BOWLING
STUDY GUIDE
TERMS:
Alley:
Approach:
Baby Split:
Bridge:
Brooklyn:
Channel:
Dodo Ball:
Double:
Error:
Frame:
Gutter:
Handicap:
Leave:
Line:
Lofting:
Mark:
Open Frame:
Sleeper:
Spare:
Split:
Strike:
Turkey:
300:
Working Ball:
The lane
1. The area on which the bowler takes his steps to the foul line.
2. The act of moving to the foul line with intent to roll the ball.
The 2-7 or 3-10 split
The edge to edge distance between the finger holes
Hitting the left side of the head pin.
The gutter.
Term formerly used for an illegal weighted ball.
Two strikes in a row.
A missed spare.
One of the ten divisions of a game, also a box used for scoring.
The troughs on either side of the lane, also called channels.
An adjustment in scores to compensate for unequal skill.
Pins remaining after the first ball rolled in each frame.
A complete game recorded in the ten frames on the score sheet.
Throwing the ball on to the lane from too upright position
Getting a spare or a strike.
A frame without a strike or a spare
A hidden pin.
Knocking down all ten pins with two balls.
A leave in which the headpin is down and two or more pins remain a pin width apart.
Knocking down all ten pins with one ball.
Three strikes in a row.
A perfect game.
A very effective ball having lots of hook spin.
EQUIPMENT:
Gutters are 9-9 1/2 “ wide and 63’ long.
Lane has a 16 foot approach with a 60’ lane from the foul line to the pins and 42” wide.
Pins, 10, which are 15” high and weigh from 3 pounds, 10 oz. to 2 pounds 14 oz.
Ball has a circumference of 27” weighing from 10 to 16 pounds.
Bowling shoes, the left shoe is made of leather to make its slide and the right shoe has a rubber sole to give
maximum traction.
RULES:
Ten frames constitute game or line. A player rolls two balls if he doesn’t knock down the pins on his first
ball. In the 10th frame if a bowler gets a strike he gets two more balls. If he gets a spare, he gets an extra
ball. If a foul occurs all ten pins are reset and the score is eliminated. The ball does count as an attempt.
SCORING:
A game consists of ten frames. You roll two balls each frame unless you get a strike (x). After a strike
your score 10 points plus the next two balls. If a spare (/) is made, you get 10 points plus the number of
pins thrown with the next ball. If you fail to knock down all the pins with both balls you add the number of
pins to the previous number.
STRIKE (X) COUNT 10 PLUS WHAT YOU KNOCK DOWN ON NEXT 2 BALLS. SPARE (/) COUNT
1O PLUS WHAT YOU KNOCK DOWN ON NEXT BALL. EASIER TO SCORE AND FOLLOW,
ELIMINATES ARGUMENTS, MORE ACCURACY, IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH BALL BOWLED
MARK RESULTS IN PROPER FRAME BOX.
BALL RELEASE:
1.
2.
3.
Straight Ball, the thumb is a 12:00 position and the ring finger at 6:00 and is delivered from the right
side of the approach directly into the 1-3 pocket.
The Hook Ball, the thumb is at 10:00 position and the ring finger at 4:00 in a shake hands position.
Lift the ball quickly but the hand should remain in the handshake position and should not be twisted to
import more spin to the ball.
The Curve Ball, the thumb at 9:00 and ring finger at 3:00. To throw the curve ball applies more lift
at the time of release.
THE FOUR STEP APPROACH:
The first step of this approach is a short step with the right foot pointed straight ahead. The second and
third step are fairly evenly spaced and in the same rhythm. The last step is a slide and the sliding foot
should finish within 6 inches of the foul line.
THE GRIP:
1.
2.
3.
Conventional, the thumb is inserted completely and the two fingers are inserted in up to the second
knuckle.
The Semi-Fingertip, the thumb is inserted completely and the two center fingers are inserted in up to
the first knuckle.
The Full- Fingertip, the thumb is inserted completely and the two center fingers are filled only by the
fingertips.
ETIQUETTE OF BOWLING:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Check the number on your ball and use your own ball each time.
Let the bowler to your right bowl first if you are both ready at the same time.
Be ready when it is your turn.
Avoid remarks when it is your turn to bowl.
Keep food and drink away from bench and bowling areas.
Put on your bowling shoes.
Control your temper.
Do not “loft” the ball.
Be a good sportsman.
Observe the foul line.