How to Play and How Scoring Works

A game consists of ten frames. Each has two tries to knock down ten pins; the tenth gives a third ball if it's earned with a strike or spare. Points don't simply add up: a strike or spare “borrows” the result of the following balls.

Sample game. The top row is the frame number, the middle row the balls thrown, the bottom row the running total. A gold cell is a strike, a light one a spare. This game's total is 184 points.

• ✕Strike. 10 points plus the next two balls. In the sample's second frame the strike gave 10 + 7 + 2 = 19.
• /Spare. 10 points plus the next ball. In the sample's first frame the spare gave 10 + 10 = 20.
• =Open frame. Not all pins went down — just the sum of two balls, as in the third frame: 7 + 2 = 9.

• ●Frame — one of the ten “turns” in a game. Each has two balls; the tenth can have three.
• ●Strike (✕) — all ten pins on the first ball. The next two balls' points are added to the frame.
• ●Spare (/) — all ten in two balls. The next ball is added.
• ●Split — after the first ball the remaining pins are on the edges with a gap between them. The nastiest leave.
• ●Gutter — the channel along the sides of the lane. A ball in the gutter scores zero.
• ●Foul line — the line in front of the lane. Stepping over it voids the ball.
• ●Perfect game — twelve strikes in a row, 300 points. The maximum in bowling.

• ●Bowling shoes are handed out at the desk: you can't play in street shoes — they damage the approach and don't slide the way they should.
• ●Balls vary in weight: the usual tip is about a tenth of your own body weight, but take one that doesn't strain your arm.
• ●Your fingers should slide into the holes freely: if the ball fits too tight, it won't come off your hand in time.
• ●Your approach ends at the foul line — don't step over it, or the ball won't count.
• ●It's easier to aim at the arrows on the lane than at the pins: that's what they're painted there for.
• ●Kids are often given gutter bumpers and light balls — but we don't know whether this club has them.

These are general tips for any bowling alley. We don't know the rules, rates, age restrictions or whether there are kids' bumpers at the Lighthouse Mall club specifically — no source mentions them.