Scoring in bowling, often enjoyed at alleys with pins, revolves around knocking down as many of the ten pins as possible across ten frames. Your score accumulates based on the number of pins you fell, with significant bonuses for clearing all pins in one or two rolls.
Understanding the Basics of Bowling Scoring
The objective of bowling is to achieve the highest possible score by knocking down pins. A standard game consists of ten "frames," and in most frames, you get two chances to knock down all ten pins. The way you clear the pins determines your score for that frame, often influencing subsequent frames.
Here are the key scoring outcomes:
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Strike (X)
- Definition: A strike occurs when you knock down all ten pins on your first roll in a frame.
- Scoring: You get 10 points for the strike, plus a bonus equal to the total number of pins you knock down in your next two rolls. This means a strike's full value isn't known until your next two attempts.
- Example: If you bowl a strike in Frame 1, then in Frame 2 you bowl 7 pins on your first roll and 2 pins on your second, your Frame 1 score would be 10 (for the strike) + 7 + 2 = 19 points.
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Spare (/)
- Definition: A spare is achieved when you knock down all ten pins using both your first and second rolls in a frame.
- Scoring: You get 10 points for the spare, plus a bonus equal to the total number of pins you knock down in your next one roll.
- Example: If you bowl a spare in Frame 1 (e.g., 7 pins on the first roll, 3 on the second), then in Frame 2 you knock down 8 pins on your first roll, your Frame 1 score would be 10 (for the spare) + 8 = 18 points.
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Open Frame
- Definition: An open frame occurs when you fail to knock down all ten pins after both your first and second rolls in a frame.
- Scoring: Your score for an open frame is simply the total number of pins you knocked down in those two rolls. No bonus points are awarded.
- Example: If you bowl 6 pins on your first roll and 3 pins on your second roll in a frame, your score for that frame is 6 + 3 = 9 points.
The Ten-Frame Structure
A bowling game is divided into ten frames. For frames 1 through 9, you get two rolls to knock down all ten pins.
The 10th Frame: Special Rules
The final frame, the 10th, has a unique scoring rule that allows for bonus rolls:
- If you bowl a Strike in the 10th frame: You get two additional bonus rolls to add to your score.
- If you bowl a Spare in the 10th frame: You get one additional bonus roll to add to your score.
- If you bowl an Open Frame in the 10th frame: The game ends after your two rolls, with no extra attempts.
The maximum possible score in a single game of bowling is 300, achieved by bowling 12 consecutive strikes (a strike in each of the first 9 frames, and then three more strikes in the 10th frame's bonus rolls).
Summary of Scoring
| Outcome | Description | Score Calculation | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strike | All 10 pins knocked down on the first roll | 10 points + pins knocked down in the next two rolls | X |
| Spare | All 10 pins knocked down within two rolls | 10 points + pins knocked down in the next one roll | / |
| Open Frame | Fewer than 10 pins knocked down after two rolls | Total number of pins knocked down in that frame's two rolls (no bonus) | - |
Understanding these rules allows you to track your game and strategize your rolls for higher scores. For more in-depth information on bowling rules and techniques, you can consult resources like the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
