Walk into any bowling alley in America and you'll hear a language that's half sports, half inside joke. Turkeys and Hambones, Brooklyn strikes and baby splits, axis tilt and RG differential — bowling has accumulated centuries' worth of jargon that can feel impenetrable to anyone who didn't grow up around the game.
This glossary covers it all: the basics that every first-timer needs, the scoring vocabulary that makes leagues tick, the equipment terms that actually matter when you're buying a ball, and the advanced lane-play concepts that separate recreational bowlers from competitive ones. It's organized by topic rather than alphabetically, because most of these terms make more sense when you understand the context around them.
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Scoring Terms
Lane Anatomy
Splits & Spare Leaves
Ball Motion
Equipment
Technique & Delivery
Competition & Leagues
Scoring: How the Points Actually Work
Bowling scoring confuses almost everyone who doesn't already know it. The reason: you're not just counting pins you knock down right now — you're earning bonuses based on what you knock down next. That's why getting three strikes in a row is worth far more than the raw pin count suggests.
Core Scoring Terms
Strike (X)Knocking all ten pins down on the first ball of a frame. Scores 10 points plus the total of your next two deliveries. Three consecutive strikes score 30 in the first frame — the maximum possible. This cascading bonus system is why a perfect game scores 300, not 100.
Spare (/)Knocking all remaining pins on your second ball. Scores 10 plus whatever you knock down on your very next ball. A spare followed by a strike scores 20 in that frame. A spare followed by a gutter ball scores just 10. Spare shooting is where most recreational players lose the most points.
Open FrameA frame where you didn't knock all ten pins in two balls. No bonus — just raw pin count. Feels minor in isolation; absolutely crushes your score over ten frames. Converting spares is the single fastest way most recreational bowlers can raise their average.
Turkey 🦃Three consecutive strikes. The name dates to 19th-century Thanksgiving bowling tournaments where the prize for three straight strikes was literally a live turkey. The tradition of the prize faded; the name stayed. Still celebrated with disproportionate enthusiasm at every level of the game.
DoubleTwo consecutive strikes.
HamboneFour consecutive strikes. Coined by ESPN commentator Rob Stone, now universally adopted. Nobody is entirely sure why "Hambone," but no one is questioning it either.
Six-PackSix consecutive strikes. The escalation continues: five-bagger, six-pack, seven-bagger, eight-bagger, and so on up to the perfect game.
Perfect GameTwelve consecutive strikes in a single game for a score of 300. Each of the first nine strike frames earns 30 points (10 + 10 + 10 from the next two strikes). The 10th frame scores the three raw strikes (30). Total: 300. Extraordinarily rare in casual play; a career milestone even for serious competitive bowlers.
Clean GameA game with no open frames — every frame is either a strike or a spare. Doesn't require a single strike. A clean game of all spares with a gutter ball after each one scores exactly 100. A clean game where every spare is followed by a strike scores 200. The "clean game" benchmark is achievable for recreational bowlers and is one of the best early goals to set.
SeriesThe combined score of three consecutive games. A "600 series" means an average of 200 per game. League competition tracks series as the primary scoring unit. A 700 series is a significant achievement for most league bowlers; 800 is elite.
AverageTotal pins divided by games bowled, truncated down (not rounded). An average of 195 means you're scoring 195 or better more than half the time. In handicap leagues, your average determines how many bonus points you get per game to level the playing field against stronger bowlers.
Lane Anatomy: What You're Actually Rolling On
A bowling lane looks like a simple wooden floor, but it has very specific dimensions, markings, and zones that experienced bowlers use constantly as targeting tools. The lane is exactly 60 feet from the foul line to the headpin and 41.5 inches wide, made up of 39 narrow strips — called boards — running the full length of the lane.
Lane Terms
BoardsThe 39 individual strips that make up the lane's width. Numbered 1 to 39 from right to left for right-handed bowlers. "I'm standing on 25, targeting the 10 board" is a perfectly normal sentence in league bowling. Understanding boards is essential for making systematic adjustments when your ball is missing your target.
