CHAPTER 4
Language of the Lanes
ABBA (The American Blind Bowling Association)
The sanctioning and guiding organization for blind bowlers
ALLEY
The portion of the bowling surface from the foul line to the pins on which the ball is rolled. Also known as the lane
ANCHORMAN:
In team bowling, the last man in the line-up, usually the high average bowler on the team
APPROACH
The fifteen feet of the bowling area in front of the foul line where the approach and delivery are executed
AVERAGE
An indication of the bowler's ability. It is computed by dividing the total number of pins knocked down by the total number of games rolled
BABY SPLIT
The 2-7 or 3-10 split
BACK-UP
A reverse hook. A ball that curves from left to right on the lane (right handers, opposite for left handers)
BED POSTS
the 7-10 split
BLOW
Missing standing pins with the second ball in a frame. Also called an error
BOX
In scoring, one tenth of a game. Also called a frame
BROOKLYN
A hit to the opposite pocket. Also called a jersey in some areas
BUCKET
The 1-2-3-5 or 2-4-5-8 or 3-5-6-9 leaves
CHANNEL
Modern term for the gutter
CHERRY picker
chop the front pin off of a spare leave. For example: leaving the 9 pin when trying to make the 5 & 9 leave
CLEAN GAME
A game with no open frames. Strikes or spares in all frames
COUNT
The number of pins knocked down on the first ball after a spare, or the total in two balls after a strike
CURVE BALL
A ball that moves in a rainbow type path on the lane; It begins to hook very early in its trip down the lane
DEADWOOD
Pins lying on the pindeck or in the gutters after the first ball of a delivery
DEFLECTION
The action of the pins on the ball after the ball hits them, causing the ball to veer and change direction
DODO BALL
An illegally weighted ball. Ball is off balance
DOUBLE
Two (2) strikes in a row during a game
DOUBLE PINOCHLE
The 4-6-7-10 leave
DOUBLE WOOD
Two pins standing, one directly behind the other, so it appears as one, such as the 1-5 or 3-9
DUTCH 200
A 200 game accomplished by strikes and spares
ERROR
A blow. Missing one or more standing pins on the second ball in a frame
Fence
The pins that are left that seem to create a wall. 1-2-4-7 on the left and 1-3-6-10 on the right.
FOUL
Going beyond the foul line or touching the lane or stepping beyond foul line during a delivery
FOUL LINE
The black line that separates the approach area from the lane area. The bowler must stay on the approach side of the foul line during and after the delivery
FOUNDATION
A strike in the 9th frame of a game
FRAME
One tenth of a game, also known as a box
FULL HIT
Description of ball that hits the headpin square. Usually results in splits when on first ball. Could be description of hitting target dead center
GUTTER
The channels or deep grooves on either side of the lane used to keep balls in designated area and determine a legal or illegal felled pin
GUTTER BALL
A ball that rolls off the lane and continues to the pit in the gutter
GUIDE RAIL
A mechanical device positioned on the approach to guide blind bowlers
HANDICAP
An equilizer; a certain number of pins added to an individual's or a team's score to enable bowlers of unequal ability to compete together
HEAD PIN
The number one (1) pin. Pin closest to the bowler.
HOOK
A ball that travels straight down the lane for a distance then breaks or turns sharply towards the pins
KEGLER
Another term for bowler, coming from the German word "KESEL
KICKBACK
The high side partitions at the pit end of the lane
KING PIN
The number five (5) pin
LANE
Same as alley. Where the ball is rolled
LEAVE
The pins that are left standing after the first ball is rolled
LINE
A gamey the full ten (10) frames. Also used to designate area of lane where bowler is rolling first ball
LOFT
Throwing the ball out on the lane so that it travels in the air about thirty inches or more before hitting lane
MARK
A strike or a spare
MISS
Same as blow or error. Missing the standing pins with the second ball in a frame
NOSE HIT
A ball that hits the headpin square in the middle
OPEN
A frame without a strike or spare
PERFECT GAME
A game of 300, achieved by rolling twelve (12) strikes in a game (1 in each frame+2 extra in 10th)
PIT
The space at the end of the lane where the pins fall when hit
PIN BOWLING
Using the pins alone as a means of aiming the ball
PITCH
The angles of the holes drilled in a bowling ball
The "strike zone" between the 1 & 3 pins for righthanders and the 1 & 2 pins for lefthanders
RAILROAD
The same as a split
RETURN
The track on which the ball returns from the pit to the ball rack on the approach
RUNWAY
The same as the approach
SLEEPER
The hidden or obscured pin in a leave. (See "DOUBLE WOOD")
SPAN
The distance between the thumb and finger holes on the ball
SPARE
Getting all ten pins down with both balls in a frame
SPLIT
Two or more pins standing after the first ball, with one or more pins missing in between. THE HEADPIN MUST BE DOWN
SPOT BOWLING
Using rangefinders or a spot on the lane as a point of aim for the ball
STRAIGHT BALL
A ball that travels down the lane without veering to the right or left from the time of release
STRIKE OUT
Rolling three (3) strikes in the 10th frame
TURKEY
Rolling three (3) strikes in a row during the game
USBC
The United States Bowling Congress, the controlling body for bowling in the United States
WORKING BALL
A ball with great spin that, when it hits, produces a great deal of pin action
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