Key points
- League points: one point per game won (half a point for a tie) and often one point for the highest series total.
- Peterson points: one point for every 50 pins, plus a bonus point for each game won.
- Pin bonus (match play): the winner of each game gets a bonus, often 30 pins, added to their total.
- The handicap per game can be added to the scores before comparing the two sides.
- All the settings (points, block, bonus) can be changed to suit your rules.
How are points scored in a bowling league?
In a league, two teams (or two players) face each other every week on a pair of lanes, usually over three games. The most common system awards one point to the team that wins each game, and an extra point to the one with the most pins over the series. A three-game match therefore awards four points. If a game ends in a tie, each side gets half the points.
Example: team Atlas wins games 1 and 3, team Majorelle wins game 2, but Majorelle has more total pins thanks to a big second game. Result: 2 points to 2. With handicap, each team's handicap is added to its scores before comparing.
The Peterson system
Born in the United States with the famous Petersen Classic tournament in Chicago (hence the name, often spelt “Peterson”), this system rewards both consistency and wins. Each game earns:
- 1 point for every 50 pins (a 213 earns 4 points);
- 1 bonus point for the winner of the game (half a point for a tie).
A player who loses 213 to 220 therefore scores 4 points, their opponent 5. The system softens the impact of a narrow defeat and is popular in round robin tournaments, where everyone plays everyone else. The block size and the bonus vary from one set of rules to another: adjust them in the tool.
The match play pin bonus
In many European tournaments, the finals are played as match play: each player faces the other finalists in turn, and the winner of each match gets a pin bonus, often 30 (15 each in the event of a tie). The standings are based on total pinfall, bonus included. So a consistent player who loses narrowly can stay on top thanks to their pinfall, while a string of wins helps a player climb the standings.
Scratch or handicap?
In scratch, only the pins actually knocked down count. In handicap, the handicap of the player or team (the sum of the handicaps of the players in the line-up) is added to each game. Tick “Count pins with handicap” and enter each side's handicap per game: the tool shows the raw scores in brackets. To work out these handicaps, use our handicap calculator.
| System | Rewards | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| League points | Wins | Weekly team leagues |
| Peterson | Pins and wins | Round robin tournaments |
| Pin bonus | Pins above all | Match play finals |
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate Peterson points in bowling?
For each game, divide the score by 50, dropping the decimals (a 213 gives 4 points), then add 1 point for the winner of the game. The points from all the games are added together.
How many points are there in a bowling league match?
Most often 4 points over three games: one point per game won and one point for the highest pin total in the series. Some leagues award 2 points per game or points per player: the tool lets you change these values.
What is the 30-pin bonus in match play?
In match play, the winner of each match gets a 30-pin bonus added to their total (15 each in the event of a tie). The final standings are based on total pinfall, bonus included.
What happens if a game ends in a tie?
The points or bonus for the game are split equally between the two sides. Some rules provide for a tiebreaker (a 9th and 10th frame roll-off): check the rules of your competition.