Welcome athletes, My "HOW TO" books have the ability to ELEVATE YOUR GAME!!

The Path to Excellence
The Path to Excellence
  • book
  • about + author
  • Testimonials +
  • Success
  • Mental
  • class
  • More
    • book
    • about + author
    • Testimonials +
    • Success
    • Mental
    • class
  • book
  • about + author
  • Testimonials +
  • Success
  • Mental
  • class

HOW TO REPROGRAM Bowling "Talk"? By communicating!

HOW TO use the only other dictionary you'll need?

So you can "talk" fluent Bowling!

 INTRO & NOTES for as of now, the 474 ways that bowlers can "talk" fluent Bowling:


          This enjoyable MUST READ is dedicated to all the bowlers who bowled the Traveling Masters league. My Bowling Dictionary will give more insight than most will care about, but I had to detail many words to give it correct definitions for it. Just to give you a heads up, you've found the biggest webpage on my HOW TO website. You should have noticed it took a little longer to load. The loading of my page was probably still quicker than the mechanics trying to fix those lane machines that keep breaking down. You shouldn't be too rattled because you have a good mental game. ENJOY my definitions!

         I'm in the process of fixing links and typos. Don't stop reading because of it. I've added several words since my last update and also several pics from the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame that you might like to see. I have also included THE STATS PLUS WHO’S WHO TRIBUTE to honor SOME GREAT PEOPLE who helped make my sports career in two sports, memerable, enjoyable, at times profitable and ALWAYS HELPFUL!

 
       What HOW TO website would be complete without two HOW TO books, some history, some GREAT mental articles, some GREAT photos, a little humor, honoring persons who made a difference, two top 10 lists, share HOW TO promote bowlers that attracts bowlers and sponsors, give lessons to improve your life, tell you where answers can be found, why stats are the backbone for improvement and have more fun than going on a vacation while traveling and listening to great music? No website including mine, would be considered complete, without a dictionary to validate its great history. Everyone should learn at least one thing after reading through my dictionary!


      This maybe the first dictionary to accurately describe any sport. A must read for any bowler. 

   It's not just who you "talk" to, but HOW TO talk to them so you'll sound smarter!

HOW TO add some fun into our GREAT sport?

Add a little bit of humor and GREAT pics!

My Mr. Stats NEW WORLD Dictionary for the modern bowler!

 By Alan Brizee © 2001. rev. 2024  Author of The Path to Excellence and

      From Excellence to Success


      The modern bowler needs to "talk" bowling, so everyone on your team and friends know what you're trying to tell them. As you know, many words have mutiple meanings which is to confuse visitors to the USA. I also included some history to make my dictionary more complete! It could be the first dictionary with pictures, WHAT A CONCEPT!! 


      You will notice the type is smaller than other webpages. This is to get my dictionary to load a little faster! You may see some typos because this webpage is the biggest on my website. I'm trying to correct all errors!


        NOTE: July 5, 2020. It took two weeks to get this page to look good because of the software I had to use. I added photos and links to make it somewhat interactive. I also wanted to give those who appear, their just tribute for being remarkable persons in what they do and have done to help others including me. It’s an honor to be able to cross paths and include them as they touched my life and helped make life and bowling more fun. I obviously couldn’t include everyone, so don’t be too upset if you’re not included. With some of the definitions, you may be glad that you weren’t included. I can add to this list of over 420 later. At the end is the list of people who will appear on this long list and where they will find themselves on this page if not listed under their name. I couldn’t believe how many words I’ve added and adding to certain words, since I first wrote this 20 years ago. This dictionary shows the 50 years I have competed in our great sport and why it really is the greatest sport around. I hope you enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed writing it!

     Picture from the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum in Arlington, TX.

HOW TO "talk" Bowling & sound smart to bowlers?

By knowing all the words describing bowling!

Spend some time reading my distintive desireable Dictionary! 


      Intro: This is dedicated to the modern bowler. Why the modern bowler? If you haven't bowled for the last 40 years, you’ll probably don’t know. Since the reactive resin balls started flooding the market about 25 years ago, scores have soared above the clouds. Who will be the first advertise a 300 game or your money back guarantee, in every ball they manufacture? What center will guarantee a 250 average if you bowl in their scratch league? The bowler with the magic sphere in their hands gives other bowlers headaches and is hard to beat. You can almost buy a remote-control guided ball guaranteed to destroy racks. The future will have drones taking your ball to the center and you just sit in your living room deciding how to attack today’s condition. Bowlers will no longer be considered athletes as they won’t actually be rolling the ball. Your equipment today decides who wins and advances to the playoffs. You could be blindfolded and string strikes. You’ll only need your mental game for shooting at the few spares you’ll leave. 

     NOTE: Because I’m right handed, references to not striking due to leaving a 10 pin will be used. Obviously, but maybe not for certain, left handers or "wrong handers" as some right handers have called them, they’re sometimes not in the “right” frame of mind and have to reverse the pins they left. Sorry John, Jeff, Dwight and Kary, I really needed to warn others who maybe starting their career bowling.

      It takes at least three balls to shoot 700 and four balls to shoot above 800 today, where in years past, you had either one or two balls to bowl with. But EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, it is the how, what, where, when and why that you must answer. How many beer frames will my team have tonight? What frame will our opponents wave the white flag? Where is the team going after they win the championship? When will the next great ball come out? Why do I keep winning brackets every other week? Of course, you know the answer if you have the right equipment. Bowling is of course great when your equipment matches the lane conditions. Will it be the same for next week?

       Some of the over 470 words and phrases in my dictionary aren’t even in Webster’s. Don't lie to me and tell me, you know everything about bowling. I can't even tell you I know everything about the game I love! I know enough to be able to add a little humor to so others can appreciate bowling more. Even after reading through my entries, your head will swell from all this useful information, as only after your finished reading, can you then say without thinking and hesitation, you know almost everything about bowling. I now know enough to be able to add a little humor, so others can also appreciate bowling. Those of you who don't have a sense of humor, should read my book, The Path to Excellence, 31 Days to the Zone, instead of reading further, so at least you’ll improve your bowling.


      ADDED NOTE: None of these definitions should be taken seriously. Some are closer to reality than some of you will want to believe. This dictionary is for enjoyment only and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it back in 2001. It took many months to write this, and terms have been added and maybe more will added in the future. So kick back, take your shoes off, relax and enjoy. Just don’t fall asleep while your reading or you’ll lose your spot and have to reread some of it. This is also to give insight for those that are just taking up bowling and of course, HOW TO talk bowling with other bowlers. If I missed anything or if you have suggestions for the ones I have, message me or let me know. I’ll be happy to add them and give you credit as I did in 2014.


        I hope the PBA and USBC realizes that any entries, aren’t the opinion of the PBA or USBC. The PBA entries are to honor all the great bowlers for the over 60 years the organization has existed. Norm Duke, Len Nicholson and Mark Roth are just three PBA Hall of Famers mentioned on my website. Norm already knows about my book when he shot an 863 in the 2019 Senior Masters. I’ve added him because of the Next Level clinics and improving my overall game. Len is added because of his writing and the great books he’s published. He just received the Luby award and will inducted into his second Hall of Fame, the Bowling Writers Hall of Fame as well the PBA Hall of Fame. The few mentions of ABC and USBC are to honor the governing organization that obviously changed over the years and isn’t the opinion of the USBC. Andrew Cain is also mentioned and is a former president of the USBC. He also is a great coach and turned my game around. Andrew is still active bowling PBA events and the main reason I went to see him for my lesson. Norm Duke,  Len Nicholson and Mark Roth are just three PBA Hall of Famers mentioned on my website. Norm already knows about my book when he shot an 863 in the 2019 Senior Masters. I’ve added him because of the Next Level clinics and improving my overall game. Len is added because of his writing and the great books he’s published. He just received the Luby award and will inducted into his second Hall of Fame, the Bowling Writers Hall of Fame as well the PBA Hall of Fame. The few mentions of ABC and USBC are to honor the governing organization that obviously changed over the years and isn’t the opinion of the now, USBC. Andrew Cain is also mentioned and is a former president of the USBC. He also is a great coach and turned my game around. Andrew is still active bowling PBA events and the main reason I went to see him for my lesson.

      And wouldn’t think that all this fun would stop. For a more enjoyable experience, are the 25 characters that can show up to bowl any given day. Because they relate to bowling, you need to be informed and the reason why they’re listed. Because after all, it’s all about having fun, and these 24 competitors can be found in the Stats Plus Competitor’s Guide with more detailed information on each competitor, for those of you that want more info. Yes, a few might want more info. Read the guide, so you’ll now know who you are, and then determine who your competitors are and what to expect when bowling against them.

