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• {{anchor|ABC|abc}}ABC: American Bowling Congress, the first enduring standards and rules governing organization for ten-pin bowling in the United States, formed in September 1895NEWS, New Rules For Bowlers / The National Congress Makes Radical Changes,weblink The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 10, 1895,weblink June 15, 2018, 5, live, Accessed via Newspapers.com.NEWS, New Bowling Rules / They Have Been Revised and Radical Changes made,weblink The Topeka State Journal, Kansas, September 21, 1895,weblink May 5, 2019, 8, live, Accessed via the U.S. Library of Congress online.NEWS, American Bowling Congress Meeting,weblink The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, New Haven, Connecticut, January 21, 1896,weblink May 5, 2019, 3, live, Accessed via the U.S. Library of Congress online. and merged in 2005 with other organizations to form the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).WEB, USBC, ABC, WIBC and Team USA Bowling,weblink Bowl.com (United States Bowling Congress), March 13, 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170311002354weblink">weblink March 11, 2017, live,
• {{anchor|Abralon|abralon}}Abralon (pad): An abrasion technology product used to "sand" ball coverstocks with different grits (degrees of roughness) to control the amount of friction between the coverstock and lane.
• Absentee (score): See blind.
• Action bowling: Bowling contests involving money betting, historically associated with the New York underworld from the 1940s to the 1970s.WEB, Crockett, Zachary, The Rise and Fall of Professional Bowling,weblink Priceonomics,weblink March 16, 2018, March 21, 2014, live,
• {{anchor|Adjust|adjust|Adjustment|adjustment}}Adjust(ment): A change in technique—especially in alignment,WEB, How Do I Make Bowling Adjustments With My Spot And Feet?,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 24, 2015, January 13, 2015, live, but also in approach, delivery, targeting or ball choice—often made in response to changing lane conditions or to correct undesirable ball motion.WEB, Bowling Lane Play Adjustments,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink September 6, 2015, March 5, 2013, live,
• Aggressive: See Strong.
• {{anchor|Align|align|Alignment|alignment}}Align(ment): A choice of location of the feet during setup, location of the sliding foot at time of release, and choice of target (arrow), which collectively determine initial ball trajectory. Alignment is usually expressed in terms of board number and arrow number, for example, "standing at (board) 25, sliding at 20, looking at the second arrow".WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Line Up To The Bowling Pocket,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 2, 2020, 2012, live,
• Anchor: In league play, the person bowling last: usually the bowler with the highest average or the best performer under pressure.
• Andy Varipapa 300: 12 consecutive strikes bowled across two games.
• Angle: See Angle of entry or Delivery angle.
• {{anchor|Angle of entry|angle of entry}}Angle of entry: The angle at which the ball is moving when first impacting a pin (especially the pocket), measured with respect to a line parallel to the lane's boards. A ball that hooks has a larger angle of entry than a ball rolled in a straight line. Entry angles of 4° to 6° are thought to deliver optimum pin carry.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Ball Angle Of Entry,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 8, 2022, February 1, 2013, live, Distinguish: delivery angle.
• {{anchor|Approach|approach}}Approach: The part of the delivery that leads up to the release. Approach also denotes the area behind the foul line.
• {{anchor|Arrows|arrows}}(The) Arrows: Seven regularly-spaced arrowhead-shaped guides located about 15 feet past the foul line, used by many bowlers as targets for rolling the ball. The target (aiming point) is called a bowler's "mark".
• {{anchor|Arsenal|arsenal}}Arsenal: The set of bowling balls available for a bowler's use. Often, the term specifically refers to the limited quantity of balls permitted under rules of a particular competition. Balls in an arsenal are usually chosenWEB, Low, Wesley, How To Prepare Your Best 6 Bowling Ball Arsenal,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink December 9, 2021, December 8, 2021, live, to be mutually distinct in coverstock, core characteristics, and pin configuration, to achieve desired ball paths under different lane conditions.
• {{anchor|Asymmetric|asymmetric}}Asymmetric: Adjective describing a ball that is not symmetric, and therefore tending to have greater flare potential through a more aggressive reaction on the back end of the lane. Formally, asymmetric balls have RG (radius of gyration) values along the Y (high RG) and Z (intermediate RG) axes that differ by more than 5% of total differential. Adjective is also applied to the ball's core.
• Average: The total of scores from multiple games divided by the number of games, truncated down to an integer (whole-number) value.
• {{anchor|Axis rotation|axis rotation}}Axis rotation: Angle of the ball's axis of rotation in a horizontal plane, measured with respect to a line parallel to the foul line. Generally, axis rotation is imparted by turning the ball, and significantly contributes to hook. Initial axis rotation is defined at the time of release. Axis rotation is also referred to as side rotation or side roll. Distinguish: axis tilt.
• {{anchor|Axis tilt|axis tilt}}Axis tilt: Angle of the ball's axis of rotation in a vertical plane, measured with respect to the horizontal. Initial axis tilt is defined at the time of release. Distinguish: axis rotation.

B

• Baby Split: A split that can be converted by hitting both pins with the ball. Examples: 3—10, 2—7, 4—5.
• {{anchor|Back}}Back __: A number, __, of consecutive strikes ending with the final roll of a game. For example, a player rolling strikes in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames plus three more in the tenth frame is said to have the "back six". Compare: front _.
• {{anchor|Backup|backup}}Back-up ball: A ball rolled with a right-handed release that hooks left to right, or rolled with a left-handed release that hooks right to left—opposite to the hook directions of conventional releases.
• {{anchor|Back end}}Back end: The (approx.) one-third of the lane furthest from the foul line, which generally lacks oil.

• {{anchor|Backswing|backswing}}Backswing: The portion of a delivery following the push-off (push away) and preceding the forward swing and release.
• {{anchor|Bagger}}__-Bagger: A string of __ strikes in consecutive frames within the same game (example: "six-bagger").
• Baker format: A team game scoring format in which a team's members bowl frames in a repetitive order to complete a single game (example: bowler A bowls frames 1 and 6, bowler B bowls frames 2 and 7, and so forth). Named after 1950s American Bowling Congress officer Frank K. Baker.WEB, Goodger, Jef, Baker Team Competition Format / The Pros and Cons of Bowling's Baker Scoring System,weblink ThoughtCo.com,weblink March 18, 2019, February 11, 2019, live,
• {{anchor|Balance hole|balance hole}}Balance hole: A hole drilled into a bowling ball into which a finger is not inserted. The hole, originally meant to correct static imbalance, has also been used to change the ball's intended dynamics and was banned in competition by USBC effective August 1, 2020.WEB, Bigham, Terry, Bowling Technology Study Conclusion / Research Summary and Specification Updates,weblink Bowl.com, United States Bowling Congress (USBC),weblink May 26, 2019, April 24, 2018, live, WEB, Why Use A Bowling Ball Balance Hole,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 20, 2017, 2012, live, Also called a weight hole.
• {{anchor|Balance leg|balance leg}}Balance leg: The leg opposite the leg on which a bowler slides in the final slide step, so named because the moving balance leg provides a counter-balance to the motion of the ball immediately before and during release, thus helping to stabilize the bowler's body position.
• Ball down: To switch to a ball that has a weaker hooking reaction. Opposite of ball up.
• {{anchor|Ball reaction}}Ball reaction: Change in direction of ball motion due to frictional contact with the lane surface, the term often applied to describe the amount of hook. Often shortened to reaction.

