List of bowling slang

The sport of Bowling has it's own unique language and slang.

A

Action: This is the finger movement given to a bowling ball as the ball is released.

Alley: This also known as the lane. The surface that is made up of wood or synthetic boards.

All the Way: Completing a game of bowling with all strikes.

Anchorman: Just as in any other sport, this is a member of the team that plays last.

Angle: This is the direction the ball takes as it enters the 1-3 pocket (right handed) or 1-2 pocket (left handed).

Approach: This is the area before the foul line

Arrows: In the middle of the alley are painted arrows used for aiming.

B

Baby split: The resulting 2-7 or 3-10 pin formation after the first ball of the frame is rolled.

Baby the ball: The act of rolling the ball without any confidence or power.

Baby split with company: Also known as the 2-7-8 or 3-9-10 split .

Backup: A ball that rolls or breaks to the right for right handed bowlers and left for left handed bowlers.

Balk: This is the direction the ball takes as it enters the 1-3 pocket (right handed) or 1-2 pocket (left handed).

Ball track: The area of the lane where most bowling balls are rolled down.

Barmaid: When one pin is hidden behind another pin.

Bed: This is the single lane of a bowling alley.

Bedposts: The 7-10 split. Also can be called goalposts.

Beer frame: When playing as a team, the fifth frame is considered the beer frame. The individual who doesn’t score a strike during this frame must treat the other team members.

Belly the ball: A wide hooking ball starting from an inside starting angle.

Bench jockeying: Most commonly known as trash talking.

Bicycle: A pin that is hidden behind another pin. Synonymous with barmaid.

Big ears: 4-6-7-10 pin leave after rolling the first ball of the frame.

Big fill: Getting nine or ten pins on a spare or on a double strike.

Big four: 4-6-7-10 split. Synonymous with big ears.

Blocked: The condition of the lane when maintenance is performed in which the oil or other finish is used to create a track.

Blow: When a spare is missed.

Blowout: When the first ball is rolled on a frame and all the pins go down except one.

Board: Bowling lanes are made up of strips of wood or synthetic wood called boards. Usually, they are called out according to number of boards away from the left side or right side. For example, the 5th board called from the left could be the 35th board from the right

Break: A lucky shot.

Break of the boards: The space where the boards of the alley meet together.

Bridge: The distance from fingerhole to fingerhole.

Brooklyn: Shooting a strike from the opposite side pocket. Right-handed bowlers would strike from the left side of the headpin and left-handed bowlers would strike from the right of the headpin.

Broom ball: When the bowling ball hits the pocket in such a way that it mimics the sweeping action of a broom.

Bucket: A 2-4-5-8 spare leave for right-handed bowlers and a 3-5-6-9 spare leave for left-handed bowlers.

C

Channel

The depressed area on the left and right side of the lane. When the ball falls into this area it proceeds the rest of the way down the lane and a zero is marked on the score card.

Cheesecakes

Bowling lanes that strikes are easily obtained on.

Cherry

knocking out the front pin of a spare leave but leaving behind the remaining pins that were either behind or to either side.

Chop

Interchangeable with cherry.

Clothesline

1-2-4-7 or 1-3-6-10 spare leave.

Count

The number of pins that are knocked down on the first ball of each frame.

Coverstock

This is the outer most layer of a bowling ball and the part we can actually touch on a bowling ball. Currently, there are 4 different types of coverstocks. They are plastic, urethane, reactive resin, and particle. Urethane bowling balls are considered obsolete as reactive resin and particle bowling balls now dominate the market. Plastic bowling balls are still popular today as a backup ball for making spare shots since they don’t curve much at all. But as technology improves we should see better and more effective types enter the market. Coverstocks are very important because it is what contacts the bowling lanes surface and determines how it will react with the lane conditions such as the oil pattern.

Cranker

A type of bowling style where the bowler applies a lot of power to the armswing.

Cross

Getting a strike on the opposite side of the bowling arm. Interchangeable with brooklyn strike.

Curve

A releasing the bowling ball in such a way that the bowl travels in a huge arc.

D

Dead ball

A ball that is ineffective and usually deflects badly.

Deadwood

When the pins are knocked down and are scattered on the lanes and in the gutter. The pinsetter must remove these pins for the game to continue.

Deflection

The unintended ball direction as a result of hitting the pins.

Die

The bowling ball losing action or speed at the end of the roll.

Double

Bowling two strikes in a row.

Double pinochle

4-6-7-10 split. Interchangeable with big ears and big four.

Double wood

Any two pin configuration where one pin is directly behind the other.

Dump

Dropping the ball at the foul line.

Dutch 200

Achieving a score of 200 by alternating strikes and spares.

E

Error

Missing the pins. Interchangeable with a blow.

F

Fence posts

7-10 split. Interchangeable with goalposts and bedposts.

Field goal

Bowling the ball between two standing pins. This is common for wide splits.

