Bowling is one of the few sports where the scoring system is genuinely counterintuitive to beginners. You don't just count the pins you knock down — you earn bonus points based on what you knock down in future frames. A strike in frame 3 is worth more if you throw strikes in frames 4 and 5 too. A spare in frame 7 is worth more if you throw a strike in frame 8. Understanding this cascading bonus system is the key to reading a scorecard.
The Interactive Score Calculator
Enter Your Scores Below
Enter pins knocked down per ball. Use X for strike, / for spare, - for zero. Numbers 1–9 for pins knocked down.
How Bowling Scoring Works
A game of bowling has 10 frames. In frames 1–9, you get up to 2 balls to knock down all 10 pins. The 10th frame has special rules explained below.
Open Frame
If you don't knock all 10 pins in 2 balls, you have an open frame. Your score for that frame is simply the total pins knocked down — no bonus. An open frame is the most costly scoring outcome because it forfeits all bonus potential.
Spare (/)
Knock all 10 pins using both balls. Your score for that frame is 10 + the number of pins knocked down on your very next ball. So a spare followed by a 7 on ball 1 of the next frame scores 17 for the spare frame. A spare followed by a strike scores 20.
Strike (X)
Knock all 10 pins with your first ball. Your score for that frame is 10 + the total of your next two balls. A strike followed by a 6 and a 3 scores 19. A strike followed by another strike and then an 8 scores 28. Three consecutive strikes (a turkey) in frames 1–9 scores 30 for the first frame — the maximum possible.
The 10th Frame
The 10th frame has different rules to ensure the bonus balls for the 9th frame have somewhere to come from, and to give bowlers finishing with strikes or spares a full bonus opportunity:
- If you strike on ball 1: you get 2 more balls (3 total in the frame)
- If you spare on ball 2: you get 1 more ball (3 total in the frame)
- If you don't spare by ball 2: no more balls — the frame ends at 2
- The 10th frame scores raw pins only — no bonus carries forward, because there is no frame 11
The maximum score in the 10th frame is 30 (three strikes in a row).
Common Scoring Scenarios
| Scenario | Frame Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Open frame: 6 and 3 | 9 | No bonus. Raw pins only. |
| Spare, then next ball = 7 | 17 | 10 + 7 bonus |
| Spare, then next ball = strike | 20 | 10 + 10 bonus |
| Strike, then 6 and 3 | 19 | 10 + 6 + 3 bonus |
| Strike, then spare (10 pins) | 20 | 10 + 10 bonus (next 2 balls total 10) |
| Strike, then 2 more strikes | 30 | 10 + 10 + 10 bonus (turkey) |
| All spares with 5 after each | 150 | 15 per frame × 10 frames |
| All spares with strikes after each | 200 | 20 per frame × 10 frames — a "Dutch 200" |
| Perfect game (12 strikes) | 300 | 30 per frame × 10 frames |
What Score Should You Be Aiming For?
Bowling scores mean different things at different stages of development. Here's a realistic benchmarks guide:
Under 70: First few times bowling. Totally normal. Focus on rolling the ball down the lane consistently and picking up easy spares.
70–100: Recreational bowler getting the hang of it. Converting corner pins and avoiding too many splits will push you past 100 quickly.
100–130: Regular recreational bowler. You have a consistent delivery and you're making most of your easier spares.
130–160: Developing bowler. You throw some strikes and your spare shooting is solid. League-ready.
160–180: Competent league bowler. You understand lane conditions and make adjustments during a game.
180–200: Strong league bowler. Your spare shooting is reliable and you string strikes when the conditions are right.
200+: Serious competitive bowler. You read oil patterns, adjust systematically, and rarely leave easy spares on the table.
220+: Competitive tournament level. PBA Tour averages are typically in the 220–230+ range.
The Most Misunderstood Part: Why Your Score Seems Low Mid-Game
New bowlers frequently get confused when they're bowling well but their score looks low on the display. The reason: strike and spare scores can't be finalized until the bonus balls are thrown.
If you throw strikes in frames 1, 2, and 3, your scorecard will show three blank frames — not 30, 30, 30. The displays wait until the bonus is known. After frame 4's first ball, frame 1 finalizes. After frame 4's second ball (or if frame 4 is also a strike), frame 2 finalizes. The cascade of finalizations can make it look like your score isn't moving — and then suddenly jump forward as multiple frames resolve simultaneously.
This is also why a perfect game in progress is so tense. Through 9 frames of strikes, the running total on the display is 240 — not 270 — because the 10th frame bonuses haven't been counted yet. The final three balls of a perfect game add 30 to jump the total from 240 to 270... wait, that's not 300. Actually: nine frames of strikes = 9 × 30 = 270? No — the display shows the running cumulative total frame by frame. Frame 1 can't finalize until ball 3 is thrown (because its bonus needs two more strikes). The full calculation resolves properly only at game end.