• {{anchor|Speed|Ball speed}}Ball speed: Rate at which a ball as a whole moves down the lane (usually expressed in miles per hour, MPH). Distinguish: rev rate, which describes a ball's rotational velocity (expressed in revolutions per minute, RPM).
• Ball up: To switch to a ball that has a stronger hooking reaction. Opposite of ball down.
• Bananas: a pinsetter malfunction in which the pinsetter has an incomplete load and is stuck at full lift.
• {{anchor|Beer frame}}Beer frame: A frame in which the only bowler not to roll a strike, or the one who achieves the lowest score, has to buy beer for the rest of his/her team.
• {{anchor|Behind|behind}}Behind the ball: A position of the hand on the ball, furthest or nearly furthest from the pins and away from the side, generally thought to impart a modest but controllable amount of side rotation to modern reactive resin bowling balls. Designed to avoid a chicken wing delivery.WEB, Bowling Hand At Release,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink March 13, 2017, March 1, 2017, live, WEB, Is Your Hand Behind Your Bowling Ball?,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 10, 2021, June 17, 2017, live,
• Benchmark ball: A ball whose coverstock, core, and layout most reliably match a bowler's style under expected lane conditions—often chosen from an arsenal as a default (first-to-use) ball.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Selecting A Benchmark Bowling Ball,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink September 30, 2011, 2011, live, Benchmark balls often have symmetrical cores, lower RGs, and medium to strong differentials, and may have solid reactive coverstocks for predictable motion and strong downlane continuation.WEB, What Is a Benchmark Reaction?,weblink Bowling This Month,weblink January 19, 2023, January 17, 2023, live,
• Benchmark reaction: A ball reaction involving a medium hook and a medium amount of angularity at the breakpoint, chosen to be readily manipulated to adjust speed, axis rotation, and loft.
• BFO (beer frame opportunity): A situation in which no more than one member of a team has failed to get a strike in a particular frame before the last member bowls, creating the possibility for a beer frame if it ends with only one missed strike.
• Big Four: A split where only the 4, 6, 7 and 10 pins are standing.
• {{anchor|Blind}}Blind (score): In league play, a score attributed to a team member who is absent for a particular session, the score usually smaller than the player's average. Also called "absentee score" or "dummy score". Distinguish: vacancy.

• Bird dog: See messenger.
• {{anchor|Blended|blended|Blocked|blocked}}Blended condition versus Blocked condition (or Blocked lane): Especially in typical house shot (THS) oil patterns, the oil pattern has high oil volume on the middle boards to allow a shot missed to the inside to slide toward the pocket and not cross over, and has low oil volume on the outer boards to cause a shot missed to the outside to hook back toward the pocket. The differing oil concentrations are conceived to increase the margin of error for a strike. Blended conditions occur when the contrast from the oily center to the dry sides is small—smaller than blocked conditions. With blended conditions, there is less danger of skidding too far in the oil or hooking too strongly on the outside, reducing chances of encountering the undesirable over/under phenomenon.WEB, Bowling Lane Blended Oil Condition,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 3, 2023, January 2, 2014, live,
• Blow-out-five (BOF):[Questionable] On a full rack, the ball hits light in the pocket, but still hits the 5-pin and makes it fly into the 7-pin (or 10-pin for left-handed releases) to strike. Broadcaster Nelson Burton, Jr. used this term. If the result of a pocket hit like this leaves a corner pin, the resulting leave is a "Swishing 7 (or 10)". Swishing 7-10 splits can even happen.
• Bo Derek: Used by Rob Stone, ten consecutive strikes in the same game, referring to the actress' best-known film.
• {{anchor|Board|board}}Board: A longitudinally placed wooden board or synthetic substitute, 39 of which constitute the 41.5-inch width of a lane. Boards are considered to be numbered 1 through 39, increasing from right to left for right-handed releases. Boards 5, 10, 15... 35 have marker arrows.
• {{anchor|Bracket|bracket|Brackets|brackets}}Bracket(s): A contest format in which bowlers are divided into groups (the "brackets"), and each bowler is paired against another bowler in the group in the first round of what is usually a single-elimination tournament. Bracket competition is often conducted in parallel with regular tournament or league competition.WEB, What Are Bowling Brackets,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161023204402weblink">weblink October 23, 2016, May 2012, live, More generally, the term bracket denotes a tree diagram representing how contestants are paired against each other.
• {{anchor|Breakdown|breakdown}}Breakdown: Process by which repeated ball traversals along a path incrementally remove oil from the path so it presents increased friction to subsequently-rolled balls, thus reducing their length.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Lane Oil Carry Down And Break Down,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink June 11, 2012, 2012, live, See also: burn. Breakdown is one aspect of lane transition. Distinguish: carry-down.
• {{anchor|Breakpoint|breakpoint}}Breakpoint: A term with varying definitions: The point along a bowling ball's path at which the ball transitions from the skid phase to the hook phase; or the point of maximum change in direction; or the point at which the ball transitions from skid to traction and begins the roll phase;WEB, Common Bowling Ball Terms,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink July 22, 2023, June 1, 2012, live, or the point at which the ball is at its most outside position; or the point at which the ball exits the oil pattern and begins to change direction ("break").WEB, Bowling Ball Motion Hook Phase,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 26, 2020, February 14, 2017, live, Distinguish: length.
• {{anchor|Bridge|bridge}}Bridge: The distance between the finger holes.WEB, Bowling Pro Shop Terms,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink March 31, 2016, September 5, 2014, live, Distinguish: span.
• {{anchor|Broken|broken}}Broken (wrist position): A position of the wrist during delivery in which the back of the hand is bent toward the outside of the forearm (palm being opened). A broken-wrist-position delivery provides less rev rate and hook potential. Opposite of cupped.WEB, Cupped Vs. Broken Wrist Bowling Hand Positions,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 10, 2022, November 5, 2016, live, The broken wrist position is sometimes called the reverse tilt position.WEB, Bowling Release Variables,weblink Bowlingball.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 12, 2023, April 3, 2013, live,
• {{anchor|Brooklyn|brooklyn}}Brooklyn: A roll in which the ball crosses over the centerline to impact the pins on a side opposite the pocket. Also called a Jersey in the New York City area, or Windsor in the Metro Detroit area.
• {{anchor|Bucket|bucket}}Bucket: a spare leave of either the 2-4-5-8, 3-5-6-9 or (more rarely) 1-2-3-5 pins.
• Bumpers: Rails (barriers) surrounding a lane to prevent balls from going into the gutters, primarily for beginners or young children.
• {{anchor|Burn|burn}}Burn or burn up: Phenomenon or intentional competitive strategy by which a large amount of ball traffic on a particular path removes lane oil from that path, causing subsequently rolled balls to encounter increased friction. Term is often used to describe change in lane characteristics during long tournaments in which lanes are not repeatedly re-oiled. See breakdown.
• Burning out and burning up: The energy of the ball is said to be burning out if it skids too far down the lane and hooks too late. Conversely, The energy of a bowling ball is said to be burning up if it hooks too early and hits the pins flat or deflects.WEB, Pohl, Scott, Ball Motion: Burn Out or Burn Up,weblink National Bowling Academy,weblink May 21, 2022, 2021, live,

