The red light above the lane number signifies that something went over the foul line. If you have all of the pins standing when you foul, you must reset the pinsetter. That includes the first, second and third ball. If you do not have all of the pins standing when you foul, you must deduct those pins knocked down on the fouled ball from your score. If you knock 7 pins down with your first ball and you did not foul on that ball, you have a 7 box so far. If you knock down 2 pins with your second ball and you foul, you lose those pins and still have a 7 box. If you knock down 1 pin with your third ball and did not foul, you already had 7, 7 plus 1 is 8. You get an 8 for that box. If you foul on your third ball, you only get a 7 for that box.

Lob Line Rule

The heavy black line 10 feet from the foul line is the lob line. Your ball must make contact with the lane before the lob line or it is considered a lob. The foul line penalties apply to the lob line (see “Foul Line Rule” above).

Gutter Ball Rule

Your ball must make contact with the pins on the plate before it rolls into the gutter or it is considered a gutter ball. The foul line rule (see “Foul Line Rule” above) applies to the gutter ball rule. If you have all of the pins standing and your ball rolls into the gutter and bounces out, knocking pins down, you must reset the pinsetter. If you don’t knock any pins down, there is no penalty. After pins are fairly knocked down, if a subsequent ball bounces out of the gutter and knocks down pins, those pins are deducted from your score.

Courtesy Rule

The bowler on the right has the right of way. If the bowler on your right is ready to bowl, you must wait for them to bowl. If you are the bowler on the right, you are not expected to wait for the bowler in your left. The primary reason for the courtesy rule is not to distract other bowlers. Don’t hang around at the foul line or in the other bowler’s line of sight, because this is a distraction. Bowling requires concentration.

We did not penalize for the first three weeks. This was the grace period. Scores did not count toward patches, marks in a row, or stars of the week for the first three weeks. We will help bowlers to understand these rules and correct any problems they may have. From this point forward, all rules and penalties will be enforced.