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Glossary
Bowling Equipment terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
A
- Asymmetric core
- A bowling-ball core with a preferred spin axis (PSA) that some layout systems include in their measurements. Read the guide →
B
- Benchmark ball
- A familiar strike ball used to read lane conditions and compare other ball motions. Read the guide →
- Bowling handicap
- Pins added to a scratch score according to the method, base and percentage written into a league’s rules. Read the guide →
- Bowling hole-fit tape
- Tape placed inside a thumb or finger hole to adjust contact between the hand and the ball. Read the guide →
- Bowling jersey chest measurement
- A jersey-sizing measurement used by a specific apparel maker; follow that maker's measurement diagram and size chart. Read the guide →
- Bowling lane bumpers
- Side barriers placed along the lane to support a young or first-time bowler during practice. Read the guide →
- Bowling ramp
- A support that guides a bowling ball toward the lane during adaptive or youth practice. Read the guide →
- Bowling roller bag
- A bowling bag with wheels and a pull handle for transporting one or more balls. Read the guide →
- Braking heel
- A rubber heel on the slide shoe that controls how you stop. Read the guide →
C
- Coverstock
- The outer shell of a bowling ball, which sets how much friction it creates with the lane. Read the guide →
D
- Deadwood
- Fallen pins left on the lane, which stay in play in candlepin. Read the guide →
- Differential
- The gap between a ball's highest and lowest RG, which sets its flare and hook potential. Read the guide →
F
- Finger insert
- A replaceable contact surface fitted inside a bowling ball finger hole. Read the guide →
G
- Grip-orientation mark
- A plus sign near the palm area that marks the intended grip orientation on a bowling ball without a thumb hole. Read the guide →
- Grit
- A numbered abrasive-pad grade used to describe a surface treatment; compare it with the exact ball maker's finish instructions. Read the guide →
H
- House pattern
- A standard lane-oil pattern used by many leagues; USBC describes typical house patterns as having an oil ratio of 8:1 or higher. Read the guide →
I
- Interchangeable bowling shoe sole
- A replaceable slide sole used on compatible bowling shoes to alter the contact material at the approach. Read the guide →
L
- Lane targeting light
- A practice tool that projects a visual line or path on the lane to support an aiming drill. Read the guide →
- League average
- A bowler’s season pins divided by games in one league, used for standings and, where applicable, handicap. Read the guide →
- Linear inches
- A baggage dimension calculated by adding a bag's outside length, width and height, including protruding wheels or handles where the airline requires. Read the guide →
M
- Mass bias
- The intermediate differential of an asymmetric core. Read the guide →
N
- National tournament ineligible-ball list
- A separate USBC list of ball models that cannot be used at specified national tournaments even if they appear on the general approved list. Read the guide →
O
- Oil extraction
- A deep-cleaning step intended to draw absorbed lane oil from a reactive coverstock; follow the ball maker's method and schedule. Read the guide →
- Oil ratio
- A measure used to describe how lane oil is distributed across a pattern; USBC uses typical ratio ranges to distinguish house, Challenge and sport conditions. Read the guide →
P
- PAP
- Positive Axis Point: a point on the ball surface on the bowler's initial axis of rotation, used in layout systems. Read the guide →
- Performance bowling shoe
- A bowling shoe model that offers adjustable or interchangeable parts; available hands and included parts vary by model. Read the guide →
- Pin buffer
- The distance between the ball pin and the bowler’s Vertical Axis Line in Storm’s VLS layout system. Read the guide →
- Pitch
- The angle at which a gripping hole is drilled in relation to the ball's center. Read the guide →
- Plug and redrill
- A pro-shop service that fills a bowling ball’s existing gripping holes before drilling a layout for a new fit. Read the guide →
- Polyester bowling ball
- A bowling-ball cover material commonly used for straighter spare shots. Read the guide →
- PSA
- Preferred Spin Axis: a core marker used in some manufacturer layouts for asymmetric bowling balls. Read the guide →
R
- Reactive resin
- A coverstock that absorbs some oil and grips the lane, creating the most hook. Read the guide →
- Release trainer
- A handheld practice aid used to rehearse hand and finger movement for a bowling-ball release. Read the guide →
- RG
- Radius of gyration: how far the core's mass sits from the center, which affects how soon a ball revs up. Read the guide →
S
- Scratch score
- The pins a bowler earns before any league handicap is added. Read the guide →
- Skin-applied bowling tape
- A tape product applied to the thumb or fingers rather than placed inside a bowling ball hole. Read the guide →
- Slide sole
- The smooth sole on the slide shoe that lets you glide at the foul line. Read the guide →
- Span
- The distance between the nearest edges of the thumb and finger holes; a pro shop can state whether inserts are included. Read the guide →
- Spare ball
- A dedicated ball, often polyester, chosen for a straighter line at common spares. Read the guide →
- Sport pattern
- A more difficult bowling lane condition; USBC says sport patterns typically have an oil ratio of 4:1 or lower. Read the guide →
- Symmetric core
- A bowling-ball core with balanced mass distribution and no distinct preferred spin axis. Read the guide →
T
- Three-ball arsenal
- A compact bowling bag in which three balls cover distinct roles, often including a spare ball. Read the guide →
- Thumb slug
- Material installed in a drilled thumb hole to create its gripping surface. Read the guide →
- Toy bowling set
- A home-play set of child-sized pins and ball, sometimes supplied with a short inflatable lane; it is not necessarily regulation equipment. Read the guide →
- Track flare
- The rings of oil left on a ball as its axis migrates while it rolls. Read the guide →
- Two-handed approach
- A delivery where both hands stay on the ball during the swing while the dominant hand imparts force at release. Read the guide →
U
- Unisex bowling shoe size
- A shoe-size label shared across men's and women's sizing with the specific conversion stated by the maker. Read the guide →
- Urethane
- A coverstock with a smooth, controllable arc, popular on short and flat patterns. Read the guide →
- USBC Approved Ball List
- USBC's weekly updated list of bowling ball models approved for USBC-certified competition, subject to event-specific restrictions. Read the guide →
W
- Wrist positioner
- A structured bowling wrist support with a fixed or adjustable position for the hand and wrist. Read the guide →