C

• Carry: See pin carry.
• {{anchor|Carry-down|carry-down}}Carry-down: Process by which balls, having picked up oil from the oil pattern, deposit it in the normally dry back end to cause subsequently rolled balls to slide and thus extend their length before hooking. Porous, softer-surface solid reactive balls tend to leave wider streaks of oil, whereas less porous, harder pearl reactive balls tend to leave narrower streaks.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, What Is Bowling Lane Oil Carrydown,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 9, 2023, February 2, 2012, live, Carry-down is one aspect of lane transition. Distinguish: breakdown.
• Challenge match: In Japan, an event where a popular bowler, usually a licensed professional, hosts a tournament, allowing paying participants to compete for money and prizes. Typical event consists of three games. The host receives a payment, minus the funds used to pay off the bowlers who defeated the host.
• {{anchor|Channel|channel}}Channel: Formal term for gutter. One of two trough-shaped structures surrounding a lane to catch errant rolls.
• Cheesy cakes: Also: "cake shot". Lanes on which strikes are relatively easy.
• Cherry pick: See chop.
• Chicken sandwich: Three consecutive spares, preceded and followed by strikes.

• {{anchor|Chicken wing|chicken wing}}Chicken wing: A delivery in which the bowler's elbow is undesirably bent and extends outward to the side, rather than remaining behind the hand in line with the intended ball delivery path. Chicken winging is disfavored because it confounds the desirable action of the wrist and fingers in rotating the ball and generally results in a weaker release and diminished side rotation.
• Chop: In an attempt to convert a spare having at least two pins, the bowler knocks down the front-most pin while failing to knock down a pin that is immediately diagonally adjacent. Example: knocking the 2 and 4 down but leaving the 5 pin. A modern interpretation of the term includes picking only the middle pin out of, for example, the 1-3-6 or 3-6-10 (right handed release).
• Clean game: A game with a mark (spare or strike) in all ten frames.
• {{anchor|Closed|closed}}Closed (body position): Describes a body position in which the shoulders (especially) are directed squarely downlane and not to the outside; is commonly adopted by strokers, a style favoring repeatable accuracy over power. Compare: open (body position).
• Clover:[Questionable] Four strikes in a row. A reference to four-leaf clover.
• Come back: Of a ball: to hook. The term is usually applied when a ball seemingly was headed too low but ended up hooking adequately.
• Conditioner: Lubricating lane oil.
• {{anchor|Conventional grip|conventional grip}}Conventional grip or conventional fit: A ball grip in which fingers are inserted to the second knuckle from the fingertips; characteristic of house balls. Compare: fingertip grip.

• {{anchor|Conversion|conversion|convert}}Conversion (convert): In the second ball roll of a frame, the knocking down of all pins that remained standing after the first roll, so as to achieve a spare for that frame. Term is often preceded by the number(s) of the pins involved (example: "3–6–10 conversion").
• {{anchor|Core|core}}Core: A dense structure inside a ball that can be shaped, located and oriented to strategically affect ball motion. Sometimes called a "weight block". See Bowling ballEffect of coverstock, core and layout on ball motion
• {{anchor|Corner pin|corner pin|Cornerpin|cornerpin}}Corner pin: The 7-pin or the 10-pin.
• Count: See pin count.
• Cover (a spare): Another word for converting a spare.

• {{anchor|Coverstock|Cover|coverstock|cover}}Coverstock: The material comprising a ball's outer surface (cover), which determines the ball's frictional engagement with the lane and thus substantially affects ball motion. Coverstocks include polyester ("plastic"), polyurethane ("urethane") and reactive resin ("reactive").WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Ball Coverstock Choices,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 17, 2021, October 5, 2012, live,
• {{anchor|Cranker|cranker}}Cranker: A bowler who rolls the ball with high revolutions, a style favoring power over control and repeatability.WEB, Crank Your Bowling Ball,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 13, 2023, April 3, 2013, live, Compare: stroker.
• {{anchor|Cross over|cross over}}Cross over: Of a ball: to pass from the right side to the left side of the center board (for right hand deliveries) before impacting any pins. See Brooklyn.
• {{anchor|Cupped|cupped}}Cupped (wrist position): A position of the wrist during delivery in which the palm is positioned toward the inner forearm, forming a "cup" to hold the ball. A cupped-position delivery enables higher rev rates and hook potential. Opposite of broken wrist. The cupped wrist position is sometimes called the forward tilt position.
• Current Frame Scoring System: An alternate scoring system (most recently used in the World Bowling Tour finals) in which any strike is counted as 30 pins, while a spare is counted as 10 pins plus the first ball count in the current frame (example: 8 pins followed by a spare is scored as 18). Open frames count total pinfall in the frame only, as with conventional scoring. There are no bonus rolls in the tenth frame, so a perfect score is 300.WEB,weblink New scoring system introduced for World Bowling Tour finals to try to help sport's Olympic ambitions, Mackay, Duncan, insidethegames.com, February 20, 2016, July 16, 2021,

D

• Dead wood: A pin left on the lane or in the channel out of reach of the sweeper.
• Deck: See pin deck.
• Deck (table) jam: A pinsetter malfunction in which the pinsetter is stuck and pins fall out of it.
• Deep: See inside.
• {{anchor|Delivery|delivery}}Delivery: The process beginning with the approach and ending with the ball release.
• {{anchor|Delivery angle|delivery angle}}Delivery angle: The angle at which a bowling ball is released, measured horizontally with respect to a line parallel to the boards. A ball with a "wide" (large) delivery angle "covers more boards" laterally than one delivered with a small delivery angle. Small delivery angles are associated with down and in deliveries. Delivery angles range from about -2° (for straight ball bowlers) to about +8° (for crankers).WEB, Bowling Ball Delivery Angle,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink June 8, 2013, June 2013, live, Bowlers adjust delivery angles to adapt to lane transition.WEB, Bowling Lane Adjustment - An Angle Change,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink June 30, 2022, February 21, 2015, live, The delivery angle is sometimes called the launch angle. Distinguish: angle of entry into the pins.
• Delivery style: A personal variation in how a ball is delivered to the lane. In rough order of power, delivery styles include: two-handed cranker, two finger/no thumb, cranker, power tweener, tweener, power stroker, stroker, straight, backup ball, USA spinner, UFO spinner, push ramp, disabled delivery ramp, retractable-handled bowling balls.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Stroker Delivery Style,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 19, 2021, April 3, 2012, live,
• {{anchor|Differential|differential}}Differential (of RG): Difference between radii of gyration (RG) values of a ball along two axes, indicating the ball's flare potential. Larger flare potentials enable more angular motion from the breakpoint to the pocket, whereas smaller flare potentials yield a smoother arc motion.WEB, Bowling Ball Differential Ratings,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink June 19, 2023, November 5, 2012, live,
• Double: Two consecutive strikes within a single game.
• {{anchor|Double wood|double wood}}Double wood: A leave of two pins (the 2-8, the 3-9 or the rarer 1-5), the hidden one of which is called a sleeper.
• {{anchor|Down and in|down and in}}Down and in: Ball motion in which the skid is essentially parallel to the lane's boards ("down..."), generally before smoothly hooking ("... and in"). Distinguished from: skid paths that "cover" (cross) many boards at an angle moving toward the gutter, before hooking back.
• {{anchor|Downlane markers|downlane markers}}Downlane markers: Two pairs of three-foot long guide lines beginning 34 and 40 feet past the foul line, often used by bowlers to help determine on which board their balls reach their breakpoint.
• Drift: Lateral movement of a bowler's foot position between (initial) setup position and (final) sliding position, measured in boards left or right. Example: "a three-board drift to the left". One source calls this definition "lateral movement" and asserts that drift is more properly defined as unwanted variation away from a consistent desired lateral movement.WEB, McEwen, Jason, Do you 'Drift' on the Approach?,weblink USBC Bowling Academy,weblink March 1, 2019, live,
• Dummy score: See blind.
• {{anchor|Dutch 200}}Dutch 200: A game consisting only of alternating strikes and spares which always results in a score of 200.

