Entertainment / Bowling Glossary

ABC: American Bowling Congress official rule making body for ten pin bowling for its members in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US military bases worldwide; founded in 1895 and headquartered in G . . . View Full Definition

Action: Spin on the ball and the movement of the pins caused by that spin. A relatively slow ball with a lot of action can be much more effective than a very fast ball with little action. Pins flyin . . . View Full Definition

Activity: Recreational or leisure in nature. Generally fun and less physically and psychologically challenging. Not usually inducing a consistent overload to the muscles or a training effect to the ca . . . View Full Definition

Address: The bowler's stance before beginning the approach.

Adjustment: The changing of part of your game to be more competitive on the particular lane and/or lane condition you are bowling. This can mean an alignment change, equipment change, or even changes in . . . View Full Definition

Adult Bumper Bowling: A term used to describe a lane condition that is very easy.

Aerobic Exercise: Exercise utilizing oxygen and body fats as the main energy source. Endurance in nature and usually at submaximal levels.

AJBC: American Junior Bowling Congress former governing body for junior bowlers; since replaced by the Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA)

All Events: A score based on a bowler's combined total from singles, doubles, and team events in a given tournament For example, in a tournament, you bowl 3 games each for team, singles and doubles. The . . . View Full Definition

All The Way: The act of completing a game with all strikes from a given point in the game.See also off the sheet or XXX'ed out.

Alley: Strictly, a group of lanes or the bowling establishment that houses them. Often used, though, to mean a single lane.

AMF: American Machine and Foundry was the original name for the acronym. AMF made the first automatic pinsetter and now is one of the big two bowling firms in the country along with Brunswick. Th . . . View Full Definition

AMF 3 Dot: A hard rubber ball popular in the old days. It was solid black with three white dots above the bridge. Often used by bowlers to describe how a shot hit the pins if the reaction is poor. i.e. . . . View Full Definition

Anaerobic Exercise: Exercise utilizing carbohydrates as the main energy source. Short term habitually requiring maximal efforts of strength or power.

Anchor Man: The last bowler to roll for a team; usually the team's best bowler. Sometimes used in a derogatory fashion to mean a player that holds you down and prevents you from moving ahead. It origina . . . View Full Definition

Angle: Usually refers to the line a player is throwing; see also entry angle. The direction at which the ball is traveling when it enters the pocket.

Ankle Shot: Hitting your ankle during the delivery. Ankle shots are both undesirable and painful!

Apple: The bowling ball; see rock.

Approach: 1) The movement of the bowler from address to delivery. 2) The part of the lane behind the foul line where the player takes their steps before releasing the ball behind the foul line, which . . . View Full Definition

Approved Ball Cleaners: Under the current rules, once competition starts, it is illegal to put foreign substances (cleaners, polish etc) on the surface of the ball unless it is one of the ABC approved substances.

Arc: A type of ball reaction favored by many players in that the ball has a slower continuous hooking action rather than the skid-snap reaction of some aggressive balls. Note that if you have a h . . . View Full Definition

Arc Reaction: Used to describe the hook action of a ball, regardless of amount, when the hooking action is gradual and not violent. See also flip.

Area: A player has area if they are able to hit a larger number of boards and still get the ball back to the pocket. Modern high scoring environments can often give a player a 5-8 board area.

Area Bowler: A player that uses their instincts to make subconscious adjustments in release as they throw the ball; see also feel bowling. More common in today's bowling environment where power is often . . . View Full Definition

Area Check: A ball that is intentionally thrown too wide or intentionally thrown tighter; the purpose is to check the lanes to see how much area a player has to throw the ball.

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