Bowling has a rich vocabulary that can be confusing for newcomers and even seasoned players. This glossary clearly defines essential bowling terms, helping you better understand the game and improve your skills.
From basic concepts to advanced terminology, familiarize yourself with the language of bowling.
Bowling Term Glossary
Below is an extensive glossary that can supplement your bowling lingo.
Address
A stance and positioning of a bowler before initiating the delivery of the ball. It includes positioning of the feet, body posture, and alignment towards the target.
Angular
The sharp and pronounced hooking motion of the ball as it travels down the lane.
Approach
The designated area of the bowling lane from which a bowler initiates their delivery.
Armswing
The motion of the bowler’s arms as they swing the bowling ball backward and forward during the delivery.
Arrows
A set of targeting guides on the lane’s surface, typically located around the 12-15 feet mark from the foul line. These arrow markings assist bowlers in aiming their shots towards the pins.
Asymmetric
A type of bowling ball core design where the weight distribution within the core is uneven, creating varying dynamics as the ball rolls down the lane.
Baby Split
A spare situation where two pins that are adjacent to each other remain standing after the first ball is rolled.
Backend
The latter part of the lane where the ball makes its final transition toward the pins after the initial skid phase and mid-lane hook.
Blocked Lane
A condition where the oil pattern on the lane has been disrupted or altered, typically due to heavy use or improper maintenance.
Bed Posts
A split configuration of pins left standing after the first ball of a frame. It occurs when only the two outermost pins on either side of the lane, resembling the posts of a bed, remain standing.
Benchmark
A particular performance level or standard that serves as a point of reference for evaluating one’s skill or progress.
Board
The individual wooden or synthetic sections that mark up the lane’s surface.
Breakpoint
It is the point on the lane where the bowling ball begins to change direction from its initial path and starts its hook towards the pins.
Brooklyn
A shot where the ball crosses over to the opposite side of the lane from the bowler’s dominant hand.
Cherry
Picking off a single pin from a spare leave, leaving the other pins completely untouched.
Christmas Tree
Pin configuration left standing after a bowler’s roll, where the remaining pins resemble the shape of a Christmas tree.
Clean Sheet
A game in which a player or team completes all ten frames without leaving pins standing after their first ball delivery in each frame.
Conventional
A standard grip technique is used when holding the ball. In this, a bowler inserts their middle and ring fingers into the ball’s finger holes up to the second knuckle, while the thumb is fully inserted into its hole.
Carrydown
A gradual alteration of oil patterns on a bowling lane caused by repeated ball rolls.
Core
The innermost part of a bowling ball, typically made of dense materials such as urethane, resin, or particle.
Coverstock
It is the outer surface of a bowling ball, which directly interacts with the lane surface.
Deadwood
The pins that remain on the lane after a roll but are not in their original position or are in a position where they won’t affect subsequent rolls.
Differential (Diff)
A numerical value that indicates the variance in flare potential between the bowling ball’s maximum and minimum radius.
Double
The achievement of consecutively knocking down all ten pins on the first roll in two consecutive frames.
Fill
The pins that are knocked down by a bowler on the second roll of a frame after failing to achieve a strike on the first roll.
Foul
It’s a violation of the rules where a player steps beyond the foul line during their delivery or the ball crosses the line before release.
Foundation
The initial steps and movements of a bowler’s approach leading up to the release of the ball.
Flare
The track pattern left on the surface of a bowling ball as it travels down the lane.
Fingertip
A specific grip style in bowling where the bowler inserts their fingers only up to the first knuckle into the finger holes of the ball.
Hook
The curved path that a bowling ball takes as it travels down the lane towards the pins.
House Ball
A bowling ball that is provided by the bowling alley for the general use of patrons.
Hybrid
A type of bowling ball coverstock that combines characteristics of two different materials, typically reactive resin and urethane.
Layout
An arrangement of finger holes and drilling angles on a bowling ball, tailored to a bowler’s specific preferences and playing style.
Mass Bias
A specific feature in a bowling ball’s core design. It indicates the point within the ball’s core where there is an imbalance or concentration of mass.
Pancake
A specific type of split spare conversion. It occurs when only the 7-10 pins remain standing after the first ball of the frame.
Pattern
The oil placement on the bowling lane.
Pearl
A specific type of bowling ball coverstock. Pearl coverstocks are characterized by their shiny and smooth surface texture, which creates less friction with the lane compared to solid or matte coverstocks.
Pitch
The angle and direction of the finger holes drilled into a bowling ball.
Polyester
A type of material commonly used in the construction of bowling balls.
PSO
PSO stands for Pro Shop Operator. A PSO is an individual who operates a pro shop within a bowling alley or independently.
Reactive Resin
A type of coverstock material used in modern bowling balls.
Revs
The revolutions, which indicates the number of times the ball rotates around its axis as it travels down the lane.
RG
RG stands for Radius Gyration, a measurement used to describe the distribution of weight in a bowling ball, indicating how quickly or slowly it will transition from skid to hook phase as it rolls down the lane.
Skid
The initial phase of a ball’s motion after it is released onto the lane.
Solid
The condition of pins remaining on the lane after a bowler’s delivery. It means they are standing upright without any significant wobbling or movement.
Span
The distance between the finger holes and the thumb hole on a bowling ball.
Spare
A situation where a player knocks down all ten pins using two consecutive rolls within a single frame.
Spare Ball
A bowling ball specifically designed and used by bowlers to pick up spare pins.
Split
A specific pin configuration left standing after the first ball of a frame. It occurs when two or more pins are widely separated, making it challenging to knock them down with a single subsequent roll.
Strike
A strike occurs when a bowler knocks down all ten pins with the first roll of a frame.
Symmetric
A type of bowling ball core design where the weight is evenly distributed around the center.
Throwing Rocks
A colloquial term for delivering the ball with great speed and power.
Turkey
The achievement of rolling three consecutive strikes in a single game.
Urethane
A type of material used in the construction of bowling balls.
Wash Out
A specific type of split where the headpin (the front pin) is knocked down, but there are gaps between the remaining pins, making it challenging to covert the spare.
Final thoughts
Understanding bowling terminology is key to improving your game and communicating effectively with other players.
This glossary offers clear definitions of essential terms, enhancing your knowledge and enjoyment of the sport. Keep this guide handy as a reference to master the language of bowling and boost your performance on the lanes.