E

• {{anchor|Early timing|early timing|Early|early}}Early timing: Timing characteristic of a delivery in which the ball is released before the sliding foot slides. Compare: late timing.
• Emergency service (UK): Knocking down 9 pins in three successive frames—a reference to the "999" emergency telephone number in the U.K.
• End over end: A release that imparts more forward roll on a bowling ball, as opposed to side roll. See axis rotation.
• Entry angle: See angle of entry.
• Error: older term for a non-split open frame.

F

• {{anchor|Fall|fall|Falling|falling|Fall off|fall off|Falling off|falling off}}Fall(ing) off: Bowlers are said to "fall off (the shot)" if, soon after delivery, their bodies tip away from a stable position, especially as a result of improper balance. Opposite of posting a shot.
• Fast 8: An apparent high flush pocket hit causing the 2 pin to deflect around the 4 and 7 pins, leaving both (right-handed release).
• Farkel: See messenger.Viale, Christopher (February 15, 2022), "NEBA President Christopher Viale (interview)" at 15:25. New England Bowlers Association (NEBA).
• Fence: Frame in which none of bowlers scored either strike or spare.
• Field goal: A failed 7-10 split conversion attempt in which the ball goes between the two pins.
• Fill ball or Fill frame: Roll(s) after a tenth-frame spare or strike(s), needed to determine bonus points that complete ("fill") the frame.
• {{anchor|Finals|finals|Final rounds|final rounds}}Finals or Final rounds: The last stage of a tournament, which in professional tournaments is usually in stepladder format.
• {{anchor|Fingertip grip|fingertip grip|Fingertip|fingertip}}Fingertip grip or fingertip fit: A ball grip in which fingers are inserted only to the first knuckle from the fingertips (thumb is still inserted completely); used especially in custom-drilled balls to allow fingers to impart more rotational force. Compare: conventional grip.
• Finish: The degree of a ball surface's rough or smooth physical texture, which may be changed by sandpaper or polish. Distinguish: the microscopically-determined chemical "stickiness" characterizing reactive resin balls.
• Flare: See track flare. Distinguish: a ball's flare potential.
• {{anchor|Flare potential|flare potential}}Flare potential: Hook potential (determined by a ball's coverstock, core, layout, speed and rev rate).WEB, Padilla, Stephen, Choosing A Bowling Ball That Is Right For Your Arsenal (USBC Moderator's Discussion),weblink usbcbowlingacademy.com, United States Bowling Congress,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160724012333weblink">weblink July 24, 2016, September 17, 2015, live, Flare potential is an indicator of how sharply a ball will hook. A ball's flare potential is distinguished from the track flare phenomenon.

• {{anchor|Flat 10|flat 10}}Flat 10: A leave of the 10 pin, in which the 6 pin lies "flat" in the gutter. Also called "Weak 10" or "Quitter 10". Compare: ringing 10. Left-handed equivalent is the Flat 7.
• {{anchor|Flush|flush}}Flush: A full pocket hit which usually results in sending all ten pins into the pit.
• {{anchor|Follow-through|follow-through}}Follow-through: The continued motion of the bowling arm after ball release, used to help ensure the ball rolls over a target.
• Foul: Penalty occurrence in which a portion of the bowler's body touches beyond the foul line on a delivery in which the ball is released. The bowler receives a score of zero for that particular roll.
• Foundation frame: The 9th frame (if a bowler strikes, that will lay a "foundation" for the final frame).
• Frame: One of ten scoring units constituting a game, each including one or two rolls (two or three in 10th frame) depending on pinfall.
• {{anchor|Front|front}}Front __: A number, __, of consecutive strikes beginning with frame 1. Compare: back _.
• Fry Frame:[Questionable] Variant of beer frame.
• Full Murray: A 5–7–10 leave.
• Full roller: A delivery with zero axis tilt, in which the oil track on the ball traverses the full diameter of the ball as it rolls (see axis tilt diagram, above).

G

• (Go) off the sheet: See strike out. Derived during the time when bowling was scored manually on paper.
• Grandma's teeth: A 4-7-9-10 split or any "big five" split combination, resembling a mouth with missing teeth.

• Gravity swing: A delivery in which a bowler relies primarily on gravity to govern pendulum-like motion of a relatively relaxed bowling arm throughout the delivery, as distinguished from using muscular tension to control or restrict motion of the ball.WEB, Gravity Bowling Swing,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160102215557weblink">weblink January 2, 2016, 2013, live,
• Grip: The arrangement and intended use of a ball's holes, categorized as conventional grip or fingertip grip. Also used synonymously with grip pressure.
• {{anchor|Grip pressure|grip pressure}}Grip pressure: The amount of pressure applied by the fingers and thumb in grasping the ball during delivery. With modern reactive resin balls, especially those that are custom-drilled, less gripping pressure is required to achieve desired axis rotation.

• Greek Church: A 4-6-7-9-10 or 4-6-7-8-10 split, resembling five spires of a Greek Orthodox church.
• Grit: A degree of coarseness of an abrasive product used to "sand" (abrade) ball coverstocks to affect frictional engagement with the lane and control ball reaction. Grits commonly range from 180 (rougher, for more friction and earlier hooking) to 4000 (finer, for less friction and a longer skid).WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Carry Your Own Bowling Ball Surface Grit Pads,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink November 2, 2019, live,
• Gutter: See channel.

