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.

Lifetime Average (Since late 1993) is 208.66