Q&A for How to Score Bowling

A strike is only considered "legal" if the pins were knocked down by the ball, by other pins, or by the sweep bar or other equipment while it is at rest (e.g., if a pin tips against the sweep bar, rebounds, and falls over). A pin that's knocked down by a human pinsetter or moving mechanical equipment does not count toward your score.

There are a variety of different ways to score a team game. One method is to tally up the sum of each player's 10 frames to create a total score for the team. Another (called the "Baker Method") is to have each team member bowl 5 frames, then add those frames together for a total 10-frame score. You can also have 3 or 5 member teams, but the players must rotate through and take their turns in a specific order.

If you throw a strike, the next two shots are to determine your bonus from that mark. If you throw a spare, the same thing happens with the next shot. If you get an open, you don't get the third shot, as there's no bonus to be added to the pinfall. Strikes or spares beyond the first ball in the tenth will not have any bonuses, the score will end at the 10th frame.

A gutterball is just a zero. It happens when you don't knock down any pins. You shouldn't aim for this.

You only need one person to keep track of the score in bowling. Of course, you and your friends could take turns if you wish.

You need twelve strikes to roll a perfect game. One in each of the first nine frames, and three in the tenth frame.

Not unless your second ball of the first frame produced a spare by knocking down both of the remaining pins. If that is the case, then yes.

No, they do not.

If you roll a strike, then a spare (or vice versa), you’ll earn 20 points in that frame.

Wait until both throws in the second frame are known before entering a number.

Just add 30 points, because the highest score one can receive in bowling is 300, so 300/10 is 30.

The final score will be 114. Just add the initial score of 91 to the strike (which totals 23 points).

A strike adds the next two rolls to the score of the frame in which you scored the strike, while a spare adds only the next roll to the score of the frame in which you scored the spare. In both cases, ten points is the base score for both a strike or a spare.

It depends on how many pins you knock down on the first roll after your spares. For example, if you get a spare on first frame and then get 9 on the first roll of the next frame, your first spare totals 19 points. If you keep getting 9 pins on your first roll, it'd then be 38, 57, 76, 95, 114, 133, 152, 171. The last frame is worth 28 points, so your final score is 199.

The first frame would be scored 30, and the second frame would be scored 60; you would have to see what you scored in the 5th frame to determine what the score would be in the third and fourth. This is taking into account that you started throwing strikes at the beginning of the game. Always add the next two throws for a strike and the next one throw for a spare to the frame in which that strike or spare was scored.

Your handicap is determined by your league average. You can figure out what your handicap is based on a percentage formula determined by the league. After your regular score is totaled, your handicap pins are then added to calculate your total handicap score.

It means that it is your turn to bowl your second ball in that frame.

If the number is circled, it indicates a split. This is when there is a gap between the remaining pins, making them harder to knock down.

When a number is circled on the scoresheet, it means that ball caused a split, which is two or more pins remaining that are spread apart and more difficult to hit.