How to Teach Scoring in Bowling

Bowling requires participants to roll the ball down a long lane in an attempt to knock down as many pins as possible. The more pins you knock down, the better your score will be. A game of bowling consists of 10 frames, with up to two rolls per frame. (On the 10th frame, it's possible to get a third roll.) If you knock down all 10 pins on one throw, you do not take your second roll. If you get fewer than 10 pins on your first throw, you get a second throw to try to knock down the remaining pins. Imparting this information takes just a few simple steps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Explain the concept that each pin knocked down generally counts for one point. For example, if you knock down five pins, you get five points.

    • 2

      Explain what a strike means and how to score it. A strike is when you knock down all 10 pins on your first throw. When you throw a strike, you get 10 points plus the number of pins you knock down on your next two throws. For example, if you bowled a strike and then knocked down five pins then three pins, the strike would be worth 18 points. The most you can score with a strike is 30 points.

    • 3

      Explain what a spare means and how to score it. A spare is when you use both of your throws to knock down all 10 pins. When you throw a spare, you get 10 points plus the number of pins you knock down on your next throw. For example, if you knocked down six pins on your next throw after a spare, your spare would be worth 16 points.

    • 4

      Explain how the 10th frame works. If you bowl a spare, you get one additional roll, and you add the number of pins you knock down to your 10th-frame score. If you bowl a strike, you get two additional rolls and you add the number of pins you knock down to your 10th-frame score.

    • 5

      Explain how to calculate your final score by compiling your score from each of the 10 frames.