Scoring

Kubsie's Korner
Keeping Score in Five Pin Bowling

The Pin Counts

The first thing to know is the scoring value of each of the bowling pins on a lane. The middle pin (or head pin) is worth 5. The two pins on either side of the head pin both have the value of 3. The two pins on either end (or corner pins) are worth 2 each. The total pin count for all 5 pins is 15.

The Official 5 Pin Scoring Method

With the introduction of Automatic Scoring in bowling centers, many bowlers have no idea how to keep score. Learning to keep score is important if you happen to come across a center which doesn't have automatic scoring, or if you need to keep track of your score to figure out what you need to win!
We will follow the game of J. Bowler ball by ball! Each frame J. Bowler is entitled to 3 balls. If she knocks down all the pins before using all three balls her turn is over.

First Frame On the First Delivery, only the headpin was bowled down. The headpin symbol "HP" is marked in th first small square of the first frame.
On the Second Delivery, the left 3 and 2 pins were bowled down. The total value or "count" of 5 points is entered into the second small square of the first frame.
On the Third Delivery, the ball did not knock down any pins but remained on the lane surface until leaving the end of the lane (did not enter the channels). The missed shot symbol "-" is placed in the third small square of the first frame. The three small squares are then added (the point value for the "HP" is 5 and the point value for "-" is 0) and the score of "10" is entered in the bottom half of Frame #1.

Second Frame On the First Delivery, all the pins except the right corner pin (2 Pin) were bowled down. The right hand corner pin symbol "R" is marked in the first small square of Frame #2.
On the Second Delivery, the right hand corner pin is bowled down. This is called a "SPARE" and it's symbol "/" is marked in the second small square of Frame #2. Since a spare is worth 15 points plus the count earned on the next ball delivered in the subsequent frame, the score is not entered for Frame #2 until the first ball of the third frame has been bowled.

Third Frame On the First Delivery, all pins except the two corner pins were bowled down. This is called ACES and its symbol "A" is denoted in the first small square of Frame #3. The corresponding count for aces (11) is also placed in the third small square of the second frame, giving the spare a value of 26 points (15 points for the spare plus the 11 bonus points awarded for the pins bowled down on the first ball of the third frame). The score of 36 may now be entered into the bottom half of Frame #2. This is determined by adding the game score of 10 (from the first frame) to the second frame count of 26.
On the Second Delivery, the left corner pin (2 pin) was bowled down. The corresponding count of 2 points is entered in the second small square of Frame #3.
On the Third Delivery, the ball entered the right channel and did not bowl down any pins. The "Out of Bounds" shot is marked in the third small square of the frame as "-" and is worth 0. Adding the three small squares of Frame #3 gives you a count of "13" points which is added to the score of 36 (from Frame #2) and produces a score of 49 in the third frame.

Fourth Frame On the First Delivery, all the pins except the left hand corner pin (2 pin) were bowled down. The left hand corner pin symbol "L" is marked in the first small square of Frame #4 (The pin count for "L" is 13).
On the Second Delivery, the pin was missed but the ball didn't enter the channel. A "-" symbol (missed shot) is marked in the second small square of the fourth frame.
On the Third Delivery, the pin was missed again and as before the ball did not enter the channel. The missed shot symbol "-" is entered in the third small square of Frame #4. Adding the three small squares of Frame #4 gives you a count of "13" points for the frame and a score of 62 pins which is placed in the bottom half of the fourth frame.

Fifth Frame On the First Delivery, the headpin was missed and the ball knocked down the right 3 and 2 pins. No symbol is entered, but the numeral "5" (representing the point value of the two pins bowled down) is entered in the first small square of the fifth frame.
On the Second Delivery, the remaining pins were bowled down and a spare "/" is indicated in the second small square of Frame #5. Again, the frame score is not entered for Frame #5 until the bonus count from the first ball delivered in the next frame has been determined.

Sixth Frame On the First Delivery, all pins were bowled down. This is called a "STRIKE" and is indicated on the scoresheet by placing a "" symbol in the first small square of Frame #6. You may now complete the count for the spare recorded in the fifth frame. A spare is worth 15 pints plus the value of the first ball delivered in the next frame. Since a STRIKE was rolled on the first ball of the sixth frame, the bonus count added to the spare is 15 more points. This is denoted on the scoresheet by placing 15 in the third small square of the fifth frame thus making the count for the fifth frame worth a total of 30 points (15 points for the spare + 15 points for the strike). These 30 points are then added to the score of 64 (from frame #4) giving you a new score of 92 points in the fifth frame. Since a strike is worth 15 points plus the value of pins bowled down on the following (next) two deliveries, the game score cannot be entered in the sixth frame until completion of these two deliveries.

