Understanding how to score bowling is important when electronic scoring is not available at most bowling alleys.You have to practice scoring individual frames to make sure you're keeping score correctly.At the end of the game, add up the frames so you know your final score.There are special scoring rules for pinfalls, like strikes and spare.
Step 1: The bowling scorecard has parts that you should understand.
There is a column of empty spaces on the far left edge of the scorecard.There are 10 scorecard frames to the right of the names.The score of a single turn frame is calculated using each frame.
Step 2: The scorecard frame should correspond to the turn you are taking.
There is a number above the scorecard frames.The numbers move from left to right, starting with 1 and rising to 10.On your first turn, use the first scorecard frame.Use the fifth scorecard frame on your fifth turn.
Step 3: Write the score in the upper box for the first roll.
Unless the player gets all the pins down with their first ball, they only get to bowl twice in each turn.Each player will bowl a maximum of 21 times.The number of pins you knock down on your first roll should be recorded in the upper left box.If you knock over 2 pins on your first roll, write the number 2 in the upper left box.
Step 4: The second roll's score should be written in the upper right-hand box.
Add that number to your scorecard after you've rolled for the second time.You should only write down the number of pins you knocked down in your second roll.If you knocked over 4 pins on your second roll, you'd write the number 4 in the upper right-hand corner.
Step 5: The scorecard frame has a small box in the top right of it that you can write an X in.
A strike means that you knocked down all 10 pins in your first roll.While the small box in the top-right of the scorecard frame is typically reserved for scoring information that relates to the second roll of your turn, scoring rules make an exception for the strike.
Step 6: The scorecard frame has a small box in the top right corner.
The line connecting the bottom left corner to the upper right corner of the box indicates that you did not knock down all the pins on your first roll.The upper-center box is where you should indicate how many pins you knocked over in the first roll.If you knocked down 3 pins on your first roll and 7 on the second roll, write a 3 in the upper center box and a forward slash in a smaller box.
Step 7: Write an "F" on a foul.
If you step past the foul line on your first roll, place an "F" in the upper center box.If you step past the foul line on your second roll, place an "F" inside the small box in the upper right of the scorecard frame.If you foul on your first roll of the turn, you can still take a second roll.
Step 8: The scorecard should be marked with a dash if you miss the pins.
If your ball goes in the gutter or if you miss the pins, indicate it with a horizontal dash.If your ball went in the gutter on your first roll, you would mark a dash in a small box at the top of the scorecard frame.If your ball went into the gutter on your second roll, you would mark a dash in the small box to the upper right of the scorecard frame.Make sure to record the score for the roll where you knocked some pins over if you miss the pins on one roll.
Step 9: When your turn is over, add the number of pins knocked down to your roll.
If your current score is 30 and the numbers at the top of the scorecard frame are 5 and 4, you can add 9 to it.Your current score is 39.Underneath the numbers for the turn you just completed, write your current score in the bottom of the scorecard frame.
Step 10: Add 10 to the number of pins knocked down to score a spare.
On the second roll of your turn, a spare occurs when you knock down the remaining pins.You have scored a spare if you knock down 1 pin on your first roll and 9 pins on the second roll.Depending on how much you score in the next roll, a spare can be worth anywhere from 10 to 20 points.You need to make a strike on your next roll in order to get the maximum number of points.Wait until you roll your first roll for your next turn to calculate the score for that turn.Write that score in the previous frame.In this example, let's say you scored 6 points in turn 1 of the bowling alley.On your first turn, you roll a 3 and a 7.You rolled a spare.If you want to get 10 and 6 from your previous turn, wait until you roll the first roll of turn 3.If you roll a 7 you need to add up 6 for your turn 1 score, 10 for spare, and 7 for first roll of turn 3 to get 23.You have to add up your rolls for turn 3.If you rolled a 7 and then a 2, you'd add 23 to get 32 for turn 3.
Step 11: Add 10 to the sum of the next turn if you want to score a strike.
A strike is when you knock down all of the pins on your first roll.Depending on how you roll after the initial strike, a strike can be anywhere from 10 to 30 points.Wait until you've finished the next turn to calculate the score for that turn.Let's say you get a strike in turn 1.For a total of 8 points, you roll a 2 and a 6 in turn 2.Your score for turn 1 is 18: 10 for the strike and+8 in turn 2.The number "18" should be written in the main square of your scorecard frame.Write the number "26" in the main square of your scorecard frame for turn 2 if you add 18+8 for a total of 26.If you miss all 10 pins on the first roll of your turn, it's still considered a spare, not a strike.
Step 12: If you roll a strike or spare, use the upper-right corner box in the 10th turn.
The "fill box" is the third box in the 10th turn and is used to decide what your spare or strike will be worth.If you knocked down 1 pin in your first roll and 9 pins in the second roll, you would write "1" in a small box furthest to the left and "/" on the top-center box.You would bowl again.To calculate your spare, add the number you roll to 10.If you rolled a 7 on your third roll in the 10th turn, you'd add 1+9 for a total of 17 for that turn.If you roll a strike on your first roll, roll twice more.Your score for that turn is 19 if you roll an 8 and then a 1 for a total of 9.Take the total from left to right if you score a spare or strike in the 10th turn.
Step 13: The final score of the 10th frame should be compared to Determine the winner.
If your friend's 10th-frame score is 100, you've won the game.Thank you!
Step 14: As possible, try to get as close to 300 as possible.
The perfect score in bowling is 300, which means you got a strike in every turn.Try to get as close to perfect as you can, because few players are that good.The lowest possible score is zero, which means that all balls were gutter balls or fouls.