      I have honored 39 persons who made bowling the greatest sport ever. These individuals have made bowling what it is. You’ll see their name and the reason why they have their own definition. It’s more of a tribute to them as they contributed to the overall enjoyment of the game. Two have passed, but the others will know who they are after seeing their name. Again, remember that this is for fun and not making fun at them. Some humor used maybe looked at differently by others. This article could be turned into a book, but would probably collect more dust than readers. That is why it is on the website. This article shows why I love bowling and after 50 years on the lanes, can make a few jokes about it. This is to let everyone know why bowling is the greatest sport enjoyed by more people than any other sport! Thanks go out to Andrew, Beth, Bob, Bobby, Dr. Steve, Dwight, Joey, John, Ken, Laura, Len, Mark, Mike, Norm, Roy, Scott and Steve. These 17 entries have been added or had slight revisions since 2001. I added an index at the end to show where on my website they appear.

      These 474 definitions cover most aspects of bowling and is one reason why bowling is really, no matter what anyone else says, one of the greatest sports on the planet. Over 100 added since being on the web six years ago. It’s not about the Benjamins or the rings, it’s really about the beer frames, going off the sheet, getting in the roll-offs, making the finals in brackets, showing mental toughness, having fun and competing with great teammates. What other sport offers more?


     ADDITIONAL NOTES: See means there is another word with the same meaning is in my dictionary so you can see that word's definition. Check it out, means it's on another page on my website and you can click on it to take you to the section where you'll find it. 


      I hope you find you have fun learning about the great sport of bowling by reading the modern terminologies so you can "talk" correctly and bowlers will understand what you're trying to tell them! You can't have too many Museum photos in a Bowling dictionary or can you?


*added or revised words since 2001.



 Message me with any questions or additions.  Thanks

     Would Joe Thum bowl two handed

 without his thumb nowadays? Maybe.

HOW TO quickly understand to "talk" Bowling?

By bringing your "A" game to converse!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, LET'S GET STARTED AND OFF WE GO: 


There's a lot to read so don't spend too much time critiquing my definitions 😊! 

You can save some words for later to spread out the FUN!


#'s - C:


7 pin* 1. The reason why Lefty's don't have double their 300's. 2. One reason why I won the

      Senior Masters as left handers kept leaving this pin. (I only bowled one left hander in

      the finals.)

10 pin* 1. This pin kept ABC from going bankrupt once athletes figured out that accuracy

     wasn’t really that important. 2. The reason why most bowlers don’t have five times the

     honor scores awards as they think they should have. 3. Another reason why I won the 

     Tucson USBC Senior Masters, as my right-handed opponents kept leaving them. 4. One

     reason why bowlers are becoming two handers, they don't have to shoot as many. 

100% 1. The amount needed to have fun on today's conditions. 2. The amount of effort you

      need to help your team pull out a victory.

300* 1. A score so high that bowlers won’t have to lie about after shooting a perfect game.

     2. A goal to shoot at least once every season by bowlers having shot 10 or more. 

     3. After drilling your ball, what pro shops guarantee you’ll shoot tomorrow. 4. What

     score all bowlers want drilled into their new ball. 5. The score beginners want for

     bowling three games. 6. What Andy Varipapa shoots after any 12 bagger. (See

       Varipapa & zeroed in.)

800* 1. A score better than shooting 300, but will anyone notice? 2. The series most

      bowlers miss by one or two strikes when throwing the ball well. 3. The score all

      bowlers want to shoot at least once.

900* 1. Something most bowlers won't shoot in their leifetime! 2. What bowlers hope to

      shoot after starting with 300 to open the competition. 3. What ball manufacturers

      can't guarantee in any ball.



"A" game 1. How bowlers use "a" ball and "a"ttacks the pins with their favorite shot

      because it's on a condition where they can throw some big games. 2. The “a”bility to

      throw some big games on your favorite condition. (See “B” game.)

ABC's* 1. The knowledge bowlers need to compete on today's conditions and what will be

      needed in the future. 2. The rules that the American Bowling Congress made over 100

      years ago that the bowlers are supposed to follow. 3. What the USBC lost sight of after

      the merger of ABC and WIBC, as they now say they have the best interest for the 

      bowlers after now having only one high score award for your career. 4. The reson why 

      an article for the Traveling Masters got scrapped, after the merge with USBC, they 

      discontinued the magazine. (Check it out, the Best league article!)

ability* 1. A skill of stuffing bills (Benjamins) in your wallet during pot games. 2. What most

      bowlers want when needing strikes to win. 3. A skill that most bowlers avoid because

      of the hard work involved.

accuracy* 1. A lost art and skill needed many, many years ago. 2. Young guns today and

      two handers with revs (some having more revs than brains), don’t worry about not 

      having this ability. 3. What some bowlers realize is needed to average 210 even with 

      today’s conditions.

action* 1. How some good bowlers put extra cash in their pockets to pay their mortgage, 

      instead of getting a real job. 2. How the old timers challenged themselves to become

      better. 3. A side bet such as brackets and eliminators to show others that you still

      know how to score when you win. 4. The missing part for the “kids” today, as very few

      of them have extra money to bowl pot games or brackets, or the experience to beat

      the seniors. 5. What the reaction (Good action) of your ball does to knock down the

      pins. (Check it out, the Pin Action book in my library!)

adjustment* 1. A move most bowlers must make when competing. This is due to the 

      reactive resin balls soaking up most of the oil on the lanes causing them to break 

      down. Today, most bowlers start throwing in the oil around the 20 board out to the dry,

      so they won't be making more than five adjustments in a night. 2. A required skill that 

      strokers need if they want to beat the crankers. 3. A tweak that is needed after leaving

      a 4–6 or a 4–6–7-10 split. 4. What every bowler should know to carry that corner pin 

      that’s velcroed to the lane. (Check it out, my adjustment article.)

advice 1. What your opponent will try to give you to throw you off your game, but only

      when you're scoring. 2. What your doubles partner will give you in the hope you’ll start 

      stringing strikes. 3. What coaches give to good bowlers who have been in a slump.

      4. What some bowlers don't want as their inflated handicap helps them cash in

      tournaments.

age* 1. The years of bowling experience. 2. Knowing what works because of all your

      experience. 3. Why you can't bowl three games without getting winded. 4. Why

      sometimes you feel older than you really are. 5. Something that helps seniors beat the

      "kids" because of their experience!

alcohol* 1. A drink that can make some bowlers unbeatable at times, at least until they 

      get drunk! 2. The drink that can make some bowlers obnoxious and hard to be around

      after having a few. 3. What some will need on a bad night because they didn’t break

      600. 

alley* 1. The road behind the center where you might have scored better than the scores

      you just shot. 2. Where a few bowlers end up after losing their house and shirt to a 

      hustler bowling pot games. 3. Where the fight will eventually take place after your 

      opponent wins the match after they intimidated you to win the match. 

All Star* 1. Anyone good enough to make people notice them. 2. A Who on a Who Who's

      list or a bowler considered a GREAT bowler by other bowlers. 3. The best of the best 

      bowlers. 4. What the Traveling Master's website was when the leagues made their list,

      due to Mr. Stats promoting by all avenues possible and having the biggest website of 

      any bowling league in history. (See Mr. Stats.) (Check it out, the Traveling Masters

      section.)

all the way* 1. When someone strings strikes to finish a game. 2. Just one of four sayings

      to finish the game the "correct" way! (See off the sheet, punch out & X'd out.)

anchorman* 1. The bowler in the last position on the team who will strike out when

      needed. 2. The bowler the team depends on the most during those close and MUST

      HAVE games. 3. The  bowler who usually gets blamed for losing close games, no 

      matter how much over their average, unless they shoot 300.  4. Someone who may

      miss one or two single pins the entire season. 

Andrew* 1. The person who sells confidence by fixing your game. 2. A qualified instructor

      who can help you after watching just three shots. 3. Someone who can teach 

      “proformance”. (See cash, coach, lesson, peak performance & “proformance”)

      (Check out The Coach in Competitor's guide.) 

angle 1. How the lanes have to be played to get the maximum pin action. 2. How most

      hustlers make a living and win a bunch of side bets to take your money in pot games. 

approach* 1. What some bowlers do to bowlers of the opposite sex in a singles league.

