Most bowling alleys are equipped with machines that take care of the scoring for you, but you should still know how the bowling scoring system works. Otherwise, the scores the machine gives you will seem arbitrary and confusing.
Bowling-Scoring Basics
One game of bowling consists of 10 frames, with a minimum score of zero and a maximum of 300. Each frame consists of two chances to knock down ten pins. Instead of “points” in football or “runs” in baseball, we use “pins” in bowling.
Strikes and Spares
Knocking down all ten pins on your first ball is called a strike, denoted by an X on the score sheet. If it takes two shots to knock down all ten pins, it’s called a spare, denoted by a /.
Open Frames
If, after two shots, at least one pin is still standing, it’s called an open frame. Whereas open frames are taken at face value, strikes and spares can be worth more—but not less—than face value.
How to Score a Strike
A strike is worth 10, plus the value of your next two rolls.
At a minimum, your score for a frame in which you throw a strike will be 10 (10+0+0). At best, your next two shots will be strikes, and the frame will be worth 30 (10+10+10).
Say you throw a strike in the first frame. Technically, you don’t have a score yet. You need to throw two more balls to figure out your total score for the frame. In the second frame, you throw a 6 on your first ball and a 2 on your second ball. Your score for the first frame will be 18 (10+6+2).
How to Score a Spare
A spare is worth 10, plus the value of your next roll.
Say you throw a spare in your first frame. Then, in your first ball of the second frame, you throw a 7. Your score for the first frame will be 17 (10+7).
The maximum score for a frame in which you get a spare is 20 (a spare followed by a strike) and the minimum is 10 (a spare followed by a gutter ball).
How to Score an Open Frame
If you don’t get a strike or a spare in a frame, your score is the total number of pins you knock down. If you knock down five pins on your first ball and two on your second, your score for that frame is 7.
Putting Everything Together
Many people understand the basics but get confused when trying to add everything up. Your total score is nothing more than the sum of each individual frame. If you treat each frame individually, it’s much easier to comprehend the scoring system.
Breaking Down a Sample Score
Frame: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Result: X 7/ 7 2 9/ X X X 2 3 6/ 7/3
Frame Score: 20 17 9 20 30 22 15 5 17 13
Running Total: 20 37 46 66 96 118 133 138 155 168
Frame-by-Frame Explanation
You threw a strike, which is 10 plus your next two shots. In this case, your next two shots (the second frame) resulted in a spare. 10+10=20.2. You threw a spare, which is 10 plus your next shot. Your next shot (from the third frame) was a 7. The value of this frame is 17 (10+7). Added to the first frame, you’re now at 37.3. An open frame is worth exactly the number of pins you knocked down. 7+2=9. Added to 37, you’re now at 46.4. Another spare. Adding your next shot (from the fifth frame-a strike), you get 20 (10+10). Added to 46, you’re at 66.5. A strike, followed by two more strikes. 10+10+10=30, putting you at 96.6. A strike, followed by a strike and a 2. 10+10+2=22. You’re now at 118.7. A strike, followed by a 2 and 3. 10+2+3=15, putting your score at 133.8. An open frame. 2+3=5. You’re now at 138.9. A spare, followed by a 7 in the tenth frame. 10+7=17, putting you at 155.10. A spare, followed by a 3. 10+3=13, resulting in a total score of 168.
The Tenth Frame
In the sample score, three shots were thrown in the tenth frame. This is because of the bonuses awarded for strikes and spares. If you throw a strike on your first ball in the tenth frame, you need two more shots to determine the total value of the strike.
If you throw a spare on your first two balls in the tenth frame, you need one more shot to determine the total value of the spare. This is called a fill ball.
If you throw an open frame in the tenth frame, you won’t get a third shot. The only reason the third shot exists is to determine the full value of a strike or spare.
Watch Now: How To Score In Bowling
Why Does It Take 12 Strikes to Reach 300 in Bowling?
What Is a Clean Game in Bowling?
What is a Bucket in Bowling?
