A working glossary of bowling terms — hook, straight ball, strike, spare, open frame, individual and team score, pocket, head pin and the equipment words used …
This glossary covers the words a customer meets at a bowling centre: how the ball travels, how a frame is scored, and what the different parts of the lane and equipment are called. Ball paths Hook: a ball path that curves left or right as it travels down the lane. Straight ball: a ball that travels down the lane without curving. Backup ball: a ball that curves in the opposite direction to the player’s usual hook. Ball speed: how fast the ball travels after release. Revolution: the number of rotations the ball makes as it travels. Scoring Strike: all ten pins knocked down with the first ball. Spare: the remaining pins cleared with the second ball. Open frame: a frame that ends with pins still standing. Individual score: the total a single player has scored in a game. Team score: the combined or match total for a team. Frame: one turn in the sequence of ten that makes a game. Lane and equipment Pocket: the target area between the front pins where a ball is most likely to strike. Head pin: the front pin of the triangle. Pin deck: the area at the end of the lane where the pins stand. Ball bag: the bag used to carry and protect a bowling ball. Bowling alley: the facility that provides lanes and equipment for play. Some terms differ between scoring systems and regions — for example, a backup ball is not called the same way everywhere — so a score sheet should always be read against the rules of the league being played. More terms, including the names of consecutive strikes, are in bowling strike terminology. The physical parts of the game are in bowling parts and terms.