Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Understand the score sheet
Step 2:
Bowl and add
Step 3:
Record a spare
Step 4:
Record a strike
Step 5:
Record a tenth-frame spare or strike

2torial #0732:
Learn2 Score a Bowling Game (continued)

Record a tenth-frame spare or strike

If you bowl a spare in the tenth frame, you get one additional ball. Notice on the score sheet for frame ten, there are three small squares inside the larger box. Mark the spare as you would for earlier frames, and use the third square to record your score for the extra ball. For instance, if you earn a spare, and then knock down nine pins with your extra ball, you place a "9" in the third small square. With the ten pins you earn for the spare and the nine for the extra ball, you add 19 to your total score.

If you bowl a strike in frame ten, you get two extra balls. Mark an "X" in the first small square, and your score for the following balls in the adjacent squares. The rules for tabulating the score for these extra balls work just as they would following any strike. For instance, you have an even 100 after nine frames. You bowl a strike in the tenth. On your two extra balls, you get an "8" and a "1." With the ten pins you automatically earn for a strike, that gives you 19 for the frame. Add that to your previous score of 100, and you finish the game with a total of 119.

If you happen to bowl a strike in the tenth frame, and then score a spare with your two extra balls, you're awarded "20" for the tenth frame. Even though you bowl a spare, you don't get another ball. Your game is over.

If you bowl a strike in the tenth frame, and then two additional strikes with your two extra balls, you're awarded "30" for frame number ten. After those two additional balls, even if they are strikes, your game is over.

If you bowl a spare in frame ten, and then a strike with your additional ball, you're awarded "20" for frame ten, and your game is over.

You might not be on your way to the Professional Bowler's Association just yet, but now that you know how to keep score, you can impress your friends, practice those math skills, and, most important, be confident knowing you can score a game even without any technological help.

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