No-Tap Bowling Scoring
How to Pick up Bowling Spares for Right-Handed Players
The Bowling Gutter
Beer Frame
How to Form a Five-Person Bowling Team
Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets
How to Keep a Baseball Game Score Book
Choosing the Right Bowling Ball
Want to Play the Mega Millions Lottery? Here’s How
How Powerball Works and What You Need to Know to Win
RC Car, Truck Sports Games
Olympic Boxing Rules and Judging
Understanding the Random Number Generator (RNG)
Home
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Humor
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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
Most bowling alleys are equipped with machines that take care of the scoring for you, but you should still know how the bowling scoring system works. Otherwise, the scores the machine gives you will seem arbitrary and confusing.
Bowling-Scoring Basics
One game of bowling consists of 10 frames, with a minimum score of zero and a maximum of 300. Each frame consists of two chances to knock down ten pins. Instead of “points” in football or “runs” in baseball, we use “pins” in bowling.
Strikes and Spares
Knocking down all ten pins on your first ball is called a strike, denoted by an X on the score sheet. If it takes two shots to knock down all ten pins, it’s called a spare, denoted by a /.
Open Frames
If, after two shots, at least one pin is still standing, it’s called an open frame. Whereas open frames are taken at face value, strikes and spares can be worth more—but not less—than face value.
How to Score a Strike
A strike is worth 10, plus the value of your next two rolls.
At a minimum, your score for a frame in which you throw a strike will be 10 (10+0+0). At best, your next two shots will be strikes, and the frame will be worth 30 (10+10+10).
Say you throw a strike in the first frame. Technically, you don’t have a score yet. You need to throw two more balls to figure out your total score for the frame. In the second frame, you throw a 6 on your first ball and a 2 on your second ball. Your score for the first frame will be 18 (10+6+2).
How to Score a Spare
A spare is worth 10, plus the value of your next roll.
Say you throw a spare in your first frame. Then, in your first ball of the second frame, you throw a 7. Your score for the first frame will be 17 (10+7).
The maximum score for a frame in which you get a spare is 20 (a spare followed by a strike) and the minimum is 10 (a spare followed by a gutter ball).
How to Score an Open Frame
If you don’t get a strike or a spare in a frame, your score is the total number of pins you knock down. If you knock down five pins on your first ball and two on your second, your score for that frame is 7.
Putting Everything Together
Many people understand the basics but get confused when trying to add everything up. Your total score is nothing more than the sum of each individual frame. If you treat each frame individually, it’s much easier to comprehend the scoring system.
Breaking Down a Sample Score
Frame: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Result: X 7/ 7 2 9/ X X X 2 3 6/ 7/3
Frame Score: 20 17 9 20 30 22 15 5 17 13
Running Total: 20 37 46 66 96 118 133 138 155 168
Frame-by-Frame Explanation
You threw a strike, which is 10 plus your next two shots. In this case, your next two shots (the second frame) resulted in a spare. 10+10=20.2. You threw a spare, which is 10 plus your next shot. Your next shot (from the third frame) was a 7. The value of this frame is 17 (10+7). Added to the first frame, you’re now at 37.3. An open frame is worth exactly the number of pins you knocked down. 7+2=9. Added to 37, you’re now at 46.4. Another spare. Adding your next shot (from the fifth frame-a strike), you get 20 (10+10). Added to 46, you’re at 66.5. A strike, followed by two more strikes. 10+10+10=30, putting you at 96.6. A strike, followed by a strike and a 2. 10+10+2=22. You’re now at 118.7. A strike, followed by a 2 and 3. 10+2+3=15, putting your score at 133.8. An open frame. 2+3=5. You’re now at 138.9. A spare, followed by a 7 in the tenth frame. 10+7=17, putting you at 155.10. A spare, followed by a 3. 10+3=13, resulting in a total score of 168.
The Tenth Frame
In the sample score, three shots were thrown in the tenth frame. This is because of the bonuses awarded for strikes and spares. If you throw a strike on your first ball in the tenth frame, you need two more shots to determine the total value of the strike.
If you throw a spare on your first two balls in the tenth frame, you need one more shot to determine the total value of the spare. This is called a fill ball.