ArrowsSeven triangular markers embedded in the lane approximately 15 feet past the foul line, on boards 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35. Nearly every experienced bowler aims at the arrows rather than the pins. The logic: it's far easier to accurately target something 15 feet away than something 60 feet away. The second arrow from the right (board 10) is the most commonly used target for right-handed bowlers.
DotsCircular markers on the approach and at 7 feet past the foul line. Used for foot placement alignment. Consistent use of the approach dots is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your game — just standing in the same spot every single time dramatically improves shot-to-shot consistency.
PocketThe ideal entry point for a strike shot. For right-handed bowlers: between the 1-pin and 3-pin (the "1-3 pocket"), specifically boards 17-18 at the pins. For left-handed bowlers: the 1-2 pocket. A well-hit pocket with a ball entering at the right angle will produce a strike the vast majority of the time.
Headpin (1-Pin)The front pin, closest to the bowler. Almost always the first pin the ball contacts on a strike shot.
Gutter (Channel)The depressions running the full length of the lane on both sides, approximately 9.5 inches wide. A ball in the gutter scores zero regardless of any pins it happens to knock down afterward.
Foul LineThe line separating the approach area from the start of the lane. Stepping on or over the foul line during or after delivery is a foul — the delivery scores zero regardless of how many pins were knocked down.
Pin DeckThe area at the far end of the lane where the pins are set. Pins must be set at very specific spots (with tolerances of a fraction of an inch) for the game to be consistent.
BreakpointThe spot on the lane where the ball transitions from its forward skid into its hooking motion. Moving your breakpoint left or right — through ball choice, surface adjustment, or line changes — is the primary method competitive bowlers use to adjust to changing lane conditions.
Splits, Taps, and Dreaded Spare Leaves
Bowling has specific names for pin configurations that are worth knowing — partly because they tell you something about what happened on your first ball, and partly because each one requires a different approach to make the spare. Knowing the name also helps when you're commiserating with your teammates.
Spare Leaves
SplitA spare leave where two or more pins remain standing with a gap between them and the headpin is down. Splits range from relatively manageable (the baby split) to essentially impossible (the 7-10). The official USBC definition requires the headpin to be knocked down — leaves that look like splits but still have the 1-pin up are technically washouts.
7-10 SplitThe most notorious split in bowling: only the far left pin (7) and far right pin (10) remain. To convert, you must knock one pin across 35 boards to hit the other. PBA professionals convert it roughly once per 300 attempts. For recreational bowlers, the only real strategy is to try to slide one pin back into the other — and accept that most of the time you won't make it.
Baby Split (2-7 or 3-10)The most makeable common split. For right-handers: the 2-pin and 7-pin. The ball can often clip the 2-pin and drive it back into the 7. Good spare shooters convert this regularly.
Big Four (4-6-7-10)All four corner-area pins standing. Sometimes called "Double Pinochle." Making it requires an almost-impossible shot that simultaneously contacts both the 4 and 6 while driving them into the 7 and 10. Almost never converted.
BucketA diamond-shaped cluster of four pins: the 2-4-5-8 for right-handers, the 3-5-6-9 for left-handers. A classic result of a light pocket hit (ball slipping through too far to the left side of the pocket). The 5-pin at the center of the diamond often acts as a key — hit it right and the four fall; miss it slightly and you leave a nasty one-pinner.
TapA single pin left standing after a shot that looked like a perfect strike. The 10-pin tap (for right-handers) and 7-pin tap (for left-handers) are the most common. Corner-pin taps after apparently good shots are maddening — but they're a normal part of bowling at every level, including the professional tour.
SleeperA pin directly behind another pin, hidden from view. The 5-pin behind the 1-pin is the classic sleeper — many pocket hits that seem solid will leave the 5-pin if the ball deflects too much. The key to avoiding sleeper leaves is more pin action, which comes from better entry angle and adequate ball speed and rev rate.
