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Faith, Hope, Charity |
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The 2-7-10 or 3-7-10 split. (Christmas tree)
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Fast |
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In different sections of the country the meaning is the opposite. In one area (A) it means a lane that allows a ball to hook easily, while in another area (B) it means a lane that holds down the hook.
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Fence posts |
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The 7-10 split. (bed posts, goal posts, mule ears, snake eyes)
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Field goal |
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Ball rolled between two pins of a wide split.
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Fill |
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Pins knocked down following a spare or following two strikes which are added to the ten or twenty pins, respectively, when scoring.
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Fill ball; fill frame |
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Final 10th-frame shot which adds ten or less pins.
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Finger grips |
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Inserts which can be placed into the finger and/or thumb holes to allow the bowler to both hang onto the ball better and impart spin at delivery.
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Fingertip |
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Type of bowling ball grip where the fingers are far enough from the thumb that they can only be inserted into the ball as deep as the first joint. Allows a great amount of spin to be imparted to the ball because of the large span between thumb and fingers, but requires a strong wrist and much practice to master.
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Fit split |
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Any split where it¹s possible for the ball to hit both pins.
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Five-bagger |
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Five strikes in a row.
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Flat alley |
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A lane that despite perfect levelness doesn't run or hold with respect to the action of the ball.
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Flat arc |
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The curved path of a ball in process of delivery when it is too low to the approach or off to either side and so not part of a perfect circle.
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Flat ball |
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Ineffective ball; few revolutions, little action.
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Floater |
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A ball that goes where the lane lets it; the ball is released badly with no particular lift or turn.
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Flying elbow |
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See 'chicken wing.'
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Follow-through |
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Motion after release. Should be toward the pin you're aiming at and may include a second 'shadow' swing without the ball.
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Forward pitch |
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Finger or thumb hole angled toward center of ball.
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Foul |
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Touching or going beyond the foul line at delivery.
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Foul line |
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The mark that determines the beginning of the lane, 60' this side of the head pin, where the gutters start. Usually red. Has detector lights ('foul lights') and a buzzer to alert your team and opponents to your clumsiness. Crossing it gets you a count of zero for that ball and, if on the first ball, a shot at a new rack of pins.
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Foundation |
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A strike in the ninth frame; base for three possible strikes in the tenth frame.
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Four-bagger |
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Four strikes in a row.
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Four-step line |
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Usually a row of dots closest to the foul line; the dots further back are for five-step deliveries.
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Frame |
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A tenth part of a game of bowling.
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Frozen rope |
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A ball rolled with excessive speed almost straight into the pocket.
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Fudge |
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Decrease revolutions on the ball; a weak shot producing a weak ball, done on purpose to cut down the hook.
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Full hit |
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A ball striking near the center of the head pin on a strike attempt or the middle of any pin you may be aiming at.
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Full roller |
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A ball that rolls over its full circumference.
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Funnel block |
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See 'Blended condition.'
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Garbage hit |
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A hit that doesn't enter the pocket but results in a strike anyway.
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Getting the wood |
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1) A better than average score; 2) making sure you take one pin down (or as many pins as is easily possible) on an almost impossible split.
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Goal posts |
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The 7-10 split. (bedposts, fence posts, mule ears, snake eyes)
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Golden gate |
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The 4-6-7-10 split. (big ears, big four, double pinochle)
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Grab |
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Means the friction between the lane and the ball is good, causing a sudden hook.
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Grandma's teeth |
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A random array of pins left standing.
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Grasshopper |
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An effective ball, particularly on light pocket hits.
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Graveyards |
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Low-scoring lanes. In a high-scoring center, applied to the lowest scoring pair.
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Greek Church |
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Split leave when three pins remain standing on one side of the lane and two on the other (the pins resemble church steeples).
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Groove |
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Ball track or indentation in lane. Also applied to bowler who is performing well and has his approach and armswing almost mechanically perfect.
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Gutter |
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Depression approximately 9.5 inches wide to the right and the left of the lane to guide the ball to the pit should it leave the playing surface. (channel)
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Gutter ball |
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A ball that goes into the gutter.
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Gutter shot |
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Technique developed by pros of rolling ball from extreme edge of lane, usually the first inch.
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