How to use
- 1Choose the number of bowlers and type their names.
- 2For the bowler who is up, tap the pin count for each ball, X for a strike or / for a spare.
- 3When a frame is complete the next bowler is up automatically; impossible counts are disabled.
- 4Follow the scorecard marks, running totals and the max-possible score as the game goes on.
How bowling is scored
A game has 10 frames with up to two balls each. An open frame scores the pins knocked down. A strike (all 10 on the first ball) scores 10 plus your next two balls; a spare (all 10 with two balls) scores 10 plus your next ball. That is why a strike cannot be totalled until two more balls are rolled — the calculator leaves the frame blank and fills it in when the bonus is known. On the card “-” is a miss, “X” a strike and “/” a spare.
The 10th frame and a 300 game
A strike or spare in the 10th frame earns fill balls to complete the bonus, so the frame can have three balls. Twelve strikes in a row is a perfect 300, the highest possible score. For league and open bowlers around 150 is a decent game and 200+ is excellent. The “Max possible” column assumes every remaining ball is a strike, handy for working out whether a match is still winnable.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a strike?
Ten plus the pins knocked down with your next two balls. Three strikes in a row give the first of them 30 points.
How many points is a spare?
Ten plus the pins from your next ball. A spare followed by a 7 makes that frame worth 17.
What is the highest score in bowling?
300, which takes 12 consecutive strikes: one in each of frames 1–9 and three in the 10th.
How many balls are in the 10th frame?
Two, or three if you strike or spare. The extra balls only count toward the 10th frame itself.
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