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

Knock 'em dead

The two most idiosyncratic aspects of bowling are those multi-colored rental shoes and that often confusing method of scoring. We're confident you can navigate your way through the shoe rental process, but what about all those boxes and numbers on the score sheet? We'll explain how to keep score so that you can concentrate on that other mystery: how to knock down the pins.

Whether you're in a bowling league or just out with friends to have a good time, it might increase your understanding of the sport to become familiar with how a match is scored. Don't worry, it's not as hard as you might imagine. If you know how to add, write, and count, you'll do just fine.

After you've tightened the laces of your shoes and selected a ball, it's time to decide who in your group will bowl first, second, and so on. In the left-hand column of your score sheet, you'll find a place to insert names based on the order selected.

Note: Some bowling alleys may have electronic, computerized scoring systems that do all the tabulating for you, but knowing the pencil and paper method will help you better understand the sport.

Understand the score sheet

Before you start to knock down pins, take a moment to consider the physical layout of the score sheet. Next to each player's name are ten boxes, one for each frame. At the top of each box are two small squares, one for each of the two balls thrown per frame. At the far right, across from each player's name, there's a box to insert the total score for all ten frames.

Bowl and add

The moment has finally arrived when you can insert your fingers into the ball, take aim, bring back your arm and roll the ball toward the pins. Your friends are cheering and laughing. The ball strikes the pins and six of them fall down, leaving four left standing. How do you mark this in the score sheet? Just slide your finger horizontally from your name to the large box for frame number one. Look at the two small squares inside that box, and write "6" in the left-hand square. Now it's time for your second ball.

This time you knock down two of the four left from your previous ball. Mark that "2" in the small square to the right. Then total the "6" and the "2" and mark an "8" in the larger box for that frame.

For frame number two, you'll follow the same procedure, except for one important factor. When you're done with both your balls for that frame, add your score from frame number one to your score from frame number two, and put the total number in the larger box for frame two.

For example, in frame number two, if you knocked down seven pins and then one pin, mark a "7" and a "1" in the two small squares for frame two. Since you scored a total of eight for frame one, and eight for frame two, you'd mark a total of "16" inside the larger box for frame two.

Record a spare

A spare is when pins that are left standing after a bowler's first ball in a frame are completely knocked down by the second ball of that same frame. To mark a spare, record the score for the first ball in the small left-hand square at the top of the frame's box. In the small right-hand square, make a diagonal line. Leave the large box for that frame blank for now.

For the next frame, you'll take whatever you score on the first ball of the frame, and add ten to it. That is the score you earned for the previous frame. For instance, you earn a spare in frame three. In frame four, you bowl an eight on the first ball. Your total for frame three is 18. You can add that to the 16 that you scored for frames one and two, and mark a "34" in the box for frame three. But you still have two pins left standing and another ball in frame four. You roll your second ball, and knock down one additional pin, giving you a total of nine for the frame. You now add that "9" to the "34" and mark a "43" in the large box for frame four.

Record a strike

A strike is when you knock down all ten pins on the first ball of a frame. After a strike, you do not get a second ball. Mark an "X" in the small, left-hand square and leave the larger box for that frame blank until you determine your score for the next frame.

You'll then wait until you've bowled both your balls in the next frame before you determine your score. Add ten to whatever you earn in the next frame, and mark that under the "X" for the previous frame. For instance, you bowl a strike in frame five, and then a "6" and a "1" in the next frame. You've earned 17 pins in frame five. Add this to the 43 you already have, and mark "60" in the box for frame five. Adding the seven pins you just knocked down, you'd mark a "67" in the large box under frame six.

Note: Both a spare and a strike are worth ten pins. The difference in how each is scored depends on what you roll in the next frame. With a spare, you add ten to the number of pins knocked down with the next ball. With a strike, you add ten to the number of pins knocked down with the next two balls.

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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