It’s the game of tennis, without the wrist-jarring racket. It’s golf, without the scavenger hunt for your ball.

“For bowling, we say it’s all the fun and excitement of a bowling alley without the heavy ball,” says Susan Hofstra, Urbana Senior Center coordinator. 

Hofstra is referring to Wii, a video game console that encourages you to move around while in front of a TV, just as you would if you were participating in that sport. Wii bowling is particularly popular at the Urbana Senior Center. Whether they were pro bowlers back in the day, or never picked up a bowling ball in their life, participants enjoy performing the 1-2 swing and watching their ball roll down the lane on the TV. 

Juya Ditman plays regularly while her husband lifts weights at the local YMCA. The Wii bowling program was recommended to her after she was warned that she could hurt herself with the heavy equipment at the gym. She says she gets all the exercise she needs using the Wii.

“It helps my feet and my legs to get stronger because I stand up and I throw the ball and then I sit down,” she says. 

She says “the Wii is set up just like a bowling alley,” pointing out the scorecard, the “Mii” character — programmed by each person to look just like themselves — and the way the ball curved when a player twisted their wrist a certain way. 

Ditman also participated in Wii golf at the senior center recently. She says she likes both games equally, although she recently tried the golf game for the first time.

“It’s just nice to get out and do something different that’s more active than doing a board game,” Hofstra says.

Along with keeping seniors active, Wii games are good for participants because they promote good sportsmanship and encourage participants to interact with other seniors, Hofstra says. Although up to four people can bowl per game, about six people come to the center regularly to play Wii bowling and cheer on their teammates when it’s not their turn.

Bob Falk is the Wii bowling veteran, having participated in the program since it started a year ago in April. Other players say he did a good job of coaching them when they decided to join in. They also say he boasts the best score overall, although Ditman might have had the best high score ever, with five strikes in a row and four spares in one game.

But there’s no need to feel intimidated by their skills. When one member couldn’t seem to get the hang of it, his teammates were cheering with “you’ll get it next time,” and “try again.” One player gently coached him until he picked up his momentum again.

“It’s great camaraderie,” says Connie Marcheski, after pausing to cheer for Anna Mae Murphy, who bowled a strike. “I look forward to it.”

Although some seniors might have physical disabilities, the video game format gives everyone an “equal playing field,” says Hofstra. If someone has arthritis, he or she is able to hold the remote differently so it’s more comfortable. Some play while sitting, and others choose to stand.

Hofstra says a Wii bowling competition between the Thurmont, Emmitsburg and Urbana senior centers — as well as other Wii games beyond bowling, golf and tennis — might be a possibility in the future.

“We’re always looking to expand our program,” she says. “It just depends on what people ask for and the general interest.”