Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, May 17, 2026 (Puzzle #805). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Strike one!"
What It Really Means
You're heading to the bowling alley. Every word in today's puzzle connects to the lanes, the action, and the culture of bowling -- from the equipment to the venue itself.
Think About...
- Things you'd find inside a bowling center
- Bowling equipment and scoring elements
- Areas and amenities surrounding the lanes
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Snaking across the board
Letter Count: 12 letters
Starting Zone: Second letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This is the place where all the action happens -- where pins are set, balls roll, and strikes are made.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think of the long, polished wooden or synthetic surface that runs from the foul line to the pin deck.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is B, last letter is Y
---
---
---
---
---
BOWLINGALLEY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: The big board that tracks every frame.
Closer: Where you check your running total and see who's winning.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 9 letters total
Answer
SCOREBOARD
Word 2
Vague: The targets standing at the far end.
Closer: Ten of them arranged in a triangle, waiting to be knocked down.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 4 letters total
Answer
PINS
Word 3
Vague: The pathways you roll down.
Closer: Parallel strips of polished wood where bowlers send their balls.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 5 letters total
Answer
LANES
Word 4
Vague: Not bowling, but still part of the venue.
Closer: The section with skee-ball, air hockey, and classic games.
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 6 letters total
Answer
ARCADE
Word 5
Vague: The objects you throw.
Closer: Heavy spheres with finger holes, each weight and color different.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 5 letters total
Answer
BALLS
Word 6
Vague: A place to sit and relax between frames.
Closer: The cushioned seating area behind the lanes where bowlers hang out.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 6 letters total
Answer
LOUNGE
Full Answers
Spangram: BOWLINGALLEY
Theme Words:
- SCOREBOARD
- PINS
- LANES
- ARCADE
- BALLS
- LOUNGE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: ARCADE (It's the only word that isn't directly about bowling mechanics, so it might throw off solvers looking for strictly lane-related terms.)
Our Take: A straightforward Sunday puzzle with a clear, grounded theme. Once you land on the bowling alley setting, the words come together quickly -- though ARCADE adds a nice curveball by pulling in the broader venue experience. Perfect for a relaxed morning solve.
