Bowling Scoring Basics

The Game

A game of bowling consists of 10 frames. A frame is an opportunity for a bowler to knock down all 10 pins with up to two rolls of a bowling ball.

The Pins

There are 10 pins set up in a triangle formation. You will try to knock down as many pins as you can with your two rolls.

Scoring

The score for each frame is based on the number of pins you knock down.

• A simple roll is when you use both balls in a frame and do not knock down all 10 pins. Your score for that frame is the total number of pins knocked down.
• A Strike (X) is when you knock down all 10 pins with your first ball. You will not roll a second ball for this frame. Your score for this strike frame is 10 plus the number of pins knocked down on your next two rolls.
• A Spare (/) is when you knock down all 10 pins using both of your rolls in a frame. Your score for this spare frame is 10 plus the number of pins knocked down on your next roll.


• A Strike (X) in frame 10 with the first ball. If you get a strike with the first ball in frame 10 you will roll 2 more balls. This rule is only for frame 10!
• A Spare (/) in frame 10 If you get a spare in frame 10 with your first 2 balls you will roll one more ball. This rule is only for frame 10!

The maximum score for a perfect game is 300.

Scoring Examples

Let's walk through some examples to show how strikes and spares are scored.

Example 1: A Simple Game

Imagine you have a game with no strikes or spares. You roll a 5 on your first ball and a 3 on your second ball in every frame.

• Frame 1: 5 + 3 = 8 pins knocked down. Your total score is 8.
• Frame 2: 5 + 3 = 8 pins knocked down. Your total score is 8 + 8 = 16.

If for some chance you continued to roll a 5 and then a 3 for all 10 frames your final score would be 8 (pins) x 10 (frames) = 80.

Example 2: Scoring a Strike

Starting over now - let's see how a strike changes the score.

• Frame 1: You knock down 8 pins (5 on the first ball, 3 on the second). The score for frame 1 is 8. Your total score is 8.
• Frame 2: You get a strike (X). You knock down all 10 pins on your first ball. You cannot calculate the frame 2's score yet because you need to wait for your next two rolls.
• Frame 3: You roll your first ball and knock down 7 pins. Then you roll your second ball in frame 3 and knock down 1 more pin.

Now you can score the strike in Frame 2.

• Frame 2 Score: 10 (bonus for the strike) + 7 + 1 (next two rolls) + 8 (from Frame 1)= 26 (26 is the Frame 2 score)

Your score after Frame 3 is simple addition.

• Total Score in Frame 3: 34.

• Total Score to this point in Frame 3: 26 (from Frame 2) + 8 (frame 3) = 34.

Example 3: Scoring a Spare

Let's continue from the previous example.

• Frame 4: You roll your first ball and knock down 5 pins. On your second ball, you knock down the remaining 5 pins. You get a spare (/).

You cannot calculate your score for Frame 4 yet because you need to wait for your next roll which will come in frame 5.

• Frame 5: You roll your first ball and knock down 8 pins.

Now you can score the spare in Frame 4.

• Frame 4 Score: 10(bonus for the spare) + 8(first roll of frame5) + 34(the score in frame 3) = 52
• Total Score after Frame 4: 52.

The 10th Frame

The final frame is a little different.

• If you get a strike on your first roll, you get two more bonus rolls to complete your score.
• If you get a spare with your first two rolls, you get one bonus roll to complete your score.

You will only ever roll a maximum of three balls in the 10th frame.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
NONINFRINGEMENT.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

THE AUTHORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SCORING ERRORS FOUND,
CALCULATED OR DISPLAYED IN THIS PROGRAM.

Welcome to Bowlinggenius!
Version 3.10

We are bowlers and we strive to make this the Internet's
best bowling score calculator. Today we have a calculator
for the 10 Pin bowlers out there and another calculator
for Duck Pin bowlers.

Of course one of the main reasons for this application is to
answer the "what if's". At work the next day after league play
from the previous night those missed spares nag at me.

Have you ever wondered - What if I just picked up one more spare?
Well, this website is for you.

Try it on on your mobile device!


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Getting Started

This website is a powerful tool that calculates a bowling score based on your input. It can handle up to 12 games at once.

• To begin a new game, simply click the Add Another Game button.
• You can continue to click this button to start as many games as you need.

Scoring a Game

The calculator is designed to enforce the rules of a normal 10-pin bowling game. You must enter your scores frame-by-frame, from Frame #1 through Frame #10, just as you would on an actual bowling scoresheet.

• The current frame you can enter a score in is highlighted in light blue.
• To enter a value, click the corresponding ball score button located above the sheet.
• The calculator will automatically place your score in the correct spot. The first ball's score appears on the left side of the frame, and the second ball's score appears on the right. Strikes will show as an X, and spares will show as a /.
• Your total score for the game will automatically update in the bottom of each frame. The final total score will be displayed in the last active frame.

Rescoring and Corrections

You can easily correct a mistake or explore "what if" scenarios by clicking on any frame with your mouse. When you click a frame, it becomes the active frame, allowing you to change its value and see how the new score affects the rest of the game.

Advanced Features

• Max Score Possible: As you enter your scores, the Max Possible box will show you the highest score you can achieve if you bowl a strike on every remaining ball.
• Handicap Information: Click the person icon located in the upper left area near Frame #1. A pop-up menu will appear, allowing you to enter the bowler's name and handicap. Once you enter a handicap, the total handicap score will automatically be calculated.
• Screen Organization: All bowling games are draggable. Simply click and drag a game to organize your screen.
• To minimize a game, click the up arrow icon. A down arrow will appear to restore it later.
• To delete a game, click the trash can icon.

Mobile Devices

This website has been designed to automatically scale to most devices. If it does not appear correctly on your device, please let us know!

Errors and Connectivity

If you find an error, please let us know so we can fix it. This calculator is designed for use with an active internet connection. If you disconnect from the internet, your current active games will continue to work, but you will not be able to start new games.

If you wish to contact us please refer to our PRIVACY policy page located below where you will find an email contact address.