       2. What some hustlers will try to alter to get you out of the Zone.

arrows* 1. What most bowlers use as their target on the lanes. 2. Why bowlers using this

      target on all spares have a weakness in their game. 3. The target you wish you could 

      use when leaving those corner pins. (See dots.)

athlete* 1. What most bowlers are, as they walk a mile while bowling league, throwing a

      ball around 15 pounds, usually at least 36 times in a league night and must use their 

      head to make good decisions to acquire great scores. 2. What some uneducated

      people (dummies), think bowlers are not.

attitude* 1. A positive feeling by most bowlers so they can conquer almost anything, but

      only if they remain positive. 2. The remainder of bowlers are just hoping that nothing

      negative will happen to them tonight.

author* 1. A person who wrote a book or article about bowling. If they didn't write about

      bowling, they're considered writers 😊. 2. A person who builds a HUGE website, like the

      website you're on now, to help fellow bowlers. 2. A person who gives back to this GREAT

      sport by writing to get others to improve their game. 3. The person who writes in their 

      bowling logbook to gain knowledge. (See Len & Mr. Stats.) 

average 1. The score that scratch bowlers want to be above.  2. The scores that below

      average bowlers want to shoot at least once every week.

awards* 1. What you receive after shooting a great score. 2. What you may get if you're

      lucky enough to receive after shooting a good score, depending on your average.

      3. What you hope to add to your collection of hardware. 



"B" game 1. When you "b"elieve you can still score when your "A" game isn't working.

      2. What most pros have because their “A” game is only for walled up house shots.

      What some bowlers should have for tournaments if they want to cash more

      consistently! (See “A” game.)

backer* Someone with more money than brains looking for good bowlers short of cash in

      pot games. They will put up all the cash and split 67/33 after expenses. There are a few

      that will do a 50/50 split if you’re a Hall of Fame caliber of bowler. (Check it out, the

       Stats Plus Competitor’s Guide.)

backuper* 1. The ringer a team brings in, to substitute for a regular bowler. 2. A bowler

      who backs up the ball on the opposite side of the lane because it seems easier on the

      other side. (See Ken.) (Check out the Stats Plus Competitor’s Guide.)

bad habits* 1. A natural occurrence when bowlers lose their confidence. 2. The occurrence

      that leads to a bowler’s slump. 3. Why some quit bowling because they "thought" they

      could solve low scoring without a qualified coach. 4. Why some bowlers should quit

      thinking and rely more on their experiences to win matches.

bagger* 1. Why you go to the bar after league to buy a six-pack, because the team

      didn’t have any that night, and they have to bag the six-pack it before you leave for 

      home. 2. A string of strikes from any frame that can carry over to the next game, and

      the hope of it continuing to a third game. 3. Twelve in a row at any time is known as a

      "Varipapa 300". (See Varipapa.)

balance 1. A juggling act with your significant other as to why you’re bowling three

      leagues a week. 2. What you’ll need, to walk to the foul line after all those beer frames.

      3. What you need to do to your checking account after buying all the latest and 

      greatest balls that come out every month. 4. Handling some free time to practice both

      physical and mental games, to show others you’re not an easy target.

ball* 1. The round object you roll that can be magic if you're on a condition that ball was 

      drilled for, hoping for a 300 game. 2. The lemon you’re rolling if it was not drilled for

      that condition or if you don't throw many strikes. 3. What your pro shop drills holes into,

      that you hope will cure your slump. 4. What some say is the reason why they won a 

      tournament and the main resaon I won the Senior Masters tournament. (Check out 

       photo above.)

ball boy* 1. Someone who gets your ball out of the car when the balls you brought into

      the center doesn't work. 2. The person who fetches another ball in a PBA tournament.

bargain 1. The ball you just bought that was half off and are lucky enough just to shoot 

      your average. 2. The ball, bag or shoes you just bought as the Pro Shop discounts

      them that day.

bed 1. Low scoring lanes that put you to sleep. 2. Where some bowlers would rather be,

      instead of shooting low scores that day.

bed posts* 1. What most bowlers try to avoid leaving when lanes are dry. 2. The place

      some bowlers will go, should they leave one in league. 3. The 4-6-7-10 split that’s 

      actually, harder than the 7-10 split.

beer frame* 1. The way good bowlers get drunk without buying. 2. The only way to keep

      your team showing up each week. 3. An added attraction when one of your bowlers

      gets too drunk every week. 

believe* 1. What you must do in yourself to become to better bowler where some don’t.

      2. What each team member must have in each other to go after championships.

Benjamin’s* 1. The bills that the serious player need for pot games. 2. At least two are

      needed for the latest and greatest equipment today. 3. What everyone wants to win in

      tournaments.

Beth* 1. A person who shows you how important your brain is in competition. 2. Teaches 

      you how to accomplish your goals later in life after your sessions. 3. A dependable

      person if on your team. (See cash, coach, lesson, mental toughness, peak

       performance, “proformance” & technique.) (Check it out, her Testimonial and

       Dedication.) 

blind 1. A score for an absent player that usually causes his team to lose at least one 

      close game. 2. What some bowlers are when they don’t notice what is going on right in

      front of them.

board A vanishing strip of wood that bowlers used to make adjustments from. Some of

      today's synthetic lanes have lines to indicate where the boards should be for aiming

      purposes.

Bob* A senior bowler who developed the killer instinct due to reading my book. (See

       killer instinct.) (Check out his testimonial.)

Bobby* A coach who knows how to tweak your shot. (See cash, coach, lesson, peak

       performance, proformance”, technique and video.) (Check it out, his Dedication &

       The Coach in the Competitor's guide.) 

body english 1. Bowlers doing summersaults and running shots out to show the pins that 

      they mean business when bowling. 2. Bowlers that use this are a lot more fun to watch.

bonus 1. What bowlers get after winning a match, no matter how bad they scored. 2. To

      increase entries in a tournament when tournament directors offer it.

bore A teammate who doesn't care about how many honor scores you shot last week, 

      unless they shot one as well.

bowlaholic* Someone who spends all their extra money on bowling, all their extra time at

      the bowling center, bowls in a tournament almost every weekend and spends most of

      their vacation bowling. Yes, they’re even on their company bowling team. 

      (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

bowling 1. A sport that is now more like golf, where you will rarely finish with the same ball

      you started with. 2. A way to get away from your wife for several hours.

bowling ball* 1. Unlike golf, you won’t have to chase it, it comes back and will be waiting

      for you if it's not eaten by the machine. 2. Today's equipment can be colorful, and the

      only reason why some sale. 3. What may be found in dumpsters or rivers after a bad 

      night. 4. What some bowlers will only buy if guaranteed to hook 20 boards out of the

      box.

bowling shoes* 1. Colorful shoes that help to keep you from sticking on the approach, 

      except when bowling on synthetic approaches. 2. Shoes with interchangeable soles

      and heels that are needed at more centers, as more open bowlers spill drinks and

      food, that now make changing soles and heels a necessity.

brackets* 1. Where good bowlers can earn big money as the others are distracted from

      them. 2. The added excitement when your team is in last place and you can win 

      enough by yourself to pay for your bowling.

bragger* A decent bowler that’s conceited, telling good bowlers all about their 

      accomplishments, so they think they made it to the next level. That next level to being

      a good bowler is having as many achievements as most good bowlers. (Check it out, 

       the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

break* 1. What good bowlers get when they need it the most or what the opposing team

      scoring touch. shot during the league championship. 2. Something bowlers do this to

      pencils when they lose their scoring touch.

break point* The magical place on the lane that most good bowlers try to find. This is

      where the ball hooks back to the pocket for maximum carry as it will change several 

      times during the series.

breaking point* When a bowler leaves the same spare three consecutive times and

      want to to go home early.

breathe 1. What some bowlers have trouble doing and after losing a close match.

      2. What you must control during a close match of your want to win.

Brooklyn* 1. A place where some may visit if nationals are close. 2. AThe city your ball

      visits when your ball hooks past your pocket to the opposite pocket. 3. Where right

      handers think that hitting the wrong pocket is a shot that Earl Anthony would be proud

      of. 4. Just one nickname for a bad shot with a good result. (See Earl, Phoenix &

       Tucson.) 

broom The essential tool needed when you destroyed your opponent as they can’t bowl

      well enough to win even one point.

buddy* 1. A teammate or friend who remembers when you choked, but won't ever

      remind you. 2. Someone who gets you a cab when you had too much to drink.

burning the maples The fire started after throwing an 800 series or back-to-back 270's

      or better.

burnout 1. What can happen when you bowl in 4 leagues a week, along with tournaments

      and/or color pins. 2. Can be when you're in a slump in the 1 or 2 leagues you bowl in.



caffeine* 1. The drug of choice for those who failed to get much sleep the previous night.

