How Is Bowling Scored?

• Max Score: 10-pin bowling: 300 points; 5-pin bowling: 450 points. Score Sheet Basics: "X" for strikes, "/" for spares, and numbers show pins knocked down.
• Scoring Multipliers: Strikes add points from the next two rolls; spares add points from the next roll.
• Handicaps & Fouls: Gutter buffers lower your score; fouls are marked as "F."
• Practice & Gear: The right ball and technique improve your game.

If you’re a new fan of bowling, or if it’s been a while and you’re looking for a refresher before getting back in the swing of things, you’re likely looking to demystify some fundamental questions like “how is bowling scored?” and, just as importantly, “what is the highest score you can get in bowling?” 

After all, this game is deceptively simple: you roll a heavy ball down a lane and try to hit as many pins as possible. Sounds easy enough, right? And yet, as any player can attest after the bowling bug bites, you begin to realize there’s as much an art to the game as there is a science. There are so many tricks to landing the perfect shot, and scoring is also not as cut-and-dry as you might think.

Because of that, all good bowling starts with having a solid grasp of the basics. At Bowlers Paradise, we welcome all fellow bowlers, from our youngest and newest who fell in love with the game, to the most experienced and even professional-level athletes who need the highest quality gear. For us, no question is too simple, and no detail too small. Without further ado, we are so glad you’re here and ready to answer the questions that will help you roll up with confidence.

What is the Highest Score You Can Get in Bowling? 

Let’s begin with the best-case end in mind! It first helps to define which form of bowling you’re playing, because that determines how your bowling game is scored. 

For example, what is the highest score you can get in bowling the less common (but very fun!) 5-pin game? It’s 450! Because bowling dates back to ancient Egypt, there have been many different methods over the centuries. Fun trivia aside, for the more well-known 10-pin games, your goal is to score the full 300 points. 

Achieving a game with a perfect score, which means no pins were left standing each turn, is something that even the most casual bowler would be proud to accomplish. It’s also even more reason for avid bowlers to invest in quality gear and additional bowling balls that help land those perfect hits, regardless of lane condition, and while avoiding injury.

How Bowling is Scored

With more alleys turning to digital scorekeeping methods, the traditional pencil-and-scratchcard model can feel obsolete. However, being able to understand the “why” behind how bowling is scored can help you become a better, more confident player.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Learn The Lingo

Because a lot of the details of scoring get tied up with terminology, we encourage you to get familiar with all the fun lingo that goes into how bowling is scored! 

For example, bowlers refer to each turn as a “frame,” a “strike” is that perfect frame where all the pins get knocked down, and a “spare” is when you use both turns in your frames to knock out all the pins. There are even more specific terms for different combinations of scores, often with some quirky history behind them. Study up for your benefit and for the joy of the game!

Getting Boxed In

Even though how bowling is scored is now largely computer-based, the way the score is written hasn’t changed: it’s still a square, with two smaller squares in the upper right-hand corner – hence why it’s called a “frame!” When it comes to your perfect 300, X marks the spot and shows that you hit a perfect strike, “completing the frame” on the first go. 

Your goal is to get a straight sheet of all X’s, including by the 10th frame, when you get three attempts if you achieve a strike (or spare). For anything short of X, you use both boxes to score both attempts, and you get to go for the next best thing — a spare. 

Additionally:

• A spare is written with a “/ ” and means you add 10 points to your next throw and total everything based on that spare.
• For a strike, you can add ten points to your next three throws!
• A frame where you hit no pins (it happens to everyone!), you mark a “-” and try again next time.
• A foul ball is written with an “F.”
• For a “split,” write “S” or “O.”
• The numbers themselves reflect how many pins you hit per throw. 
• The big number in each frame that is below the two smaller ones in the upper right-hand corner shows your total score.

After that, how you fill that score sheet is all up to you, your skills, and your trusty choice of ball.

It All Adds Up (And Down)

When it comes to tabulating your score, there are a few additional variables. For example, when you hit a strike, you’re not just marking 10 points for one frame, but possibly triggering a chain reaction of points for subsequent frames. That cascading effect, where each 10 points has a multiplying result, is how you get the highest score in bowling. What is equally important is anything that lowers your score over time, including fouls and “handicaps.” 

Handicaps, such as buffers in the gutters, can be great for beginners and experts alike to build up their skills, especially when the focus is more on the pure fun of the game. However, in exchange for “easy mode,” your points are subtracted from your original “basis score.” Full details can be found in the official rules of the United States Bowling Congress.

Conclusion

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t roll a perfect 300 yet, or if the rules still feel overwhelming. If there’s one thing that bowlers appreciate, it’s the satisfaction of mastering that steep learning curve, whether literally with a great hook shot, finding the perfect shoes, or getting savvy with the lingo.

In other words, now that you’ve gotten more familiar with how bowling is scored, the next step is to learn by doing. The bowling community is full of friendly faces who are excited to welcome you in, so start by putting your knowledge into action, practicing to make perfect, and keeping that ball rolling!