Seventh Frame On the First Delivery, another STRIKE is rolled. This give you two successive strikes (one in the sixth frame and one in the seventh frame). This is called a DOUBLE. The Strike symbol "" is entered in the first small square of Frame #7 and 15 points is entered into the second small square of Frame #6 which represents the first of the two bonus deliveries allowed for a strike.

Eighth Frame On the First Delivery, a STRIKE is rolled again. Another strike symbol "" is placed in the first small square of Frame #8. You now have three strikes in a row. This is called a "TRIPLE". You must also enter "15" points in the third small square of the sixth frame as the strike rolled in the eighth frame represents the second bonus delivery allowed for the strike bowled in the sixth frame. You may now complete the count for the sixth frame by adding the three small squares for the frame. The first small square contains a strike symbol, which is worth 15 points, the second small square contains a value of 15 points as does the third small square. This gives you a total of 45 points for Frame #6. Adding the 45 points to the score of 92 (from the fifth frame) give you a new score of 137 for six frames. The strike bowled in the eighth frame also represents the first of two bonus deliveries allowed for the strike rolled in the seventh frame. Indicate this by placing its point value (15) in the second small square of Frame #7.

Ninth Frame On the First Delivery, the head pin and left 3 pin were bowled down. This is called a SPLIT and its symbol "HS" is marked in the first small square of Frame #9. This SPLIT also represents the second bonus delivery of the strike bowled in the seventh frame as well as the first bonus delivery of the strike bowled in Frame #8. Place the corresponding point value for a split (8 points) in the third small square of Frame #7 and again in the second small square of Frame #8. The frame total can now be completed for the seventh frame as both bonus deliveries allowed for the strike have been completed. Total the three small squares... 15 points for the strike symbol + 15 points for the first bonus ball + 8 points for the second bonus ball = 38 points for the seventh frame. Add these 38 points to the score of 137 (Frame #6) and record the new score of "175" in the bottom half of Frame #7.
On the Second Delivery, the right 3 Pin and right 2 Pin were bowled down, but the bowler went across the FOUL LINE. Record the count for the ball (5 points) in the second small square of Frame #9. YOU MUST ALSO RECORD THE FOUL! Place the Foul symbol "F" immediately below the second small square of the ninth frame and again in the top right hand corner of the "TOTAL COLUMN" (at the extreme right side of the bowler's game). This symbol tells you two things. First the foul was committed on the second ball of the ninth frame and secondly, the "F" symbol in the total column, reminds the scorekeeper that a penalty of 15 points must be deducted from the bowler's score at the conclusion of the bowler's game. The count of the second ball in the ninth frame (5 points also represents the second bonus ball allowed for the strike bowled in the eighth frame. In the third small square record these 5 points then total the count for the frame. 15 points (for the strike) + 8 points (for the first bonus ball) + 5 points (for the second bonus ball) = 28 points. This count (28) is added to the score from the seventh frame, giving a new score of "203" in Frame #8.
On the Third Delivery, the left corner pin is bowled down which is denoted as "2" in the third small square of the ninth frame. Since no strike or spare has been made in the ninth frame, you can complete the ninth frame by adding the three small squares (8 + 5 + 2 = 15) then add this frame count to the score from the eighth frame (203) and enter the new score of "218" in the bottom half of Frame #9.

Tenth Frame On the First Delivery, the headpin, right 3 pin and right 2 pin were bowled down. This is called a CHOP-OFF and is denoted by placing its symbol "C/O" in the first small square of the tenth frame.
On the Second Delivery, the two remaining pins were knocked down, giving the bowler a SPARE. Record the spare by placing its symbol "/" in the second small square of the tenth frame. Although the bowler has recorded a spare, the game is not complete because a spare is not complete until a subsequent delivery has been made and its point value added to the 15 points represented by the spare. IN THE TENTH FRAME, YOU MUST BOWL THREE BALL NO MATTER WHAT! This allows for the completion of counts for STRIKES or SPARES made in the final frame.
On the Third Delivery, only the right 3 pin is bowled down. This is recorded as "3" in the third small square of the tenth frame. Calculate the count for the tenth frame by adding the three small squares. REMEMBER...ALL COUNTS PRECEDING A SPARE SYMBOL IN A FRAME ARE DISREGARDED. Therefore, the count for the tenth frame is 18 points (15 points for the spare + 3 points on the bonus or third ball). Add the 18 points to the score from Frame #9 and enter the sum (236) in the bottom half of the tenth frame.

