The Complete Bowling Glossary
Bowling has its own language. Whether you are a first-timer hearing words like "Brooklyn" and "Turkey" or a league bowler brushing up on technical terms, this A-Z glossary covers every term you need to know. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you hear something unfamiliar on the lanes.
If you are brand new to the sport, start with our Beginner's Guide for a full introduction before diving into the vocabulary.
A
Approach -- The area behind the foul line where you walk and deliver the ball. A standard approach is about 15 feet long and usually has guide dots to help you line up your starting position. Mastering a consistent approach is the foundation of accurate bowling.
B
Backup Ball -- A ball that curves in the opposite direction of a conventional hook. For a right-handed bowler, a backup ball curves to the right instead of the left. It is generally considered less effective than a proper hook, but some recreational bowlers use it naturally.
Brooklyn -- A strike that hits the opposite side of the headpin from your dominant hand. For a right-handed bowler, a Brooklyn strike enters the 1-2 pocket (left side) instead of the ideal 1-3 pocket. Also called a "Jersey" or "crossover." It still counts as a strike, but experienced bowlers know it was not the intended line.
C
Channel -- The narrow troughs running along both sides of the lane that catch off-target balls. Also called the gutter. When your ball drops into the channel, no pins are knocked down and the roll scores zero. Many bowling alleys offer bumper rails for children that block the channels.
D
Double -- Two strikes in a row. Doubles are valuable because the bonus scoring stacks -- the first strike earns bonus points from the next two rolls, and the second strike starts its own bonus count. Stringing together doubles is the fastest way to build a high score. For a detailed explanation of how bonus scoring works, see our guide on Bowling Scoring.
E
Entry Angle -- The angle at which the ball enters the pin pocket. A higher entry angle increases your chances of carrying a strike because the ball drives through the pins with more power. Most professional bowlers aim for an entry angle between 4 and 6 degrees. The entry angle is influenced by your release, ball speed, lane conditions, and the amount of hook on the ball.
F
Foul Line -- The dark line that separates the approach from the lane surface. Crossing or touching this line during your delivery results in a foul -- any pins knocked down on that roll do not count and the roll is scored as zero. Modern bowling alleys use electronic sensors to detect fouls automatically. Learn more in our Bowling Rules guide.
G
Gutter Ball -- A ball that falls into the channel (gutter) before reaching the pins. It scores zero. Gutter balls often happen when a bowler's aim drifts too far to one side or when a hook breaks too early or too late.
H
Hook -- A delivery where the ball curves as it travels down the lane. The hook is created by applying rotation to the ball at release. A hook allows the ball to enter the pocket at an angle, which greatly increases your strike percentage compared to throwing a straight ball. Most competitive bowlers throw some form of hook.
J
Jersey -- Another term for a Brooklyn strike. When a right-handed bowler's ball crosses over to hit the 1-2 pocket instead of the 1-3 pocket, it is called a Jersey. Left-handed bowlers throw a Jersey when they hit the 1-3 pocket instead of the 1-2.
K
Kingpin -- The number 5 pin, positioned directly behind the headpin in the center of the third row. The kingpin is a key pin in many spare combinations. When the ball deflects through the pins correctly, the kingpin helps carry corner pins for a strike. It is sometimes called the "key pin" because of its central role in pin action.
L
Lane -- The long, narrow playing surface on which the ball is rolled toward the pins. A regulation bowling lane is 60 feet from the foul line to the center of the headpin and about 42 inches wide. Lanes are typically made of synthetic material or hardwood and are coated with a specific oil pattern that affects ball movement.
M
Mark -- A strike or a spare. When a bowler marks in a frame, it means they knocked down all 10 pins (either on the first roll or across both rolls). Consistently marking in every frame is the goal of competitive bowlers, since marks always earn bonus points.
N
No-Tap -- A fun format where a nine-pin count on the first ball is scored as a strike. No-tap tournaments and leagues are popular in recreational bowling because they make it easier to score well and keep the atmosphere relaxed. Some variations use eight-pin no-tap for even more generous scoring.
O
Oil Pattern -- The specific layout of oil applied to the lane surface before play. The oil pattern determines how a bowling ball reacts as it travels down the lane -- heavier oil makes the ball skid straighter, while dry areas allow the ball to grip and hook. House patterns used in recreational centers are typically forgiving, while sport patterns used in professional tournaments are much more challenging.
P
Pocket -- The ideal target area between the headpin and the adjacent pin. For right-handed bowlers, the pocket is the gap between the 1 pin and the 3 pin. For left-handed bowlers, it is between the 1 pin and the 2 pin. Hitting the pocket consistently is the single most important factor in bowling strikes.
Pin Deck -- The area at the end of the lane where the 10 pins stand. The pin deck is the flat surface behind the lane that holds the pins in their triangle formation. It extends from where the pins sit to the back wall (the pit) where knocked-down pins are collected.
R
Release -- The moment you let go of the ball during your delivery. The release determines the ball's speed, direction, rotation, and axis tilt. A clean, consistent release is what separates advanced bowlers from beginners. Adjusting your release allows you to change how much the ball hooks and where it enters the pocket.
S
Split -- A spare leave where two or more pins remain standing with a gap between them, making the spare very difficult to convert. The most famous split is the 7-10 split, where only the two back corner pins are left. Splits happen when the ball enters the pocket at a poor angle or deflects incorrectly through the pins.
Strike -- Knocking down all 10 pins with your first ball in a frame. A strike is marked with an "X" on the scorecard and earns 10 points plus a bonus equal to the pinfall of your next two rolls. Strikes are the building blocks of high scores.
Spare -- Knocking down all remaining pins with your second ball after failing to strike. A spare is marked with a "/" and earns 10 points plus a bonus equal to the pinfall of your next one roll. Learning to convert spares consistently is just as important as throwing strikes. For spare techniques, see our Bowling Rules guide.
T
Turkey -- Three strikes in a row. The term dates back to the late 1800s when bowling alleys awarded a turkey (the bird) to anyone who rolled three consecutive strikes during holiday tournaments. Today a turkey is still celebrated as a significant achievement, especially for recreational bowlers.
W
Washout -- A first-ball leave where the headpin is still standing along with other pins, but it is not a split because there is no gap between the remaining pins. A common washout is the 1-2-4-10 leave for a right-handed bowler. Washouts are generally easier to convert than splits because the pins are closer together.
X
X (Strike Symbol) -- The letter used on scorecards to represent a strike. When you see an X in a frame on the scoring display, it means all 10 pins were knocked down on the first ball. A perfect game of 300 shows 12 consecutive X marks. The origin of using X for a strike comes from the tradition of crossing out a frame when all pins fell on the first delivery.
Build Your Bowling Vocabulary
Knowing these terms makes watching professional bowling more enjoyable, helps you communicate with league teammates, and gives you a deeper understanding of the sport. The next time someone mentions a Brooklyn, a washout, or a turkey, you will know exactly what they mean.
Ready to put your new vocabulary to use? Check out our Beginner's Guide to get started, learn how scoring works, and review the official Bowling Rules so you can step onto the lanes with confidence.