What is a Good Bowling Score?

Are you satisfied with your current bowling score? While 300 is the highest possible score in bowling, not every bowler can score that whenever they want. As rare as it sounds, most bowlers at least once in their life want to bowl a perfect game. But for that, a bowler needs perfection in his throws first.

From start to finish, you need finesse to roll your bowling ball on the right angle with the right speed to get as many bowling pins as possible. The more pins you will be able to get, the higher your score will be. Apart from 300, is there any other score range that is suitable for bowlers? Based on the skill set and bowling score, bowlers are categorized. So do you want to know what is a good bowling score for you? Stay tuned. 

Good Bowling Score for Beginners

Have you recently been introduced to bowling? Sorry, mates, if your score is not thriving already. It is totally normal for bowlers to score less than 100 at the beginning. The score can be as low as 50. But don’t feel disheartened! With adequate practice and consistency, you will be able to increase your bowling score you can proudly say to other bowlers. 

In general, a decent bowling score for beginners can be anywhere from 100-160. Don’t get scared or feel discouraged seeing 50-70 bowling points during your training period. This is normal and it happens to every bowler. Once you learn to adapt a few strategies and repeat that every time you play expects to have an average between 130 and 150. So if you have just scored your first 150 as a beginner, that’s just the beginning of a great tale. 

Naturally, a beginner is unable to knock down a lot of pins in a single ball throw. As a result, the chances of strikes and spares are low. This is quite the opposite of what pro bowlers do. They score more strikes and spares which helps them secure a higher bowling score. Once you are able to pick up some spares and start to bowl back-to-back strikes, you will see the scores go up. 

Good Bowling Score for Professional Bowlers

PBA and USBC professional bowlers are a lot better than regular bowlers like us. Let me tell you an astonishing fact. Jeff Carter is a USBC pro bowler, known for having the world record of having the highest average bowling score. His average is 261.74 points (2000-2001).  

If you ask around a few tournament-participating bowlers, they will say that their average is between 200 and 225. Now, go ahead, and ask around some actual pro bowlers. They would claim to have a score anywhere from 230 to 260. Some might even have an even higher score. 

When professional bowlers win a match, tournament, or any competition, they end up with a score between 250 and 280. So that’s a very decent number for professional bowlers. I wouldn’t lie to you. Not gonna lie, scoring like a professional is a big deal and if you’re dreaming to become someone, you should start working on your spares and strikes. 

For Male

There are thousands of studies that suggest men are physically stronger than women. Despite the body size, weight, and composition, an average female is considerably less stronger than an average male. The same goes for bowlers. Consequently, male bowlers tend to have a higher bowling score compared to women. 

For male bowlers, a satisfactory score should be from 160 to 220. But this is not applicable for every bowlers. However, in terms of bowlers’ skills and experience, the numbers vary a lot. For instance, beginner male bowlers should be happy with a score between 90-120. For advanced and intermediate bowlers, a good bowling score should be between 200-250.

For Female

A decent score for female bowlers falls within the range of 150-200. If your average is more than this, well, congratulations to you! You will thrive even more. However, if your score is lower than the average, don’t feel discouraged. Like men, a good score for women also depends on the bowler’s years of experience, skill set, and physical ability. The more experienced a female bowler is, the higher her bowling score is likely to be.

For Kids

Do you think a 10-year-old kid, a 30-year-old adult, and a 60-year-old senior bowler have the same average bowling score? Of course, not! It is pretty much impossible for a kid to score like an adult. Similarly, it is also hard for senior bowlers to score as high as they used to do in their young days. With that being established, you should learn what score you should expect from a kid bowler.

Commonly, I see kids having an average score of around 100 points. For those who are 10-12 years old, a good score for them is 90-120. With years of practice, kids can start to develop their bowling skills and once they grow up a little, their average bowling score can increase to anywhere between 130 and 150. 

For Seniors

Senior experienced bowlers can have a score as high as 270 (or more), or it can be as low as 150 (or less). Due to some physical restrictions and conditions, most senior bowlers tend to have a score of 120-150 and that should be a good enough score. Doesn’t matter if the senior bowler has recently started bowling or has years of experience, I hardly see their score go over 200. As a senior, if you tend to have more scores, well, congratulations, keep on rolling! I wish everyone can bowl as strong as you in their old days. 

Conclusion

So what is your bowling score average? Are you happy with what you are scoring these days? If yes, good for you. If you don’t, don’t worry. You will reach your goal with time. And, once you get there, do let me know. I would love to hear from all of you. We might even have a little chit chat and I can tell you more about how you can improve your bowling score. Till then, practice hard and focus on enjoying your game. As always, good luck and keep on slaying, my bowler brothers and sisters.