What are the Best Fitness Trackers for Bowling?

Bowling as a sport is good exercise, despite some naysayers who don’t believe it to be. It’s an especially effective workout for seniors and others who aren’t able to partake in strenuous cardio for various reasons.

But there’s no denying that bowling isn’t a workout on the level of a full game of soccer or basketball, or a 20 mile run or bike ride.

So it won’t burn that many calories or get your heart rate up quite as high. But you are still working multiple muscles for an extended period of time, so you’ll still gain those benefits albeit on a smaller scale.

It’s natural for bowlers to wonder just how good a workout their sessions might be. And these days we are blessed by some technological advancements that allow us to crunch these numbers in impressive ways.

The most significant is the proliferation of fitness trackers from companies like Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple which allow you to get a detailed analysis of steps, calories burned, active minutes, heart rate, and more.

Some are larger watches that even have built-in GPS, while others are smaller devices that can be attached to a variety of smaller bands.

Some can even clip into your belt or other part of your clothing, although in those cases you’ll sacrifice the heart rate component.

Should you use a wearable device to track bowling?

The major question then becomes: is it worth it to use a tracker or smartwatch to help track your bowling?

Due to our previous points about how bowling isn’t as intense of a workout as many alternatives, as well as the fact that you don’t generate a large number of steps doing it, we

What is the best fitness tracker for bowlers?

Now the question gets into that of particular models. It’s a good idea to get a tracker with a heart rate monitor, since this is a good measure of your level of activity.

The Apple Watch actually has a dedicated option for bowling in its workout app, which is not available in many of its competitors like Fitbit.

It comes with a higher price tag, but is one of the best comprehensive fitness watch options on the market, and is ideal if you use an iPhone and/or Mac.

Check out the latest Apple Watches

If you’re looking for the basics done well and not too many frills, the Fitbit Inspire HR makes a lot of sense.

It is a simple but sleek tracker and band that is unobtrusive and light. It tracks your heart rate, steps, and active minutes and has a dedicated multi-sport exercise mode that’s easy to use for bowling.

And with a price point under $100, you should have plenty of cash left over for your bowling league dues or an extra round of beers for your team.

Take a closer look at the Inspire HR

The higher-end Fitbit models like the Charge add features like elevation tracking and swim tracking; not needed for bowling of course but could be attractive if you plan to use it for other purposes too.

If you’re looking for something other than Fitbit, Garmin offers trackers with similar features.

One model that’s a good fit for bowling is the Vivosmart HR.

It has wrist-based heart rate tracking like the Fitbit, while adding GPS at a lower price point than many others with that capability.

In summary, when choosing a fitness tracker for bowling, a lot of the decision comes down to the different watch faces you can choose from, the features and look of the companion app, and the like.

This is very much a more subjective personal decision if you prefer Apple, Fitbit, or Garmin’s offerings.

So it’s a good idea to try out a few different trackers at a store and download the apps to get a sense of what they offer and what you enjoy most.

If you want features like notifications from your phone, connected music playing, and motivational tips, seek out that functionality as well.

If you’re a bowler who likes to track your workouts, what fitness tracker do you use?