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Bowling Terms Glossary



The following are definitions and explainations of common Bowling Terms and Sayings. If you would have a Term you would like to add send it to Administrator@bowlersalley.org.

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  ABC ABC is an abbreviation for the American Bowling Congress which was founded in 1895 as the governing body of 10-pin bowling in America. On January 1, 2005 the American Bowling Congress was replaced by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
 
  Address The stance a Bowler takes before beginning the approach
 
  Adjustment Making changes to a part of your game depending on the particular lane conditions on which you are bowling. This can refer to an alignment, equipment or other physical or mental change to your game.
 
  AJBC AJBC is the abbreviation for the American Junior Bowling Congress which was the former governing body for youth bowlers. This has replaced by the Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA).
 
  All Events The score resulting from the combined total of all of a Bowler's games in a tournament. This usually includes 3 games for each singles, doubles and a team portion of the event. This score is usually eligible for additional awards and prizes.
 
  Alley A collection of lanes or Bowling establishment. Also commonly used to refer to a single bowling lane.
 
  AMF AMF is an abbreviation for the American Machine and Foundry. AMF was the first to make the automatic pinsetter that changed the game of bowling. AMF continues to be one of the largest names in bowling machinery and equipment.
 
  AMF 3 Dot One of the most popular original hard rubber bowling balls. The ball was black and had three white dots above the bridge. This term is used today to describe a shot with little action.
 
  Anchor The last bowler in a team's bowling order. Typically the last person is the team's best bowler and good under pressure.
 
  Anchor Man See Anchor
 
  Angle A term used to describe the line a player is throwing into the pocket.
 
  Ankle Shot Refers to a delivery where the ball hits your ankle.
 
  Approach The part of a bowling lane where the player takes their steps before releasing the ball. It is located between the bowlers' settee area and the foul line and is 15 feet in length. This term can also be used to describe the bowler's process of walking toward the foul line to deliver the shot.
 
  Approved Ball Cleaners This refers to the list of substances that are currently approved, under the rules of bowling, to be used to clean a bowling ball during competition.
 
  Arc Describes the movement of the ball that has a relatively slow continuous hooking motion.
 
  Area Describes the location on the lane, usually at the dots or arrows, where the ball must pass in order for the ball to hit the pocket. Bowlers often refer to 'having an area' which means the conditions are right for the bowler to hit a number of boards on the lane and still have the ball hit the pocket. Depending on the lane conditions the 'area' can be around 3-8 boards wide.
 
  Arena Bowling Describes when bowling is held in an auditorium or other large convention center and portable bowling lanes are brought in and setup much like a stage for a concert. This is done for some tournaments in order to have increased seating for fans.
 
  Armswing The path your arm takes during the approach.
 
  Arrow(s) Refers to the 7 arrows that are physically marked on the bowling lane at a distance of 15 feet beyond the foul line. Bowlers typically use these arrows as a target during their release and to describe the line they are playing. (ex: I am playing the second arrow.)
 
  Arsenal A bowler's collection of bowling balls where each ball has a different reaction type. A larger arsenal allows a bowler to make adjustments to lane conditions easier and quicker throughout the game.
 
  Automatic Foul Detector An electric eye used to determine when a bowler crosses the foul line. When this happens a buzzer will sound and a light will usually appear on the display at the end of the lane above the pins.
 
  Average A bowlers' average is the sum of all the games bowled divided by the number of games. It is one of the key statistics kept in the game of bowling.
 
  Axis Refers to the axis upon which the ball rotates after the release.
 
  Backup Ball A thrown ball that curves to the right for right handed bowlers and to the left for left handed bowlers.
 
  Brooklyn When a thrown ball crosses the opposite side of the head pin from which it was thrown.(i.e. 1,2 pocket for right handed bowlers,2,3 pocket for left handed bowlers.
 
  Clean Sheet A Clean Sheet refers to a game in which the bowler makes all of his or her spares.
 
  Deadwood Pin or pins that are left laying on the lane after the rack has cycled.
 
  Dutch 200 A game in which the bowler get a strike followed by a spare or vise-vera for the entire game. This scoring pattern results in a score of exactly 200 for that game.
 
  Foul Crossing the Foul Line during your delivery either before or after releasing the bowling ball. This results in a score of 0 for that ball and is marked on the scoresheet with an "F".
 
  Foul Line The line drawn across the lane to separate the approach from the start of the lane.
 
  Frame The scoring segments a game of bowling is divided into. Each frame consists of up to two deliveries. The frame ends when either all the pins have been knocked down or the second delivery is thrown.
 
  House Ball Bowling balls found on the racks at bowling centers.
 
  Open Frame Any frame where the bowler fails to make the spare shot meaning at least 1 pin is left after completion of that frame.
 
  Perfect game A game in which a bowler gets a stike in every frame resulting in a score of 300.
 
  Pin deck The area of the lane where the pins sit.
 
  Scratch A bowlers score before any handicap might be added.
 
  Series The total pins of all games you have bowled. The majority of bowling leagues will consist of a 3 game series.
 
  Sleeper A spare where one pin is standing directly behind another, the rearmost pin is called the "sleeper".
 
  Span The distance between the finger and thumb holes.
 
  Spare Knocking down all ten pins down with a combination of the two deliveries during one frame.
 
  Split A spare shot where there is a a gap between the remaining pins. Common splits are 6-7, 4-10, 5-7, 5-10, 7-10, etc.
 
  Strike Knocking down all of the pins with the first ball thrown.
 
  Strike out When a bowler has three strikes in the tenth frame.
 
  Turkey A term used to describe when a bowler gets 3 strikes in a row.