If you’re just starting out in bowling, you may have some questions about:
- What goes on in the game?
- What is an open frame in bowling?
These are not silly questions from a bowler. It is good to have all these questions, but having questions isn’t what makes you smart.
Having answers does. It’s okay if you don’t have the answers because we do!
In this article, we will explain what open frame bowling is. Nothing too boring, we promise!
What is an Open Frames in Bowling?
An open frame in bowling can be good or bad, depending on your performance. It is a frame in which all ten pins in front of you are replaced. Now, how they get replaced depends on you!
You can either strike all ten, letting the machine sweep the knocked-down pins from the row, or, you can hit none of them, letting the machine pick the mocking pins up.
Because of this split, open frames can be either positive or negative. You get a negative open frame by throwing the ball at full speed at the right angle, and knocking down all the pins to get 10 points.,
If the ball falls into the gutters or doesn’t hit any pins, you get a zero score. Although it is negative, it is still an open frame.
How Does an Open Frame in Bowling Work?
How an open framework in bowling works is very simple. Each player gets two chances in one frame to knock all the pins down.
So, if you are the player, you can make yourself the talk of your friend group by throwing the ball so that it hits all the pins at once.
If you throw the ball in your first chance and hit only a few pins, say… four, you still have another chance left. The second ball leaves your hand with great speed and hits the remaining six! Good shot!
Even though all ten pins have fallen down, it is not called a strike. It’s called a spare.
Which Types of Frames are in Bowling?
Bowling has many frames, and you should know about all of them if you want to appear sensible in front of your friends!
Open Frame
An open frame happens when a player fails to hit all ten pins in one frame.
For example, it’s your first time bowling, and you throw the ball and hit two pins in the first go and five in the second. Your total score? 7!
Strike
A strike is what everyone wants when they go bowling. It happens when you throw a bowling bowl just right, and it knocks all of them down in one throw, and you get 10 points!
Split
A split is just as annoying in bowling as in any other situation. Think of it this way. You are on the beach and spot an ice cream and hot dog vendor strolling away opposite each other.
Who do you run after? This is a split.
A split in bowling is quite similar. It happens when you throw the ball in the center, and it knocks down the pins in the middle, but two pins remain standing, with one on each end.
Split Conversion
The split sounds like a pickle, right? Well, it’s not always.
Some experts are able to tackle the split, and throw their balls with such a force towards a particular pin that it becomes a second ball! It flies towards the untargeted pin and knocks it to the ground.
And there you have it: a split conversion!
Spare
The spare comes in second place, standing behind a strike.
A spare happens when you fail to hit all ten pins in the first go but do on your second chance.
Turkey
Turkey is not just a Thanksgiving dream; it is a bowling dream as well. It is what you score when you get three strikes in a row.
Some bowling alleys even show a turkey dancing on the scoreboard if you score a turkey. How cute!
Perfect Game
The real bowling dream is getting a perfect game. The perfect game is where you score 300 points.
That means 12 consecutive strikes!
Sounds unreal, but it has happened in real life!
Fill Frame
The fill frame throw is the turn a player gets after scoring a spare or strike in the tenth frame. This frame gives them bonus points that “fill” the frame.
What is the Difference Between Open and Closed Frame?
Confused between an open frame and a closed frame? Let us break it down for you.
If you throw both the balls of your frame, but there are pins still standing, it is an open frame. And yes, that can be annoying.
A closed frame is where all the pins are knocked down, also known as a strike. A tenth-frame strike requires bonus plays!
What is the Future of Open Frame Bowling?
Open-frame bowling has recently become quite famous in the industry. We believe it could replace orthodox bowling trends with its innovativeness, but only time will tell.
Open-frame bowling typically has a thinner lane surface, so players can place their bowling balls wherever they want, but it should be along the stipulated line!
Open-frame bowlers also use lower-density polyurethane balls. These balls do not like skidding, so they are easier to control.
Conclusion
We hope that you now understand all about open frames in bowling, or at least have a good enough idea!
Bowling can be a lot more exciting if you know what you are doing, which is why we really appreciate you researching and learning more about the sport.
Happy bowling!
FAQs
What do you call a bowling game with no open frames?
A bowling game with no open frames is called a clean game.
Is a miss called an open frame?
Yes! You can definitely call a miss an open frame. You can only close a frame if you hit all the balls. Even if only one of them remains standing, the frame is open.