There are so many different styles of bowling out there! You’ve heard of duckpin and candlepin bowling, I’m sure, where the pins are shaped uniquely, and scores are recorded differently than conventional bowling.
But there is one more that you may not have heard about. Welcome to the wonderful world of no tap bowling.
No tap bowling is quite an unconventional take on your everyday bowling rules, but is unquestionably a lot of fun to play! Let’s deep dive into the art of no tap bowling and try to find out what it’s all really about.
What Is No Tap Bowling?
I’m sure you’re not the only one it happens to, you’ve no doubt aimed for that perfect strike but ended up knocking all bar one pin down. Infuriating, I know? It happens to all of us, those with a lot of bowling experience or those who have none!
Can be very soul-crushing to see that last pin standing tall and proud, mocking us for our failure. If only there were some bowling variation where these 9 pins were all it took to win!
Well, there is… and it’s called no tap bowling!
In no tap bowling, you’re awarded a full-strike on crushing 9 pins, despite leaving one standing. No more “what-ifs” and “if-only’s”, no tap bowling will give you the score anyway.
So if you’re somebody who isn’t really good at achieving full strikes (join the club), you’re going to love no tap bowling. It can also be played with different-sized pins, including cute, mini pins!
Suicide No Tap
If you’re good at knocking down all 10 pins at once and don’t miss a single chance bragging about it, you’re going to be miserably out of luck in no tap bowling, particularly suicide no tap.
In suicide no tap bowling, if you knock down all 10 pins, you get no points or zero points. Yes, you read that right.
In this variation of the sport, you only get points if you strike 1 to 9 pins, or 1 to 8 pins, or 1 to 7 pins, all respectively known as 9 pin no-tap, 8 pin no-tap and 7 pin no-tap.
Why Is It Called No Tap Bowling?
In case you don’t know what a tap in regular bowling is, it means to knock down all pins but one, so you have to pick it up on the next try.
No-tap bowling is called this because there is no need for tapping, meaning you don’t have to pick up the spare pin standing after knocking all 9 pins. You knock down all 9 pins, or 8 pins, or 7 pins, and you get the full score. Pretty neat, isn’t it?
Variations of No Tap Bowling
There are different variations of no-tap bowling, as briefly mentioned above. The most popular is the 9 pin no-tap one, where you knock all 9 pins but one. Similarly, in 7 or 8 pins, you crush all 7 or 8 pins, with one remaining.
How Popular Is No Tap Bowling?
No-tap bowling is not nearly as popular as traditional bowling, but it’s still played in many alleys and tournaments.
It’s sure to pick up speed though, as the rules are so much easier and will definitely favor beginner’s luck a lot more than your old-school bowling.
So the next time you get together with your bowling buddies, challenge them in a game of no-tap bowling and keep scoring!
How Scoring Works in No Tap Bowling
I’ve talked about how, in no-tap bowling, bowlers get a full strike if they knock down 9 pins, with one standing pin remaining.
Sometimes, when played for competition or leagues, scoring is modified to make the game more challenging. Otherwise, they are scored the traditional bowling way.
A full strike earns you 10 points plus the pins you knocked down, and spares give you another 10 plus the pins knocked down on the next game. But it’s no-tap, so you don’t have to worry about the spares if you’re following regular scoring.
Should You Play No Tap Bowling?
This completely depends on you! If you’re someone who consistently misses out on gaining strikes in traditional bowling, then no-tap bowling is right up your alley.
The rules are flexible and there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure with spares taken out of the picture.
If you’re also someone who is bowling for fun and doesn’t really care much about the rules or regulations, then you should give no-tap bowling a shot for sure!
Who Shouldn’t Play No Tap Bowling?
Everybody’s welcome to play no-tap bowling. But if you’re somebody who is competitive, serious about their strategies, and plays to compete and partake in leagues and competitions, then no-tap bowling might seem too elementary for you.
However, there’s no harm in letting some steam off playing this easier and fun variation of the sport you play so seriously now, is there?
Should You Train with No Tap Bowling?
Since most leagues and competitions don’t have no-tap bowling on their radar, you can get away with not training.
With its easier and more flexible rules, it doesn’t quite help hone any bowling skills, but who needs to when you’re just after a bit of fun.
Pros and Cons of No Tap Bowling
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of no-tap bowling, I’m sure you can already guess them!
Pros:
- Easy to play, great for beginners and doesn’t need a whole bunch of expert bowling skills.
- A great way to spend quality time with your friends without competing and one-upping each other for scores like traditional bowling.
- Great for kids who are interested in bowling.
Cons:
- Not great for honing your bowling skills in competitions or leagues.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this brief adventure into a fascinating and fun variation of bowling! No tap bowling is picking up steam thanks to its flexibility and ease of playing.
Whether for a relaxing night with friends or for a friendly game against your children, no-tap bowling is the most fun you can ever have on the lanes!