Finishing Frame For each foul committed during a game, 15 points are deducted from the game score upon conclusion of the bowler's game. Since only one foul was committed by the bowler in this game (in Frame #9), we will subtract 15 points from the score of 236. We then enter the FINAL GAME SCORE (236 - 15 = 221) in the frame at the extreme right of the scoresheet. This is called the TOTAL COLUMN. (If no fouls had been committed the Final Game Score would be the total in the tenth frame (236)).

These instructions are taken from the
Official Rules and Regulations Governing the Sport of 5 Pin Bowling
printed by the Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers' Association.

Janet 'Kubsie' Jenkins

First Frame	On the First Delivery, only the headpin was bowled down. The headpin symbol "HP" is marked in th first small square of the first frame. On the Second Delivery, the left 3 and 2 pins were bowled down. The total value or "count" of 5 points is entered into the second small square of the first frame. On the Third Delivery, the ball did not knock down any pins but remained on the lane surface until leaving the end of the lane (did not enter the channels). The missed shot symbol "-" is placed in the third small square of the first frame. The three small squares are then added (the point value for the "HP" is 5 and the point value for "-" is 0) and the score of "10" is entered in the bottom half of Frame #1.
Second Frame	On the First Delivery, all the pins except the right corner pin (2 Pin) were bowled down. The right hand corner pin symbol "R" is marked in the first small square of Frame #2. On the Second Delivery, the right hand corner pin is bowled down. This is called a "SPARE" and it's symbol "/" is marked in the second small square of Frame #2. Since a spare is worth 15 points plus the count earned on the next ball delivered in the subsequent frame, the score is not entered for Frame #2 until the first ball of the third frame has been bowled.
Third Frame	On the First Delivery, all pins except the two corner pins were bowled down. This is called ACES and its symbol "A" is denoted in the first small square of Frame #3. The corresponding count for aces (11) is also placed in the third small square of the second frame, giving the spare a value of 26 points (15 points for the spare plus the 11 bonus points awarded for the pins bowled down on the first ball of the third frame). The score of 36 may now be entered into the bottom half of Frame #2. This is determined by adding the game score of 10 (from the first frame) to the second frame count of 26. On the Second Delivery, the left corner pin (2 pin) was bowled down. The corresponding count of 2 points is entered in the second small square of Frame #3. On the Third Delivery, the ball entered the right channel and did not bowl down any pins. The "Out of Bounds" shot is marked in the third small square of the frame as "-" and is worth 0. Adding the three small squares of Frame #3 gives you a count of "13" points which is added to the score of 36 (from Frame #2) and produces a score of 49 in the third frame.
Fourth Frame	On the First Delivery, all the pins except the left hand corner pin (2 pin) were bowled down. The left hand corner pin symbol "L" is marked in the first small square of Frame #4 (The pin count for "L" is 13). On the Second Delivery, the pin was missed but the ball didn't enter the channel. A "-" symbol (missed shot) is marked in the second small square of the fourth frame. On the Third Delivery, the pin was missed again and as before the ball did not enter the channel. The missed shot symbol "-" is entered in the third small square of Frame #4. Adding the three small squares of Frame #4 gives you a count of "13" points for the frame and a score of 62 pins which is placed in the bottom half of the fourth frame.
Fifth Frame	On the First Delivery, the headpin was missed and the ball knocked down the right 3 and 2 pins. No symbol is entered, but the numeral "5" (representing the point value of the two pins bowled down) is entered in the first small square of the fifth frame. On the Second Delivery, the remaining pins were bowled down and a spare "/" is indicated in the second small square of Frame #5. Again, the frame score is not entered for Frame #5 until the bonus count from the first ball delivered in the next frame has been determined.
Sixth Frame	On the First Delivery, all pins were bowled down. This is called a "STRIKE" and is indicated on the scoresheet by placing a "" symbol in the first small square of Frame #6. You may now complete the count for the spare recorded in the fifth frame. A spare is worth 15 pints plus the value of the first ball delivered in the next frame. Since a STRIKE was rolled on the first ball of the sixth frame, the bonus count added to the spare is 15 more points. This is denoted on the scoresheet by placing 15 in the third small square of the fifth frame thus making the count for the fifth frame worth a total of 30 points (15 points for the spare + 15 points for the strike). These 30 points are then added to the score of 64 (from frame #4) giving you a new score of 92 points in the fifth frame. Since a strike is worth 15 points plus the value of pins bowled down on the following (next) two deliveries, the game score cannot be entered in the sixth frame until completion of these two deliveries.
