Scoring Techniques of Bowling

A bowling game, or string, consists of 10 frames. In tenpin bowling, each bowler gets two throws per frame to knock down as many pins as possible. In candlepin and duckpin bowling, three throws are allowed. The frames are added together to determine your score. Scoring in bowling is similar in each variation of the sport.

  1. Strikes

    • A bowler throws a strike when he knocks down all 10 pins with the first throw of the frame. A strike counts for 10 points plus two bonus balls. The bowler's next two throws are added to the total of the frame with the strike. If the first bonus ball is also a strike, only one more throw counts on the first strike frame, but the second strike also receives two bonus balls.

      Examples:

      Frame 1: Strike

      Frame 2: 2-7, total 9

      Score for frame 1: 19, frame 2: 28

      Frame 1: Strike

      Frame 2: Strike

      Frame 3: 8-1, total 9

      Score for frame 1: 28 (10+10+8), frame 2: 47 (10+8+1), frame 3: 56 (8+1)

    Spares

    • A bowler throws a spare when he knocks down all 10 pins in two throws. A spare counts for 10 points plus one bonus ball. If the bonus ball is a strike, the bowler gets two bonus balls on the strike, but no additional points on the spare.

      Examples:

      Frame 1: 9-1 Spare

      Frame 2: 8-1, total 9

      Score for frame 1: 18, frame 2: 27

      Frame 1: 8-2 Spare

      Frame 2: Strike

      Frame 3: 7-2, total 9

      Score for frame 1: 20, frame 2: 39, frame 3: 48

    Open Frame

    • A bowler has an open frame when he fails to mark a strike or spare. In tenpin, an open frame will always be a score of 9 or less. In candlepin and duckpin, a bowler can knock all 10 pins down in three tries, but earns no bonus balls on that frame.

      Examples:

      Frame 1: 6-3, total 9

      Frame 2: 8-1, total 9

      Frame 3: 8-0, total 8

      Score for frame 1: 9, frame 2: 18, frame 3: 26

      Frame 1: 7-2-1, total 10

      Frame 2: 8-1, total 9

      Score for frame 1: 10, frame 2: 19

    Tenth Frame Bonus Balls

    • If a bowler throws a spare or strike in the tenth frame, he is entitled to one or two bonus balls, even though no more frames are left in the game. No bonus balls are earned on subsequent marks in the extra frames. Scoring is otherwise the same.

      Examples:

      Frame 10: Strike

      First Bonus: Strike

      Second Bonus: Strike

      Frame 10 total: 30 (10+10+10)

      Frame 10: Spare

      First Bonus: 7

      Frame 10 total: 17