Fill

The pins knocked down after a spare.

Fit split

The type of split where the pins are close enough together for the ball to pass between the pins and still hit both of them.

Five bagger

Bowling 5 strikes in a row.

Flat ball

Bowling the ball in such a way that there are few revolutions and little action on the ball.

Foul

A foul is marked when the foot goes beyond the foul line.

Foul line

The line that seperate the lane from the approach.

Foundation

Bowling a strike in the ninth frame.

Foundation, early

Bowling a strike in the eighth frame.

Frame

In the game of bowling, this is one unit of a total of ten that makes up one game.

Frozen rope

A bowling ball rolled straight into the pocket with excessive speed.

Full hit

The bowling ball hits the pin head on.

Full roller

A ball rolled so that it rolls over its full circumfrerence.

G

Getting the wood

On an impossible split, such as a 7-10, being able to knock down as many pins as possible.

Goalposts

The 7-10 split; also called bedposts, or fence posts..

Graveyards

Bowling lanes that are low scoring.

Groove

The ball track in lane.

Gutter

The depressed area on the left and right side of the lane.

Gutter ball

A roll of the ball that results in the ball going into the gutter.

H

Hang a corner pin

Leaving one of the corner pins standing.

Hard way

Reaching a score of 200 by getting all strikes and spares in an alternating pattern. Interchangeable with Dutch 200.

Headpin

The 1 pin.

Heavy

A roll of the bowl that hits the headpin dead on.

High board

One or more boards in the lane that expands or contracts due to atmospheric conditions. This results in a bowling ball taking a different track because some boards may be high while others are low.

High hit

A bowling ball hitting a pin near its center.

Holding alley

A lane that resists any hooking action of a bowling ball.

Hole

For right handed bowlers, this is the 1-3 pocket; for left handed bowlers, this is the 1-2 pocket.

Hook

A bowling ball that breaks to the left for the right handed bowler and breaks right for the left handed bowler.

Hook alley

A lane where the bowling ball hooks very easily.

House ball

Any bowling ball that is provided by the bowling center.

I

Impossible Dream

Inside

A staring point near the center of the lane as opposed to the outside, near the edge of the lane.

J

Jam

Forcing the bowling ball high into the pocket.

Jersey side

Hitting the left side of the headpin for right handed bowlers, and the right side for left handed bowlers.

K

Kickback

The vertical division boards between lanes at the pit end.

Kindling wood

Light pins.

Kingpin

The 5 pin.

Kitty

Money collected for missed shots. This is common in tournaments

L

Lane

The area where a bowling ball is rolled. Interchangeable with alley.

Late 10

When the 10 pin is hesitant in going down and is the last to go down for a strike.

Leadoff man

This is the first bowler on a team to bowl.

Lift

Adding an upward motion with the fingers at the point of release.

Light

The bowling ball doesn’t hit a pin head on but rather too much on the right or the left.

Lily

5-7-10 split.

Line

This is the path the bowling ball takes. Also is known as a single game of bowling.

Loafing

The ball lags and lacks action due to improper lifting or turning action on it.

Lofting

Action of releasing the ball over the lane rather than rolling it out over the lane.

Looper

A bowling ball released in a way that it hooks extra wide and slowly.

Loose hit

A light pocket which gives good pin action off the kickback off of the walls in the pit area.

Low

The opposite of a high hit. A light hit on the headpin.

M

Maples

Another name for the bowling pins .

Mark

a strike or a spare.

Match play

A tournament in which bowlers are matched against each other individually.

Messenger

A pin that comes off the wall and knocks over another pin.

Miss

An error or a blow.

Mixer

A ball with action that causes the pins to bounce around.

Mother-in-law

Another name for the 7 pin.

Move in

The adjustment made to nearer the center of the approach.

Move out

The adjustment made to nearer the corner positions on the approach.

Mule ears

7-10 splt.

Murphy

A baby split: the 3-10 or the 2-7 split.

N

Nose hit

Hitting the pin full on during the first roll of the ball.

Nothing ball

A roll of the ball that is ineffective.

O

One in the dark

The pin in the back of 1-5, 2-8, or 3-9 split.

Open

A frame without a strike or a spare.

Out and in

A hook that is rolled wide from the center of the lane towards the gutter and then hooks back to the pocket.

Outside

Bowling in lanes near the edge.

Over

In pro bowling, a score of 200 average is considered to be par. So the number of pins above 200 average are pins over.

Over-turn

When a bowling ball has too much spin and not enough lift.

P

Perfect game

Getting 12 Strikes in a row::

Pack

Getting a full count of 10.

Part of the building

The remark given when leaving the 7, 8, or 10 pin after what seems to be a perfect hit.

Pick

Knocking down only the front most pin of a spare leave.

Pie alley

Equivalent to a lane that is easy to score on.

Pin action

The action of the pins when a bowling hits them and causes other pins to be knocked down.

