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What are scratches in bowling?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 19, 2026

Scratch bowling is when all bowlers are credited with only their original score (no handicap). Many, if not most, tournaments are scratch tournaments. Tournaments like the Midwest Scratch Bowlers Series and Senior All Star Bowling Association (SASBA) are major scratch tournaments.

What is the difference between scratch and handicap bowling?

In scratch bowling leagues, the team's pin count is the actual score that team earns. This is the most straightforward way to score and involves no calculations beyond adding up pin counts. In handicap bowling leagues, on the other hand, the team's score is made up of their pin count and a predetermined handicap value.

What is a scratch bowler average?

snick wrote: My Tuesday night league has a handicap system based on 230, so technically, a scratch bowler in that league has an average of 230 or higher.

What are terms used in bowling?

Strike – Knocking down all the pins on the first throw. Spare – Picking up a spare is knocking down all remaining pins on a bowler's second throw. Double – If you get two strikes in a row, you've just made yourself a double. Turkey – Three strikes in a row is a turkey.

What is a scratch league?

A. PURPOSE. SCGA Scratch League is a team-based league designed for teams representing their member clubs to compete against one another at scratch. Group winners will meet in the SCGA Scratch League Championship.

30 related questions found

What is a sleeper in bowling?

SLEEPER. A rear pin that is not easily seen because of a pin directly in front of it (Ex.: 2-8, 3-9, 1-5).

What is bowling handicap?

What does handicap mean in bowling? Handicap in bowling is a means to level out the playing field allowing players of different caliber to fairly play and compete against one another in a challenging way.

What is ball in bowling called?

A bowling ball is a hard spherical ball used to knock down bowling pins in the sport of bowling.

What do you call 12 strikes in a row?

A perfect game or 12 strikes in a row is also colloquially referred to as the « Thanksgiving Turkey. »

Why do they call it a Brooklyn strike in bowling?

Brooklyn strike

This refers to shots that "crosses over" the 1-3 pocket for right-handers and 1-2 for left-handers and produces a strike. It originated in New York where people would "cross over" to Brooklyn from Manhattan.

Is 150 a good bowling score?

For a league bowler, if you get 175 points in a game, that's a good bowling average score. If you are a beginner playing a 175 point game, that's an amazing bowling score average. A recreational bowler who plays the game a few times a year getting 70 to 100 points has a good bowling average.

How many steps are in the most common approach in bowling?

Most bowlers use a natural and relaxed four-step delivery method; that is taking four steps on the approach aiming the pins, and then gliding while releasing the ball towards the pins.

What is the name of the governing body for women's bowling before the USBC was created?

Prior to the formation of the USBC, the national governing body for bowling was USA Bowling, which oversaw the participation of Team USA in international events.

What is a 300 game in bowling called?

In bowling, a perfect game (in 10 pin at least) is 300 points – strikes in each of the first nine frames, and three in the tenth.

Why are 3 strikes called a turkey?

At some point (no one knows the exact first instance), one tournament decided to give away a turkey to people who managed to bowl three strikes in a row. This practice spread and eventually embedded itself in common bowling vernacular, long after giving away actual turkeys stopped.

What is an eagle in bowling?

"Eagle" is the single word in bowling that has so much meaning to it. It is a win that definitely doesn't come easy. You become a champion, and you're then recognized each and every year you participate. You become a part of bowling history.

Why was bowling illegal?

In 1366, the first official mention of bowling in England was made, when King Edward III banned it as a distraction to archery practice.

What is Kingpin bowling?

kingpin Add to list Share. A kingpin, also called a "center pin" or a "five pin," is the pin at the very center in bowling. From the bowling pin definition of kingpin, we get its other common meaning: someone who is important.

What is the red pin in bowling?

Share. Whenever the red pin is randomly placed as the head pin, the bowler is treated to engaging animation and a prize of your choice.

How do you bowl correctly?

First: Straighten your hand and wrist. Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you're bowling. Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle. Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.

What do you call a 5'10 split in bowling?

Referred to as a "lily" or a "sour apple," this split occurs when the number five pin, found in the middle of the third row, the number seven pin, found at the far left of the last row, and number 10 pin, found at the far right of the last row, are all left standing at the end of the first throw.

Is 130 a good bowling score?

A typical beginner score at first is around 50-70 and a good leisure bowler's average is normally in the 130s-150s. A good bowler usually gets around 200 in a single game. A winner in a professional bowling game/tournament usually gets between 260 and 280.

What does C mean in bowling?

Chop Off: A scoring term to describe the first ball of a frame that knocks down the headpin along with the 2 pin and 3 pin on one side. The 3 pin and 2 pin on the opposite side are left standing. It is scored as a "C" on our scoring system, however some scoring systems use the symbol "CO".

What is a sour apple in bowling?

A Sour Apple is not something that a bowler wants. It's when the front pin and the two back end pins, the 1, 7 and 10 pins (for you bowlers out there) are left standing. That's every corner of the triangle left standing.