How to play Bowling

Bowling

2 to 6 players

Bowling is an easy indoor game that gathers any number on one lane. Each player in turn rolls a ball at ten pins at the end of the lane and adds up points over ten frames. It needs no fitness and no experience, only company, and a seat on the lane that is one short.

How to play

1 Players 2 to 6 on one lane, solo or in two teams. Lanes are booked by the hour, and above 6 the waiting gets long. 1

2 Gear A three-hole ball in a weight that feels right, and the house shoes. Ten pins, set in a triangle at the end of the lane. 2

3 The frame Ten frames per player. In each frame you get two rolls to knock down the ten pins. The tenth frame gives a bonus roll if you clear them all. 3

4 Strike and spare Strike: all ten on the first roll, worth 10 plus your next two rolls. Spare: all ten over two rolls, worth 10 plus your next roll. 4

5 Scoring Miss the ten and you score the pins you knocked down over the two rolls. A ball in the gutter is zero. 5

6 Winning Highest total after ten frames wins. Perfect is 300, nobody at a casual night gets there, and that is half the fun. 6

Tips

Pick the right ball

Around a tenth of your body weight, with holes your fingers slip in and out of easily.

Aim at the arrows

The arrows on the lane are closer than the pins and easier to hit.

Same motion every time

Consistency beats power. Same steps, same release.

For spares, cross the lane

A pin left on the right? Throw from the left, and the other way round.

Variants and other names

Bumpers

Alleys raise bumpers over the gutters for kids and beginners.

Teams

Each team adds up its players' scores, and the highest total wins.

Questions

How many players does bowling need?

From 2 to 6 on one lane. One short? Kemlet finds you a player nearby.

What are a strike and a spare?

A strike is all ten pins on the first roll. A spare is all ten over two rolls.

What is the highest score in bowling?

300, which means 12 strikes in a row.

How long does a game of bowling take?

A game for 4 players usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.