What constitutes a "clean" game - (n00b Question)

[bowlerRob2]

Welcome to bowling and that is a pretty good question. Believe it or not, clean games are a prize for me even though I am presently averaging in the 190's. I am very proud every time I can get a clean game. I can get a 230 game that might have had an open and it's not as good as a 190 clean game in my book. Anyways, congrads on the 200 and the clean game!

[Mike White]

E-Tank said he assumes the fill ball needs to be a strike. He is not quoting any league rules or official definitions.

I bowl in a sport league that gives bonus points in the standings for clean games. Our definition of clean says that if you make a spare in the tenth, you only need to keep the ball on the lane for the fill. While some have suggested that you should need to get 5 or more pins on the fill, it's never been brought to a vote. If you get a strike on the first two balls in the tenth, you again only need to not foul and keep the ball on the lane. The tricky part is if the first ball in the tenth is a strike and the second isn't, you must make the spare on the third ball. While I usually manage to blow any chance at a clean game before the 5th frame, I've had a couple make it to that first strike in the tenth only to leave a big nasty split on the next ball.

Our Association gives awards for clean games, and clean series.
The criteria they use only requires a mark (spare or strike) in each frame.
If you has a spare in the 10th, then threw a gutter for the count, it would still qualify.
Likewise, if you had a strike in the 10th, then a split, and miss, you still had the 10th mark, and would qualify.

As "easy" as scores have become, I read, in the lifetime of the ABC/USBC national tourney, only 3 people have had 90 clean frames in their Team, Doubles and Singles events.

[Aslan]

Actually, this was a good question. Because my only clean game I did the same thing. I think I got 2 strikes and then 8 pins. I figured it was a "clean" game because I marked all the way through. I was only throwing the 2nd then 3rd ball…because I marked in the 10th. Good to know thats sort of the official interpretation since I've only had that ONE clean game.

[MICHAEL]

I had a clean game a week ago Monday,,, an x in every box,, LOL.... 300!! That's called Super Clean!!! LOL My second in 6 months... whooopie... all at the age of 64/65!! Birthday between them! ( Just started bowing at the age of 63!! Lot of catching up to do!!

[Mike White]

I had a clean game a week ago Monday,,, an x in every box,, LOL.... 300!! That's called Super Clean!!! LOL My second in 6 months... whooopie... all at the age of 64/65!! Birthday between them! ( Just started bowing at the age of 63!! Lot of catching up to do!!

A super clean game would be the all spare game. That takes a lot of work.
First off you're having one of those nights where you can't control the first ball well enough to strike.
Yet you have enough control on the second ball to cover all the spares.

Current lane conditions help you to make strikes, and hinder your spare shooting.

[MICHAEL]

A super clean game would be the all spare game. That takes a lot of work.
First off you're having one of those nights where you can't control the first ball well enough to strike.
Yet you have enough control on the second ball to cover all the spares.

Current lane conditions help you to make strikes, and hinder your spare shooting.

MIke you make it sound like its harder to have an all spare game, and pick them up then all strikes.. LOL,,, I have had many,,, many clean games, with all marks,,, spares and strikes. Also who would want a whole spare game, lol (not a great score involved with that game)

Also you say with todays lane conditions its much harder to spare then strike,,, well it depends on what you leave? 7, 10 sure... lol.... but a 10 pin, single pin leave of ANY kind should be simple with a plastic ball! With a plastic ball you take the oil out of the equation, several other spares are quit easy with plastic, regardless of oil conditons IMHO.

I think if someone where to check it out,,, much easier to have a CLEAN game then a 300.... How many times have I had a 290/289s/298 ect ect... clean but no 300... (

A CLEAN GAME IS SOMEHTING TO BE PROUD OF, BUT, no awards for do it..... ice

Picking up spares is VERY IMPORTANT to one having a great game, and series.... But a Super Clean Game will always be to me mike,,, A 300 game, over any all spare, or no open frames game!

[Mudpuppy]

Welcome to bowling and that is a pretty good question. Believe it or not, clean games are a prize for me even though I am presently averaging in the 190's. I am very proud every time I can get a clean game. I can get a 230 game that might have had an open and it's not as good as a 190 clean game in my book. Anyways, congrads on the 200 and the clean game!