BrooklynWhen your ball crosses to the wrong side of the headpin — a right-hander hitting the 1-2 pocket instead of the 1-3. Named after Brooklyn, New York. Occasionally produces a "Brooklyn strike," which is celebrated and slightly embarrassing in equal measure.
Ball Motion: What the Ball Does After You Release It
Modern bowling balls don't travel in a straight line. They go through three distinct phases from release to impact, and understanding those phases is fundamental to reading lane conditions and making intelligent adjustments.
Ball Motion Terms
Skid PhaseThe initial phase where the ball slides down the lane with minimal rolling. The ball's contact point is moving faster than the ball is rotating — it's essentially skidding. Oil on the front portion of the lane promotes the skid phase; dry conditions shorten it. A ball in skid doesn't hook.
Hook PhaseThe middle phase where friction between the coverstock and lane surface causes the ball to begin rotating and curving toward the pocket. This is where ball motion becomes visible. The hook phase is most dramatically affected by lane conditions, ball surface, and the bowler's rev rate and axis rotation.
Roll PhaseThe final phase where the ball is rotating cleanly end-over-end. Maximum energy transfer to the pins occurs when the ball is in full roll at impact. Balls that hit the pins while still in skid or hook phase tend to deflect rather than driving through the rack.
Rev Rate (RPM)How many times the ball rotates per minute during its travel. Higher revs = more hook potential and more pin action. PBA professionals average 300–400+ RPM. Most recreational bowlers generate 150–250 RPM. Rev rate is largely a function of release technique and can be improved with deliberate practice.
Ball SpeedMeasured in mph at the moment of release. PBA professionals typically throw 17–20 mph. The interaction between ball speed and rev rate determines the overall shape of ball motion — a player with high revs and low speed will hook more dramatically than one with high speed and lower revs.
HookThe lateral curve of the ball from its initial trajectory toward the pocket. Bowlers who hook the ball create a sharper entry angle into the pocket, which generates more side-to-side pin action and a higher strike percentage than a straight delivery.
BackendThe last 15 feet of the lane before the pins. "Strong backend" means the ball makes a sharp, aggressive move in this zone. Backend reaction is heavily influenced by the length of the oil pattern and the ball's surface preparation — a highly polished ball will store more energy through the oil and make a more dramatic backend move.
TransitionThe change in lane conditions that happens as play continues. Oil gets displaced, absorbed into the lane, and carried further down by the balls rolling over it. As transition progresses, the track area dries out, balls hook earlier, and adjustments become necessary. Reading transition is one of the most important skills competitive bowlers develop.
Equipment: The Terms That Actually Matter
Bowling equipment — particularly balls — is far more technically sophisticated than most casual players realize. These are the terms you'll encounter when shopping for equipment or talking to a pro shop operator.
Equipment Terms
CoverstockThe outer shell of the bowling ball. The single most important factor in how a ball reacts. Four main types: polyester (plastic, very low hook, standard for spare balls and beginners); urethane (moderate hook, very controllable, excellent for dry or medium conditions); reactive resin (strong hook, the standard for strike balls in most conditions); particle/proactive (maximum hook, designed for heavy oil).
Core (Weight Block)The internal component of the ball that determines its mass distribution and rotational dynamics. Symmetric cores produce smooth, predictable arcs. Asymmetric cores have an extra mass bias that creates more dramatic, later-hooking motion. The core is what the coverstock is built around, and its shape is the primary driver of the ball's overall motion shape.
RG (Radius of Gyration)Measured in inches, RG describes how far the ball's mass is concentrated from its center. Low RG (2.46–2.57") means mass is near the center — the ball revs up early, reads the lane sooner, hooks earlier. High RG (2.57–2.80") means mass is distributed outward — the ball skids longer and hooks later, often producing a stronger backend move.
DifferentialThe difference between a ball's highest and lowest RG values. Higher differential means higher flare potential and generally more aggressive, backend-heavy motion. Lower differential means smooth, controllable arc. Differentials range from near-zero (very control-oriented) to 0.060+ (very aggressive).
