In one smooth motion, the player strides forward and heaves a 12-pound ball down the shiny lane. It looks like a miss until the ball’s spin catches on the lane surface, curving inward to hit dead center.

For the typical player, it’s a well-thrown ball and a fulfilling end to a successful frame. For Bryan Kinneer, owner of the newly-opened Perfect Games, 1320 Dickinson Ave., it represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream.

“My wife and I have just always dreamt of a place where families could go to have fun,” Kinneer said. “We’d been planning Perfect Games for 15 years.”

After the success of the couple’s first business, they found the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

“After we opened West Towne Pub, we got the chance to buy this land,” Kinneer said.

The couple partnered with Bryan’s brother, Kevin, and his wife on the idea, allowing Perfect Games to become a reality.

Construction began in August, and Kinneer was intimately involved with every step. In fact, he served as the general contractor.

“I had my hands on everything in there,” he said.

Kinneer also spent three weeks learning about bowling equipment from the Brunswick Corporation so he would understand how to operate everything when it came time to open for business.

Since opening on June 1, Kinneer said business has been steady.

Part of the draw for customers is the wide variety of activities offered.

First, there’s bowling — 24 lanes, with top-notch equipment and a projection screen at each one. The lanes have automatic bumpers, so bowlers can switch them on and off as they please, and they’re outfitted with black lights for glow bowl.

In addition to bowling, Kingpin Pizza offers lasagna, panini, and made-from-scratch pies that are cooked in a 550-degree stone oven.

For younger kids there’s a softplay room with an inflatable bouncy house; for older kids and adults, an arcade filled with pairs of games to take on friends.

Perfect Games also offers laser tag, in a 14-person two-story arena.

For the 21-and-over-crowd, there’s always Bootlegger’s Bar.

As an ISU graduate and an Ames resident, one of the things he is most excited about is giving the community a place to gather and make connections.

Perfect Games will offer two bowling leagues: one for more serious bowlers and one later at night.

Kinneer also talked excitedly about the youth bowling program in the works, which will teach bowling to anyone from age five through high school. Kinneer has just hired a coach to run the Saturday morning youth league.

In addition, Kinneer expressed interest in partnering with Ames High School to field a bowling team.

Unfortunately, despite Kinneer’s focus on connecting people through bowling and his love for the sport, he wouldn’t say his game is top-notch.

“I love bowling,” he said. “I’m not necessarily that great, but I love it.”