Jose's
Glossary

JOSE’S GLOSSARY 
OF
BOWLING TERMS

 I wanted to start out with some bowling terms that might be of some help for further discussions.  These are terms that are used by pro shop operators and league bowlers when talking about equipment, throwing styles, and the way oil is applied to the lane.

 LANE CONDITIONER: (COMMONLY CALLED LANE OIL) OIL THAT IS APPLIED TO THE LANE AND CAN AFFECT THE WAY THAT THE BALL REACTS.

DRY LANES: LITTLE OR NO LANE CONDITIONER IS APPLIED TO THE LANES.

MEDIUM LANES: A MODERATE AMOUNT OF LANE CONDITIONER IS APPLIED TO THE LANES.

OILY LANES: LARGE AMOUNT OF LANE CONDITIONER IS APPLIED TO THE LANES.

HOOK:  THE BOWLER “CURVES” THE BALL TOWARDS THE PINS.

STRAIGHT BALL: THE BOWLER ROLLS THE BALL STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE PINS WITHOUT ANY HOOK. 

REV RATE: THE AMOUNT OF TURN OR ROTATION THAT A BOWLER PUTS ON THE BOWLING BALL WHEN THROWING A HOOK.  THE HIGHER THE REV RATE, THE LARGER THE HOOK. 

BALL TRACK:  THE PORTION OF THE BALL THAT TOUCHES THE LANE WHEN ROLLING DOWN THE LANE. 

FULL ROLLER: THE BOWLER’S BALL TRACK GOES BETWEEN THE FINGER AND THUMB HOLES.

SPINNER: THE BOWLER’S BALL TRACK IS FAR AWAY FROM THE FINGER AND THUMB HOLES. 

PERSONAL AXIS POINT:  (PAP) THE POINT IN WHICH THE BALL ROTATES AROUND WHEN ROLLING DOWN THE LANE.

WEIGHT BLOCK:  TERM TO IDENTIFY THE CENTER OF THE BOWLING BALL.

COVERSTOCK:  TERM TO IDENTIFY THE COVER OF THE BOWLING BALL.

PIN:  THE DOT THAT IS PUT ON THE BOWLING BALLS TO INDICATE THE TOP OF THE WEIGHT BLOCK.

CENTER OF GRAVITY: (CG) “HEAVY SPOT” OF THE WEIGHT BLOCK THAT IS USED TO PLACE DIFFERENT WEIGHTS IN THE BALL.  THE CG IS ONE OF THE TOOLS USED TO MAKE THE BALL HOOK DIFFERENTLY.

SIDE WEIGHT:  THE CG IS PLACED TO THE RIGHT FOR RIGHT HANDERS, AND THE LEFT FOR LEFT HANDERS.  THIS WILL CAUSE THE BALL TO HOOK MORE OVERALL.

FINGER WEIGHT:  THE CG IS PLACED TOWARDS THE FINGERS.  THIS CAUSES THE BALL TO HOOK LATER AND MORE ON THE BACK PART OF THE LANE.

THUMB WEIGHT: THE CG IS PLACED TOWARDS THE THUMB.  THIS CAUSES THE BALL TO HOOK EARLIER ON THE LANE.

NEGATIVE WEIGHT:  THE CG IS PLACED TO THE LEFT FOR RIGHT HANDERS AND TO THE RIGHT FOR LEFT HANDERS.  THIS CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED BY DRILLING A BALANCE HOLE IN THE BALL.  THIS CAUSES THE BALL TO HOOK LESS ON THE LANE.

WEIGHT HOLE: (ALSO CALLED BALANCE HOLE OR EXTRA HOLE) TERM IS USED TO IDENTIFY AN EXTRA HOLE THAT IS DRILLED TO BRING THE WEIGHT BACK TO ABC/WIBC STANDARDS.  THIS CAN ALSO BE USED TO CHANGE THE HOOK OF THE BALL.

IF HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OTHER TERMS THAT ARE NOT MENTIONED ABOVE OR FURTHER EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE TERMS LISTED ABOVE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT