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Bowling Glossary
 Etiquette | Bowling Tips
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.