      2. What you may need when bowling a tournament in Las Vegas because of too much

      gambling and or playing golf. 3. You’ll need a gallon of it when bowling those 12 game

      tournaments.

calculator* What today’s good bowlers will need to compute with their new sky high

      average with their 300’s in every ball drilling.

calm The state of mind you need wen the lanes breakdown if you want to shoot over

      your average.

career* 1. The total number of years competing in your life time. 2. The achievements 

      you’ve won during your entire life that you can brag about to others.

carry* 1. What you hope you won’t have to do to your teammates. 2. What you're wishing

      for with that new $200 ball even if it just missed hitting the pocket.

cash* 1. What most bowlers will need to get that next great ball to improve their game.

      2. What bowlers should get so they can practice and improve their game, especially

      after a lesson. 3. What you’ll need to raise your confidence from lessons by a

      qualified coach. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, coach & Laura.) 

challenge* 1. Conditions to where a 200 is a meaningful score. 2. Bowling Nationals for

      over 25 years. 3. A senior bowler trying to beat the “kids” in the weekly brackets.

      3. Where you have to make more than five adjustments in a night of league. 4. A 

      tournament club where scratch bowlers find out how good they are. (See Curtis,

       Dwight, hustler & Mr. Stats.) (Check it out, my Accept challenges article.)

champion 1. Someone who knows what it takes and how to win. 2. Most bowlers hope to

      avoid them on the way to the championship. 3. Someone I’d rather bowl as it keeps

      me mentally focused in the match.

channel 1. That depressed colored board that runs on both sides of the lane that bowlers

      should avoid because it doesn’t hook. 2. The ball magnet that can make corner pins 

      seem impossible to convert.

charge* 1. When you finally make the right adjustment and throw a 4 bagger. 2. What you

      do when short of cash for that new ball or do to bowl pot games after league.

chart* 1. What some bowlers will do to improve their average as it will show percentage

      of strikes and opens. 2. What Stats Plus did better than any other secretary, because

      of all the statistics kept.

cheese* What some bowlers will need after scoring badly and whining about lane 

      conditions when someone averaged over 240 that day. (See whine & wine.)

choke 1. What some bowlers will do a close match, as they are unable to throw the ball 

      due to both hands wrapped around their throat. 2. What you want to do to your 

      opponent when they beat you by one stick in an important match.  

class 1. Congratulating a bowler who throws a 300 or 800 at you as it is something you

      see less of these days. 2. Congratulating the team winning the roll-offs, especially

      when your team was second. 3. Something that many bowlers don't have. 4. What

      you attend with my online Confidence 101 online course. (Check it out, 

       my Confidence 101 course.) 

clean game 1. Getting through a game without an open frame. 2. Finishing a game

     without spilling your drink on you.

cleaning* Taking your opponent's last dollar in pot games, where they don’t have

      enough change for the laundromat. 

coach* 1. Someone who tries to get you to throw a few more strikes each game.

      2. Someone who thinks they know more than you and charge more than PGA pros.

      3. Someone who destroys your "Fun"da"Mental"s, so you keep coming back as his new

      car isn’t paid off yet. 4. A qualified person that can get bowlers to shoot some GREAT

      scores. 5. Someone who can make a huge difference in your physical game as well

      as your mental game. 6. A qualified individual who can strengthen your weaknesses

      to take you to the next level. 7. A person who might video tape the session so you can

      see your mistakes. 8. Someone who has a plan to get you to peak performance so you

      can look like a pro. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, cash, Laura, Norm & peak

       performance, “proformance”, technique, tip, video, wall & weakness.)

      (Check it Out, Beth and Laura in Testimonials.)

      (Check it out, Beth, Bobby, Laura & out Norm in Dedications.)

      (Check it out, Andrew’s Dedication for my second book.)

      (Check it out, The Coach in the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

comeback* 1. Finishing a game with a 6 bagger after being asleep the first 6 frames.

      2. With an injury, bowlers try to remember how good they threw the ball after the

      long layoff.

commitment* 1. What you need to do towards excellence if you want to compete in the

       Zone! 2. What you hope all the bowlers on your team have when bowling

      tournaments or in the Roll-Offs. 3. The way bowlers should respond when their game 

      depends on it. 

competitor 1. Anyone who thinks they have a change of winning a match. 2. Someone

      who can bowl GREAT, but you want to bowl a little better, so they’ll remember it the

      next time you match up against them. (Check it out, the Stats Plus 

       competitor’s guide.)

concentration 1. What you will have 100% of the time during practice and only 10% 

      during competition. 2. A skill needed to repeat all those GREAT scores you’ve shot.

conditions* 1. The way the lanes are oiled so that the bowlers averaging 170 are now

      instant pro bowlers on a walled up shot. 2. Why some pro bowlers turn to being just

      average amateurs on tough conditions. 3. Making them consistent is next to

      impossible, because of where you live and the weather. 4. When the lanes aren't easy,

      some Hall of Famers as well as good senior bowlers are about ready to no longer 

      bowl the Senior Masters tournament.

confidence 1. What you have after winning a tournament or a couple of 300's but lose 

      when you can't throw that needed double in the tenth. 2. What league bowlers think

      they have without ever practicing. (Check out photo below.) (Check it out, my

       confidence 101 class to build your confidence.)

consistency* 1. The state bowlers want to be in by repeating strikes, spares and clean 

      games which means higher scores. 2. What most newbies don’t have because of all 

      the new balls and unsure how they react differently to their other balls.

control 1. Being able to shoot over your average over a period of weeks. 2. What you want

      your team to have because your team is in first place.

core* 1. Your friends on the bowling team. 2. What usually gets bigger because you think

      you’re burning enough calories just bowling.

corona bound* 1. The reason why you’re home instead of bowling because the corona

      virus closed the centers for eight weeks. 2. The reason you’re on the way to the bar 

      because your team just hung you. 

count 1. What you can't afford to lose in a close match. 2. What could help you win a few 

      more brackets in tournaments. 3. Why your spouce won't let you get in brackets

      anymore because of too many bad ones.

courage What it takes to bowl against the best bowler at that center.

criticism* This is the last thing you want to hear after just having a low scoring night.

crybaby* 1. Someone who throws temper tantrums when the bowling gods are on break. 

      2. A bowler you don't want on your team because of definition 1. (Check it out,

       the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

Curtis* A bowler who wanted to see some GREAT bowling by holding GREAT tournaments

      with guaranteed money of $1000 for first place. (See challenge.)

    He brought his "A" game over 100 years ago and now it's bowling's history!

HOW TO give back to the Bowling world?

Make them understand what "our world" is!

STILL HERE? GREAT! I had to ask. I know you're not quitting! There's still more to discuss to understand about "our world"! My dictionary is why bowling is a GREAT sport!


       I thought the ABC's would put you to sleep. At least some of the humor has kept you awake! You decision to keep reading shows your dedication for this great sport. And just in

time as dedicated is the third word down. I'll check on you later to see how you're doing. After seeing some of my typo's, I know I was daydreaming when it happened!



      To keep you motivated about your interest in talking bowling, I've added many pics to help you stay awake and have more fun! But you still may need some coffee to stay awake!

    Talking bowling is like talking in English, words can have several different meanings!

HOW TO know this is a GREAT Dictionary?

You test drove a ball, many, many years ago!

My display of my many pics & Dust collectors!

My display of my many pics & Dust collectors!

     What's going to work? This is a ball with interchangeable weights to get the best reaction possible. It isn't needed today. It's part of bowling's history from a few decades ago. This helped you "test drive" your new plastic ball! (See ball.)

My display of my many pics & Dust collectors!

My display of my many pics & Dust collectors!

My display of my many pics & Dust collectors!

     Of course I don't mind doing a little dusting. The memories of the work I put in to make it not only fun, but profitable. Having fun and picking up souvenirs are reasons why I compete. The eagle came from not giving up. (See confidence & persistence.) 

HOW TO understand why pictures are included?

Makes my Dictionary unique & more complete!

Being Dedicated has many advantages like being a better bowler by having a GREAT mental game! 


D - F:


dad* 1. Someone you looked up to as he got you involved in this GREAT sport. 2. Someone

      who didn't care what you bowled. 3. A father who wanted the best for you and paid for

      coaching to help you.

DC 1. A great place to visit if nationals happens to be close. 2. A chiropractor who keeps

      you competitively ready with his monthly adjustments along with your stretches. 

