uStrike bowling information
Scoring
In general, one point is scored for each pin that is knocked over. So if a player bowls over three pins
with the first shot, then six with the second, the player would receive a total of nine points for that
frame. If a player knocks down 9 pins with the first shot, but misses with the second, the player would
also score nine. When a player fails to knock down all ten pins after their second ball it is known as an
open frame.
In the event that all ten pins are knocked over by a player in a single frame, bonuses are awarded.
Strike:
When all ten pins are knocked down with the first ball (called a strike and typically rendered as an "X" on a scoresheet),
a player is awarded ten points, plus a bonus of whatever is scored with the next two balls. In this way, the points scored
for the two balls after the strike are counted twice.
Example:
Frame 1, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)
Frame 2, ball 1: 3 pins
Frame 2, ball 2: 6 pins
The total score from these throws is:
Frame 1: 10 + (3 + 6) = 19
Frame 2: 3 + 6 = 9
TOTAL = 28
Two consecutive strikes are referred to as a "double". Three strikes bowled consecutively are known as a
"turkey" or "triple". A "Perfect Game" consists of 12 strikes in a row.
A player who scores multiple strikes in succession would score like so:
Frame 1, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)
Frame 2, ball 1: 10 pins (strike)
Frame 3, ball 1: 4 pins
Frame 3, ball 2: 2 pins
The score from these throws is:
Frame 1: 10 + (10 + 4) = 24
Frame 2: 10 + (4 + 2) = 16
Frame 3: 4 + 2 = 6
TOTAL = 46
The most points that can be scored in a single frame is 30 points (10 for the original
strike, plus strikes in the two subsequent frames).
A player who bowls a strike in the tenth (final) frame is awarded two extra balls so as to allow the awarding
of bonus points. If both these balls also result in strikes, a total of 30 points (10 + 10 + 10) is awarded
for the frame. These bonus points do not count on their own, however. They only count as the bonus for the
strike.
Spare:
A "spare" is awarded when no pins are left standing after the second ball of a frame; i.e., a player uses both balls of a
frame to clear all ten pins. A player achieving a spare is awarded ten points, plus a bonus of whatever is scored with the
next ball (only the first ball is counted). It is typically rendered as a slash "/" on scoresheets in place of the second
pin count for a frame.
Example:
Frame 1, ball 1: 7 pins
Frame 1, ball 2: 3 pins (spare)
Frame 2, ball 1: 4 pins
Frame 2, ball 2: 2 pins
The total score from these throws is:
Frame 1: 7 + 3 + (4) = 14
Frame 2: 4 + 2 = 6
TOTAL = 20
A player who bowls a spare in the tenth (final) frame is awarded one extra ball to allow for the bonus
points.
Correctly calculating bonus points can be difficult, especially when combinations of strikes and spares come
in successive frames. This has been overcome with automated scoring systems, linked to the machines that set
and clear the pins between frames. A computer automatically counts pins that remain standing, and fills in a
virtual score sheet (usually displayed on monitors above each lane).
[source: Wikipedia]