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bowling terminology

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
target arrows
15' from foul line, if used properly can make the difference between a beginning bowler and a good bowler
double
two strikes in a row
lane dressing
generic term for oil put on lanes to keep them conditioned
scratch score
actual score before handicap is added in
strike out
when a bowlers last three balls are all stikes in the 10th frame
lofting
letting the ball go too high up in the air- resulting in a boom onto lane
settee
where bowlers sit and wait for their turn
body english
physical "gyrations" to help steer ball on alley- doesnt work
strike
knocking all 10 pins down with one ball
pitch
angle that finger/thumb holes are drilled-match your hand perfectly
fast lane
opposite of dry lane (too much oil, ball slides and doesnt bite)
handicap
system based on a bowlers average which allows everyone to bowl equally
count
number of pins that go down after 1st throw/leave= number of pins left after 1st ball
kickbacks
side partions of pindeck, "kicks" pins back onto deck, knocks more down
pinsetter
machine that puts pins back up
hook
ball pathway from conventional grip
boards
individual strips of wood that make up alley-usually 39 in number
kegler
german word for a bowler
big four
4-6-7-10 split
bridge
the area between the two fingers holes on a bowling ball
triple/turkey
same as strike out, except this can happen anywhere in the 10 frames
mark
getting either a strike or a spare
open frame
leaving one or more pins up after both balls have been rolled
leadoff
first bowler of a 4-person team
tap
when one pin refuses to fall after apparently hits strike pocket perfectly
pit
area behind+ beside pindeck where fallen pins are swept so they can be reloaded
pocket
where first ball should hit (1-2 for leftie, 1-3 for rightie)
spare
knocking all 10 pins down with two balls
field goal
ball goes between the pins left on a spare (not worth 3 points)
back-up ball
worst ball to throw- very unpredictable
pindeck
3 feet of maple where pins set
chop a cherry
when two pins are left and you only knock down one
dowels
littles wooden dots on approach-helps find starting spot
sweep bar
part of pinsetter machine that comes down and clears pindeck
bowling hall of fame
located in st. louis missouri
dead ball
ball with hardly any spin-takes a long time to get to pins
grandmas teeth
7-8-10 or 7-9-10 split
buck game
any game over 100
average
add up all scores, divide by the number of games = average
mixer/working ball
upon impact, the pnis fly everywhere but may not result in a strike
vertical balance
maintained by keeping knees bent and shuffling
blind score
score given for absent bowler/ usually average minus 10 pins
cushion
big pad behind pins, helps absorb impact of bowling balls
powerhouse
massive strike/pin obliterated
light/thin
just missing the strike pocket low by #2 or #3 pins
five n' dime
5-10 split
fudge shot
horrible release or last second adjustment which results in shot that has no chance
horizontal
maintained by lateral leg kick of back leg
kingpin
#5 pin
dutch 200
getting a score of exactly 200 due to alternating strikes, then spares
sleeper
a pin that hides behind another one
bite
when softer pin finally grabs spin of ball + makes it turn
dry lane
ball that moves too much because lane doesnt seem to have enough oil
anchor man
last bowler on a 4-person team (usually the best one)
curve ball
used by professional bowlers
channel/gutter
ditches alongside alley-dont want the ball to go there
bedposts/goalposts
7-10 split
driving ball
very powerful ball that explodes into a strike
lift
imparting more spin to a ball at release by whipping fingers up
conventional/fingertip
types of grips
span
area between the fingerholes and the thumb hole on the ball
pointing/pinching/steering
all the same thing, which is trying to hard to aim ball at pins, instead of rolling same consistent ball but using target arrows, usually bad results
shuffle steps
proper approach gait, maintains vertical balance by bending knees
load the boat/fill the wood box
getting a strike on the very last frame of your game
jersey side
=correct side of strike pocket
brooklyn
=incorrect side of strike pocket
short pin
fallen pin that spins/rolls on the pindeck but doesnt knock over anything
headpin
#1 pin
frame
1/10th of a game
foul ball
what it is called if your foot crosses the foul line: records zero points and all pins must be reset only get count for second ball of frame
foul line
line between approach and alley- cannot cross even with a toenail
house ball
a ball provided by the bowling alley
pumpkin
lucky strike
miss
not getting a mark in a frame right after a frame where you did get a mark
high/heavy hit
ball rolls into the number one pin too straight/ just misses strike pocket
dodo pin
an illegally balanced or wheighted ball
Alley
the building and the lane where one bowls
dog/load
worst bowler on a 4-person team
approach
both the area where one stands and the steps one takes

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