Elk Lanes Inc.

Every sport has basic terminology that explains certain aspects of the game.  Here is a baic overview:

Approach - This wood surface is at least 15' long and where the player walks up to the foul line.

Backswing - The path the arm takes behind the body during delivery of the ball.

Channel or "gutter" - There are 2 channels on each side of a lane.  Once a ball goes into the channel before hitting a pin the score will be zero.

Count - The number of pins knocked down on the first ball.

Foul - Touching or going past the foul line results in no score for that shot.  (Foul lines are generally turned off during open play and turned on for league play.)

Frame - One-tenth of a game.  There are 10 frames in a game.

Hook - Balkl that breaks or curves into the pins.

Pins - There are 10 pins to a rack.  Pin numbers start with #1 and are then numbers sequentially from left to right going towards the back

Pocket - Area between pins 1-2 for a left hander and pins 1-3 for a right hander.

Spare - Knocking down all pins on the second ball delivery.

Strike - Knocking down all pins on the first ball delivery.

Target arrows - Sighting targets embedded 15 feet down  the lane to assist you with alignment to the pins.

SCORING

We have automatic scoring however it is important to know how to keep score.   Make it a math learning expierence for your children.

A game is 10 frames.  Many people also call a game "a line" (one line on a score sheet).

During each frame a bowler gets two chances to knock down all 10 pins.

If a bowler knocks down all 10 pins on the first attempt it is a strike.  If a bowler knocks down the remainder of the 10 pins on the second attempt it is called a spare. If pins remain it is called an open frame.

An open frame counts as the number of pins (less than 10) knocked down.

A spare counts as 10 plus the bowlers next shot.  It shows as a "/" in the box.

A strike counts as 10 plus the next two shots.  It shows as a "X" in the box.

The 10th frame is scored differently as a type of bonus.  If a stike is made the bowler gets two more shots.  If a spare is made the bowler gets one extra shot.  If a bowler has an open frame no extra shots are received.

A perfect game is 12 strikes and is called a 300 game.