Pin deck

The area of the lane where the pins are positioned and placed.

Pit

The area at the opposite end of the lane from the approach where the pins and bowling balls end up after a roll.

Pitch

The angle at which the finger holes in the bowling ball is drilled.

Pocket

For right handed bowlers, it is the 1-3 pins, for left handed bowlers, it is the 1-2 pins.

Point

Aiming more directly at the pocket, high and tight.

Poison ivy

3-6-10 split.

Pot game

A competition where two or more bowlers post money the highest score wins.

Powder puff

A slow ball that fails to carry the pins.

Pumpkin

A bowling ball that hits without any kind of power.

Q

Quick eight

A good pocket hit which leaves the 4-7 for a right handed bowler and 6-10 for a a left handed bowler.

R

Red Head

When the Head pin is red

Railroad

A split that is wide open.

Reading the lanes

Analyzing the lanes in order to determine whether the lane hooks or holds.

Return

The track on which the ball rolls from the pit to the ball rack.

Revolutions

The number of turns or rotations the ball takes after passing the foul line until it hits the pins.

Ringing 10 pin

When the 10 pin is left standing after a powerful roll.

Running lane

A bowling lane that the ball hooks easily on.

Runway

The area before the foul line; Interchangeable with approach.

S

Sandbagger

A bowler who intentionally keeps his bowling average low in order to receive a higher handicap.

Schleifer

A strike when the pins appear to fall one by one.

Scratch

Keeping score in bowling without the benefit of a handicap.

Set

The ball, after it is released from the hand, holds it’s track to the pocket.

Short pin

A pin rolling on the alley bed which just fails to reach and hit a standing pin.

Sidearming

Allowing the arm to move away from its natural and proper position during the free armswing.

Sleeper

When one pin is hidden behind another in a spare leave.

Slick

A condition of the lanes that to work against hooking the ball.

Slot alley

Lanes that are favorable for allowing strikes.

Snake eyes

Another name for the 7-10 split.

Soft alley

Another name for bowling lanes that strikes are easily obtained.

Solid

A strong hit.

Sour apple

A weak ball, one that leaves the 5-7, 5-10, or 5-7-10 split.

Span

This is the distance between the thumb hole and the finger holes.

Spare

Knocking down all the pins with two rolls in a frame.

Spare leave

When pins are left standing after the first roll in a frame.

Spiller

A light-hit strike in which the pins seem to take a longer time to fall down.

Splasher

A strike where the pins go down immediately.

Splice

The placed on the lane where the Maple and Pine boards meet.

Split

A spare leave where the headpin is down and the remaining combination of pins have an intermediate pin down immediately ahead of or between them.

Spot

The location on the lane the bowler uses to target. Most bowlers use the arrows on the lanes.

Steal

Getting a strike that shouldn’t have been a strike. A lucky strike.

Stiff alley

Lanes that keep a bowling ball from hooking properly.

Strike

Knocking down all the pins with the first roll.

Strike out

Finishing the game with strikes.

Strike split

On what looks like a good strike, the 8-10 is left standing for right handed bowlers and the 7-9 are left standing for left handed bowlers.

String

A number of continuous strikes.

Strong

A bowling ball that has a good deal of action.

Sweeper

A wide-breaking hook that carries a strike as though the pins were being pushed with a broom.

Swishing 7 pin

7 pin left standing as other pins swish by it.

T

Tandem

Two pins, one directly behind the other.

Tap

On an apparent perfect hit, a pin is left standing.

Thin hit

A pocket hit when the headpin is barely touched by the bowling ball .

Tickler

When the 6 pin bounces off the right kickback and knocks down the 10 pin.

Topping the ball

When the finger positions are on top of the ball instead of behind or to the side at release.

Track

The path of the bowling ball that is rolled most often; also the path on the lane where the ball is rolled most often.

Triple

Obtaining three strikes in a row .

Tripped 4

The 2 pin knocks down the 4 pin after bouncing off the kickback.

Turkey

Obtaining three strikes in a row. Interchangeable with triple.

Turn

The hand and wrist action toward the pocket area at the point of the ball release.

U

Under

Pro bowling scoring uses 200 average as par. So the number of pins below the 200 average is considered under.

V

Venting

Drilling an extra tiny hole to relieve any suction in the thumbhole.

W

Wall shot

A strike that was a result of pins coming off the kickback.

Washout

1-3-10 split or the 1-2-4-10 split. Others are 1-3-7 and the 1-3-6-7.

Weak 7 pin

The 7 pin standing after an ineffective hit.

Wire it

Scoring three strikes in the tenth frame.

Woolworth

5-10 split.

Working ball

A ball with action that mixes the pins on an off-pocket hit and has them scrambling with each other for a strike.

X

x

This is the symbol for a strike.

Y

Yank the shot

Hanging onto the ball too long and pulling it across the body.

Z

Zero in

Finding a consistent strike link on a lane.