Bowling Vocabulary

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Instructions: Roll into this quiz about the language of bowling!

1.
In bowling, what is a 'turkey'?
A
Knocking down only one pin
B
Three consecutive strikes
C
A split where no pins are touching
D
A gutter ball
2.
In bowling, what is a 'split'?
A
Bowling with two hands
B
The division between frames
C
A spare where remaining pins have a gap between them
D
Dividing the score between two players
3.
What is the 'pocket' in bowling?
A
The gutter on either side of the lane
B
The ideal entry point between the 1 and 3 pins (for right-handers)
C
The finger holes in the ball
D
Where you keep your bowling ball
4.
In bowling, what does a 'gutter ball' mean?
A
A ball that rolls into the gutter channel without hitting any pins
B
A ball that bounces off the lane
C
A ball thrown too slowly
D
A ball that hits only the gutter-side pins
5.
What is a 'perfect game' in bowling?
A
Scoring 300 by bowling 12 consecutive strikes
B
Converting every spare in a game
C
Winning by the largest margin
D
Never throwing a gutter ball
6.
In bowling, what is the '7-10 split'?
A
Alternating between 7 and 10 pin knockdowns
B
Bowling in the 7th and 10th frames
C
Only the 7 and 10 pins remaining, the hardest split to convert
D
A score of 7 in the 10th frame
7.
What does 'hook' refer to in bowling?
A
The curved end of a bowling pin
B
Hanging the ball over the gutter
C
A penalty for crossing the foul line
D
A ball that curves as it travels down the lane
8.
In bowling, what is the 'approach'?
A
The strategy for picking up a spare
B
The area behind the foul line where bowlers take their steps before releasing the ball
C
The angle at which the ball hits the pins
D
Walking up to the lane counter
9.
What is a 'spare' in bowling?
A
Having no pins left after the first ball
B
A backup bowling ball
C
Knocking down all remaining pins with the second ball of a frame
D
An extra ball at the end of the game
10.
In bowling, what does 'Brooklyn' mean?
A
A gutter ball that curves back onto the lane
B
A strike hit on the wrong side of the headpin
C
A bowling style from New York
D
A perfect game bowled left-handed
11.
What is the 'foul line' in bowling?
A
The boundary line between lanes
B
A line showing where the pins are set up
C
A line drawn where smelly shoes are not allowed
D
The line at the end of the approach that bowlers must not cross
12.
In bowling, what is a 'kingpin'?
A
The tournament champion
B
The head pin at the front
C
The heaviest pin in the set
D
The number 5 pin in the center of the pin arrangement
13.
What is 'lane oil' (or 'lane dressing') in bowling?
A
Oil applied to the lane surface that affects ball movement
B
A polish for the bowling pins
C
A lubricant for bowling ball finger holes
D
A cleaning product for bowling shoes
14.
In bowling, what does 'sandbagging' mean?
A
Deliberately bowling below your ability to maintain a lower average
B
Adding weight to your bowling shoes
C
Using a heavy ball
D
Filling gutters with sand
15.
What are 'bumpers' in bowling?
A
Protective guards on bowling pins
B
Padding on the lane walls
C
Retractable rails that block the gutters, often used by beginners
D
Cushions on the ball return

Answer Key

Question 1

B. Three consecutive strikes

A turkey in bowling is three consecutive strikes in a single game, one of the sport's most satisfying achievements.

Question 2

C. A spare where remaining pins have a gap between them

A split occurs when the first ball of a frame leaves two or more non-adjacent groups of pins standing, with a gap between them, making a spare very difficult.

Question 3

B. The ideal entry point between the 1 and 3 pins (for right-handers)

The pocket is the ideal target area for a strike, located between the 1 and 3 pins for right-handed bowlers (1 and 2 for left-handers).

Question 4

A. A ball that rolls into the gutter channel without hitting any pins

A gutter ball rolls off the lane surface into one of the gutters (channels) running along each side, scoring zero pins for that delivery.

Question 5

A. Scoring 300 by bowling 12 consecutive strikes

A perfect game in bowling is a score of 300, achieved by rolling 12 consecutive strikes (one in each of the ten frames, plus two bonus strikes in the tenth).

Question 6

C. Only the 7 and 10 pins remaining, the hardest split to convert

The 7-10 split leaves only the far-left (7) and far-right (10) pins standing, widely considered the most difficult spare to convert in bowling.

Question 7

D. A ball that curves as it travels down the lane

A hook is a bowling delivery where the ball curves across the lane as it approaches the pins, created by the bowler's release and the ball's rotation.

Question 8

B. The area behind the foul line where bowlers take their steps before releasing the ball

The approach is the area of the lane behind the foul line where bowlers take their steps and build momentum before releasing the ball.

Question 9

C. Knocking down all remaining pins with the second ball of a frame

A spare is achieved when a bowler knocks down all remaining pins with the second ball of a frame, after failing to strike with the first.

Question 10

B. A strike hit on the wrong side of the headpin

A Brooklyn strike occurs when the ball hits the opposite side of the headpin from the intended pocket -- the 1-2 pocket for a right-hander instead of the 1-3.

Question 11

D. The line at the end of the approach that bowlers must not cross

The foul line is the boundary at the end of the approach area. Crossing it with any part of the body during delivery results in a foul and a score of zero for that ball.

Question 12

D. The number 5 pin in the center of the pin arrangement

The kingpin is the number 5 pin, located in the center of the pin triangle. In some bowling terminology, it refers to the most important pin for achieving strikes.

Question 13

A. Oil applied to the lane surface that affects ball movement

Lane oil is a conditioner applied to the wooden or synthetic lane surface in specific patterns, which protects the lane and significantly affects how bowling balls react and curve.

Question 14

A. Deliberately bowling below your ability to maintain a lower average

Sandbagging is the practice of intentionally bowling below one's true ability to maintain an artificially low average, gaining an advantage in handicap competitions.

Question 15

C. Retractable rails that block the gutters, often used by beginners

Bumpers are retractable guardrails that can be raised in the gutters to prevent gutter balls, commonly used for children and beginners to keep the ball on the lane.

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