Keeping Score in Bowling

Bowling is a game with a seemingly complicated scoring system; however, learning how to properly score a game of bowling is not a difficult task to learn.

Scoring basics

A game of bowling has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 300, and players accumulate points by bowling 10 frames. Each frame gives the bowler two chances to knock down a set of 10 pins.

Open frames

When both turns of a frame are bowled with at least one pin still standing, the score is calculated by awarding one point for every pin knocked down.

Strikes and spares

When a bowler knocks down all 10 pins on the first try of a frame, the result is called a strike. If the player knocks down all 10 pins within both turns of a single frame, this is called a spare. The confusion in scoring a game of bowling results from calculating the value of strikes and spares.

Scoring strikes and spares

Strikes and spares do not reflect a score immediately, and require another one or two frames of play for the correct calculation. If a player scores a spare, the base value of the spare is 10 and the final score for the frame is 10 plus the value of the next turn taken by a bowler. If the bowler scores seven pins on his next turn, the value of the spare is 17 points, and if the bowler were to score a strike, the value of the spare is 20 points. Strikes are scored similarly, except that a strike combines the score of the next two turns taken, rather than one turn for a spare. The maximum score for a single strike is 30 points, which occurs when the bowler follows up his strike with two additional strikes.

Scoring a game of bowling is not difficult but does require practice to master. Watch a few games at the bowling alley to get a feel for the scoring system.