Bowling Tips: The Tenth Frame

One of the most exciting, or frustrating, aspects of a bowling game is the tenth frame.  There have been many nail-biting endings to some intense tournaments that have made or destroyed dreams in the world of professional bowling, or to gain bragging rights during home leagues, or nights out with friends.

What makes the tench frame so hyped up?  The desire to put the final nail in the coffin of the game by throwing the elusive “turkey” to finish off the game.  There is an adrenaline rush when that first strike is thrown in the frame, opening the door for two more climactic, earth jarring strikes that can send your opponent home in ruins…as long as they’re not your ride home, as well.

Handing the tenth frame should be handled much like any other frame in your game, the main difference is how the frame is scored, more than anything else.  As mentioned in the “Bowling Tips: How to Keep Score” post, the tenth frame potentially offers three scoring opportunities.  There are several different scenarios to consider for the tenth frame, so let’s dive in and take a look at what you can expect.

Strike in the Tenth Frame
The most coveted game finisher in the tenth frame is to hit all three shots as strikes, also known as a “turkey”.  When the first attempt thrown lands a strike, the bowler is offered two more shots.  If the next two shots are indeed strikes, then the bowler has achieved a “strike-out”.

Spare in the Tenth Frame
When the first attempt of the tenth frame fails to being a strike, much like any other frame, the bowler is offered a second attempt to deliver a spare.  If the spare converts, the bowler is offered the third attempt to finish up the game with whatever number of pins fall in the last throw.

Open Tenth Frame
If the bowler is unable to convert a strike or a spare in the tenth frame, they are not offered the third attempt in the frame and may only use the first and/or second scores in the frame. In other words, if a spare opportunity is missed on the second attempt, then the third opportunity in the frame is lost and the game is over.

Happy Bowling and Bring Your Turkey Shooter!