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A

ABC - American Bowling Congress; official rule making body for ten pin bowling for its members in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US military bases worldwide; founded in 1895 and headquartered in Greendale, Wisconsin, 5301 S. 76th Street 53129

Action - Motion of the pins caused by the bowler's technique; generally, the combination of accuracy, rotation (also see), and other factors, causing pin motion which is horizontal, rather than vertical, since a horizontally spinning pin covers more of the lane.

Address - Bowler's starting position. (stance)

Actual span - Distance from edge of thumb hole nearest to center to edge of finger holes nearest to center, including all inserts and/or grips.

Alley - 1) A group of lanes; 2) bowling establishment; 3) playing surface,usually made of maple and pine boards; urethane lanes may soon outnumber wood lanes.

Angle of entry - Angle, measure parallel to the boards, at which the bowling ball hits the pocket after completing its path down the lane.

Approach - The area at least 15' long, on which the player walks to the foul line. Usually adjacent to the ball returns and has spots embedded in the approach to aid in lining up.

Arc - Describes a ball path from foul line to headpin that does not have a sharp, defined break point.

Arrows - Aiming points embedded in the lane. These seven arrows (usually red or black, but may be other colors) are used for targeting.

Axis leverage - Type of drilling in which the label of center of gravity is placed on the positive axis and the pin is positioned between the positive axis point and the center of grip, usually above the line to the ring finger.

Axis of rotation - (example, 0, 45, and 90 degrees) This is a measure of the direction of the initial rotation on the ball with respect to the lane. It is a measurement of the angle between the initial spin axis and the foul line running across the lane. A zero degree axis of rotation is all forward roll. The rotation on the ball is in the direction of the forward travel. The rotation will help keep the ball in the initial direction. The ball will not hook very much. It will roll out early. Therefore, a bowler with this style will need balls drilled to go long. A 90-degree axis of rotation is all side roll. The rotation is perpendicular to the initial direction. The rotation is trying to make the ball hook at a 90-degree angle to the initial direction. This gives the ball more potential to hook. This style causes the ball to skid further down the lane and then hook more. A bowler with this style will most likely need balls drilled to hook earlier; such as, axis weight or pins closer to their axis.

Axis point - One of two points located on opposite poles marking the endpoints of the axis of rotation.

Axis rotation - Angle between the Translational and rotational energy vectors. The Degree the axis is rotated on the horizontal axis.

Axis tilt - This is the angle of rotation put on the ball by the bowler. The rotational positioning of the ball is critical to creating the potential for hook.

The wider the angle between the rotational axis and the forward path of the ball, the greater potential for hook. If the angle is zero, then no hook will occur.

Axis weight - Type of drilling in which the weight block is positioned such that its mass is evenly distributed about the axis of rotation. AKA- Pin on the axis.

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B

Back swing - Portion of bowler's delivery from the time the ball breaks the lateral plain of the body until the ball reaches the apex of the bowler's swing.

Backend - The 15 ft. of lane directly preceding the headpin.

Backup ball - Style of bowling in which the movement of the ball is from left to right for right handers and from right to left for left handers.

Balance Hole - An extra hole drilled in a specific position in the bowling ball. This hole is used to balance the ball statically and alter the overall reaction of the ball.

Ball plug - A two part epoxy used to fill holes in bowling balls.

Ball spinner - Motorized cup and pulley system used to spin a bowling ball during sanding or polishing.

Bevel - Refers to the rounded edge of any hole drilled into a bowling ball.

Boards - Any one of 39 one inch wide individual pieces of wood pieced together to comprise the surface of the lane.

Bottom weight - Imbalance in which the half of the ball opposite the center of the grip weighs more than the half containing the center of the grip.

Break Point - The portion of the lane where the bowling ball completes its transition from skid to traction and provides the greatest amount of hook. This generally occurs in the last 20 feet of the lane.

Bridge - Distance between the finger holes. A common place for ball cracks to occur.

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C

Carry down - Oil moved down the lane by the passing of bowling balls.

Center of gravity - 1) The point, at which, no matter how the ball is rotated, it will weigh the same. 2) It is the point at which the entire mass of a bowling ball acts as if it is concentrated. 3) The point on the surface of the bowling ball where static balance is zero for both finger and side weights; usually marked by a logo.

Centerline - The vertical line between the fingers and through the middle of the thumb.

Centerline transposition (CLT) - A lateral shift of the centerline after drilling thumb to drill fingers off of.

Channel - There are 2 channels on each side of the lane. Once a ball falls into the channel or gutter before hitting pins, the bowler shall receive a zero.

Conventional grip - A grip in which the bowler places his or her fingers in the ball to the second joint at a 90 angle, while placing his or her entire thumb in the ball.

Core - Internal portion of bowling ball around which the shell is poured.

Core axis angle - Angle that which the core is from the bowlers axis point.

Contour Abrasion Blocks - A concave tool contoured to the shape of the bowling ball, used to aid in the sanding and finishing process to maintain the true roundness of the bowling ball.

Count - The number of pins knocked down on the first ball.

Cranker - A bowler who generates revolutions by a cupped, broken or muscled armswing.

