Scratch vs. handicap
The most important distinction. Scratch tournaments use your raw scores with no adjustment — they reward the strongest bowlers and are where the best compete. Handicap tournaments add a per-game bonus based on your average, leveling the field so a lower-average bowler having a great night can beat a stronger one. Beginners almost always start with handicap events. Our handicap calculator shows how the math works.
Singles, doubles, and team
Most championships offer multiple event types: singles (just you), doubles (you and a partner), and team (typically four or five bowlers). Large events like the USBC Open include all of these plus an all-events standing that combines your scores across them. You can often enter several.
Sweepers and side events
A sweeper is a shorter, often same-day tournament — a fast, fun format frequently run alongside bigger events or at your home center. Side events and brackets let you compete in smaller pools for additional prizes. These are great low-pressure ways to get tournament experience.
Eliminators and match play
Some formats use match play (head-to-head games where you bowl against one opponent at a time) or eliminator structures (lowest scorers drop out each round until a winner remains). These add drama and are common in the later, televised stages of professional events like those on the PBA Tour.
Majors
At the professional level, a handful of events carry major status — the most prestigious titles a pro can win, weighing heavily on a career's legacy. They're the bowling equivalent of golf's or tennis's majors. As a fan, the majors are the marquee events to follow.
Which should you enter?
New to tournaments? Start with a local handicap event or a sweeper — low pressure, fair, and a gentle introduction. As your average and confidence grow, add doubles and team events, then work toward a bucket-list championship. See how to enter a tournament for the practical steps.