Bowling-alley lanes are covered in a thin layer of oil, facilitating a smooth trip for the ball and hilarious pratfalls for would-be pin burglars. Engage in slippery sport with today's Groupon: for $15, you get a bowling-and-pizza outing at Strikes located in Elk Grove (a $34.99 total value). The outing includes:

• One large single-topping pizza (a $14.99 value)
• $20 toward bowling and shoe rental

Boasting high-tech lanes and a family-friendly atmosphere, Strikes entices bowlers of all sizes to revel in the wrecking of wimpy, wobbling pins. Players score rental kicks ($1.50−$2.50/pair) and purchase open-lane games ($1.50−$7/person) according to a pricing schedule that discounts weekday visits, late-night expeditions on Friday and Saturday nights, and long-distance calls to the owners' grandmas. Designated open lanes prevent impromptu competitions from being shut out by league ambition, and reservations at a back-alley lane ($30/hour 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday) promise sleek leather couches and nonstop glow bowling. A computerized tallying system prevents scorekeepers from trying fruitlessly to break mini pencils over faulty addition, as automatic bumpers give baby biceps a boost by keeping balls from the gutter. A large bubbling pizza piled with any one topping fuels further lane-based demolition, and may also inspire pumped-up strikers to propel toward the alley's other amusements, including arcade games, billiards, and shuffleboard tournaments. League play may lead to limited availability on Friday and Saturday after 7 p.m.