bowlliards scores

To play, I break 10 balls apart, then take ball in hand. I shoot the balls in any order. If I run all 10 balls that counts as a strike. If I miss a shot I get ball in hand again and I try to run whatever balls are left. If I do that counts as a spare. If I fail to make all 10 balls in 2 turns at the table that counts as an open frame. Scoring is just like in bowling, so there are scoring bonuses for stringing racks together.

A variation is to play the balls in rotation. This is obviously a lot harder. I haven't done it that way very often.

Strategy after the break is crucial to getting high scores. My priorities after the break are to first pick off or break apart any clusters, then pocket any balls that are blocking other balls. If there are no clusters or blocking balls I use my ball in hand to get rid of any trouble balls (such as balls that have only one pocket). Once clusters, blocking balls, and trouble balls are gone it just a matter of picking two, three, and four ball patterns to run out.

In the table below are the scores for every bowlliards game I've played since 1993. Before 1993 I played this some but mostly straight pool. I think my bowlliards average was better back then (because of the straight pool playing), but I didn't get my first 300 game until 1/1/1994. I usually try to get in at least one game each week, but I've had some pretty large gaps from time to time.

On June 6th, 2000, I played my 10th consecutive 300 game of Bowlliards. I always told myself that if I ever managed 10 perfect games in a row I'd switch to something more difficult. So there probably won't be any more Bowlliards scores posted.

93

107

155

188

178

216

179

194

176

128

128

188

181

169

170

162

199

131

192

165

225

140

125

133

175

176

130

229

158

180

168

202

201

200

166

180

181

134

201

177

162

168

164

137

167

178

83

168

179

188

300

182

184

174

193

211

137

187

178

174

176

99

150

182

64

173

134

236

229

258

189

186

182

173

258

135

134

199

179

184

183

175

96

184

178

185

190

187

194

190

145

185

136

183

177

210

177

193

177

186

176

178

186

203

189

160

192

199

204

271

187

193

263

198

237

158

233

206

204

194

187

191

201

193

191

205

150

190

139

204

200

187

194

197

200

270

194

143

191

154

157

204

202

195

195

205

204

114

202

194

202

212

193

199

212

224

199

211

196

200

228

208

252

207

198

202

207

227

198

210

213

263

257

202

208

166

199

117

173

217

217

134

199

253

166

198

155

216

207

198

210

175

217

199

198

204

205

155

275

199

169

224

205

273

228

282

300

283

208

224

246

162

178

225

224

220

209

230

238

280

252

230

212

191

279

215

217

218

288

226

261

228

186

211

300

217

199

226

117

229

186

223

212

184

228

211

210

180

199

212

224

218

211

212

220

284

231

235

112

182

233

236

178

236

235

232

235

178

231

250

250

268

222

290

227

292

238

183

188

190

220

242

229

239

286

239

196

224

190

223

229

242

240

232

223

238

232

271

178

300

186

232

173

224

250

242

246

300

236

222

233

117

237

222

178

238

148

284

240

300

232

178

300

239

268

280

250

236

235

222

241

188

237

250

253

300

199

236

111

142

141

96

252

85

174

123

130

151

204

177

190

237

213

272

266

201

199

230

112

127

128

160

153

177

300

240

233

241

257

172

239

242

247

237

252

300

235

246

204

235

243

233

300

263

261

106

218

272

222

192

257

209

266

209

254

258

229

247

254

188

229

261

188

117

260

246

257

300

300

188

245

221

210

207

254

300

300

266

291

300

300

278

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

300

Lifetime Average (Since late 1993) is 208.66