If you throw an open frame in the tenth frame, you won’t get a third shot. The only reason the third shot exists is to determine the full value of a strike or spare.
Watch Now: How To Score In Bowling
Why Does It Take 12 Strikes to Reach 300 in Bowling?
What Is a Clean Game in Bowling?
What is a Bucket in Bowling?
No-Tap Bowling Scoring
How to Pick up Bowling Spares for Right-Handed Players
The Bowling Gutter
Beer Frame
How to Form a Five-Person Bowling Team
Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets
How to Keep a Baseball Game Score Book
Choosing the Right Bowling Ball
Want to Play the Mega Millions Lottery? Here’s How
How Powerball Works and What You Need to Know to Win
RC Car, Truck Sports Games
Olympic Boxing Rules and Judging
Understanding the Random Number Generator (RNG)
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
Most bowling alleys are equipped with machines that take care of the scoring for you, but you should still know how the bowling scoring system works. Otherwise, the scores the machine gives you will seem arbitrary and confusing.
Bowling-Scoring Basics
One game of bowling consists of 10 frames, with a minimum score of zero and a maximum of 300. Each frame consists of two chances to knock down ten pins. Instead of “points” in football or “runs” in baseball, we use “pins” in bowling.
Strikes and Spares
Knocking down all ten pins on your first ball is called a strike, denoted by an X on the score sheet. If it takes two shots to knock down all ten pins, it’s called a spare, denoted by a /.
Open Frames
If, after two shots, at least one pin is still standing, it’s called an open frame. Whereas open frames are taken at face value, strikes and spares can be worth more—but not less—than face value.
How to Score a Strike
A strike is worth 10, plus the value of your next two rolls.
At a minimum, your score for a frame in which you throw a strike will be 10 (10+0+0). At best, your next two shots will be strikes, and the frame will be worth 30 (10+10+10).
Say you throw a strike in the first frame. Technically, you don’t have a score yet. You need to throw two more balls to figure out your total score for the frame. In the second frame, you throw a 6 on your first ball and a 2 on your second ball. Your score for the first frame will be 18 (10+6+2).
How to Score a Spare
A spare is worth 10, plus the value of your next roll.
Say you throw a spare in your first frame. Then, in your first ball of the second frame, you throw a 7. Your score for the first frame will be 17 (10+7).
The maximum score for a frame in which you get a spare is 20 (a spare followed by a strike) and the minimum is 10 (a spare followed by a gutter ball).
How to Score an Open Frame
If you don’t get a strike or a spare in a frame, your score is the total number of pins you knock down. If you knock down five pins on your first ball and two on your second, your score for that frame is 7.
Putting Everything Together
Many people understand the basics but get confused when trying to add everything up. Your total score is nothing more than the sum of each individual frame. If you treat each frame individually, it’s much easier to comprehend the scoring system.
Breaking Down a Sample Score
Frame: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Result: X 7/ 7 2 9/ X X X 2 3 6/ 7/3
Frame Score: 20 17 9 20 30 22 15 5 17 13
Running Total: 20 37 46 66 96 118 133 138 155 168
Frame-by-Frame Explanation
You threw a strike, which is 10 plus your next two shots. In this case, your next two shots (the second frame) resulted in a spare. 10+10=20.2. You threw a spare, which is 10 plus your next shot. Your next shot (from the third frame) was a 7. The value of this frame is 17 (10+7). Added to the first frame, you’re now at 37.3. An open frame is worth exactly the number of pins you knocked down. 7+2=9. Added to 37, you’re now at 46.4. Another spare. Adding your next shot (from the fifth frame-a strike), you get 20 (10+10). Added to 46, you’re at 66.5. A strike, followed by two more strikes. 10+10+10=30, putting you at 96.6. A strike, followed by a strike and a 2. 10+10+2=22. You’re now at 118.7. A strike, followed by a 2 and 3. 10+2+3=15, putting your score at 133.8. An open frame. 2+3=5. You’re now at 138.9. A spare, followed by a 7 in the tenth frame. 10+7=17, putting you at 155.10. A spare, followed by a 3. 10+3=13, resulting in a total score of 168.
