Confused About Bowling Terms? Learn "Must-Know" Bowling Terminology! , Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 11:30 PM, in

Ever wondered what comes after a turkey? Or what a brooklyn is? And where do bedposts come in? If you're confused about all the bowling terminology and want to know what on earth they're talking about down at the bowling alley, worry no more. Below is a list of some common tenpin bowling terms you'll hear around.
Back-up ball - For a right-handed bowler, a back-up ball is one which curves left to right instead of right to left. For left-hand bowlers it is the opposite.
6 bagger - A 6 bagger is 6 strikes in a row. The word bagger can be preceded by any number from three to eleven. This is oneof the more frquently used bowling terms.
Bedposts (or goalposts) - Used to describe the 7 - 10 split. Very difficult to convert into a spare.
Big Four - A split which leaves bowling pins 4-6-7-10 standing. Again notoriously difficult to convert.
Brooklyn - When a bowler hits the pocket opposite to that expected of a right or left handed player, e.g. When a right-handed bowler bowls a bowling ball which hits the left pocket (1 & 2 pins) instead of the normal (1 & 3 pins)
Conversion - Bowling terminology to describe a spare. For example, a 7-10 conversion.
Count - The number of pins that are knocked over which are added to the strike or spare from the previous frame.
Double - A bowling term for two strikes in a row.
Field Goal - A miss which goes throw two pins set wide apart.
Hambone (also clover, 4 bagger) - A word used for four consecutive strikes.
Head-pin - The first pin.
Heavy shot - A shot which hits too much of the front pin and causes them to split.




Hook - Hooking the bowling ball makes it travel straight and curve in towards the pins as it approaches them.
Light shot - Light shots hit the bowling pins closer to the 3 pin than the 1 pin for right-handed bowlers. The same applies to the 1 and 2 pins for left-handed bowlers.
Lofting - Releasing the bowling ball too high above the lane.
Pocket - The ideal area of impact in order to score a strike. This is between the 1 and 3 pins for right-handed bowlers and the 1 and 2 bowling pins for lefties.




Spare - Where all the pins are knocked down in two attempts.
Strike - Where all the pins are knocked over in the first attempt.
Strike-out - When a bowler gets three consecutive strikes in the last frame.
Turkey - A bowling term used to describe three strikes in a row

For more bowling terminology and everything you need to know about all things to do with tenpin bowling visit the following link: Better Bowling Guide