Entertainment / Bowling Glossary

Finish (As Applied To Lanes): (1) the underlying protective coating on the wood, often polyurethane; or (2) the lane conditioner and/or pattern.

Finish (As Applied To The Ball Reaction): The final drive the ball makes toward the pocket. .. a ball that fails to finish comes up short and leaves (at best) a half-ten, or a bucket. Can be the result of a poorly released shot, or . . . View Full Definition

Finish (As Applied To The Ball Surface): The amount of shine/gloss on the ball. As a general rule, balls that are heavily polished and shiny tend to go farther down the lane before beginning to hook; conversely, balls with a lot of . . . View Full Definition

Finish Position: Your body position after release.

FIQ: The Federation International des Quilleurs, the international governing body for tenpins; the FIQ has more than 80 member nations.

First Arrow: The farthest to the right (for a right handed player); located on the 5th board.

Fit: (1) How your ball is measured for your hands; your span, pitch etc. (2) The act of going between both pins on a baby split.

Fit Split: A two-pin split in which the pins are close enough together that the ball can hit them both.

Five-Bagger: Five straight strikes.

Flare (Arm or Elbow): The action of your arm or elbow when it goes away from your body in the armswing or during the release; generally not desirable.

Flare (Track Flare): The migration of the ball track from the bowler's initial axis, the axis upon release, to the final axis, the axis at the moment of impact with the pins.

Flat: A ball that deflects too much; ineffective ball; few revolutions; if a ball comes into the pocket on an apparent good hit but leaves a weak hit such as the 5-7 or 8-10 split, it is said to h . . . View Full Definition

Flat Ball: A ball with little or no spin, resulting in little or no action.

Flat Condition: A lane oiling pattern that places the same amount of oil across the entire width of the lane. Usually a very challenging condition as there is no block or crown; can be very low scoring if i . . . View Full Definition

Flat Gutter: The normal gutter is shaped somewhat oval so that the ball can roll purely and cleanly to the pit area if it goes into the gutter early...the channel effect; however, at the end of the lanes . . . View Full Definition

Flattening The Ball: The intentional act of taking power off the ball; often used to throw the ball straighter; usually described as either keeping the wrist behind the ball at the release (no rotation), or even . . . View Full Definition

Flip: The action of a highly aggressive ball that seems to be going very long down the lane and then takes a sudden violent movement to the pocket. See also arc.

Floater: A ball that has little or no lift or turn, which therefore follows the path of least resistance down the lane.

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