      (Check it out, Dr. Steve’s Testimonial and Inspiration.)

dedicated* 1. A bowler showing up to bowl every week. 2. The bowler who spends time to

      practice, subscribes to all the bowling magazines, reads books and surfs the internet

      to obtain knowledge so they can improve their mental game as well as their physical

      game. 3. Someone who takes 15 balls with them to tournaments. 4. A bowler who

      spends two out of four weekends on the road bowling tournaments. (See Dwight &

        Steve.)

delivery 1. The steps and release throwing the ball. 2. Waiting for the next new gadget you

      ordered online to increase your confidence.

denial* Anyone who feels that practice and seeing a qualified coach won’t help them.

design* What bowlers want the manufacturers to do to the equipement so they will shoot

      more 300 games!

desire* 1. An athlete who reads my book and goes to my HOW TO website to improve

      their game. 2. What good bowlers have when going after titles!

deuce 1. What you hope to shoot, when you’re not shooting a 300. 2. A good score on a

      grind-out condition.

Dewey* 1. A person that literally played the gutter shot so well, that very few good

      bowlers could beat him. 2. A bowler always willing to bowl pot games. (See edge,

       Hall of Fame and hustler.) (Check it out, his Dedication.) (Check it out,

       The Hustler in the Competitor's guide.)

dictionary* 1. A list of words so you can talk smarter to others. 2. To be able to "talk" fluent

      bowling and comunicate to other bowlers in Mr. Stats world. 3. Another way to inject

      some fun in bowling for all athletes to enjoy😊 .

distraction* 1. A good looking member of the opposite sex, on the opposing team. 

      2. Anything that keeps you from focusing on destroying your opponent. 3. Something

      the opposing team will pull out of their bag of tricks, when the league championship is

      up for grabs.

DJ* 1. Someone who plays your feel-good songs so you can enjoy the ride home and feel

      good after destroying your competition. 2. Someone who tries to psyche you out by

      playing their music on their phone too loud for way too long. 3. The person responsible

      for getting you ready for your match. 4. Plays your favorite music on XM while traveling

      to go bowling. (Check it out, The DJ in the Competitor's guide.) 

donate* 1. Bowlers who lose money because they are bowling against the best bowlers at

      that center. 2. What some bowlers have been doing because they continue to bowl

      the national tournament. 3. What I have stopped doing after my last three nationals

      due to the heavy oil and no help in opening up the lanes to create a better shot.

dots* 1. Another target for more accuracy as they are closer to the foul line. 2. Another

      way to confuse the average bowler as there is more of them than the five arrows. 

       (See arrows.)

double* 1. What every bowler wants to throw every game. 2. Most bowlers want at least

      one on a bad night.

drive 1. How most of us get to the center. 2. What you need to keep at this game,

      especially when you stopped scoring.

dump 1. The center that would rather see good bowlers shoot 180's than a 300. 2. A place 

      your ball will be found after it will no longer shoot those honor scores.

Dwight* 1. A bowler that makes you better in match play tournaments because you have

      to bowl you’re best to beat him. 2. Someone who bowls in many tournaments to

      challenge themselves. (See challenge, dedicated, Hall of Fame and shot maker.)

      (Check it out, his Dedication.) (Check it out, The Shot Maker in the 

         Competitor's guide.)


     

Earl* 1. A beautifully executed shot :) that hooked more than expected and still carried,

      also known as a Brooklyn, Phoenix and Tucson, depending on what city you live in. 

      2. What some handicapped owlers wished they threw more of. 3. What some action 

      bowlers hope he doesn’t show up. 4. A bowler who worked on his weakness until it

      became his strength. 5. The bowler who realized he needed to learn different releases

      to start winning on tour. (See Brooklyn, Hall of Fame, release & weakness.)

      (Check it out, his book in library.) (Check it out, The Pro Bowler in the

        Competitor's guide.)      

edge* 1. A place where bowlers making huge adjustments live. 2. The first two boards

      from the gutter where a few bowlers played hoping to stay away from that painted 

      board. 3. What you sit on in close games. (See Dewey)

eleventh frame* 1. The place you take the team after shooting 300 or 800. 2. The most

      important frame when you have the ten strikes and still need one more strike at a

      possibility of a 300 game. 

encouragement*1. What your opponent will give you hoping you’ll feel more pressure 

      and choke. 2. What your team should give you when your opponents seem to have

      all the good luck going their way.

energy 1. Motivated good bowlers will use it, trying to throw their opponents off their

      game. 2. Something that bowlers who just finished a 12-game tournament block.

      3. Tournament bowlers in Las Vegas seem to have no problem finding some as

      gamblers always have energy!

enthusiasm* 1. Positive attitude bowlers have plenty of it. 2. Bowlers that don’t use their 

      mental game, want more of it.

error 1. What most good bowlers can avoid at times. 2. You and your team need to

      minimize them in a close match.

excellence* 1. What all bowlers should commit to because bowling is not about

      perfection, even if some believe it, because of shooting 300's. 2. The reason why I 

      continued to bowl to reach some of my goals. 3. Where you game should be, after

      reading my first HOW TO book, The Path to Excellence.

excuses 1. What several bowlers come up with when their game is a little off that night.

      2. What so-called teammates will give you a week before the league starts as to why 

      they won’t be bowling with you this season. 3. What you don’t want to hear from 

      teammates after losing the championship by one stick.

execution 1. What may be missing when you put too much pressure on yourself. 2. The

      art (Yes, it is a lost art with two-handers.) of continuing to throw GREAT shots after

      GREAT shots. 3. What you tell your team that it must happen to win the championship.

exercise* 1. Something more bowlers need if they want to continue in this great sport. 

      2. Something that has made me better by keeping the pounds off. 3. The reason why 

      champions keep winning because they’re in better condition.

exhibition* 1. What a few bowlers did decades ago to create more interest in this GREAT

      sport. 2. What good bowlers put on when stringing strikes, left and right.

expenses* 1. Those side tournaments some forget about when bowling in tournaments.

      2. A few bowlers never have to worry about it because of their job. 3. Most bowlers 

      bowling on the side, determine the risk/ reward factor because of it.

experience 1. Something that all competitive bowlers need more of. 2. Bowlers will not

      only learn from it but should become better or GREAT bowlers due to it. 

expert* Someone who thinks he knows more than everyone and lets everyone know it.

      (Remember, I didn’t say coach! Not all coaches are experts.)



failure* 1. Someone who didn’t believe they could win. 2. Anyone who won’t learn from

      any defeat. 3. Bowlers who stop trying and quit on themselves. (Check it out,

        my failure article.)

faith* 1. A bowler who really believes he will shoot 900, for 3 games. 2. Someone who

      hopes to shoot 300 or 800 one day.

fame* 1. The reason why some are considered great. 2. Your lifetime achievements, no

      matter how small they are.

fantastic day 1. Shooting an 800 series or 300 game. 2. Winning three brackets in league.

      3. Claiming the League Championship. 4. Finally winning a tournament.

fear 1. What you can't have on the lanes if you expect to be a winner. 2. The main reason

      why some won’t bowl tournaments. 3. It sometimes is the combination of winning and

      losing that holds some back. 

fence posts* 1. A spare where getting one of the two pins may be the difference of

      winning the game. 2. A spare so rare that it has been made three times on TV with

      the GREAT Mark Roth being the first to make it. 3. Leaving the 7 and 10 pins on your

      first shot. (See goal posts, Mark and snake eyes.)

fight* 1. What must happen till the very end of the match. 2. The reason champions keep

      winning because they never quit. 3. The only way you’re going to get better because 

      of challenging yourself.  

fingers What some wished they had more of after coming in light and not striking.

finish* 1. The time most bowlers want to shine. 2. The time all good bowlers wake up

      when the match is close.

fire 1. Something you need to light before you start throwing strikes. 2. What the 

      championship team starts before winning the league.

first* 1. The most important number in tournaments as it represents a title. 2. The place

      you want to be at any given time. 3. The time you finally achieved that goal. 4. Where 

      you hope the opposing team won't travel to.

fish* 1. A bowler that usually loses most of his money in pot games. 2. What I was until I

      got better and became a shark. (See prey.)

focus* 1. The reason why champions have won. 2. Bowlers that use it seem to score

      better. 3. Something you could use when you're fighting to win a quarter.

foot 1. What you slide on in hopes that you don't go ever the foul line or stick. 2. What you 

      must avoid putting in your mouth after making a statement about your opponents.

