Bowling Terms

  • Approach: The space before the foul line, approximately 15 feet. Can also refer to the steps the bowler takes before delivering the ball over the foul line.
  • Beer frame: In team play, the only bowler on the team not to strike in a given frame must buy a beer for his teammates. Many teams will consider a split conversion as “Strike” for a Beer Frame. Also known as coke frame when people not of drinking age are involved.
  • Bowling establishment: A facility where bowling is played. Other names include bowling house, and the more common bowling alley.
  • Brooklyn: A throw that results from the ball hitting the opposite “pocket”
  • Channel: Located on either side of the lane to catch an errant throw. A ball that lands in the channel scores zero (0) points for that roll, even if the ball bounces out and knocks down pins. This is the official term used in the rules of bowling, whereas gutter is more widely used by bowlers.
  • Double: Two strikes in a row during a single bowling game.
  • Dead wood: Term used for a pin that lies on either the lane surface or in the channel, and is out of reach of the pin sweeping mechanism. The rules of ten-pin bowling require all dead wood to be removed before the next ball is thrown.
  • Foul: A shot where the bowler’s foot crosses the “foul line” at the end of the approach (and start of the lane), which often results in a light and/or buzzer being triggered. A foul also occurs when any part of the bowler’s body touches the lane beyond the foul line, whether or not the foul light or buzzer is triggered. A foul counts zero for the ball roll in which it occurs, regardless of how many pins are knocked down. Crossing the foul line only results in a foul if the bowler releases the ball. In “lowest-score-wins” fun-games, a foul results in a strike.
  • Frame: A single turn for a bowler, constituting one or two rolls, depending on pinfall.
  • Gutter: Synonymous with channel.
  • Head pin: The 1-pin. In a full setup, this is ideally the first pin that the ball will hit.
  • Open Frame: Any frame in which a strike or spare was not made.
  • Perfect game: Getting all 12 strikes possible in a game, resulting in a score of 300.
  • Pins: The ten “targets” at the far end of the lane that a bowler attempts to knock down by rolling a ball at them.
  • Series: A set of full bowling games, usually three, in league play.
  • Spare: All ten pins down on two ball rolls of a frame.
  • Split: A spare leave where the head pin is knocked down and at least two non-adjacent pins are standing. (Example: the 8 and 10 pins left by themselves would be considered non-adjacent. The 6 and 10 pins are adjacent, and thus not considered a split.) Common jargon for certain splits include: “baby split” (most commonly 2-7 or 3-10), “big four” (4-6-7-10), “Greek church” (4-6-7-8-10 or 4-6-7-9-10) and “fit-in split” (most commonly 4-5 or 5-6).
  • Strike: All ten pins down on the first roll. This is the aim of all bowlers at the start of each frame.
  • Turkey: Three strikes in a row during a single bowling game.