Strike! A Comprehensive Guide to Scoring Bowling Like a Pro

Bowling, a beloved pastime enjoyed by millions around the globe, can sometimes seem perplexing when it comes to keeping score. While the act of throwing a ball down a lane is straightforward, deciphering the symbols and numbers on a bowling score sheet can feel like cracking a secret code. This guide aims to demystify the scoring process, equipping you with the knowledge to not only play but also understand the intricacies of the game. Whether you’re a beginner or an occasional bowler looking to level up your game, this comprehensive breakdown will have you scoring like a pro in no time.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of scoring, let’s familiarize ourselves with the fundamental elements of a bowling game:

• Frames: A bowling game consists of 10 frames. In each frame, a bowler has up to two chances to knock down all ten pins, except for the tenth frame which we’ll discuss later.
• Pins: There are ten pins arranged in a triangular formation.
• Strikes (X): A strike is when you knock down all ten pins on your first attempt in a frame.
• Spares (/): A spare is when you knock down all ten pins using both attempts in a frame.
• Open Frame (-): An open frame is when you fail to knock down all ten pins in a single frame, even using both attempts.
• Gutter Ball: When the ball goes into the gutter and knocks down no pins. It’s represented with a ‘-’ in the scoring block if no pins are knocked down in either throw.
• Foul (F): Crossing the foul line when you throw the ball; this results in no score for that roll.

The Bowling Score Sheet

A standard bowling score sheet is divided into ten horizontal rows, each representing a frame. Each frame has two smaller squares, one for each ball rolled. Here’s how it looks (simplified for our example):

Frame:    1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10
Roll 1:  |   |  |  |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |
Roll 2:  |   |  |  |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |
Total:   |   |  |  |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |  |   |

Typically, the score is kept in the “Total” row for each frame as you progress through the game. Now, let’s explore how to score each situation.

Step-by-Step Scoring Guide

1. Scoring Strikes (X)

The most exciting event in bowling, a strike, is marked by an ‘X’ in the first square of the frame. The score for a strike isn’t immediately calculated. Instead, it’s the total pins knocked down on your next two balls (in the subsequent frames) plus 10 points for the strike itself. Let’s use an example:

Scenario: You bowl a strike in Frame 1, followed by a 5 in the first throw and a 3 in the second throw in Frame 2.

How to Score:

• Frame 1: Mark ‘X’ in the first square. The score is calculated later.
• Frame 2: The first roll is 5 and the second roll is 3. We record these in frame 2. The total for this frame will be 8 (5+3)
• Back to Frame 1: To determine the score of the strike in Frame 1 we add up all the pins knocked down in the next two rolls: which is 5 +3 and add 10 for the strike. 5 + 3 + 10 = 18. The total for Frame 1 is 18.
• Total score after frame 2: 18 + 8 = 26

Important Note: If you bowl another strike immediately after a strike, you still need to wait for the next ball to calculate the score of the first strike.

Example of Consecutive Strikes:

Scenario: You bowl a strike in frame 1, another strike in Frame 2, and then a 4 in the first throw of Frame 3, and a 2 in the second throw of Frame 3.

How to Score:

• Frame 1: Record an ‘X’ in the first box. This score can not be calculated until we know the scores of the next two rolls.
• Frame 2: Record an ‘X’ in the first box. The score cannot be calculated until we know the scores of the next two rolls.
• Frame 3: The first roll is 4 and the second roll is 2. We record these in frame 3. The total for this frame will be 6 (4+2)
• Back to Frame 2: The total score for frame 2 will be the value of the two balls after Frame 2 and 10 for the strike (10 + 4 + 2 = 16). Write 16 in the total box for frame 2.
• Back to Frame 1: The total score for Frame 1 is 10 for the strike + value of the next two balls (10 + 10+ 4) = 24. We add up the scores from the frame 1 and frame 2, so we get 24 + 16 = 40. Write 40 in the total box for frame 1.
• Total score after frame 3: 40 + 6 = 46

This is how you calculate the score for frames with consecutive strikes.

2. Scoring Spares (/)

A spare is when you knock down all ten pins using both your balls in a single frame. It’s marked with a number of pins knocked down on the first roll, followed by a forward slash (/) in the second square of the frame. The score of a spare is 10 points plus the pins knocked down on your next ball (in the next frame). Like a strike, the score for a spare isn’t immediately known.

Scenario: In Frame 1, you knock down 4 pins with your first ball and 6 pins with your second (a spare). In Frame 2, you knock down 7 pins with your first ball and 2 pins with your second ball.

How to Score:

• Frame 1: Mark ‘4’ in the first square and ‘/’ in the second square.
• Frame 2: Mark ‘7’ in the first square and ‘2’ in the second square. The total of the frame is 9 (7+2).
• Back to Frame 1: To calculate the score for Frame 1, you add 10 for the spare, plus the number of pins knocked down on your first ball of the next frame (7). So, 10 + 7 = 17. The total for Frame 1 is 17.
• Total score after frame 2: 17 + 9 = 26

Important Note: The bonus for a spare is only based on the next ball, not the next two. If you hit a spare in Frame 1, the bonus is only the next roll (in frame 2), but it won’t affect frame 2’s score.