Surface GritThe texture of the coverstock, measured like sandpaper. Lower numbers (500–1000 grit) = rough surface = more friction = earlier, stronger hook. Higher numbers (2000–4000+ grit) = smoother = more skid = stronger backend. Polishing the surface further reduces friction. Pro shop operators adjust ball surface as a primary fine-tuning tool.
LayoutThe specific positioning of the finger and pin holes relative to the ball's core axis, determined during drilling. Layout dramatically affects how quickly the ball transitions through its phases and the overall shape of its motion. A well-chosen layout matched to your delivery style is as important as choosing the right ball.
ArsenalThe complete set of balls a competitive player uses. A typical competitive arsenal has 3–6 balls covering light oil to heavy oil conditions, plus a plastic spare ball. Having a ball for each condition type allows the player to put the right ball motion in play regardless of what the lanes are doing.
Technique and Delivery Terms
Delivery Vocabulary
Address / StanceThe bowler's starting position on the approach. A consistent address — same spot, same posture, same ball position — is the first requirement of repeatable bowling. Small inconsistencies in stance compound into big inconsistencies at the foul line.
PushawayThe initial movement of the ball away from the body at the start of the approach. Sets the direction and timing of the entire swing. A pushaway that goes sideways creates a swing plane that's nearly impossible to maintain consistently; it should go forward, parallel to the lane boards.
Axis TiltThe angle between the bowler's rotation axis and the horizontal plane at the moment of release. More axis tilt = the ball spends more time in skid before transitioning. Less tilt = the ball begins rolling more aggressively sooner. Most bowlers have natural axis tilt between 15 and 35 degrees.
Axis RotationHow far the bowler's hand has rotated toward the side of the ball at release. More rotation = more hook potential. Zero rotation produces a rolling, straight delivery. Ninety degrees of rotation produces a side-spinning ball that may not transition efficiently at all. Most effective deliveries fall between 30 and 60 degrees of axis rotation.
LoftThe distance past the foul line where the ball first contacts the lane surface. Ideal loft is 6–12 inches. Too much loft (the ball landing well out on the lane) disrupts the ball's rolling motion. Too little loft (essentially dropping the ball at the foul line) causes the ball to skip and bounce unpredictably.
Follow ThroughThe continuation of the arm swing upward past the shoulder after the ball has been released. Stopping the follow-through short is one of the most common causes of errant shots — the arm naturally decelerates before release, causing the ball to go offline. Finish every shot with the bowling hand reaching up toward your face.
Competition and League Terms
League and Tournament Vocabulary
HandicapA scoring adjustment added to lower-average bowlers' scores to level competition across skill levels. Typically calculated as a percentage (80–90%) of the difference between a bowler's average and a base score (often 200 or 220). Handicap leagues are the standard in recreational competition and allow players of very different abilities to compete meaningfully against each other.
ScratchCompetition without handicap — raw scores only. All PBA Tour events are scratch. Scratch leagues reward pure performance regardless of average.
AnchorThe last bowler in a team's lineup — typically the best or most clutch performer. The anchor "strikes out" in the 10th frame to seal victories when the team needs it most. The position carries a disproportionate share of the team's emotional weight.
Baker FormatA team competition format where five bowlers each bowl specific frames to complete a single game. Player 1 bowls frames 1 and 6; Player 2 bowls 2 and 7, and so on. Popular in high school and collegiate bowling because it emphasizes genuine teamwork — every frame is bowled by a different player, and everyone's performance contributes equally.
SandbaggerA bowler who intentionally performs below their ability to maintain an artificially low average, giving them more handicap in competition. Widely disrespected in the bowling community. Technically a rules violation in USBC-sanctioned competition under provisions against intentional underperformance.
USBC (United States Bowling Congress)The national governing body for bowling in the United States, formed in 2005 by the merger of several historical organizations including the American Bowling Congress (ABC) and Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC). The USBC certifies equipment, sets rules, sanctions leagues and tournaments, and maintains records.