Key points
- A team of 5 players bowls a single game: the 1st bowls frames 1 and 6, the 2nd frames 2 and 7, and so on.
- Scoring works like a normal game: strike and spare bonuses carry over from one player to the next.
- The format can also be played with 2, 3 or 4 players: the frames are shared out in turn.
- The tool records each game and calculates the team series, with optional rotation of the bowling order.
What is the Baker format?
The Baker format, named after the American Frank Baker who devised it in the 1950s, is a way of playing as a team in which all the players contribute to one and the same game. Instead of each player bowling their own ten frames, the team takes turns: one player bowls a frame, then hands over to the next. With a team of five, each player bowls exactly two frames per game.
This format is widely used in team championships in the United States and in the NCAA (college bowling), and increasingly in leagues and tournaments in Europe and Africa, because it is fast, exciting and puts pressure on every shot: a missed spare costs the whole team.
Who bowls which frame?
| Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 players | 1 and 6 | 2 and 7 | 3 and 8 | 4 and 9 | 5 and 10 |
| 4 players | 1, 5 and 9 | 2, 6 and 10 | 3 and 7 | 4 and 8 | — |
| 3 players | 1, 4, 7 and 10 | 2, 5 and 8 | 3, 6 and 9 | — | — |
| 2 players | 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 | 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 | — | — | — |
With 5 players, the last in the order bowls the 10th frame, including any bonus shots: teams often put their most reliable player under pressure in 5th position. With 4 or 3 players, those at the top of the order bowl one more frame than the others; that is why the tool offers to rotate the order each game: the 2nd player starts the next game and the 1st moves to last, so that everyone bowls the same number of frames over the whole series.
How do you keep score in Baker?
The score is calculated exactly like a regular game: a strike is worth 10 points plus the next two shots, a spare 10 points plus the next shot. The only difference is that the bonus shots are bowled by teammates. If player 1 throws a strike in frame 1, the bonus points for that strike depend on player 2's two shots in frame 2. The maximum score is still 300.
Simply enter the pins knocked down on each shot using the tool's keypad: it shows at all times who is up next, calculates the team score and, once the game is over, records it in the series.
Running a Baker format tournament
- Make up balanced teams based on the players' averages, with our team builder tool.
- Draw the lanes: a Baker team uses one lane or a pair of lanes.
- Set the number of games: series of 4 to 8 Baker games are common, as a Baker game takes about fifteen minutes.
- Decide how teams are ranked: total pinfall over the series, or points for each game won in a match against another team (see our match points tool).
The Baker format is also ideal for team building: beginners and experienced players share the same game and cheer each other on every frame.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Baker format work in bowling?
The players on a team take turns to bowl a single game: with 5 players, the first bowls frames 1 and 6, the second frames 2 and 7, and so on. The team's score is the score of that game.
How many players are there on a Baker team?
The standard format has 5 players, but Baker can also be played with 2, 3 or 4: the frames are handed out in turn, and some players bowl one extra frame.
Who bowls the 10th frame in Baker?
With 5 players, it is the 5th player in the order. They also bowl the bonus shots if the frame starts with a strike or a spare.
Do strike bonuses carry over to the next player?
Yes: a strike or a spare is completed by the following shots, which are bowled by the next teammates. The score is calculated exactly as in a normal game.