If you’re just starting out your bowling career, you might be feeling a little confused or overwhelmed. You may be looking up at the screen and wondering what all of those numbers and symbols mean. Why is there an ‘X’ on the board? Why is there a slash mark? If you’re confused or just want to learn more about bowling, you’ve come to the right place!
In this blog, we’ll discuss the different bowling scores and what they mean, but we’ll focus on one particular score: the spare.
What Are the Different Bowling Scores?
When you’re bowling, there are three main scoring terms that you need to keep in mind. The strike, the split, and of course, the spare.
Strike
A strike is when you knock down all ten pins with your first ball. This is indicated by an ‘X’ on the scoreboard. If you get consecutive strikes, you can earn a “double,” a “turkey,” and eventually a “four/five-bagger.” If you get a strike at the end of the game, you get to bowl again, and your next two balls are counted as bonus balls.
Split
A split happens when there are still one or more standing pins remaining after your first ball. This is denoted by a circle around the pin number on the scoreboard. A split can be difficult to pick up because the pins are on opposite sides of the lane, and you usually have to learn a special technique to consistently get the spin just right.
Spare
A spare in bowling is when you knock down all of the standing pins with your second ball. This is denoted by a ‘/’ on the scoreboard. A typical spare occurs when you knock down one or more pins after missing them on the first bowl attempt.
How to Get a Spare in Bowling
There are a few different ways that you can get a spare in bowling. The most common way is by hitting the head pin with your first ball and then knocking down the remaining pins with your second ball. This is called a ‘split spare’ because it starts with a split.
Another way to get a spare is by hitting the head pin and having it bounce off of one of the side rails and then knocking down the remaining pins. This is called a ‘bounce spare.’
The last way to get a spare, and arguably the most difficult, is by simply knocking down all ten pins with your second ball. This is called a ‘clean spare’ or sometimes just referred to as a ‘plain old spare.’
No matter how you get your spare in bowling, it’s always a good feeling. If you’re able to string together a few spares in a row, you can really start racking up the points!
Stars and Strikes
If you’re looking to have a premium bowling experience, Stars and Strikes is the place for you. We have state-of-the-art facilities and our lanes are always kept clean so you can focus on getting that spare. Contact us today to book your lane!
