sounds like your buddy was playing low ball.
Low ball is a game where you try for the lowest score - while hitting AT LEAST one pin per ball. Therefore, a perfect score would be 20 9 7 and 10 picked off each rack.
Gutters on the first shot record a strike for scoring purposes - gutters on the second record a spare.
Great way to practice your corner spares.
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All things are difficult
before they are easy.
---- Thomas Fuller

We used to have to do that drill with the 7 pin and 10 pin for the first game at most of our college bowling practices, because we needed to get better at spare shooting my freshman and sophomore years. Then I bowled in a league that would have one special fun night- and one of the three games would be a low ball game. I would break out my yellow dot and be ready to shoot a game around 50 or 60- because a lot of times when you try to take out the 7 pin you end up hitting the 4 which results in at least a 3 count, sometimes more depending on the back pin action.

When I feel like my spare shooting is down the tubes I bring out this exercise for a couple of games.

Matt

You're right!!
I've been bugging my son to go to other alleys where they don't know him. He runs into that problem all of the time.

If someone doesn't know what he's doing and he's bowling badly he hates being laughed at then throws his easy house shot to show them a thing or two.

As a kid I used to get on my sons case BIG TIME! I ought to treat myself the same.
He'd bowl many 250's in practice, when I was with I'd get on his case for messing up with an open. Folks thought I was cruel.
Did it to him his first year in leagues as an adult. He had a 250 something while I was there. Guys were shocked rather than praise him I got on his case. If I remember right, next game was a 279.

Now that he's older and better, I haven't figured out what to get on his case about. heheheeh He would appreciate it if when he's struggling I could tell him what he's doing wrong. Old stuff only annoys him now.
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Kathy, From PA!
Big mouth, loves to talk.
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I wish I knew as much about bowling as my son.
He's not a bragger but mom sure loves to share his good times!