      3. What your teammates want to kick you with after you just left a split to lose the

      game by less than five pins.

fore* 1. What you yell when a bowling pin bounces out of the back and will cross the foul 

      line. (I’ve seen it twice.) 2. The count after hitting the headpin for crankers, leaving a

      split.

foul* 1. When you try to keep your big feet from crossing the line, but stuck and crossed

      it anyways. 2. When the opposing team bends a rule to benefit them. 3. The taste you

      get after losing by one stick and missing three single pins spares. 

foul line 1. The line that has cost teams valuable points. 2. The line that a bowler crosses

      due to sticky approaches and then injures themselves after falling from stepping in

      the oil.

foundation 1. How bowlers build a high score by throwing a strike in the 9th frame. 2. A

      good one would be a double in the 8th and 9th frames and a solid one would be a

      four bagger.

frame* 1. A place to put your profile shot photo when luckiest enough to throw three in a

      row (turkey)😊 . 2. It’s where you want to see more “X”’s than “/”s. 3. For bowlers

      without a strike, they want more “/”’s than “O”s and “-“s.

free* 1. Feeling you want your arm swing to be in delivering the ball. 2. What you hope

      will be offered by your league if there are optional events. 3. Promotional tool used

      by Stats Plus. (Check it out, the Stats Plus section and promotions.)

friend* 1. Who you hope show up when you make the finals of a tournament. 2. Someone

      who tries to comfort you no matter what you just shot. 3. Someone who you borrow

      from to bowl pot games. 4. The person who actually pays you back after borrowing 

      money! 5. Colin, Bruce, Joe and Donovan, just to name some who are more of an

      acquaintance, but still like to know how you scored. (See buddy & John.)

      (Check it out, their Dedications.) 

frustration 1. What sets in after not being able to throw a strike in your last game. 2. The

      reason why some bowlers won’t achieve many of their goals. 

full roller How the seniors threw the ball for slightly higher scores over 20 years ago and 

      some still do.

fun 1. What a lot of bowlers forget to have unless they're winning. 2. What you should be 

      having in competition. 3. The reason why several champions continue to win 

      tournaments. (Check it out, my Have Fun article.)

fundamentals 1. The physical game most good bowlers have. 2. What bowlers forget 

      about when the pressure is on and then the fun stops.

"Fun"da"Mental"s 1. What I teach athletes in my first HOW TO book. 2. The correct way

      to having "Fun" and build yourself a GREAT "Mental" game! 3. A word to descibes

      HOW TO create a GREAT mental game!

future* 1. Bowlers reading my book will have a brighter one. 2. Most bowlers hope that

      good scores come with it. 3. Good bowlers already know that great scores come with

      it because they took the time work on their game to improve and or read my 

      HOW TO book, The Path to Excellence.

   The Phantom (On the left), started weight block designing with a gyroscope inside!

HOW TO see both history & modern bowling terms?

They've been included at no additiional cost!

If you're a Gambler, you may win, just don't bet the house! Now I know why some came to bowl with very little money on them. Instead of going to the bank, they leave town.

No more credit, now you have to show cash!


G  - J: 


gambler* 1. Someone who spends 10 times the entry fee in brackets and side action in

      the hope of a big payday. 2. Anyone willing to compete in brackets. 3. Anyone going

      to the casino after a great night hoping their luck is still running well. 4. A person

      willing to bowl action because they’re not only good, but know they will win 75% of the

      time. (Most gamblers are pretty smart. They know when they have the advantage.)

      (See John & Mr. Stats.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

game* 1. What some say this sport is. 2. What your competition will try to play on you.

      3. A portion of a set or series. 4. Bowlers will hope their “A” game is working that night.

      5. The poker hand bowlers play drawing cards for getting strikes and spares.

give up 1. What too many bowlers do when they know they can’t win. 2. What all good 

      bowlers never, never, never do, because they will learn from the experience. 3. The 

      reason why certain bowlers can’t win as it’s easier to quit then to work on their game 

      to improve.

glasses* 1. What will usually get fogged up after leaving your third 10 pin of the night. 2. It 

      will be used as an excuseas to why they missed their 300 game, whether wearing

      glasses or not. 3. What you MUST bring back from the bar with the picture of beer you

      just bought because you got hung in the beer frame. 

goals 1. Something you shoot for but usually will fall short of. 2. The reason why some 

      bowlers find GREATNESS, because of the goals they reached in their career. 3. What 

      some great coaches expect from you before the next lesson. (See Laura & lesson.) 

      (Check it out, my goal setting article.) 

goal posts* 1. One example of bringing in other sports into this GREAT sport. 2. Most 

      handicapped bowlers think that putting the ball between these two pins, they get

      three points, but those points only matter in football. (See fence pots & snake eyes.)     

graph* 1. A Stats Plus tool that shows how good of a bowler you are. 2. What a travel 

      master looks at. (See travel master.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus section.) 

      (Check it out, a travel master.)

graveyard 1. A center that has less excitement than the cemetery due to conditions 

      creating lower scores. 2. Where you go to pay respects to a GREAT bowler who can

      no longer defeat you. 

GREAT shot 1. What bowlers with a GREAT mental game proform! 2. What athletes will be

      making after reading my HOW TO book, The Path to Excellence!

grind out* 1. A low scoring condition like the U.S. Open or Senior U.S. Open, where even a

      190 can seem like a 250. 2. What the 2024 Tucson Senior Masters was and where a 181 

      average made the cut for the top 12.



 Hall of Fame* 1. Where most bowlers would like to be while they’re still alive. 2. Where

      some won’t get until they pass, due to the politics involved. (Check it out,

        the Hall of Famers who gave testimonials and who I dedicated the book to.)

      (Check it out, the Masters Hall of Fame.)

handicap* 1. Something that keeps some from becoming a better bowler. 2. What

      usually gets bigger as you get older. 3. What scratch bowlers don’t usually want to

      see. 4. What you won’t see bowling in the USBC Open Championships. 5. One reason

      why entries keep dropping in some tournaments due to sandbaggers.

happiness 1. Shooting an honor score to earn a ring. 2. Winning anything that matters.

      3. A senior bowler just being able to bowl because they’re physical in shape. 

      4. Anyone who can get back to bowling after rehabbing their injury. 

hard work* Something that few want to do hoping to improve without all the extra hours.

headless horseman* Someone who has no clue to what’s going on. Someone never

      ready to bowl when it’s their turn. (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

healing* 1. The time needed after an injury. 2. The time needed after losing the 

      championship in a close battle.

hero 1. The pro who you looked up to when you were younger and idolized. 2. Any pro

      who has a title that you can now beat because of the reactive balls. 3. The bowler

      who threw three great shots in the 10th frame for their team to win by less than ten

      pins. (See Norm.)

hesitation* 1. A losing effort because of failure to adjust faster. 2. What will happen when

      you weren’t sure if it was you or the lanes for that high pocket shot. 3. Something you

      hope won’t ever happen in the future.

hindsight 1. What everyone has after losing the championship, knowing that they gave

      it away. 2. Second guessing a loss due to missed single pins and not getting the most 

      count after leaving a split in a close match.

history*1. Going back in time to reflect on a good experience. 2. The number of times you

      face an opponent in your career. 3. What some hope is never repeated due to a bad 

      experience. (Check it out, the Traveling Masters history.)

hook 1. What your ball will do except in pressure situations. 2. The reason why you need

      to clean your balls after every match, so you have more of it. 3. The weight block and

      cover stock that determines how much your ball has.

house* 1. A place where you go after bowling league. 2. Something you don't want to lose

      bowling pot games. 3. The place where you bowl leagues. 

house mouse* 1. Knowledgeable person on what every lane in the center does and the 

      proper time for adjustments. Some have been seen with two big black ears, and they

      seldom bite bowlers. 2. Bowlers who bowl at only one center. 3. Bowlers who don’t 

      tournaments except where they bowl league. (See Joey.) (Check it out,

        the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.) 

 hungry* 1. The reason why some wake up in the morning and feel it’s their time to win

      today’s tournament. 2. The reason why some fail to cash in tournaments, as they got

      up late and missed breakfast. 

hustler* 1. The smooth talker you lose your money to because he is better than you. 

      Hopefully it was just pocket change and not the title to your car or house. If you did

      lose the car, you better find another way to get home. If it was your house, google

      hotels. 2. A person who knows how to win the most money from the bowlers they 

      challenge. (See challenge & Dewey.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.) 

hypnotized* 1. What you want to do to your opponent from continuously throwing GREAT

      shots to throw them off their game. 2. What will happen to your team when your 

      opponent carries everything, even if they threw only one GREAT shot. 3. The state you

      want to be in when competing as this help you travel to the Zone.



    Did the last word put you in a trance? I'm so sorry if it did. Maybe, just maybe, I found

my new hobby! Writing dictionaries 😊. I think I had more fun writing this, than you're having reading it! Take a break before the I's. Do remember that there are no I's in team, but continue to read my I's. (Check it out, my No I's in team article.) 



