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If you’ve ever gone bowling, you’ve probably felt the thrill of your first strike—but when it comes to keeping score, things can get tricky fast. With strikes, spares, and frame totals to calculate, it’s easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many find bowling scoring confusing at first, but after each new point, it all starts to make sense with a guide.
What Are the Bowling Scoring Rules?
First, let’s go over the basic rules of bowling scoring. In a standard game of ten-pin bowling, each player gets 10 frames to try to knock down as many pins as possible. You get to roll twice for each frame, and there’s a total of up to 10 pins knocked down. Each frame has its score calculated individually. Let’s break down the rest by terminology.
Frame
A frame represents a single turn in the game. Each player gets 10 frames, and in each frame, you get up to two chances to knock down the pins.
Strike
A strike is when all ten pins are knocked down with the first ball. When you get a strike, your score for that frame is marked as 10 plus the next two rolls. You also don’t roll again since all your pins are knocked down.
For example, if you get a strike in the first frame and then roll a 5 and 4 on your next two rolls, your score for the first frame changes to 19 (10+5+4).
Spare
A spare is when all ten pins are knocked down with the second ball. When you get a spare, the bowling scoring for that frame is marked as 10 plus the next roll.
For example, let’s say you’re on your third frame. If you knock down 7 pins on your first roll and then knock down the remaining 3 pins on your second roll, your score for the third frame is marked as 10. During your fourth frame, if your first roll knocks down 5 pins, your score for the third frame changes to 15 (10+5).
Open Frame
If you don’t get a strike or a spare during a turn, it’s called an open frame. This means you earn points based on the number of pins you knock down. For example, if you knock down 7 pins on your first roll and then 2 pins on your second roll, you would earn a total of 9 points for that frame.
Last Frame
The last frame is where things can get a bit complicated. If you get a strike or spare in the last frame, you get to roll extra balls to complete the frame. In total, up to three rolls are allowed in the tenth and final frame. Let’s break it down:
- If you get a strike on your first ball, you get two more rolls.
- If you get a spare on your second ball, you get one more roll.
- If you don’t get a strike or a spare after the first two rolls, the game is over.
What Are Bowling Shortcuts?
Now that you understand the basic rules of bowling scoring, let’s go over some shortcuts to help you keep track a little easier.
- Spare After a Strike/Strike After a Spare: A strike followed by a spare or a spare followed by a strike is calculated as 20 points, rather than the standard 10 points plus the next roll.
- Consecutive Spares: Each spare scores 10 points, plus a bonus equal to the number of pins knocked down by the next roll. For example, if you get two spares in a row and then knock down 5 pins on your third roll, your total score for those two frames would be 25 (10+10+5).
- Consecutive Strikes: Each strike scores 10 plus the next two rolls. For example, if you get two strikes in a row and then roll a 5 and 4 on your next two rolls, your total score for those two frames would be 44 (10+10+5+4).
- Three Strikes (Turkey): Three strikes in a row score 30 for the first frame. The second frame is scored as 20 plus the number of pins knocked down in the next two rolls, and the third frame is scored as 10 plus the pins knocked down in the next roll. For example, if you get three strikes in a row and then roll a 7 and 2 on your next two rolls, your bowling scoring for those three frames would be 81 (30+20+10+7+2).
How to Become a Pro Bowler
If you’re looking to take your bowling game to the next level, the first step is knowing how to keep score! Understanding the official rules and shortcuts mentioned above will help you keep track of your progress and improve your bowling skills.
Additionally, don’t forget to practice regularly! The best way to become a pro bowler is to get out there and bowl as often as you can. Joining a league or taking lessons from experienced bowlers will also help improve your skills and knowledge of the game.
Improve Your Bowling Skills at Your Local Stars and Strikes
Now that you know the basics of bowling scoring, it’s time to put your knowledge into action! Head to your nearest Stars and Strikes location to try your hand at calculating scores—or join a league and put your skills to the test. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced bowler, we have something for everyone at Stars and Strikes. Check out our locations today!
