Bowling Rules Explained Simply
The bowling rules in plain language: frames, strikes and spares, the 10th frame, the foul line, which pins count and when a dead ball is called – with a quick reference table.
Giampiero Sirianni
Bowling rules at a glance
The basic bowling rules fit on a single page. A game has 10 frames. In each frame you have up to two deliveries to knock down all 10 pins. Strikes and spares earn bonus pins, a foul costs you the pins of that delivery, and the 10th frame can give you a third ball. This guide explains each rule in plain language, based on the official playing rules used in leagues and tournaments.
The lane and the pins
The lane measures 60 feet (about 18.3 meters) from the foul line to the center of the headpin. At the end, 10 pins stand in four rows that form an equilateral triangle:
- Row 1 (closest to you): the 1-pin, also called the headpin
- Row 2: the 2- and 3-pins
- Row 3: the 4-, 5- and 6-pins
- Row 4 (back row): the 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-pins
The pins are numbered row by row from front to back and, within each row, from left to right as you look down the lane. The numbers matter when bowlers talk about spares and splits, for example a 10-pin or a 7-10 split.
Strike, spare and open frame
Strike
A strike means all 10 pins fall with the first delivery of a frame. It is marked with an “X”. A strike counts 10 plus the pins you knock down with your next two deliveries.
Spare
A spare means you knock down the remaining pins with the second delivery. It is marked with a “/”. A spare counts 10 plus the pins from your next delivery.
Open frame
If pins are still standing after both deliveries, the frame is open. It counts exactly the number of pins you knocked down, with no bonus. How the bonuses add up on the scoresheet is shown step by step in our guide to bowling scoring.
The 10th frame
The last frame has its own rule, so that a strike or spare at the end of the game can still collect its bonus:
- Strike in the 10th frame: you bowl two more balls (three in total)
- Spare in the 10th frame: you bowl one more ball (three in total)
- Open 10th frame: the game ends after two balls
The highest possible score is 300, the perfect game: 12 strikes in a row.
The foul line
The foul line separates the approach, where you walk, from the lane. A foul occurs when any part of your body goes on or beyond the foul line and touches the lane, equipment or building during or after a delivery. Many bowling centers use an automatic foul detector for this; in competitions a foul judge can also call it.
- A foul delivery counts as a delivery, but none of the pins it knocked down are credited.
- If you foul on your first ball, the pins are set up again and you bowl your second ball at a full rack. If you knock them all down, it counts as a spare.
- If you foul on your second ball, only the pins from your first ball count.
What counts as a legal delivery
A delivery is legal when the ball leaves your hand and crosses the foul line onto the lane. If the ball slips out of your hand and stays on the approach, it has not crossed the foul line and does not count as a delivery.
The rules do not prescribe a grip. Whether you bowl with one hand or with two, with or without a hook, is your choice.
Which pins count
- Pins count as down when they are knocked over by the ball or by other pins – including pins that bounce off the side partitions or the back cushion.
- A pin that wobbles but stays upright counts as standing. The same applies to a pin that is knocked away and ends up standing on the lane again.
- Pins do not count if the ball leaves the lane before it reaches the pins, for example after rolling into the gutter. The delivery still counts, with the pins left as they were.
Dead ball: when a delivery is repeated
In some situations the delivery is declared a dead ball. It does not count, the pins are reset to how they stood before, and you bowl again. Typical examples:
- one or more pins were missing from the setup, and this is pointed out straight after the delivery
- a pin moves or falls before the ball reaches the pins, for example because of the pinsetter
- someone bowls on the wrong lane or out of turn
- you are physically interfered with during your delivery, or the ball hits an object on the lane
Etiquette on the approach
Beyond the scoring rules there are a few habits that everyone in a bowling center relies on. Only one bowler on neighboring lanes should be on the approach at a time: if the bowler next to you is already stepping up, wait until they have delivered the ball. Stay behind the foul line, keep food and drinks off the approach and be ready when it is your turn. More on this in our article on bowling etiquette.
Quick reference
| Rule | In short |
|---|---|
| Frames per game | 10 |
| Deliveries per frame | 2, up to 3 in the 10th frame |
| Strike | All 10 pins with the first ball: 10 + next two balls |
| Spare | All remaining pins with the second ball: 10 + next ball |
| Foul | Touching the lane beyond the foul line: pins of that ball do not count |
| Dead ball | Delivery does not count, pins are reset, bowl again |
| Perfect game | 300 points (12 strikes in a row) |
What you need for your first game
Bowling centers provide house balls, and they require bowling shoes: street shoes are not allowed on the approach. Rental shoes are available at the counter. If you bowl regularly, your own pair gives you a slide you can rely on. BOWLIO bowling shoes are made of genuine leather, top and bottom, with a slide sole under both shoes, so they are suitable for left- and right-handed bowlers.
If you are just starting out, our beginner's guide covers equipment and technique, and how scoring works helps you follow your progress from game to game.