I 1. What you won't find in the spelling of team. 2. When your mind decides it is I, not me,

      that have to make decisions to record better results. (Check it out, 

        my There's no I in team article.)

incompetent 1. When a bowler can't back up what he says with his bowling. 2. The reason

      why some bowlers lose money.

inconsistent 1. What most bowlers are including some pros. 2. Something you don’t want

      on a regular basis.

individualist* A stubborn person who doesn’t need no stinking team because it’s ALL

      ABOUT THEM. Some bowlers even think there is an “I” in team. (Spelled teaim)

      (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

insanity* 1. Something that keeps happening like leaving the 10 pin until you adjust for it. 

      2. The same goes for missing 10 pins because you won’t practice at them. 3. The

      reason why you keep shooting low scores, because you’re too proud to seek a

      qualified coach.

insecurity When you bowl against one of the best bowlers or team at their center in a

      match. 

intimidate 1. What good bowlers can do just by showing up for a match. 2. What some 

      bowlers do by having fun.

intuition The feeling you get after buying the new ball that it will have a perfect game

      drilled in it.



jam 1. Being late to an important match because of traffic. 2. What you put on bread with

      peanut butter, because you are running late to bowling. 3. What you hope you don’t

      run into on the road, because you left late. (My question is Why are you late? Rushiing

      to bowl may keep you out of the Zone. You didn't think you find me giving sound

      advice in my dictionary, did you?)

jersey* 1. The state some bowlers are from. 2. A colorful shirt with bowling logos on it.

      3. A team shirt that bowlers wear because they are really into the sport.

jinxed* 1. Someone who thinks they can’t win. 2. Just missing winning the 

      championship two consecutive seasons.

job* 1. An excuse why you’re late for league. 2. What you must have to pay for your

      bowling. 3. What bowling can seem like when you’re not having fun.

Joey* Working at one bowling center made him a house mouse and has now shown he

      can bowl at other centers as well, but just not as good. (See house mouse.)

       (Check it out, his Dedication.)

      (Check it out, The House mouse in the Competitor's guide.) 

John* 1. A great partner who you can depend on when bowling pot games. 2. Someone

      who can average 220 in the parking lot blindfolded. 3. A person who can remember

      every pin left without a logbook. (It’s because he throws a lot of strikes.) A GREAT

      bowler who’s in two Hall of Fames. (See  friend, gambler, Hall of Fame & partner.) 

      (Check out his Testimonial and Dedication.)

      (Check out The Gambler in the Competitor's guide.) 

joy 1. When someone says something good about your game before you go into a slump.

      2. The reason why seniors still bowl into their 80’s. 3. The reason why you show up just

      to compete. (See thrill.)

   An exhibition match coming to this center, so you watch and learn while having FUN!

HOW TO say Mr. 900 Ken was a GREAT bowler?

Because his name in my super Dictionary! Dah!

Ken you say, Ken was a GREAT bowler in Tucson? And not just because of his 900 series! 

One of the few who was just as good playing both sides of the lanes. He is also a Hall of Famer in City and State!


K - M:


 Ken* 1. Any 18 bagger including carrying over to the following week. He has thrown at

      least four, all in the same night, with two I have actually witnessed. 2. A bowler who

      can throw 300’s and 800's rolling a backup ball. 3. Rolled a perfect 900 during 

      moonlight bowling after Money Madness was hit the previous week. 3. A tough bowler

      to beat because he can bowl on either side of the lane to win the match. 4. The

      bowler holding most of the Traveling Masters league records. 5. A bowler I dedicated

      my second HOW TO book to. 6. One of Tucson’s greatest bowlers and in two Hall of

      Fames. (See photo on right, Ken is far right and Mr Stats on far left.) (See backupper &

        Hall of Fame.) (Check it out, his Dedication in my Success book.)

      (Check it out, my Mr. 900 article.) (Check it out, The Backupper in the 

         Competitor's guide.) 

keys* 1. What some leave lying around while bowling and then can’t find them when they

      want to go home. 2. The factors that can raise your level of bowling. 3. The tool needed

      to adjust your thumb slug before the interchangeable thumb slugs came out. 

killer instinct* 1. What most champions have because of their desire win. 2. What is 

      needed to win in brackets. 3. The reason why certain bowlers win a lot of league 

      championships. 3. What Bob has now, due to reading my first book. (See Bob.)

      (Check it out, Bob’s Testimonial.) 

king pin 1. The pin closest to you. 2. The pin you normally need to hit to strike. 3. The pin 

      that laughs, should it be the only pin standing after you threw the ball. 

K.I.S.S.* (Keep it simple stupid.) 1. What holds some bowlers back because they over

      analyze everything. 2. The music group some bowlers need to listen to, to get 

      motivated to bowl.

knowledge 1. What bowlers wished they learned from all their experience. 2. Why a few 

      bowlers never seem to learn anything from their mistakes, because they think they

      know everything. 3. It is also something that every bowler wished they had more of.

      4. The reason why champions won’t keep repeating the same mistakes. 



lane 1. Something good bowlers defeat before finishing off their opponents. 2. Most

      bowlers think it is something you bowl on, but a few know that the lanes can make or

      break a bowler. 3. Today’s bowlers know they need to match the conditions to the ball 

      they’ll throw to achieve great scores.

lane man* 1. The person solely responsible for bad scores as it’s never the bowlers fault. 

      2. The person often overlooked when great scores are being shot. 3. Someone who 

      never gets tips no matter how many great scores are thrown. (See Len.) (Check it out,

        Len’s Testimonial and Inspiration.) (Check it out, his Tucson Tribute & Honor page.)

      (Check it out, Len's books in my library.)

last 1. The place where bowlers don't want to find their team in the standings. 2. Where

      you might find your team that has no chemistry. 3. Where your team might slide to in 

      the standings if your team puts too much pressure on themselves.

Laura* 1. A coach who has a system for peak “proformance”. 2. A coach that doesn’t use

      video because she doesn’t need to use it. 3. The coach who teaches you the “big 

      picture” to focus on your next shot. 4. She gives you goals for every event to become

      a better competitor. (See cash, coach, goals, lesson, peak  performance, 

       “proformance”, technique, video & whammy. A quad whammy for your opponents.)

      (Check it out, her Testimonial and Dedication.)

      (Check it out,  The Coach in the Competitor's guide.)  

leadoff bowler* 1. The bowler usually getting the team off in the right direction and usually

      throws a turkey, even if they may not be the first bowler listed in the lineup. 2. The 

      position the team needs a double from when behind and to be clean when leading

      the game.

learn 1. What all bowlers should do. 2. The reason why certain bowlers excel at the sport.

left-handed 1. What right-handed bowlers want to be when they get beat by one. 2. Why

      some throw back-up balls because the shot is better on their side.

legs* They become weak and wobbling when trying to shoot for that first 300 game or

      800 series.

Len* 1. Someone who can tell the greatest bowling stories all day long. 2. A person who

      can make or break your day by how the lane conditions are. 3. A promoter for the

      GREAT sport of bowling. 4. The person responsible for the Phantom Radio podcast for 

      the last 17 years. 5. A great writer as his books and articles got him in his second Hall

      of Fame. (See author, Hall of Fame, lane man & storyteller.) (Check it out,

        his Testimonial and Inspiration.) (Check it out, his Tucson Tribute & Honor entry.)

      (Check it out, Len Nicholson's seven books in my library.)

      (Check it out, The Storyteller in the Competitor's guide.)

      (Check it out, Len's podcast on Phantom Radio as the Phantom Strikes Again.)

lesson 1. What you learn after losing that important match. 2. The reason why your scores

      go through the roof after seeing a qualified coach. 3. What certain bowlers will teach

      others when they feel like they have been disrespected. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, 

        coach, Laura, Norm & respect.) 

library* 1. A group of books that can help you improve your game. 2. The books that

      good bowlers refer to at times to help them start their The Path to Excellence and 

      then From Excellence to Success. (If I can’t promote my HOW TO books here, when

      will I?) (Check it out, my library of over 200 books and Len's seven books.)

life* The reason you bowl and spend your hard earned dollars. (Check it out,

        Traveling Masters is life article.)

list* 1. What you want to accomplish during your next practice session. 2. Showing your

      future goals. 3. Your team's lineup for next season.

Lite The beer we drink to loosen up, so that big scores will follow.

logs Heavier pins that a lot of amateurs have trouble knocking down.

love* 1. What most bowlers have for this game if they want to stay competitive. 2. It will 

      happen when carrying everything. 3. What you do to your equipment when high 

      scores keep happening. 4. What your feelings are for the person of the opposite sex 

      when they say, "They love your game."

luck* 1. Good fortune that all bowlers want more of but will usually find that their 

      opponents will always have more of it than they do. 2. What you need to shoot a 300

      game. 3. You hope your team has it in position rounds and Roll-Offs.



