The deep thump of the bass line swells as laser lights lining the lanes and lighting up the pins cast brilliant flashes against the shiny synthetic wooden lanes.
Welcome to cosmic bowling — aka cyber-bowling — where the game becomes almost secondary to the experience of fumbling around in the dark to a soundtrack of hip-hop, dance and rock tunes.
Cyber-bowling is a holdover of the 1990s, created to attract a younger audience to bowling centers. It was such a hit that it stuck, becoming as much a part of bowling as leagues.
"We still pack them in with 150, 160 people on a Friday or Saturday night," said Jill Theis, co-owner of Vantage Bowling Centers, which hosts cyber-bowling on weekends and some weeknights.
At Vantage's Lucky Strike Bowl, which Theis manages, they pump 60,000 watts of light and sound to compete with the more than 8,000 music videos programmed into a computer and played over large screens.
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"It's quite the thing with the younger crowd," said Theis' Vantage partner, Wes Becker Jr., who said that the bulk of cyber bowlers are teens and young adults.
Cyber-bowling is held mostly late into the night, although several centers host matinee sessions. And most bowling centers offer a one-price-for-all cost, which includes bowling-shoe rental.
Cyber-bowling times
• Bedroxx Bowling, 4385 W. Ina Road. Club Bedroxx cyber-bowling from 7 p.m.-close Fridays and Saturdays. $9.99.
• Brunswick Camino Seco Lanes, 114 S. Camino Seco. Cosmic bowl is 10 p.m.-close Fridays and Saturdays. $10.99.
• Cactus Bowl, 1630 S. Alvernon Way. Cosmic bowling, 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays. $10.
• Fiesta Lanes, 501 W. River Road. Cyber-bowling, 9 p.m.-midnight Thursdays, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $5 cover, 50-cent bowling and shoes Thursdays; $11 Fridays and Saturdays.
• Golden Pin Lanes, 1010 W. Miracle Mile. Kosmic bowling nightly from about 9 p.m. to close, except Sundays. $6 Mondays-Wednesdays, $7 Thursdays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays.
• Lucky Strike Bowl, 4015 E. Speedway. Cyber-bowl, 10 p.m. to close Friday; and 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close Saturdays. $11 at night, regular game rates apply for daytime.
• Santa Cruz Lanes, 3665 S. 16th Ave. Cyber-bowl, 8 p.m.-close Sundays, 9:30 p.m.-close Fridays, and 3:30-5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.-close Saturdays. $1.99 per game and $2.75 for shoe rental at night; $7 for Saturday afternoon.
• Tucson Bowl, 7020 E. 21st St. Cyber-bowl, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays, 9:30 p.m. to close Fridays and 3-5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to close Saturdays. $7 matinee sessions, $10 nighttime.
