Entertainment / Bowling Glossary

Polishing The Ball: The process of applying a foreign substance to a ball in order to lessen the friction between the ball and the lane; the ball becomes shinier/glossier and the goal is for the ball to hook la . . . View Full Definition

Polyester: Substance (a plastic) that was very popular in ball surface in the 1970's (among top players), and, still very popular today as either a spare ball or ball of first choice for recreational p . . . View Full Definition

Poodle: To throw a gutter ball; probably a facetious corruption of puddle.

Portsider: A lefthanded player.

Position Round: In competition, league or tournaments, in which part of the competition is match play, it is when teams or individuals play each other based upon their standing; i.e., position 1 plays 2; 3 . . . View Full Definition

Positive Axis Point (Pap): The axis of the ball during the first few revolutions that is created totally by the bowler's release style.

Positive Weight: Weight on a ball that tends to enhance the hook and/or to get the ball into a roll later down the lane; top weight, positive side weight and finger weight are considered positive weights. Th . . . View Full Definition

Pot Game: A type of gambling competition in which two or more bowlers put money in the pot and the high scorer wins it all.

Pound: To consistently hit your mark.

Powder Puff, Puff Ball: Same as nothing ball.

Power Player: A cranker; hard hitting, big hook, faster than average speed player.

Powerhouse: A ball thrown very fast and with a lot of action, resulting in an unmistakable strike.

Practice: The act of bowling with a purpose to either improve a skill or to work on acquiring a new skill; it is NOT just going to the lanes and bowling a few games.

Preferred Spin Axis (Psa): It is the final axis a ball achieves while rolling down the lane. It is heavily influenced by the amount of friction and bowler generated revolutions.

Puddle: (1) a gutter ball; (2) a spot on the lane that seems to have much more oil than expected.

Pull Shot: An erratic shot that goes off target towards the center or past the headpin.

Pull The Rug: A hit on which a number of pins wobble for a time before falling down simultaneously, as if a rug had been pulled out from under them.

Pumpkin: A softly thrown ball with little or no spin. A soft hitting ball.

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