H

• Half a loaf: When 5 pins are left after the first shot on either half of the lane (2-4-5-7-8 for right-handers, 3-5-6-9-10 for left-handers).
• {{anchor|Hambone|hambone}}Hambone: Commonly: four consecutive strikes within a game; coining of the term credited to announcer Rob Stone in the mid-2000s. Earlier, the term denoted two consecutive strikes within a game.WEB, Gorches, Steve T., Chicago, Post-Tribune, Stone Talks Hambone,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190227060542weblink">weblink February 27, 2019, February 29, 2008, live,
• {{anchor|Hand|hand}}Hand: A somewhat ambiguous term, but usually denoting the amount of wrist and the amount of finger rotation during release. Example: "using less hand" reduces side rotation, resulting in a milder hook.WEB, Take Some Hand Out Of Your Bowling Release,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 31, 2016, 2013, live,
• {{anchor|Handicap|handicap}}Handicap: A number added to a "scratch score" to form a "handicap score". Generally, handicaps make lower-average bowlers have handicap scores that are close to handicap scores of higher-average bowlers, to make matches more evenly competitive.

• Head pin: The 1-pin.
• {{anchor|Heads|heads}}(The) Heads: The front part of the lane, roughly from the foul line to the arrows. Precedes the midlane and back end.
• {{anchor|Heavy|heavy}}Heavy: See high. Opposite of light.
• {{anchor|Hook|hook}}Hook: The second of three phases of ball motion—following the skid phase and preceding the roll phase—characterized by maximum change in ball direction. Hook is mainly caused by a ball's frictional engagement with a lane in its side rotation (rotation not in the same direction as the ball's overall forward motion); hook is also affected by dynamic imbalances in the ball's internal structure (core design and orientation).
• {{anchor|High|high}}High: Adjective describing shots that impact the pins undesirably inside from center pocket. Opposite of low.
• High flush: A strike in which the ball apparently impacts high of center pocket, but still sends all ten pins to the pit (a flush).
• Hold: The characteristic of ball motion involving a resistance to hooking, especially preventing hooking more than desired.
• {{anchor|House ball|house ball}}House ball: A non-custom ball, generally conventional grip with polyester ("plastic") coverstock, provided by bowling facilities for temporary use by patrons.
• House shot: See Typical house shot (THS).
• {{anchor|Hybrid|hybrid|Hybrid reactive|hybrid reactive}}Hybrid reactive: A type of reactive resin ball having a coverstock designed to have the mid-lane reaction of a solid coverstock and the back end reaction of a pearl coverstock. Hybrid coverstocks generally are made from one part solid reactive material and one part pearl reactive material, the parts being differently colored.WEB, Understanding The Hybrid Bowling Ball Coverstock,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 4, 2022, November 21, 2016, live,

I

• Ice and rug: Informal name for a lane's oil pattern, including oil ("ice") for skidding on the first two-thirds (approx.), and a non-oiled, higher-friction back end ("rug") for hooking.
• Inserts: Tubes, glued into a ball's holes and conforming to their pitch angles, that are sized and contoured to fit a bowler's fingers to provide comfort and enhance release action.WEB, Finger Inserts & New Bowlers,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink September 18, 2015, July 2, 2014, live, WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Using Bowling Finger Inserts,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 29, 2016, February 2, 2013, live,

• {{anchor|Inside|inside}}Inside: The portion of the lane further to the left (for right-handed releases), often expressed in comparison to a previous ball path. As lanes transition, bowlers typically "move inside" and roll the ball inside the previous path. Distinguish: high and heavy, which usually connote where the ball impacts the pins. Opposite of outside.

K

• {{anchor|Kickback|kickback}}Kickback(s): Side wall(s) beside the gutters that enclose the pin deck and support the pinsetter. Pins that strike the kickback can bounce back onto the pin deck to become messengers. Also called sideboard(s).
• Kickback plates: Plates that cover the kickback, against which pins bounce during pin scatter.
• Killer shot: A conversion of a difficult split.
• Kingpin: The (centrally positioned) 5 pin.

L

• Lag: An advanced delivery technique that involves cupping the wrist and bending the elbow on the downswing, so that the hand gets under the ball to allow the fingers to increase rev rate and power upon release.WEB, Add Bowling Revs By Adding Lag,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 19, 2023, December 4, 2013, live,
• Lateral movement: See and compare: drift.
• Label: Usually refers to labeling on bowling pins, including manufacturer logo and USBC certification.
• {{anchor||Lane shine|lane shine}}Lane shine: A partial misnomer, lane shine is the change in the surface of bowling balls due to contact not only with oil from the lane, but also the pit, carpet area, elevator and return system. Lane shine affects the entire ball surface, not only the track. Over time, lane shine changes a ball's reaction.WEB, Hinkland, Ronald Jr., Lane Shine: Why Is It Important?,weblink National Bowling Academy,weblink September 20, 2020, September 20, 2020, live,
• {{anchor|Lane transition|lane transition|Transition|transition}}Lane transition: Incremental changes in a lane's frictional characteristics along a path that has experienced repeated ball traversals so as to change the oil pattern and its effect on subsequently-rolled balls, a process that involves one or both of breakdown and carry-down.
• {{anchor|Late timing|late timing|Late|late}}Late timing: Timing characteristic of a delivery in which the ball is released after the sliding foot slides. Compare: early timing.
• Launch angle: See delivery angle.

• {{anchor|Layout|layout}}Layout: The plan of how a bowling ball's holes, pin and mass bias indicator are located relative to each other. A pin up layout has the pin "above" the finger holes (further from the thumb hole than the finger holes), whereas a pin down layout has the pin between the finger holes and thumb hole. See Bowling ballLayout and grip and Bowling ballEffect of coverstock, core and layout on ball motion. Layout is also a term referring to the oil pattern used on a lane surface.
• League: An organized group of bowling teams that compete against each other according to rules and a schedule. Leagues may be certified by a national governing body. See bowling league.
• {{anchor|Leave|leave}}Leave: (Noun, verb) The pins left standing after the first roll of a frame. Example: "a 10-pin leave".
• {{anchor|Length|length}}Length: (1) The distance—sometimes called skid distance—between the foul line and the point at which a ball enters the hook phase at the breakpoint. Length depends on the oil pattern, the ball's surface texture (coverstock) and mass distribution (RG), and the bowler's delivery technique. (2) "Length" also describes an oil pattern itself, in terms of the furthest distance past the foul line on which oil is applied, as in "a 39-foot pattern". Distinguish: volume, which indicates the total volume of oil applied to the lane (usually expressed in milliliters).
• Let up: To roll a ball with a delivery speed that is slower, usually said in comparison to the speed of a preceding delivery or of an ideal or desired delivery.
• {{anchor|Light|light}}Light: See low. Opposite of heavy.
• Line (or staying on line, holding the line): A ball's intended or actual path down the lane, especially the substantially straight path from the foul line to the breakpoint. Staying on line and holding the line mean the ball successfully follows the intended path. Also: one game (one "line" on a scoresheet).

• Line up, lining up: See alignment.
• Llama: Four consecutive strikes within a single game. More common: 4-bagger. Informal: hambone.
• {{anchor|Loft|loft}}Loft: (verb, noun) A rolled ball's path through the air before contacting the lane surface; also, the distance traveled on such a roll. Loft can be "hand loft" (releasing the ball later in the forward swing) or "projection loft" (determined by height of the ball over the approach at the time of release).MAGAZINE, Rose, Tyrel, Introduction to Loft Manipulation,weblink Bowling This Month,weblink August 6, 2020, 2020, live,
• Long pattern: An oil pattern that has oil distributed a relatively long distance beyond the foul line (example: 42–45 feetWEB, Davis, John, The Long and Short of It,weblink Kegel.net,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190731180918weblink">weblink July 31, 2019, May 31, 2005, live, ). Also called "long oil".
• Love tap: A light pocket hit causing (for a right-handed release) the 6-pin to fall into the channel, pop back up and "tap" the 10-pin to knock it down. Distinguish: the flat 10 leave.
• {{anchor|Low|low}}Low: Adjective describing shots that impact the pins undesirably outside from center pocket. Opposite of high.

