LA Bowl

Bowling at Ayr's LA Bowl

Scoring

The machines at LA Bowl will calculate the scoring automatically for you, but to understand the process better and even make the game more enjoyable for you we've given a brief outlien below.

A game consists of 10 turns or 'Frames'. In each frame, you get to roll two balls to knock down the pins. The score is then worked out as follows:

• If you fail to knock all of the pins over in 2 balls, you score the number that you do knock down.
• If you knock all of the pins down in 2 balls, this is called a 'spare' and scores 10 plus the number of pins you hit on your next ball.
• If you knock all of the pins down in only 1 ball, this is called a 'strike' and scores 10 plus the number of pins you hit on your next 2 balls.

The Lanes

A bowling lane consists of 39 boards and measures 42 inches wide. It is 60 feet from the foul line to the head pin, with another 15 feet making up the approach area.

On the lane there are 7 arrows, these are locate 15 feet down the lane from the foul line. The arrows are situated on boards 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 and are referred to as 1st, 2nd, 3rd arrow etc, 4th arrow being in the centre. You can count these arrows from left to right if you're left handed and right to left if you're right handed.

On the approach, you will notice that there are 7 dots at the foul line, and two other sets of 5 or 7 dots. The two other sets of dots (usually 5 each set), are located 12 and 15 feet from the foul line. These dots correspond with the arrows on the lane, being located on boards 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30. These dots are there to help bowlers line up for their shot.

Generally, when a bowler releases the ball the point at which the ball contacts the lane is 7 boards from the inside of the shoe (this is a general rule and does not apply to everyone). If a bowler walks in a straight line up the lane without drifting, and wants to play the ball straight up 2nd arrow or board 10, standing on board 17 should help them accomplish this.