Crawler - A strike produced by missing the head pin. Usually the 4, 2, and 1 fall slowly onto each other in that order (or 6, 3, 1) in domino fashion.

Creeper - Slow ball.

Cut span/ cut to cut span - Distance from edge of thumb hole nearest to center to edge of finger holes nearest to center, excluding all inserts and/or grips. See also Edge Span/Edge to Edge Span.

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D

Deflection - Amount of displacement incurred in a bowling ball's trajectory after making contact with a headpin.

Degree of oval - The degree from centerline the oval of a hole will be.

Dodo scale - A balance beam scale system that measures weight and distance. Used to find whether a bowling ball will meet ABC/WIBC guidelines of imbalance for one side to another.

Differential (of Radius of Gyration) - The difference of the radius of gyration of a bowling ball’s X axis (the weight block vertical) compared to the radius of gyration of the same ball’s Y or Z axis (the weight block horizontal). Differential is an indicator of a bowling ball’s track flare potential. Bowling balls with lower differentials are more stable, therefore generating less track flare potential. Bowling balls with higher differentials are unstable, therefore generating a much larger track flare potential. Also, differential is a guide to the internal versatility of a ball. It can indicate just how much of a length adjustment can be made through drilling. Balls with lower differential will allow only modest length adjustments whereas balls with higher differential may translate into a length window of up to 5-times that of low differential balls.

Dry, dry lanes - Lanes with very little oil applied to them.

Double - Two strikes in a row; scores twenty plus the number of pins knocked down on the next ball.

Dull - Refers to the surface of a bowling ball appearing listless. In general a dull bowling ball is one in which the pours are open and clean.

Dump the ball - Releasing the ball without bending the knee; may damage the lane.

Durometer - Device used to measure the hardness of a bowling ball.

Dynamic imbalance - Measure of weight in an object in motion.

Dynamics - The characteristics of the mass inside a bowling ball. This includes Moment of Inertia and Differential of Rg, which in turn contribute to the balls preferred spin axis.

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E

Early foundation - A strike in the eighth frame; see also "foundation."

Edge span / edge to edge span - Distance from edge of thumb hole nearest to center to edge of finger holes nearest to center, excluding all inserts and/or grips.

Emblem - The logo on a bowling ball, usually signifying the heaviest part of the ball.

Ends - Last 5-6 feet of the lane where the pins stand. Correct term is "back ends."

Error - A miss. (blow, miss, open)

Equator - The line around the ball perpendicular to the Midplane and the Midline covering the entire circumference of the ball.

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F

Fence posts - The 7-10 split. (bed posts, goal posts, mule ears, snake eyes)

Field goal - Ball rolled between two pins of a wide split.

Finger tip - A grip in which the bowler inserts fingers to the first joint, with the combined total of angle of the two joint equals 90 , while placing the entire thumb in the ball.

Finger weight - Imbalance which effectively makes the side of the ball, divided by the midline, containing the finger holes heavier than the side containing the thumb.

Five-bagger - Five strikes in a row.

Flare - Refers to the bowling ball changing its axis of rotation during its path down the lane. The result is several different oil rings being visible around the ball.

Flat alley - A lane that despite perfect levelness doesn't run or hold with respect to the action of the ball.

Follow through - Portion of bowler's delivery after the ball has been released.

Forward pitch - The drilled hole, either finger or thumb, is angled towards the midline of the grip.

Foul - Touching or going beyond the foul line. When a bowler fouls they recieve zero count for that delivery.

Foundation - A strike in the ninth frame; base for three possible strikes in the tenth frame.

Four-bagger - Four strikes in a row.

Frame - One-tenth of a game. Each square on score sheet is one frame.

Full roller - A bowler whose track passes between the thumb and fingers and whose track measures the circumference of the ball.

Full span - Distance from edge of thumb hole nearest to center to edge of finger holes nearest to center, including all inserts and/or grips. See also True Span, Actual Span.

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G

Garbage hit - A hit that doesn't enter the pocket but results in a strike anyway.

Getting the wood - 1) A better than average score; 2) making sure you take one pin down (or as many pins as is easily possible) on an almost impossible split.

Goal posts - The 7-10 split. (bedposts, fence posts, mule ears, snake eyes)

Golden gate - The 4-6-7-10 split. (big ears, big four, double pinochle)

Grab - Means the friction between the lane and the ball is good, causing a sudden hook.

Grandma's teeth - A random array of pins left standing.

Grasshopper - An effective ball, particularly on light pocket hits.

Graveyards - Low-scoring lanes. In a high-scoring center, applied to the lowest scoring pair.

Greek Church - Split leave when three pins remain standing on one side of the lane and two on the other (the pins resemble church steeples).

Gripper/squeezer - Someone who holds on to the ball with excessive force.

Groove - Ball track or indentation in lane. Also applied to bowler who is performing well and has his approach and armswing almost mechanically perfect.

Gutter - There are 2 channels, one on each side of the lane. Once a ball falls into the channel or gutter before hitting pins, the bowler shall receive a zero.

Gutter ball - Delivery which rolls off the lane and into the gutter. Once a ball falls into the channel or gutter before hitting pins, the bowler shall receive a zero.

Gutter shot - Technique developed by pros of rolling ball from extreme edge of lane, usually the first inch.