M

• Major: One of five PBA tournaments that are considered the most important for a bowler to win. They are - The USBC Masters, The PBA World Championship, The Tournament of Champions, The U.S. Open, and The PBA Players Championship.
• Man weight: An individual is said to be "rolling man weight" when they are rolling sixteen-pound bowling balls, the heaviest allowed weight.
• {{anchor|Mark|mark}}Mark: (Noun, verb) A spare or a strike, as distinguished from an open frame. Mark (noun) also refers to a bowler's sighting target on the lane, which is often one of the arrows located about 15 feet past the foul line (usage: "he missed his mark by one board right").WEB, Are You Really Hitting Your Bowling Mark,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 26, 2016, June 4, 2012, live,
• {{anchor|Mass bias indicator|mass bias indicator|Mass bias marker|mass bias marker}}Mass bias indicator or Mass bias marker: A marker indicating the part of the ball at which the core is closest to the coverstock exterior. Its location in the layout affects the shape of the ball's reaction, especially on the back end.WEB, Bowling Ball Mass Bias,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink February 2, 2023, December 1, 2013, live,
• {{anchor|Match play|match play|Match rounds|match rounds}}Match play or Match rounds: Refers to what is usually the intermediate stage of a tournament, in which entrants compete, generally in head-to-head matches, to determine seeding for the final rounds.
• Match(ing) up: To optimize one's release ratio. More specifically, matching up means to control a ball's forward speed and its rev rate at time of release, so that the ball achieves full traction immediately before striking the pins, thereby maximizing energy imparted to the pins.
• Meg:[Questionable] A roll knocking down only the 7-pin or 10-pin.
• {{anchor|Messenger|messenger}}Messenger: A pin (generally the headpin) that travels laterally across the pin deck, usually after deflecting off a side wall (kickback), to knock down another pin (usually an opposite corner pin); more generally applied to a pin that knocks down other pin(s) "late" to result in a strike. Also known as a bird dog, scout, shrapnel, rogue pin, or more recently, farkel.
• Middle finger: A roll leaving only the 5-pin.
• {{anchor|Midlane|midlane}}(The) Midlane: The part of the lane between the heads and the back end.
• {{anchor|Mixer|mixer}}Mixer: A roll that causes the pins to bounce around extensively ("mix"), possibly reflecting off side wall(s); term usually distinguishes from a roll in which all pins are quickly and decisively knocked into the pit.
• Move your feet: In the stance before a delivery, to stand in a different place on the approach. Standing in a different spot causes a change in trajectory of the ball as it moves toward the target (usually an arrow), and is often performed to adapt to changing lane conditions.

N

• Negative axis point: The opposite end of the axis of rotation as the PAP (positive axis point).
• {{anchor|No-tap|no-tap}}No-tap: An alternative method of scoring in which, if a given number of pins (less than ten) are knocked down on the first roll, the frame is still scored as a strike. Example: under "nine pin no-tap" scoring, knocking down only nine pins would be scored as a strike.
• {{anchor|Nine-call|nine-call}}Nine-call: In Japan, a phrase used to describe an announcement over the PA system, to alert other bowlers and spectators in the establishment that a potential perfect game is about to happen. The announcement is made right before the bowler starts the 10th frame.

