All Bowling Terminologies You Need To Know
You can be a lover of the bowling sport but not know what certain terms mean. As a lover of bowling, you might want to learn the terminologies of this amazing sport not just to use it while playing but also for knowledge’s sake. Either way, it’s a win for you.
We have taken time to carefully compile all the terminologies of bowling for your consumption, and in this article, we will be explaining them one after the other.
The terms are a mix of beginner, intermediates and advanced. And each one offers insight to different aspects of the game including scoring, equipment, and competition.
Let’s get started.
Basic Terms
- Alley – Another name for a bowling lane.
- Approach – The area where the bowler stands before releasing the ball, typically the 15-foot section leading up to the foul line.
- Ball Return – The machine or area where the ball returns after it’s thrown.
- Boards – The individual wooden boards that make up the lane; there are 39 boards on a standard bowling lane.
- Bowling Center – The building or facility where bowling takes place, also known as a bowling alley.
- Frame – A single turn for a bowler, where they have two chances to knock down all 10 pins. There are 10 frames in a game.
- Foul Line – The line that separates the approach area from the lane. If a bowler crosses it during their throw, it’s considered a foul, and the throw doesn’t count.
Scoring Terms
- Strike – When all 10 pins are knocked down on the first throw. Scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in the next two rolls.
- Spare – When all 10 pins are knocked down in two throws. Scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in the next throw.
- Open Frame – When a bowler fails to knock down all 10 pins in both attempts in a frame.
- Turkey – Three consecutive strikes.
- Four-Bagger/Four in a Row – Four consecutive strikes.
- Perfect Game – A game where the bowler scores 300 by throwing 12 consecutive strikes.
- Split – A difficult spare situation where two or more pins remain standing with a gap between them, making it harder to knock down both with one ball.
- Double – Two consecutive strikes.
Pin and Lane Terms
- Gutter Ball – A ball that falls into the gutter on either side of the lane, resulting in no pins knocked down.
- Gutters – The grooves or channels on either side of the lane where the ball falls if it doesn’t stay on the lane.
- Pocket – The ideal spot to aim for a strike. For right-handed bowlers, it’s the space between the 1 and 3 pins; for left-handed bowlers, it’s between the 1 and 2 pins.
- Deadwood – Pins knocked down but left lying on the lane or in the gutter, needing removal.
- Anchor – The last bowler in a team lineup, usually the most reliable or strongest bowler.
- Pit – The area at the end of the lane where knocked-down pins are collected.
Technique and Style Terms
- Hook – A ball path that curves or hooks as it nears the pins, usually increasing the chance of a strike.
- Lofting – When a bowler throws the ball, and it lands farther down the lane, often hitting the lane with force.
- Release – The point at which the bowler lets go of the ball.
- Revolutions (Revs) – The number of times the ball rotates as it rolls down the lane.
- Pushaway – The initial movement where the bowler pushes the ball away from their body to begin their approach.
- Spot Bowling – Aiming at a specific spot on the lane, such as arrows or dots, instead of directly at the pins.
- Sandbagging – Purposely underperforming to keep a lower average score in order to receive more handicap points in competitions.
Types of Throws
- Strike Ball – A ball thrown with the goal of achieving a strike.
- Spare Ball – A ball thrown to knock down remaining pins after the first throw.
- Hook Ball – A ball thrown with a spin that causes it to curve.
- Straight Ball – A ball thrown without any spin, moving in a straight line down the lane.
- Backup Ball – A reverse hook, where a right-handed bowler’s ball hooks to the right or a left-handed bowler’s ball hooks to the left.
Types of Splits
- 7-10 Split – The hardest split to convert, where only the 7 and 10 pins are left standing on opposite sides of the lane.
- Big Four Split – The 4, 6, 7, and 10 pins are left standing, making it difficult to knock them down in one throw.
- Baby Split – A split where two pins remain with a gap but are relatively close to each other, like the 2-7 or 3-10.
Competition Terms
- League – A structured group of bowlers who compete against each other over a set period, usually weekly.
- Scratch – Scoring without handicap points; it represents a bowler’s actual score.
- Handicap – Additional points added to a bowler’s score to even the competition between players of varying skill levels.
Bowling Ball Terms
- Weight Block – The internal core of the bowling ball, which affects how it rolls and hooks.
- Coverstock – The outer surface of the bowling ball, which can be made of different materials like plastic, urethane, or reactive resin, influencing the ball’s grip on the lane.
- Balance Hole – An extra hole drilled into the ball to adjust weight distribution.
- Finger Grip – The holes where the bowler places their fingers. Different sizes and grips allow for more control over the throw.
Miscellaneous Terms
- Bowler’s Etiquette – Unwritten rules that help maintain courtesy among bowlers, such as not stepping onto the approach when another bowler is about to bowl.
- Strike Out – Finishing a game with three consecutive strikes in the 10th frame.
- Lane Oil Pattern – The way oil is applied to the lane, which affects how the ball moves. Some patterns are more challenging than others, especially in professional play.
- Brooklyn Strike – When the ball hits the opposite pocket (for example, a right-handed bowler hitting the 1-2 pocket).
- Flare – The path a bowling ball travels when it rolls and hooks; can be observed as a series of rings on the ball.
To Wrap It Up
It’s empowering to know your bowling terms to use them effectively during games or off games. It shows you not only have a passion for the game but you know your onion too.
We hope you find this article helpful.
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