How to Keep Score

The highest possible score in bowling is a 300 game. That is achieved when a bowler rolls 12 consecutive strikes in a single game.

A game consists of 10 frames. A frame consists of two attempts to knock down all the pins. If a bowler knocks down all 10 pins on the first try it is called a strike. If a bowler knocks down all the pins with two deliveries in a frame, it is called a spare. If the bowler fails to knock down all the pins within a frame, it is called an open frame.

A spare counts as 10 pins plus the pins knocked down on the next delivery.

A strike counts as 10 pins plus the pins knocked down on the next two deliveries.

Below is an example of a game of bowling. Click on the buttons below for a frame by frame explanation of how the game is scored.

Frame 1

The bowler gets 6 on the first ball and 2 on the second ball resulting in an “open frame” for a total of 8 pins. An open frame occurs when a bowler fails to get a strike or spare in a frame. The top section of the score sheet is used to mark the individual deliveries. The bottom section of the scoresheet is used to record the total score.

Frame 2

The bowler gets 7 on the first ball and 2 on the second ball for a total of 9 pins. The score for each frame is accumulative. Add the frame total (9) to the previous total (8) for a total score of 17.

Frame 3

The bowler gets 3 on the first ball and 4 on the second ball for a total of 7. Add the frame total (7) to the previous total (17) for a total score of 24.

Frame 4

The bowler gets 8 on the first ball and converts the two remaining pins for a spare. A spare is marked on the scoresheet with a diagonal line. Because a spare is 10 pins plus the next ball rolled, we cannot complete the score for the bowler in the fourth frame until another delivery is bowled.

Frame 5

The bowler gets 9 pins on the first ball. We can now complete the score in the 4th frame because a spare is 10 pins plus the next ball rolled. Add the spare (10) plus the next delivery (9) to the previous total (24) for a total of 43 in the 4^th frame. The bowler misses the single pin spare indicated on the scoresheet with a dash (-). Add the frame total (9) to the previous total (43) for a total score of 52.

Frame 6

The bowler scores a strike by knocking down all the pins on the first delivery. This is indicated on the scoresheet by an X and completes the frame for the bowler. We cannot complete the score yet because a strike counts as 10 plus the next two deliveries.

Frame 7

The bowler bowls another strike for two strikes in a row (called a double). The X is marked on the scoresheet. We cannot score the 6^th or 7^th frames because a strike is 10 plus the next two deliveries.

Frame 8

The bowler bowls another strike for three strikes in a row (called a turkey). The X is marked on the scoresheet. The strike in the 6^th frame is 10 plus the next two deliveries giving us 30 for the frame (10+10+10). We can now score the 6^th by adding the frame total (30) to the previous total (52) for a total score of 82 in the 6^th frame. The 7^th frame cannot be scored until the bowler delivers the next delivery.

Note: when a bowler has consecutive strikes, it is common practice to not fill in the score until the bowler misses a strike. It is considered bad luck to fill in the score until the bowler stops striking because it may “break the string”.

Frame 9

The bowler gets 6 on the first ball and 3 on the second ball. Our strike in the 7th frame counts as 10 plus the next two deliveries (10+10+6) for a frame total of 26. We add the frame total from the 7th frame (26) to the previous total (82) for a total of 108 in the 7th frame. The strike in the 8th frame counts as 10 plus the next two deliveries (10+6+3) for a frame total of 19. We add the frame total from the 8th frame (19) to the previous total (108) for a total of 127 in the 8th frame. Finally we can score the 9th frame by adding the frame total (9) to the previous score (127) for a total of 136 in the 9th frame.

Frame 10

The bowler gets an 8 and converts the remaining 2 pins for a spare. When a bowler gets a spare in the 10^th, they receive one extra bonus delivery. The bowler gets 7 on the extra delivery giving a total of 17 pins in the 10^th frame (8+2+7). Add the frame total (17) to the previous score (136) for a total score of 153.

Note: If a bowler gets a mark (strike or spare) in the 10^th frame, they will receive a total of three deliveries in the 10^th frame:

A spare in the 10^th frame receives one extra bonus delivery to be added to the spare
A strike in the 10^th frame receives two extra bonus deliveries to be added to the first strike. The max score in the 10^th frame is 30 (if the bowler rolls 3 strikes in the 10^th frame)
An open in the 10^th frame completes the frame. An open frame is when the bowler fails to knock down all the pins within the two deliveries.

Activity

To learn scoring terminology, click the button below.

Scoring Terminology »

Activity

Next time you go bowling, bring a score sheet with you and keep score along with the automatic scorekeepers. Calculate your score frame by frame and check it as you bowl. If your bowling center does not have automatic scoring, the people working the desk should be able to help you if you make sure you mark the first and second ball for each frame. To download a score sheet, click the button below.

Download a Score Sheet »

Activity

Watch bowling on TV and keep score as the bowlers bowl. Download a score sheet by clicking the button below. Check your work as they show the scoreboard on the screen. You can find out when the pros are bowling by going to the Professional Bowlers Association or Professional Women’s Bowling Association. Bowling events can also be found on YouTube’s BowlTV Channel. To download a score sheet, click the button below.

Download a Scoresheet »