3. Scoring Open Frames

An open frame is when you fail to knock down all ten pins in a single frame after two rolls. The score for an open frame is simply the total number of pins you knocked down in that frame. This is the simplest type of scoring.

Scenario: In Frame 1, you knock down 3 pins with your first ball and 4 pins with your second ball.

How to Score:

• Frame 1: Mark ‘3’ in the first square and ‘4’ in the second square. The total for this frame will be 7 (3+4)
• Total score: The score for Frame 1 is 7, and the score to date is 7.

Let’s look at another open frame example:

Scenario: In Frame 1, you knock down 2 pins with your first ball and then your second ball goes into the gutter (0 pins). In Frame 2, you knock down 9 pins with your first ball and miss with your second ball (0 pins) .

How to Score:

• Frame 1: Mark ‘2’ in the first square and ‘-’ in the second square. The total for this frame will be 2 (2+0)
• Frame 2: Mark ‘9’ in the first square and ‘-’ in the second square. The total for this frame will be 9 (9+0)
• Total score after frame 2: 2 + 9 = 11

4. Scoring the Tenth Frame

The tenth frame is unique in bowling. If you get a strike or spare in the tenth frame, you get one or two bonus rolls (respectively).

Scenario 1: Strike in the tenth frame

If you get a strike in the tenth frame, you get two more rolls. The total score for the frame will be the value of those two balls, plus 10. The total will be added to the overall total and that’s the end of the game.

Scenario: You get a strike in the first ball of frame 10. You follow it up with a 9 in the first bonus ball, and a 1 in the second bonus ball.

How to Score:

• Tenth frame: Mark ‘X’ in the first square. Since you have an additional 2 throws, we mark 9 in the first bonus box and 1 in the second bonus box.
• Total for frame 10: 10 + 9 + 1 = 20. This gets added to your running total to get the overall total.

Scenario 2: Spare in the tenth frame

If you get a spare in the tenth frame, you get one additional roll. The score will be the sum of the one bonus roll and 10 from the spare. That score is added to the overall total and the game ends.

Scenario: You knock down 8 pins in the first ball of the tenth frame, and two pins with your second ball (a spare). You then hit 7 pins with your bonus ball.

How to Score:

• Tenth Frame: Mark ‘8’ in the first square and ‘/’ in the second square. You then score 7 in the bonus box.
• Total for frame 10: 10 + 7 = 17. Add 17 to your running total to get the overall score.

Scenario 3: Open frame in the tenth frame

If you don’t get a strike or a spare in the tenth frame, simply add up the number of pins you knocked down, and add it to the running total. This is also the end of the game.

Scenario: You knock down 4 pins with your first ball in the tenth frame and 3 pins with your second ball.

How to Score:

• Tenth Frame: Mark ‘4’ in the first square and ‘3’ in the second square.
• Total for frame 10: 4 + 3 = 7. Add 7 to your running total to get the overall score.

Example Game

Let’s put it all together with an example game, step by step. Here’s a potential scorecard:

Frame:    1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10
Roll 1:  X  | 7 | 3 | X  | 8 | 1 | 6 | / | 9 | - | X  | 9 | /| 5 | 4
Roll 2:    | /  | -  |   | / | - |  |   | 1 | -  |   |   |  |   | 
Total:  18 | 38 | 48 | 66 | 77 | 93 | 112 | 122| 142 | 151

Let’s break it down frame by frame:

• Frame 1: Strike (X). Score = 10 + (7+3) = 20. Total score is 20.
• Frame 2: Spare (7/). Score = 10 + 3= 13, which adds to 20 to get 38. Total score = 38
• Frame 3: Open (3-). Score = 3 + 0 = 3 which is added to 38. Total score = 41.
• Frame 4: Strike (X). Score = 10 + 8 + 1 = 19. Added to the previous total of 41 to get 60. Total score= 60.
• Frame 5: Spare (8/). Score= 10 + 1 = 11, added to the previous total of 60 to get 71. Total score=71.
• Frame 6: Open (1-). Score = 1+ 0 = 1. Total score: 71+ 1= 72.
• Frame 7: Spare (6/). Score = 10 + 9 = 19. 72 + 19= 91. Total Score= 91.
• Frame 8: Open (9,1). Score: 9 +1 = 10, 91+10= 101. Total score = 101.
• Frame 9: Strike (X). Score = 10 + 9+ / = 19. 101+ 19= 120. Total Score = 120.
• Frame 10: Spare (9/). Bonus roll: 4. Total score = 10 + 4 =14. 120+ 14 =134. Total score: 134.

Therefore the final score is 151.

Tips for Better Scoring

• Practice Regularly: The more you play, the more comfortable you’ll become with both the game and the scoring system.
• Watch the Pros: Pay attention to how professional bowlers approach the game and how they score.
• Use Scoring Apps: There are many bowling apps available that can help you keep track of your scores, which can be useful when you’re starting out.
• Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from experienced bowlers or the staff at your bowling alley.

Conclusion

Scoring bowling might seem challenging initially, but with practice and a thorough understanding of the rules, it will become second nature. By mastering the scoring system, you can truly appreciate the strategic aspect of the game, allowing you to track your progress and celebrate your strikes and spares. So, grab a ball, hit the lanes, and remember that every frame is a chance to improve your score. With this guide in hand, you’re well on your way to scoring like a seasoned bowler. Happy Bowling!