In most bowling tournaments, especially at high levels, an entire field bowls a fixed number of qualifying games, and the cumulative scores at the end of those games determine which bowlers move into the next round. When that next round is head-to-head match play, it's a necessity to have an alternate spot, which goes to the highest-finishing bowler who missed the cut. This bowler may decline the alternate spot if he or she wants, and then each bowler, according to the standings, will be asked until someone accepts.


The job entails committing to be in attendance during all match-play rounds, and be ready to enter competition as soon as a bowler withdraws due to injury or any other reason.

Typically, there is a small financial incentive to accept the alternate spot, as the bowler who withdraws and the bowler who was the alternate end up splitting their total earnings per a formula determined by the tournament director. Usually, the small financial incentive is very small, because the alternate bowler very rarely challenges for the title, especially when entering late in a block.