Anchor: The last player to bowl for the team.
Approach: The area between the front of the lane and the foul line on which the delivery is made. Commonly called the 'runway'. The footwork and style used by a bowler when delivering the ball is also termed an approach.
Baby split: A split in which only the 2 and 7 pins or the 3 and 10 pins remain standing after the first ball in a frame has hit the pins.
Backup ball: A ball that curves toward the side of the bowler's body from which it was delivered. For a right-handed bowler, a backup ball curves to the right. A reverse ball.
Ball rack: The rack on the side of the alley approach to which the bowling balls are returned on the track from the alley pit and on which the bowlers' balls are stored between turns.
Bedposts: A split in which only the 7 and 10 pins remain standing. Also called fence posts, goalposts, or the 7-10 railroad .
Big four: A split in which the 4, 6, 7, and 10 pins remain standing. Also termed a 4-6-7-10 split or big ears.
Blow: Failure to knock down the remaining pins with the second ball when there is not a split. An error.
Brooklyn: Hitting the side of the head pin (number one pin) opposite that side of the body from which the ball was delivered. For a right-handed bowler, this is the 1-2 pocket. Also called crossover.
Cross-alley shot: A ball that crosses the center of the alley on its way to the pins. Sometimes used to designate a ball delivered from the extreme corner of the alley.
Crossover: A ball that hits on the side of the head pin opposite from the side of the body from which delivered.
Curve ball: For a right-handed bowler, a ball that travels toward the right edge of the alley and then curves or breaks in toward the center of the alley before hitting the pins.
Division boards: The alley area where the light-colored and dark-colored boards intersect.
Double: Two successive strikes in a game.
Double balling: Rolling a second ball before the first ball returns.
Error: Failure to make a spare when there is no split.
Fast lane: A highly polished alley bed that resists the hooking or curving action of the ball.
Foundation: A strike made in the ninth frame.
Foul: A rule infraction for which the bolwer is penalized by the loss of the pins downed on that roll.
Foul line: The black line separating the runway and the actual beginning of the alley or lane.
Frame: The tenth part of a game; one of the ten score sheet squares.
Full hit: A ball that strikes the target pin at or near its center.
Grip: The method of grasping the ball during the approach and delivery.
Gutter: A hollow trough on either side of the alley bed that catches the ball whenever it rolls off the side of the alley bed.
Handicap: A bonus score or score adjustment based on the difference between individual or team averages.
Head pin: The number one pin.
High hit: Hitting a pin almost head-on or squarely.
Hook: A delivery that travels in a straight line down the alley for about one-half to two-thirds of the distance and then curves sharply away from the side of the body from which it was delivered.
Inning: Each bowler's turn during the game. A frame.
King pin: The 5 pin in some localities, the head pin in others.
Lane: The wooden playing surface on which the ball is rolled. Also called the alley.
Leave: The pin or pins that remain standing after the first ball.
Lift: Imparting an upward motion to the ball with the fingers as the ball is released.
Light hit: Not hitting the target pin fully or squarely.
Line: A game or ten frames.
Lofting: Releasing the ball some distance above the alley and, consequently, some distance beyond the foul line during the delivery.
Mark: To make a strike or spare.
Open frame: A frame without a mark (at least one pin remains standing after two balls have been delivered).
Pit: The space behind the alley bed into which pins fall or roll when struck by the ball.
Pitch: The angle at which the finger and thumb holes are drilled into the bowling ball.
Pocket: The space between any two pins; most commonly used in references to the 1-3 or 1-2 pins.
Roundhouse: A curve ball with a wide curve. Big looper.
Runway: The space between the front of the lane and the foul line on which the delivery is made.
Sleeper: A pin hidden behind another pin and not readily seen from the runway.
Slowlane: A lane on which the ball readily hooks or curves. A running alley.
Spare: Knocking down all the remaining pins with the second ball in a frame.
Split: Two or more pins remain standing after the first ball has been delivered; the number one pin has fallen and at least one pin is down between the remaining pins.
Spot: A mark or location on the lane at which the bowler aims during the delivery.
Steal: A term applied when more pins fall than the amount deserved in view of the type of hit made.
Strike: Knocking down all of the pins with the first ball in a frame.
Striking out: Getting three strikes in the last frame or striking to the completion of the game.
Thin hit: Barely hitting the target pin.
Turkey: Hitting three successive strikes during a game-a triple.
Working ball: A ball with a lot of spin that
mixes the pins and causes a large pin fall.