O

• {{anchor|PAP|pap|Positive axis point|positive axis point}}PAP: Abbreviation for positive axis point. The pocket-side end of a ball's initial axis of rotation, used by pro shop operators to strategically determine where to drill holes for the ball's layout.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Your Bowling Ball Positive Axis Point,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink March 3, 2021, November 3, 2012, live,
• Par: A scratch score of 200.
• Pair: Two adjacent lanes that share a common ball return.
• Paralyzer:[Questionable] A pin knocked down that stands up again, one that skids while standing or one that gets hit on opposite sides by the ball and/or other pin(s) and somehow does not go down.
• Pattern: See oil pattern.
• {{anchor|PBA}}PBA: Professional Bowlers Association, the international sanctioning body for professional bowlers, formed in 1958.WEB, The Game >> History, 2004, TenpinBowling.org,weblink March 31, 2006,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20060415013813weblink">weblink April 15, 2006,
• PBA 4:[Questionable] The 3-4-6-7-9-10 split (or 2-4-6-7-8-10 for left-handed release).
• {{anchor|Pearl|pearl|Pearl reactive|pearl reactive}}Pearl reactive: A type of reactive resin ball in which the coverstock has resin or mica particles that roughen the coverstock's microscopic pores to extend the skid length and hook more decisively than solid reactive balls when reaching the dry part of the lane.
• {{anchor|Perfect game|perfect game}}Perfect game: A game of 12 consecutive strikes (score: 300).
• {{anchor|Perfect strike|perfect strike}}Perfect strike: A strike in which the ball hits only the 1, 3, 5 and 9 pins on a right-handed release or the 1, 2, 5 and 8 pins on a left-handed release.
• Petraglia Scoring System: Developed by PBA and USBC Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, the system is based on the number of rolls it takes to knock down all ten pins in a frame. Thus, a strike is scored as 1, a spare is scored as 2, with more numbers added in increments of 1 if additional rolls are required to clear ten pins. Lowest score wins. There are no bonus rolls in the tenth frame, so a perfect game score is 10.
• Pick up (a spare): To convert a spare.
• {{anchor|Pin|pin}}Pin (element of bowling ball): A usually cylindrical, polyester or urethane stem extending from the top of the core (weight block) to the ball's cover, seen as a colored dot that is used as a reference point for drilling the ball (see pin up and pin down). The pin, also called pin locator, holds the core in place as the coverstock is poured into the ball mold during manufacture.WEB, Bowling Ball Drilling & Layout Terms,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150906204121weblink">weblink September 6, 2015, August 5, 2014, live,
• {{anchor|Pin action|pin action}}Pin action: See pin scatter.
• {{anchor|Pin carry|pin carry}}Pin carry: The process by which pins are knocked down by direct ball impact and pin scatter. Pin carry is affected by factors including angle of entry, point of entry, ball weight, pin spotting variation, and construction of the pin deck, kickbacks (sideboards), and gutters.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Pin Carry,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161018064100weblink">weblink October 18, 2016, 2013, live, Pin carry is quantified by pin count.
• {{anchor|Pin chaser|pin chaser}}Pin chaser: Colloquial name for a bowling center's mechanic.
• {{anchor|Pin count|pin count}}Pin count: The number of pins knocked down on a given roll, usually referring to the first roll of a frame. Pin count is particularly important after mark(s) in prior frame(s), because the scoring effect of first-roll-of-a-frame pin count is doubled following a spare or single strike, and tripled following two consecutive strikes. Often shortened to count.
• {{anchor|Pin deck|pin deck}}Pin deck: Area of the lane on which the pins stand, immediately in front of the pit.
• {{anchor|Pin down|pin down}}Pin down: See layout.
• {{anchor|Pin scatter|pin scatter|pinscatter}}Pin scatter: The process by which pins interact and potentially knock each other down, usually distinguished from being knocked down directly by ball impact. Also called pin action. Pin scatter affects pin carry.
• {{anchor|Pin up|pin up}}Pin up: See layout.
• {{anchor|Pit|pit}}Pit: The region, behind the pin deck, that collects downed or swept pins.
• {{anchor|Pitch|pitch}}Pitch: Angle and direction at which finger holes and thumb holes are drilled. Pitch affects release characteristics.WEB, Forward And Reverse Bowling Ball Finger Pitches,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 30, 2017, 2014, live,
• {{anchor|pivot step|Pivot step}}Pivot step: See power step.
• Plastic: See polyester.
• {{anchor|Pocket|pocket}}Pocket: The ideal place for the ball to hit the pins in order to maximize strike probability. According to a USBC Pin Carry Survey completed in 2008, a ball ideally hits the head pin while centered 2.5 boards from the center of the head pin, on "board 17.5".WEB, Benner, Donald, Mours, Nicole, Ridenour, Paul, USBC, Equipment Specifications and Certifications, Pin Carry Study: Bowl Expo 2009,weblink bowl.com,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101207110519weblink">weblink December 7, 2010, Slide show presentation, 2009, live, WEB, Light, Solid, And High Bowling Pocket Strikes,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 1, 2015, June 5, 2013, live,
• Point up: To play the lane by angling the ball from the gutter toward the pocket with more of a straight shot than hook. Distinguish: Down and in.
• {{anchor|Polyester|polyester}}Polyester: Proper name of "plastic", usually describing ball coverstocks. Polyester (plastic) balls are often chosen as straight balls.
• {{anchor|Polyurethane|polyurethane}}Polyurethane: Proper name of "urethane", describing ball coverstocks.
• {{anchor|Position round|position round}}Position round: A league session in which teams that are adjacent each other in the standings are paired to bowl against each other (1 ranked vs. 2 ranked; 3 vs. 4, etc.). Also: such a pairing of bowlers in (usually) the last round of tournament match play, whose outcome will determine seeding for the subsequent (final or championship) rounds.WEB, Goodger, Jef, Position Round in Bowling,weblink ThoughtCo.com,weblink April 14, 2018, March 6, 2017, live,
• Positive axis point: See PAP.
• {{anchor|Post|post}}Post (a shot): To retain a stationary, stable, balanced position until well after the end of a delivery, a practice thought to improve consistency of delivery. Opposite of falling off (a shot).WEB, It's Bowling Post Time,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 14, 2020, June 30, 2017, live,
• Post-bowl and pre-bowl: To bowl a league game after or before scheduled league time; rules vary as to availability of honor awards, and as to requirements for official witnessing and bowling opposite an opposing team.
• {{anchor|Power step|power step}}Power step: The second-to-last step in a bowler's delivery, usually timed to a peak of the backswing and immediately preceding the slide step.WEB, Bowling's Power Step,weblink National Bowling Academy (USBC),weblink May 21, 2022, 2021, live, WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Your Bowling Balance Leg,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 11, 2020, 2012, Updated 8/10/2020, live, The power step is also called the pivot step.
• Power stroker: A bowler who combines a cranker's emphasis on power with a stroker's emphasis on control. Similar to "tweener."
• Preferred spin axis (PSA): The axis to which a ball's axis of rotation will migrate after having been rolled with an initial spin axis.WEB, The PRS Of Bowling Terminology,weblink BowlingBall.com,weblink May 4, 2014, October 26, 2019, live, The migration is caused by dynamic imbalances in the ball's internal structure (core design and orientation).
• Pre-shot routine: A predetermined, ordered sequence of mental and/or physical steps practiced immediately before beginning a delivery, in an effort to increase consistency.WEB, Develop A Bowling Pre-Shot Routine,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink May 2, 2019, 2016, live,
• Projection: See skid.
• PTQ: Acronym for Pre-Tournament Qualifier. In professional play, it is the initial stage of a tournament where non-exempt players bowl a set number of games to gain one of the few open spots in the official starting field. Also known as the "rabbit squad."
• Push off or push away: The initial forward movement of the ball from the stable setup position, and preceding the backswing.
• {{anchor|PWBA}}PWBA: The Professional Women's Bowling Association (1960—2003; 2015— ) organizes professional women's bowling events.

Q

• {{anchor|Qualifying|qualifying|Qualifying rounds|qualifying rounds}}Qualifying (rounds): The initial stage of a tournament, in which the broadest field of competitors compete to determine who will proceed to the next stage, which is usually the match rounds.

