Shufflebowl is just like regular 10 Pin Bowling, only played with Shuffleboard weights instead of bowling balls. 10 mini bowling pins are arranged in an equilateral triangle shape at the end of the shuffleboard table. The pins are numbered 1 to 10 as in the overhead view with Pin 1 being closest to the shooter and known as the "Head Pin". The number 5-pin is known as the "King Pin" and is key to scoring a "Strike".
|
|
A game of bowling consists of ten "frames". At the start of each frame, the 10 pins are re-positioned in their triangle formation and a player is allowed to shoot up to two separate weights down the table in an attempt to knock down as many pins as possible. The player with the highest score after ten frames is the winner.
A bowling score card is divided into ten main boxes, one for each frame. The number of pins knocked down by each weight is entered at the top of each box and a running total score for the game is entered beneath. In general, one point is awarded for each pin that is completely knocked over during a frame. If a pin wobbles but doesn't fall over then it isn't scored. Also if say, the 5-pin is knocked from its original position on the first shot to the 8-position and doesn't fall over then it is moved back to the 5 position for the second shot.
Frame 1 - If a player knocks six pins over on their first shot then they are awarded 6 points and a 6 is entered into the first of two boxes on the score card for the frame being played.
If three more pins are knocked down on the second shot then a 3 is entered into the second box on the score card and the player scores a total of 9 for that frame which is entered below the first two numbers.
Frame 2 - In the second frame, the player knocks down eight pins with their first shot and then completely misses the remaining two pins with their second shot. An 8 is entered into the first box in Frame 2 and a dash is entered in the second box to denote a zero. The player scores a total of 8 for Frame 2 which is added to the 9 from Frame 1 and entered underneath the scores for Frame 2.
Frame 3 - At this point, you're probably thinking that 10 Pin Bowling is quite a simple game to score and you may even be feeling a little smug with yourself. That's why the "Spare" and "Strike" were invented; to bring a healthy dose of confusion back into your life. Whenever you knock down all ten pins in a frame, you're awarded bonus points. If it takes both shots to knock down the ten pins then it's called a "Spare". If you flatten all ten pins with a single shot then it's called a "Strike" and is awarded more bonus points than a Spare. Consider Frame 3 where the player knocks down nine pins with their first shot and the final pin with their second shot. They score a "Spare" which is denoted by marking the second box of the frame with a / However, you don't add 10 to the total yet because bonus points are on their way ....
Frame 4 - When you knock down all ten pins using both shots, then you score 10 points for that frame plus a bonus equal to the number of pins you knock down with the next shot. In this example, the first shot of Frame 4 knocks down seven pins and is added as a bonus to Frame 3. Finally the total score can be added to Frame 3's box which is 17 from the previous frames +10 for the Spare +7 for the bonus shot = 34. Then the final shot of Frame 4 ends with just two pins falling so a 2 is entered in the final box of Frame 4 and that Frame is scored as normal for a total of 9 for that Frame and 43 total for the game so far.
Frame 5 - When all ten pins are knocked down with the first shot of a frame then it's called a "Strike" It is entered on the score sheet with a X and you move onto the next frame immediately (after completing your victory dance of course). A bonus is awarded that is equal to the total number of pins knocked down by the next two shots. As with the Spare, the running total is not entered at the bottom of the Strike frame until the next two shots have been played.
Frame 6 - In this example, the next two shots after the Strike knock down seven pins and two pins respectfully, giving a bonus of 9 points and a total of 19 points for Frame 5 with a standard 9 points for Frame 6.
Now for something a little more complicated. The player scores a Strike in Frame 7 followed by a second Strike in Frame 8 before ending the fun by only knocking five pins down with their first shot of Frame 9 and four pins with their second shot of Frame 9. The scoring would go like this:
Frame 7 - 25 Points (2 Bonus Shots for the Strike)
Frame 7 Shot 1 = 10 Pins (Strike) = 10 Points
Frame 8 Shot 1 = 10 Pins (Strike) = 10 Points
Frame 9 Shot 1 = 5 Pins = 5 Points
Total = 10 + 10 + 5 = 25 Points
Running Total = 71 + 25 = 96
Frame 8 Shot 1 = 10 Pins (Strike) = 10 Points
Frame 9 Shot 1 = 5 Pins = 5 Points
Frame 9 Shot 2 = 4 Pins = 4 Points
Total = 10 + 5 + 4 = 19 Points
Running Total = 96 + 19 = 115
Frame 9 Shot 1 = 5 Pins = 5 Points
Frame 9 Shot 2 = 4 Pins = 4 Points
Total = 5 + 4 = 9 Points
Running Total = 115 + 9 = 124
Frame 10 - The final frame is a little bit different to the others. If you score a Spare in the 10th Frame then the 10 pins are set up again and you're allowed one more shot that counts as your bonus. Similarly, if you score a Strike in the 10th Frame then the pins are set up again and you're allowed two more shots which count as your bonuses for the Strike. If you score a second Strike then the pins are set up a third time and you're allowed to shoot one more weight down the table making it possible to score three Strikes in Frame 10 for a total of 30 points. The easiest way to consider the 10th Frame is simply that you get three shots if you score a Strike or Spare and then you add up the total number of pins that you knocked down in that final frame. Here, the player scored a Strike on his first shot and then 7 and 3 for the two bonuses giving a total of 20 points for Frame 10. The final score for the entire game was 148.
A "Split" occurs when the first shot of a frame knocks down the Head Pin and two or more non-adjacent pins are left standing. This leaves a large gap between the pins making it difficult to knock them all down on the second shot. Some Splits are more difficult than others and the more common ones have been given names. Here's the infamous 7-10 Split, known as "Goal Posts" or "Bed Posts". It's almost impossible to make this shot in Shufflebowl as one of the pins would have to miraculously bounce back off end of the table onto the other pin.
 |
 |
| A circle is drawn on the score card to show where a Split occurred, reminding everyone that the frame was a tough one. |  |