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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 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
- Grit
- The abrasive level of a ball's surface finish; lower grit is duller and reads the lane earlier. 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 →
M
- Mass bias
- The intermediate differential of an asymmetric core. Read the guide →
O
- Oil extraction
- Drawing absorbed lane oil out of a reactive coverstock. 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 →
- Pin buffer
- The distance between the ball pin and the bowler’s Vertical Axis Line in Storm’s VLS layout system. 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 →
- 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
- 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 thumb hole and the finger holes, measured by the pro shop. 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 →
U
- Urethane
- A coverstock with a smooth, controllable arc, popular on short and flat patterns. 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 →