The Tenth Frame
In the sample score, three shots were thrown in the tenth frame. This is because of the bonuses awarded for strikes and spares. If you throw a strike on your first ball in the tenth frame, you need two more shots to determine the total value of the strike.
If you throw a spare on your first two balls in the tenth frame, you need one more shot to determine the total value of the spare. This is called a fill ball.
If you throw an open frame in the tenth frame, you won’t get a third shot. The only reason the third shot exists is to determine the full value of a strike or spare.
Watch Now: How To Score In Bowling
Most bowling alleys are equipped with machines that take care of the scoring for you, but you should still know how the bowling scoring system works. Otherwise, the scores the machine gives you will seem arbitrary and confusing.
Bowling-Scoring Basics
One game of bowling consists of 10 frames, with a minimum score of zero and a maximum of 300. Each frame consists of two chances to knock down ten pins. Instead of “points” in football or “runs” in baseball, we use “pins” in bowling.
Strikes and Spares
Knocking down all ten pins on your first ball is called a strike, denoted by an X on the score sheet. If it takes two shots to knock down all ten pins, it’s called a spare, denoted by a /.
Open Frames
If, after two shots, at least one pin is still standing, it’s called an open frame. Whereas open frames are taken at face value, strikes and spares can be worth more—but not less—than face value.
How to Score a Strike
A strike is worth 10, plus the value of your next two rolls.
At a minimum, your score for a frame in which you throw a strike will be 10 (10+0+0). At best, your next two shots will be strikes, and the frame will be worth 30 (10+10+10).
Say you throw a strike in the first frame. Technically, you don’t have a score yet. You need to throw two more balls to figure out your total score for the frame. In the second frame, you throw a 6 on your first ball and a 2 on your second ball. Your score for the first frame will be 18 (10+6+2).
How to Score a Spare
A spare is worth 10, plus the value of your next roll.
Say you throw a spare in your first frame. Then, in your first ball of the second frame, you throw a 7. Your score for the first frame will be 17 (10+7).
The maximum score for a frame in which you get a spare is 20 (a spare followed by a strike) and the minimum is 10 (a spare followed by a gutter ball).
How to Score an Open Frame
If you don’t get a strike or a spare in a frame, your score is the total number of pins you knock down. If you knock down five pins on your first ball and two on your second, your score for that frame is 7.
Putting Everything Together
Many people understand the basics but get confused when trying to add everything up. Your total score is nothing more than the sum of each individual frame. If you treat each frame individually, it’s much easier to comprehend the scoring system.
Breaking Down a Sample Score
Frame: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Result: X 7/ 7 2 9/ X X X 2 3 6/ 7/3
Frame Score: 20 17 9 20 30 22 15 5 17 13
Running Total: 20 37 46 66 96 118 133 138 155 168
Frame-by-Frame Explanation
You threw a strike, which is 10 plus your next two shots. In this case, your next two shots (the second frame) resulted in a spare. 10+10=20.2. You threw a spare, which is 10 plus your next shot. Your next shot (from the third frame) was a 7. The value of this frame is 17 (10+7). Added to the first frame, you’re now at 37.3. An open frame is worth exactly the number of pins you knocked down. 7+2=9. Added to 37, you’re now at 46.4. Another spare. Adding your next shot (from the fifth frame-a strike), you get 20 (10+10). Added to 46, you’re at 66.5. A strike, followed by two more strikes. 10+10+10=30, putting you at 96.6. A strike, followed by a strike and a 2. 10+10+2=22. You’re now at 118.7. A strike, followed by a 2 and 3. 10+2+3=15, putting your score at 133.8. An open frame. 2+3=5. You’re now at 138.9. A spare, followed by a 7 in the tenth frame. 10+7=17, putting you at 155.10. A spare, followed by a 3. 10+3=13, resulting in a total score of 168.