I disagree - I would much prefer the 230 game even if it had open(s). No one in any alley I have ever bowled in around Southeast Michigan has really cared one iota about a clean game. It isn't discussed, it isn't recognized and it is certainly not rewarded.

[Aslan]

MIke you make it sound like its harder to have an all spare game, and pick them up then all strikes.. LOL,,, I have had many,,, many clean games, with all marks,,, spares and strikes. Also who would want a whole spare game, lol (not a great score involved with that game)

I don't think Mike meant it's less of an accomplishment to get a 300 than a clean all spares game. I think he meant that in some ways…a 300 game takes a good deal of luck as well as skill. Spares take skill. You just can't get around that. The only luck that comes into play with spares is BAD luck (splits). Getting all spares…I'd say is 80% skill/20% luck. The "luck" is not getting splits. With strikes…you could have 2-3 Brooklyns…maybe a couple where that 10 or 7 pin "barely" fell.

Think of it like this…a professional bowler has thrown how many clean games? 100s? 1000s? How many 300 games per pro bowler? 30? 50? 60? Is it because pro bowlers have such a high level of skill, and thats why they get so many clean games? Or is it that 300 games take SOooo much "skill" that even pro bowlers can rarely do it? I think it's 95% the first one…clean games are true indicator of skill (which is why I only have one). A big, fancy ball doesn't help you pick up spares. Easy lane conditions don't help you pick up spares. You MUST have skill. But all the skill in the world (professional level even) won't help you much with 300 games. Because you need luck too. They don't give watches or rings for clean games…but thats just because clean games are commonplace for highly skilled bowlers. They give awards for 300 games because it's almost like winning a lottery!

[MICHAEL]

I don't think Mike meant it's less of an accomplishment to get a 300 than a clean all spares game. I think he meant that in some ways…a 300 game takes a good deal of luck as well as skill. Spares take skill. You just can't get around that. The only luck that comes into play with spares is BAD luck (splits). Getting all spares…I'd say is 80% skill/20% luck. The "luck" is not getting splits. With strikes…you could have 2-3 Brooklyns…maybe a couple where that 10 or 7 pin "barely" fell.

Think of it like this…a professional bowler has thrown how many clean games? 100s? 1000s? How many 300 games per pro bowler? 30? 50? 60? Is it because pro bowlers have such a high level of skill, and thats why they get so many clean games? Or is it that 300 games take SOooo much "skill" that even pro bowlers can rarely do it? I think it's 95% the first one…clean games are true indicator of skill (which is why I only have one). A big, fancy ball doesn't help you pick up spares. Easy lane conditions don't help you pick up spares. You MUST have skill. But all the skill in the world (professional level even) won't help you much with 300 games. Because you need luck too. They don't give watches or rings for clean games…but thats just because clean games are commonplace for highly skilled bowlers. They give awards for 300 games because it's almost like winning a lottery!

If you throw a CLEAN in the pocket 300 game, its skill! If you throw a clean spare game its skill usually unless you pick a spare up that was done in such a way that it was not even what you planned!

I have had many,,, many clean games, but only 2 so far 300s! Both are an accomplishment, but a clean game could be one like I had with nine 10 pins, easy pick up for me, only one pin, so not that big of a deal in regards to accomplishment.

On the 300, I had to make moves to adjust for the change on the fly, and hope that my moves would keep it a clean in the pocket game, which is was!

A clean game is something to be very proud of, but much harder to throw a 300,,, I think odds are out there somewhere, and I am sure its not even close!

Even more hard then a 300, in my opinion is a 800 series,,, I was 20 pins away from that even with my 300!! I had a 300 216, loss carry many good pocket hits, but a few 10's and 7s! then a 264..... for a 780!

It takes a butt load of skill to bowl a 800!!! I want one BAD!!!

[Aslan]

I still contend that luck is more necessary for 300 games. Obviously it's skill…but you're telling me…you hit the pocket every time and one time leave a 10-pin…that it's because you're just a little less "skilled"??

My nemesis is the "sleeper spares". God I hate hitting it square…seeing a couple pins scatter, and leave that damn sleeper.