Definition
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Term
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In league play, the person bowling last: usually the bowler with the highest average or the best performer under pressure.
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A
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Anchor
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The part of the delivery that leads up to the release.
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A
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Approach
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The portion of a delivery following the push-off (push away) and preceding the forward swing and release.
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B
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Backswing
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The leg opposite the leg on which a bowler slides in the final slide step.
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B
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Balance leg
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Rails (barriers) surrounding a lane to prevent balls from going into the gutters, primarily for beginners or young children.
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B
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Bumpers
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A delivery in which the bowler's elbow is undesirably bent and extends outward to the side, rather than remaining behind the hand in line with the intended ball delivery path.
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C
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Chicken wing
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In the second ball roll of a frame, the knocking down of all pins that remained standing after the first roll, so as to achieve a spare for that frame.
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C
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Conversion
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The 7-pin or the 10-pin.
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C
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Corner pin
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The process beginning with the approach and ending with the ball release.
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D
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Delivery
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Two consecutive strikes within a single game.
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D
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Double
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Penalty occurrence in which a portion of the bowler's body touches beyond the foul line on a delivery in which the ball is released.
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F
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Foul
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One of ten scoring units constituting a game, each including one or two rolls (two or three in 10th frame) depending on pinfall.
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F
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Frame
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One of two trough-shaped structures surrounding a lane to catch errant rolls.
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G
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Gutter
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A number added to a "scratch score" for lower-average bowlers to make them more competitive with higher-average bowlers.
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H
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Handicap
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The 1-pin.
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H
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Head pin
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The pins left standing after the first roll of a frame.
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L
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Leave
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A frame in which neither a strike nor spare is achieved.
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O
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Open frame
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A game of 12 consecutive strikes (score: 300).
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P
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Perfect game
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A full set of ten pins, either in the pinsetter or after being placed onto the pin deck.
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R
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Rack
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The final stage of the delivery (occurring after the approach) in which the ball leaves the bowler's hand.
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R
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Release
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A score actually achieved (without addition of a handicap).
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S
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Scratch score
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The scoring result in a frame in which the last of the ten pins is/are knocked down on the second roll of the frame.
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S
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Spare
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A spare leave in which the head pin is knocked down but at least two non-adjacent pins remain standing with a gap between them.
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S
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Split
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Scoring result for a frame in which all ten pins are knocked down on the first roll.
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S
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Strike
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To roll consecutive strikes from a certain frame through the end of a game.
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S
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Strike out
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