1. Scoring Rules of Play
The most important bowling rule of play is how to score. Each game of bowling consists of ten frames. In each of these frames, a bowler has two throws with one exception. If on the first toss of the tenth frame, a bowler knocks down all ten pins then the bowler gets two more chances in that final frame. The highest possible score is three hundred points from twelve strikes. This is what bowlers refer to as a perfect game.
2. Bowling a Strike
Generally, when a player knocks down one pin, it counts as one point. However there are situations where scoring in bowling does require some math skills. For example, when a person bowls a strike, then you add the next frame to the strike frame. Therefore, the strike counts as 10 points and then say the bowler knocks down eight pins in the next frame, so the strike frame score is 18. This would give the bowler a two-frame point total of 26. The most points a bowler can score in a single frame is 30 points, 10 for the strike in the original frame and 10 points for each of the two strikes to follow.
3. Doing the Double
The bowling rules of play get more complicated as the strikes continue to mount. If a player bowls two strikes in a row this is what they call a double. So if a player bowls a strike in frame 1 and 2 but a knocks over four pins and two pins respectively in frame 3 the scoring goes like this; 10 for the first strike plus 10 for the second frame and 4 for the first throw in frame 3, giving you a first frame total of 24 points. The second frame is 10 points for the frame strike plus six points from frame three for a total 16 points. The third frame you just get the six points for the pins you knocked down. At this point, your score would be 46 points after these three frames.
4. Spares
If the bowler does not knock down all 10 pins on their first throw of the frame, they get a second throw in the frame. Say on this throw, you knock down the remaining pins on the second toss, this is a spare. You score spares differently than strikes. For instance, if you bowl a spare in the first frame then knock four and two pins down in the next two throws of the next frame, you get 10 points for the spare plus 4 for the first toss of the second frame giving you 14 points for the first frame and 6 for the second frame for a 2 frame total of 20 points.
5. Scratch
Another important rule of play in bowling is the scratch line. On the bowling lane there is line that you can't cross or the throw does not count. What most people do not know is that if you go over the line, but do not release the bowling ball it is not a scratch. You must violate the line with your foot and release the bowling ball for it to be a foul.
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