Alternate Shot/Scotch Doubles - Bowling

On November 11, 2012 my blog entry on team bowling (Baker System Format) discussed how this format was going to be used for the new PBA League. Another form of team bowling, which is rarely seen on the professional level is alternate shot doubles, or also known as Scotch Doubles.

The concept of Scotch Doubles is pretty easy. You bowl with a partner. Bowler #1 bowls the first ball. If s/he rolls a strike, then Bowler #2 bowls the first ball in the next frame. This is where the term "pick me up" said to teammates when your goal hasn't been achieved has real meaning. If Bowler #2 doesn't bowl a strike, then Bowler #1 bowls the second ball for the spare.

Whether or not the spare is converted, Bowler #2 continues to bowl first until s/he strikes again. Ideally, you'd like to strike as much as possible. If you can't convert spares, then your weaknesses become very exposed. Unlike the Baker format, where you bowl a set number of frames, Scotch doubles requires you to concentrate on every frame, because you may have to bowl it. The number of frames you bowl can be as few as 5 or as many as all 10.