R

• Rack: A full set of ten pins, either in the pinsetter or after being placed onto the pin deck.
• {{anchor|Radius of gyration|radius of gyration|RG}}Radius of gyration (RG): A specification of the degree to which a ball's core is "center heavy" (minimum RG value=2.46, favoring shorter length) or "cover heavy" (maximum RG value=2.80, favoring greater length).WEB, Ball Dynamics and Hook Potential,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 12, 2020, 2011, live, In technical terms, the USBC defines the RG as a measurement, in inches, of the distance from the axis of rotation at which the total mass of a body might be concentrated without changing its moment of inertia.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Bowling Ball RG Numbers,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 11, 2017, January 3, 2013, live, See Bowling ballEffect of coverstock, core and layout on ball motion.
• Rail: The 1–2–4–7 or 1–3–6–10 pins; spinners "ride the rail" after deflecting from the 1-pin. Also: "picket fence".
• Rangefinders: See downlane markers.
• Ratio: A broad mathematical term denoting a quotient of two entities. In bowling, see oil ratio (describing a lane's oil pattern) and release ratio (a characteristic of a bowler's ball release).
• Reaction: See ball reaction.
• {{anchor|Reactive resin|reactive resin|Reactive|reactive|Resin|resin}}Reactive resin (often shortened to reactive): A coverstock composition in which polyurethane is enhanced with microscopic pores and/or additives to increase frictional engagement with the lane, to increase hook potential. Reactive technology includes solid reactive, pearl reactive, or hybrid reactive coverstocks.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Reactive Bowling Balls,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 6, 2020, January 1, 2013, live,
• Read the lane: To watch precisely where on the lane the ball transitions from skid phase to hook phase and to roll phase. Reading the lane allows a bowler more strategic alignment and adjustment decisions for subsequent rolls.WEB, Your Bowling Eyes Have It,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink September 12, 2015, January 14, 2014, live,
• {{anchor|Release|release}}Release: The final stage of the delivery (occurring after the approach) in which the ball leaves the bowler's hand.
• {{anchor|Release ratio|release ratio}}Release ratio: The ratio of a ball's forward (translational) speed to its rev rate (rotational speed) at time of release. This ratio continually decreases throughout the ball's travel until it reaches exactly 1.0 when full traction is achieved upon entering the roll phase. See Bowling ballBall motion.
• Resurface: To apply a sequence of one or more abrasive pads to a ball's coverstock to achieve a chosen surface roughness, to achieve desired frictional characteristics for controlling ball motion. See Abralon, Siaair.
• Rejuvenator: A machine that uses hot air to heat a bowling ball to a safe temperature to "pull" oil from the coverstock, for restoring "tack" for restoring frictional characteristics.
• Re-rack: Placement of a new set of pins onto the pin deck; often performed if an earlier set had a pin off its mark, or as a tactical delay in a competitive match.
• {{anchor|Rev-dominant|rev-dominant}}Rev-dominant: Adjective describing a release with a too-low release ratio, in which the ratio of ball speed to rev rate is too low, causing the ball to enter the roll phase before reaching the pins, wasting power that would otherwise be imparted to the pins. Opposite of speed-dominant.
• {{anchor|Rev rate|rev rate}}Rev rate: (Informal) A ball's rotational speed, substantially affecting hook; usually expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM).
• RG: Abbreviation of radius of gyration.
• RG differential: See differential of RG.
• Ride the lightning: (Informal) To roll a ball close to the gutter.
• {{anchor|Ringing 10|ringing 10|Ring 10|ring 10}}Ringing 10: A leave of the 10-pin, in which the 6-pin flies around the 10-pin to the outside and enters the pit (compare: flat 10). Also called "solid 10" or "wrap 10". Left-handed release equivalent: "Ringing 7".
• Rogue pin: See messenger.
• {{anchor|Roll|roll}}Roll: The third phase of ball motion, in which the ball gains full traction upon leaving the hook phase.
• {{anchor|Roll finger|roll finger}}Roll finger: The middle finger, so named because when positioned directly behind the ball at delivery, applies forward roll to the ball and causes low axis tilt. Compare: turn finger.WEB, Carrubba, Rich, Your Bowling Roll And Turn Gripping Fingers,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink August 16, 2016, October 4, 2012, live,
• Roll-out: Progression from the hook phase into the roll phase of ball motion. Commonly, the term connotes undesirably early entry into the roll phase, distinguished from optimally entering the roll phase immediately before reaching the pins: early roll-out wastes power to lane friction. See release ratio.
• Rotation: See axis rotation.
• {{anchor|Rule of 31|rule of 31|Ruleof31|ruleof31}}Rule of 31: A rough guideline for estimating on which board the ball should leave the oil pattern to reach the pocket. Specifically, the formula is B=L–31: board B = length L of the oil pattern in feet, minus 31. Example: Pattern length 40{{nbsp}}ft. — 31 = 9{{nbsp}}board.WEB, Reading the Lane,weblink bowl.com, United States Bowling Congress,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161211005920weblink">weblink December 11, 2016, 2014, live,

S

• Sacrificial lamb: In competitive scratch team play, a low-average bowler who is deliberately matched against a high-average bowler on the opposing team, as the team's strategy to win match-ups of the remaining players.
• Sandbagging: Intentionally bowling poorly early in a season to obtain a high handicap to apply when later bowling earnestly.
• Scout: See messenger.
• {{anchor|Scratch|scratch}}Scratch: Adjective describing scores actually achieved—without addition of a handicap.
• {{anchor|Series|series}}Series: An associated set of plural (usually three) bowling games.
• Set: See series.
• {{anchor|Setup|setup}}Setup: The still and stable position of the body from which bowlers launch their approaches. Setup encompasses knee bend, tilt from the waist, initial ball position, weight distribution and relative position of the two feet, etc., and is the time when the bowler focuses on the target. Verbal form: set up.
• Shadow bowling: Bowling without pins, especially for practice or warm-up, promoting focus on technique or ball motion rather than scoring result.
• Shape (the ball): To cause the ball to hook more to arrive in the pocket, as distinguished from following a straighter path.
• Shine: See Lane shine.
• Short pattern: An oil pattern that has oil distributed a relatively short distance beyond the foul line (example: 32–35 feet). Also called "short oil".
• Shrapnel: See messenger.
• Shut out: In competition, to score sufficient points to make it mathematically impossible for an opponent to catch up with one's own score by the end of the game.
• {{anchor|Siaair|siaair}}Siaair (pad): An abrasion technology product used to "sand" ball coverstocks with different grits (degrees of roughness) to control the amount of friction between the coverstock and lane.WEB, How To Bring Dead Bowling Balls Back To Life,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink November 21, 2011, 2011, live, Credited to article from Storm Bowling Products.
• {{anchor|Sideboard|sideboard|Sideboards|sideboards}}Sideboard(s): See kickback.
• Side rotation: Axis rotation.
• {{anchor|Sight|sight|Sighting|sighting}}Sight(ing): The process of focusing one's vision and attention, usually at the arrows, primarily to promote accurate targeting and ease of visually following the ball's path, but also affecting posture and release characteristics such as ball speed, loft distance and follow-through.WEB, Sighting At The Bowling Lane Arrows,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink October 31, 2016, 2013, live,
• Six-pack: Six consecutive strikes in a single game.
• {{anchor|Skid|skid}}Skid: The first phase of ball motion, in which the ball travels a substantially straight path until reaching the breakpointWEB, Bowling Ball Skid Versus Traction,weblink BowlingBall.com (Bowlversity educational section),weblink January 23, 2021, February 27, 2017, live, to enter the hook phase. Skid distance—also called (:Length|length)—is influenced by a bowler's projection of the ball, and depends on oil pattern, ball surface, and delivery technique.
• {{anchor|Skid/flip|skid/flip|Skid/snap|skid/snap}}Skid/flip or Skid/snap: Adjective applied to balls or ball motion, in which the ball conserves energy in a long skid phase, and releases the energy by curving sharply far down-lane in the hook phase.
• / (slash): Symbol for spare.
• {{anchor|Sleeper|sleeper}}Sleeper: A pin positioned directly behind another pin after the first ball roll, specifically: the 8-pin behind the 2-pin, the 9-pin behind the 3-pin, or the 5-pin behind the 1-pin. The two pins are collectively called double wood. Also: "ninja pin".
• {{anchor|Slide step|slide step}}Slide step: The final step in a bowler's delivery, the step immediately following the pivot step.
• {{anchor|Solid|solid|Solid reactive|solid reactive}}Solid reactive: a type of reactive resin ball having more microscopic reactive pores in its coverstock than pearl or hybrid balls, thus tending to hook earlier and less sharply.
• {{anchor|Solid 8|solid 8|Solid 9|solid 9}}Solid 8 or Solid 9: Leaving the 8-pin (for right-handed releases) or 9-pin (for left-handed releases) on a perfect pocket hit. Also called stone 8 or stone 9.
• Solid 10: A ringing 10.
• Sombrero: Less common term for a 4-bagger (four consecutive strikes).
• {{anchor|Span|span}}Span: The distance between a ball's finger holes and the thumb hole. Distinguish: bridge.
• {{anchor|Spare|spare}}Spare: The scoring result in a frame in which the last of the ten pins is/are knocked down on the second roll of the frame. The term sometimes refers to the pins left standing after the first roll (example: "3-6-10 spare"). See conversion.