Your complete instructions to a better game!

Bowling Terms

• Approach: The area behind the foul line where the bowler takes steps.
  The way a person gets from the starting point to the foul line.
  (Ex. 4 Step Approach)

• Arrows: Triangular-shaped marks on the lane about 15 feet foul line.
  These are used to help with aim.

• Channel/Gutter: The 10-inch-out-of-bounds area to the right and left
  of the lane that guides the ball to the pit, once it leaves the lane.

• Foul: Touching or going over the foul line with any body part at dilivery.
  The results of this is a zero for that score.

• Foul Line: A one-quarter inch boundary line that separates the approach from the lane.

• Frame: A part of the game when the bowler has up to two rolls of the ball to knock down all 10 pins.
  Ten bowling frames makes up the game.

• Lane: The 60 foot playing surface between the foul line and the head pin.
  The lanes are either made of Maple and Pine boards or Synthetic materials.

• Line: The path of the bowling ball from the release of the ball to the pocket.

• Mark: A strike or a spare.

• Open: A frame that does not result in a strike or a spare.

• Pocket: The place in a rack of pins to aim to get a strike.
  A right-hander's pocket is between the 1 and 3 pins and
  a left-hander's pocket is between the 1 and 2 pins.

• Spare: Knocking down all 10 pins in two shots.

• Split: A spare leave in which the head pin is down and the remaining combination
  of pins has a gap ranging from the 4-5 to the 7-10.

• Strike: Knocking down all 10 pins in one shot.

• Target: A mark or area on the lane at which the bowler aims the ball at.

Choosing a ball

Use a ball that is one-tenth of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 80 pounds, pick an 8 pound ball.
Put in your two middle fingers up to the second knuckle, then insert your thumb. Your thumb should go all the way
into the ball for a good fit. The fingers and thumb should fit snugly in the holes without being tight.

Holding the ball

While holding the ball with your non-bowling hand, insert your two fingers and then the thumb into the holes.
Position your hand under the ball with your palm pointing upward. Cradle the ball gently in your free hand.

© Brandi Lynn Carr. All Rights Reserved.