes. But greasy pizza is a bowling hazard.
Not all pizza is created equal. Deep dish, extra cheese, pepperoni swimming in grease, stuffed crust dripping oil—these are all grip destroyers disguised as delicious food.
The damage:
- Grease from the cheese and toppings coats your fingers
- The underside of the crust often has oil residue
- Holding the slice = transferring grease to your palm
What happens to your game: Your thumb gets slippery. Your release gets inconsistent. You start missing your mark because you can't feel the ball properly.
Verdict: Pizza is fine if you're strategic. Pat it with napkins to remove excess grease, hold it by the crust only, and wash your hands before every frame. Or just order thin crust—it's way less greasy.
7. Ribs (The Ultimate Bowling Sin)
Why they're terrible:
If buffalo wings are enemy #1, ribs are the final boss.
Ribs are:
- Covered in sticky, sweet BBQ sauce
- Impossible to eat without getting sauce all over your hands
- Messy by design (you're tearing meat off bones)
The damage:
- BBQ sauce is sticky, sweet, and impossible to fully wash off
- Your hands will feel tacky for the next hour
- The sauce gets everywhere—on the ball, the lane, your clothes
What happens to your game: Your ball will stick to your hand. Your thumb won't release. You'll overthrow every shot because the ball doesn't come off cleanly. And everyone will avoid touching the balls you've used.
Verdict: Never. Ribs are strictly post-bowling food.
8. Onion Rings (The Grease Trap)
Why they're terrible:
Onion rings are deep-fried in oil, coated in batter, and often come with dipping sauces. They're basically edible grease bombs.
The damage:
- Oil from frying coats your fingers instantly
- Batter crumbs stick to your hands
- Ranch or ketchup adds another layer of slippery mess
What happens to your game: You'll lose all control of your release. The ball will slip out of your hand at random times, and your accuracy will tank.
Verdict: Switch to baked chips or pretzels if you want something crunchy.
9. Anything with Ranch Dressing (The Silent Killer)
Why it's terrible:
Ranch dressing seems harmless, but it's one of the worst substances you can get on your bowling hand.
Why? Because it's:
- Greasy (buttermilk and mayo base)
- Sticky when it dries
- Impossible to completely wipe off with napkins
The damage:
- Leaves a slick film on your fingers
- Dries into a tacky residue
- Ruins your grip for multiple frames
What happens to your game: Your ball won't release cleanly. You'll either hang onto it too long or release it too early. Either way, your accuracy suffers.
Verdict: If you're dipping anything in ranch, use a fork. Or just skip it.
10. Ice Cream (The Sticky Surprise)
Why it's terrible:
Ice cream melts. And when it melts, it becomes liquid sugar that coats your hands.
Even if you're careful, ice cream drips. Onto your fingers. Onto the cone. Onto your wrist. And once it's there, it dries into a sticky mess.
The damage:
- Melted ice cream = sticky fingers
- Sugar residue attracts more dirt and grease
- Cold hands = reduced grip strength
What happens to your game: Your hand feels weird. The ball doesn't slide off your thumb smoothly. You lose feel for your release.
Verdict: Save dessert for the end.
The Science of Why Greasy Food Ruins Your Grip
Here's what happens when you eat greasy food while bowling:
- Oil coats your skin – Even washing with water won't remove all of it (oil and water don't mix)
- Your thumbhole becomes slippery – The ball won't stay on your hand properly
- Your fingers can't grip the ball – You lose control of your hook and rotation
- Inconsistent release – Every shot feels different because the grease changes your friction point
Bottom line: Greasy food = unpredictable bowling.
So What Should You Eat While Bowling?
If all the good stuff is off-limits, what can you eat?
Here are bowling-safe foods that won't destroy your game:
✅ Chicken tenders with a fork
✅ Soft pretzels (hold with napkins)
✅ Veggie sticks and dip
✅ Breadsticks
✅ Grilled chicken sandwich (cut into pieces)
✅ Fruit cups
✅ Chips eaten with a fork (yes, really)
✅ Thin-crust pizza (blotted with napkins)
The golden rule: If you can eat it with a fork or hold it with a napkin barrier, you're probably safe.
Pro Tips to Eat Without Ruining Your Game
1. Designate an Eating Hand
Keep one hand completely clean for bowling. Use the other hand for food only.
2. Wash Your Hands Between Food and Bowling
Don't just wipe with napkins—actually wash with soap and water. Most bowling alleys have restrooms nearby.
3. Bring Hand Wipes
Keep a pack of wet wipes in your bag. Napkins don't remove grease—hand wipes do.
4. Eat Between Games, Not Frames
Minimize the risk by eating during longer breaks when you have time to clean up properly.
5. Order Food That Requires Utensils
If it comes with a fork, you're in good shape.
The Bottom Line
Look, we're not saying you can't enjoy food while bowling. We're just saying some foods are actively working against your game.
If you want to bowl your best, avoid:
- Buffalo wings
- Nachos
- Fried chicken (bone-in)
- Messy burgers
- Ribs
- Anything dripping with sauce
And if you really want those wings? Order them after you're done bowling. Your score (and your teammates) will thank you.
Now go bowl a clean game—literally.