|
Term |
Definition |
| Alley, or Bowling Lane |
Playing surface on which the ball is rolled
and where the pins are located. Also known as a lane. In its plural
form, can mean a bowling center. |
| Anchor |
Last bowler in a team's lineup. |
|
Approach |
Area behind the foul line on which the bowler
takes his/her steps prior to delivering the ball. Known, too, as the
runway. Also, the entire delivery process, from push away to release. |
| Back End |
The two-part, rearmost part of a lane — the
hook area and the pin deck. |
| Back swing |
Path of the arm behind the body during the
next to last step in the delivery. |
| Backup |
A ball that curves left to right for a
right-hander and right to left for a left-hander. |
| Ball Rack |
Equipment used to store house balls. |
| Ball Return |
Usually an under-the-lane track on which the
ball is returned to the bowler from the pit. Also, where the ball rests
before and after all shots. |
| Blind |
Score given to a team when a member is absent.
Although based on the missing player's past performances, the score
given is usually lower than the average for that bowler, thus penalizing
him for the absence. |
| Boards |
Strips of wood that make up a lane. |
| Bowling Area |
The area behind the lane where bowlers wait to
bowl. This is sometimes referred to as the settee area. |
| Bowling Center |
A bowling establishment. |
| Bridge |
Distance between finger holes on the ball. |
| Concourse |
Area behind the lane where spectators sit. |
| Control Desk |
The bowling center area where you make the
arrangements and receive the equipment needed to bowl. |
| Convert |
When you successfully make your spare. |
| Count |
Number of pins knocked down on the first ball. |
| Curve |
A ball that is rolled toward the outside of
the lane and then curves back toward the center of the lane. |
| Delivery |
Rolling of the ball. |
| Double |
Two consecutive strikes. |
| Error |
Failure to convert a spare. Also called a
blow, miss or open. |
| Fill |
Number of pins knocked down by the first ball
after a spare. So called because those pins finish the scoring for the
previous frame. |
| Foul |
Touching or going beyond the foul line when
delivering the ball. |
| Foul Line |
A black line on the alley which separates the
approach from the lane. |
| Frame |
One-tenth of a game. Each large box on a score
sheet indicates a frame. A player's turn during a game. A game consists
of 10 frames. |
| Gutter Ball |
A ball rolled in the gutter. |
| Gutter or Channel |
Drop off area on each side of the lane. Also
called the channel. |
| Handicap |
Pins added to a bowler's score to equalize
competition. The lower a bowler's average, the higher the handicap so
that he/she will have a better opportunity to defeat a bowler with a
higher average. |
| Headpin |
The number one pin. |
| Hook |
A ball that breaks sharply to the left for a
right-hander, to the right for a left-hander. |
| House Ball |
A ball that is owned by the bowling center and
can be used by anyone. |
| Lane |
Name usually associated with the 60-foot
wooden surface extending from the foul line to the end of the pin deck. |
| Lead Off |
First bowler in a team's lineup. |
| Leave |
Pins that remain standing after the first ball
delivery. |
| Lift |
Upward motion applied to the ball by the
fingers at the point of release. |
| Line |
A game of 10 frames — one full game. Also
refers to the path a ball travels. |
| Lofting |
Tossing the ball far out beyond the foul line.
Normally caused by a late release. |
| Mark |
A strike or a spare. |
| Miss |
When no pins are knocked down on a single
shot. |
| Open |
A frame without a strike or a spare, pins are
left standing after two shots. |
| Perfect Game |
A 300 score. Strikes in all 10 frames. Twelve
consecutive strikes. |
| Pin |
Object which the bowler is trying to knock
down. |
| Pin Bowler |
A bowler who aims visually at the pin when
delivering the ball. |
| Pin Deck |
Area where the pins are placed. |
| Pit |
Area below the far end of the lane into which
the pins fall. |
| Pocket |
Between the 1 and 2 pins for left-handers;
between the 1 and 3 pins for right-handers. The ideal place for the ball
to hit the pins in an effort to obtain a strike. |
| Push away |
Moving the ball into motion, out and down
during the first step of the delivery. |
| Return |
Track or rails on which the ball rolls back to
a player. |
| Sanctioned |
Any bowling competition conducted in
accordance with the rules set down by your national or international
bowling federation. |
| Scratch |
A bowler's actual score. Non-handicap bowling. |
| Series |
Usually three games or more in a league or
tournament. |
| Settee Area |
Also referred to as bowling area. |
| Soft Pocket Hit |
The action a ball makes as it enters the pin
triangle when its rotation has reduced because the ball is too slow. |
| Span |
The distance between the thumbhole and the
finger holes on a ball. |
| Spare |
Knocking down all 10 pins with two shots
within the same frame. Indicated on the score sheet with an ( / ). |
| Split |
A spare leave in which the headpin is down and
the remaining pins have another pin down immediately ahead of or between
them so that the gap is greater than the width of the ball. |
| Spot |
Target on the lane at which a bowler aims. |
| Spot Bowler |
A bowler who uses the finders or spots as
their primary target. Opposite of pin bowler. |
| Steps |
Number of steps bowler takes when delivering
the ball. |
| Strike |
Knocking down all 10 pins with the first shot
of a frame. Indicated on the score sheet with an (X). |
| Target Arrows |
A series of seven triangular darts (spots)
placed in front of the foul line out on the lane. Used as sighting
targets to help a player align the starting position on the approach
with the ball path to the pocket. |
| Turkey |
Three consecutive strikes. |
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