Seventh Frame	On the First Delivery, another STRIKE is rolled. This give you two successive strikes (one in the sixth frame and one in the seventh frame). This is called a DOUBLE. The Strike symbol "" is entered in the first small square of Frame #7 and 15 points is entered into the second small square of Frame #6 which represents the first of the two bonus deliveries allowed for a strike.
Eighth Frame	On the First Delivery, a STRIKE is rolled again. Another strike symbol "" is placed in the first small square of Frame #8. You now have three strikes in a row. This is called a "TRIPLE". You must also enter "15" points in the third small square of the sixth frame as the strike rolled in the eighth frame represents the second bonus delivery allowed for the strike bowled in the sixth frame. You may now complete the count for the sixth frame by adding the three small squares for the frame. The first small square contains a strike symbol, which is worth 15 points, the second small square contains a value of 15 points as does the third small square. This gives you a total of 45 points for Frame #6. Adding the 45 points to the score of 92 (from the fifth frame) give you a new score of 137 for six frames. The strike bowled in the eighth frame also represents the first of two bonus deliveries allowed for the strike rolled in the seventh frame. Indicate this by placing its point value (15) in the second small square of Frame #7.
Ninth Frame	On the First Delivery, the head pin and left 3 pin were bowled down. This is called a SPLIT and its symbol "HS" is marked in the first small square of Frame #9. This SPLIT also represents the second bonus delivery of the strike bowled in the seventh frame as well as the first bonus delivery of the strike bowled in Frame #8. Place the corresponding point value for a split (8 points) in the third small square of Frame #7 and again in the second small square of Frame #8. The frame total can now be completed for the seventh frame as both bonus deliveries allowed for the strike have been completed. Total the three small squares... 15 points for the strike symbol + 15 points for the first bonus ball + 8 points for the second bonus ball = 38 points for the seventh frame. Add these 38 points to the score of 137 (Frame #6) and record the new score of "175" in the bottom half of Frame #7. On the Second Delivery, the right 3 Pin and right 2 Pin were bowled down, but the bowler went across the FOUL LINE. Record the count for the ball (5 points) in the second small square of Frame #9. YOU MUST ALSO RECORD THE FOUL! Place the Foul symbol "F" immediately below the second small square of the ninth frame and again in the top right hand corner of the "TOTAL COLUMN" (at the extreme right side of the bowler's game). This symbol tells you two things. First the foul was committed on the second ball of the ninth frame and secondly, the "F" symbol in the total column, reminds the scorekeeper that a penalty of 15 points must be deducted from the bowler's score at the conclusion of the bowler's game. The count of the second ball in the ninth frame (5 points also represents the second bonus ball allowed for the strike bowled in the eighth frame. In the third small square record these 5 points then total the count for the frame. 15 points (for the strike) + 8 points (for the first bonus ball) + 5 points (for the second bonus ball) = 28 points. This count (28) is added to the score from the seventh frame, giving a new score of "203" in Frame #8. On the Third Delivery, the left corner pin is bowled down which is denoted as "2" in the third small square of the ninth frame. Since no strike or spare has been made in the ninth frame, you can complete the ninth frame by adding the three small squares (8 + 5 + 2 = 15) then add this frame count to the score from the eighth frame (203) and enter the new score of "218" in the bottom half of Frame #9.
Tenth Frame	On the First Delivery, the headpin, right 3 pin and right 2 pin were bowled down. This is called a CHOP-OFF and is denoted by placing its symbol "C/O" in the first small square of the tenth frame. On the Second Delivery, the two remaining pins were knocked down, giving the bowler a SPARE. Record the spare by placing its symbol "/" in the second small square of the tenth frame. Although the bowler has recorded a spare, the game is not complete because a spare is not complete until a subsequent delivery has been made and its point value added to the 15 points represented by the spare. IN THE TENTH FRAME, YOU MUST BOWL THREE BALL NO MATTER WHAT! This allows for the completion of counts for STRIKES or SPARES made in the final frame. On the Third Delivery, only the right 3 pin is bowled down. This is recorded as "3" in the third small square of the tenth frame. Calculate the count for the tenth frame by adding the three small squares. REMEMBER...ALL COUNTS PRECEDING A SPARE SYMBOL IN A FRAME ARE DISREGARDED. Therefore, the count for the tenth frame is 18 points (15 points for the spare + 3 points on the bonus or third ball). Add the 18 points to the score from Frame #9 and enter the sum (236) in the bottom half of the tenth frame.
Finishing Frame	For each foul committed during a game, 15 points are deducted from the game score upon conclusion of the bowler's game. Since only one foul was committed by the bowler in this game (in Frame #9), we will subtract 15 points from the score of 236. We then enter the FINAL GAME SCORE (236 - 15 = 221) in the frame at the extreme right of the scoresheet. This is called the TOTAL COLUMN. (If no fouls had been committed the Final Game Score would be the total in the tenth frame (236)).