The Tenth Frame
In the sample score, three shots were thrown in the tenth frame. This is because of the bonuses awarded for strikes and spares. If you throw a strike on your first ball in the tenth frame, you need two more shots to determine the total value of the strike.
If you throw a spare on your first two balls in the tenth frame, you need one more shot to determine the total value of the spare. This is called a fill ball.
If you throw an open frame in the tenth frame, you won’t get a third shot. The only reason the third shot exists is to determine the full value of a strike or spare.
Watch Now: How To Score In Bowling
Frame-by-Frame Explanation
- You threw a strike, which is 10 plus your next two shots. In this case, your next two shots (the second frame) resulted in a spare. 10+10=20.2. You threw a spare, which is 10 plus your next shot. Your next shot (from the third frame) was a 7. The value of this frame is 17 (10+7). Added to the first frame, you’re now at 37.3. An open frame is worth exactly the number of pins you knocked down. 7+2=9. Added to 37, you’re now at 46.4. Another spare. Adding your next shot (from the fifth frame-a strike), you get 20 (10+10). Added to 46, you’re at 66.5. A strike, followed by two more strikes. 10+10+10=30, putting you at 96.6. A strike, followed by a strike and a 2. 10+10+2=22. You’re now at 118.7. A strike, followed by a 2 and 3. 10+2+3=15, putting your score at 133.8. An open frame. 2+3=5. You’re now at 138.9. A spare, followed by a 7 in the tenth frame. 10+7=17, putting you at 155.10. A spare, followed by a 3. 10+3=13, resulting in a total score of 168.
The Tenth Frame
In the sample score, three shots were thrown in the tenth frame. This is because of the bonuses awarded for strikes and spares. If you throw a strike on your first ball in the tenth frame, you need two more shots to determine the total value of the strike.
If you throw a spare on your first two balls in the tenth frame, you need one more shot to determine the total value of the spare. This is called a fill ball.
If you throw an open frame in the tenth frame, you won’t get a third shot. The only reason the third shot exists is to determine the full value of a strike or spare.
Watch Now: How To Score In Bowling
Why Does It Take 12 Strikes to Reach 300 in Bowling?
What Is a Clean Game in Bowling?
What is a Bucket in Bowling?
No-Tap Bowling Scoring
How to Pick up Bowling Spares for Right-Handed Players
The Bowling Gutter
Beer Frame
How to Form a Five-Person Bowling Team
Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets
How to Keep a Baseball Game Score Book
Choosing the Right Bowling Ball
Want to Play the Mega Millions Lottery? Here’s How
How Powerball Works and What You Need to Know to Win
RC Car, Truck Sports Games
Olympic Boxing Rules and Judging
Understanding the Random Number Generator (RNG)
Why Does It Take 12 Strikes to Reach 300 in Bowling?
Why Does It Take 12 Strikes to Reach 300 in Bowling?
What Is a Clean Game in Bowling?
What Is a Clean Game in Bowling?
What is a Bucket in Bowling?
What is a Bucket in Bowling?
No-Tap Bowling Scoring
No-Tap Bowling Scoring
How to Pick up Bowling Spares for Right-Handed Players
How to Pick up Bowling Spares for Right-Handed Players
The Bowling Gutter
The Bowling Gutter
Beer Frame
Beer Frame
How to Form a Five-Person Bowling Team
How to Form a Five-Person Bowling Team
Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets
Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets
How to Keep a Baseball Game Score Book
How to Keep a Baseball Game Score Book
Choosing the Right Bowling Ball
Choosing the Right Bowling Ball
Want to Play the Mega Millions Lottery? Here’s How
Want to Play the Mega Millions Lottery? Here’s How
How Powerball Works and What You Need to Know to Win
How Powerball Works and What You Need to Know to Win
RC Car, Truck Sports Games
RC Car, Truck Sports Games
Olympic Boxing Rules and Judging
Olympic Boxing Rules and Judging
Understanding the Random Number Generator (RNG)
Understanding the Random Number Generator (RNG)
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Advertise
Careers
Privacy Policy
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Contact
Terms of Use
EU Privacy
Entertainment
Careers
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Humor
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