Mark* 1. A bowler who was the first to convert the impossible 7-10 split on TV. 2. A bowler

      where his ball started hooking in his back swing. 3. The bowler responsible for the 

      explosion of reactive equipment because his ability to throw more hook than most

      and explode the pocket. (See Hall of Fame & fence posts.) (Check it out,

        The Pro Bowler in the Competitor's guide.)

match* 1. A series of games that may not determine the better team or bowler. 2. The

      winners of them can be the luckiest people around because they had the higher

      totals that day. 3. What you ligh that fire with your team off to a slow start.   

mental monster* 1. What champions become after mastering the mental game. 2. What 

      you be close to being after reading my first HOW TO book, The Path to Excellence. 

      3. What you may become after reading my second HOW TO book, From Excellence

        to  Success. (Another good time to promote my books.) (Check it out,

       my first and second book.

mental toughness* 1. Something reserved for athletes who constantly work on their

      mental game. 2. What mental coaches can make you. 3. The reason to seek qualified

      help to improve your mental game. 4. What more bowlers should try to attain after 

      their explosive attitudes. (See Beth.)

Mike 1* A competitive bowler who uses his head to keep fighting till the end. (See

       Hall of Fame & thinker.) (Check it out, his Testimonial and Dedication.) Check it out, 

       The Thinker in the Competitor's guide.)

Mike 2* 1. The bowler who usually bowled anchor and someone you NEED to have on your

      team. 2. The bowler that motivates his team by giving tips and throwing strikes when 

      needed. 3. The main reason why our team not only made the Roll-Offs, but helped his

      team win the championship! (Check it out, The tale of two trains.)

mismatch* Team or individual with astronomical advantage over their opponent and 

      will win 99% of the time.

miss What the team does when their best bowler is gone and lost points due to it.

mission 1. What you hope to accomplish from this great sport. 2. Where some bowlers go   

      to pray for their first 300 game.

mistakes 1. An error that is a natural condition of bowling, where most bowlers make a lot

      of them. 2. That error good bowlers learn from and put them in their past as others 

      can’t admit th ey made.

mo* The energy bowlers or teams gets after their opponent has an open frame. 

       (See momentum.)

mom* 1. The person you love as she was the reason you’re in this great sport. 2. A person

      so busy to be able to watch me bowl every time but always asked how I did bowl.

      3. The person who taught me a several things, have fun and don't quit, when she got

      me started on this GREAT sport. 4. The person who finally got to see me throw a

      perfect game, an 800 series to finsh the Senior Masters and saw me accomplish my

      lifelong goal of a major championship, before she passed away. (See photo below.)

      (See motivation.) (Check it out, my Inspiration for my mom.) (Check it out,

       my Motivational page.) 

momentum* 1, What can change after just one shot. 2. The reason for great scores.

      3. The sub who starts stringing strikes on a team to help them win the game. 4. What 

      all good bowlers and teams want on their side. (See mo.)

money 1. The green backs needed to enjoy this game we love. 2, What's needed for new

      equipment every other month so bowlers stay competitive and be able to shoot

      some great scores. 3. What everyone tries to win when bowling in lots of tournaments.

mood* 1. The side of the bed you got up from. 2. Those with a positive attitude will always

      be in a good one.

more* 1. It's how often you want to strike when you start this great sport. 2. Something you

      want after winning the league championships or shooting some great scores.

motivation*1. The championship awaits the winner of the upcoming match. 2. Having

      another chance at redemption. 3. What you need to keep your head in this GREAT

      sport. 4. What my mom helped me with before competing for money. 

      (See photo above.) (See mom.) (Check it out, my motivational quotes!)

move* 1. What you must constantly do when the lanes keep changing after around six 

      frames. 2. What you'll be doing about once a month when a machine breaks down.

Mr. Stats* 1. A great promoter who help double the teams in the Traveling Masters. 

      2. Someone who not only kept more stats for bowling than any other secretary ever

      did, but also used the stats to predict winners of each division. 3. One of the few 

      secretaries who organized the sweeper to make the Traveling Masters league the 

      greatest league ever. 4. He was always looking to make the Traveling Masters a

      better league by offering events no other league ever did. 5. A secretary willing to give

      part of his salary back to the league to make the Traveling Masters the most unique 

      and best league ever. 6. Now is an author to give back to this great sport. 7. A gambler

      who gambled on the bowlers wanting more and WON! 8. He kept offering the

      Traveling Masters more events that made it the greatest league. (See All Star,  

       author, gambler, partner,  promotion, senior, stats, tribute & vision.) (Check it out,

      the Author, the Traveling Masters and Stats Plus section.) (Check it out, his 

        Tucson Tribute & Honor entry.) (Check it out, The Gambler in the

        Competitor's guide.)

Museum* 1. A place where history is told. 2. A place where you want your old stuff to be

      stored!

     Mr. 900 on right, Ken Hosp with photo

 during the Traveling Masters league.

HOW TO know you wanted Motivation w/ pics?

Because your mom can Motivate you to win!

Because Motivation is the reason you get up!

Because Motivation is the reason you get up!

      Some say mother knows best. Well, she knew how to teach me to NEVER QUIT and also HAVE FUN. Two lessons that I never forgot. Now, she is missed, but always remembered. (See mom.)

Because Motivation is the reason you get up!

Because Motivation is the reason you get up!

Because Motivation is the reason you get up!

      I see these every day and gives me a reason to get up every day. Over on the right is my motivation mug for my morning coffee. I added reminders for excellence! (See motivation.)

Because stats will help Motivate you!

    Mr. Stats had more stats than several bowlers needed, but they do tell a story, if you're paying attention. (See Mr. Stats.)

Because your first perfecto will Motivate you!

       Throwing my first 300 way back in 1984 during pot games. It wasn't sanctioned, but I shot it against two Hall of Famers, John Cook and Dewey Yoho. It showed my potential to do GREAT things! They became easier as the years piled on. This is from my scrapbook.      ___________________________


      You're not going to quit when you're over halfway there! 

HOW TO know, you don't want to be normal?

Because you want to be more like Norm!

Are you normal? Did you throw another Perfect game?  That's what Norm would do, who isn't Normal! Norm's  just a GREAT bowler, he's also a GREAT instructor and coach!

And he's in the Hall of Fame!


N - P:


negative* The games you avoid when bowling tournaments.

nerves What stiffens up when throwing a shot under pressure.

new* 1. The only reason why these balls generate higher scores. 2. The start you’re willing

      to make after last season. 3. The way to start after getting back to bowling after an

      injury. 

Norm* 1. Successful strokers stringing strikes together again. 2. Why would anyone want

      to be normal when you can consistently hit the pocket with that straight up the

      boards shot like the great Norm Duke and rack up 40 titles? 3. The only GREAT bowler 

      that has helped my game. 4. A senior who still has game and can beat the “kids” on

      tour. 5. A kid realizing that for his 2nd major title to happen, he would have to work on

      his weaknesses to see a Grand Slam. 6. An athlete who loves the sport and gives back

      with clinics and his video. (See photo on right from Bowling's Hall of Fame) (See coach,

       Hall of Fame, hero, lesson, pro bowler, release, senior,  technique & weakness.) 

     (Check it out, his Dedication.) (Check it out,  his  DVD video in my library.)

     (Check it out, The Pro Bowler in the Competitor's guide.)

number one* 1. The only number that really counts. 2. Your reason to continue your

      journey to success.



obligation* The reason you show up for league and tournaments.

obstacle* The thing between your ears that can get in your way.

off game What the great bowlers have once in a while and the others have more often.

off the sheet When a bowler finishes a game from any frame with strikes, no matter how

      bad some of those strikes were. (See all the way, punch out & X’d out.)

ONE SHOT* 1. Your mindset on every shot, no matter the circumstances. 2. Your routine

      to reduce pressure during all matches.

opening The door you hope to walk through after your opponent gives you an

      opportunity.

optimistic* 1. Knowing that every situation could have a positive result. 2. Those who

      have worked on their game so the odds of winning are in their favor.

over The amount over a 200 average that all bowlers want more of.



partner* 1. A bowler and usually a friend who you think can help you the most when the

      money is on the line. 2. Someone who gives emotional support and encouragement.

      3. People who usually are having all the fun because they work together to achieve 

      their goals. 4. The reason why John and I were great doubles partners as we were

      both gamblers and enjoyed the competition and winning cash! (See friend, John &

        Mr. Stats.) 

passion* This for those bowlers who really love the great sport.

past* 1. Something to learn from. 2. What you hope to repeat after winning a tournament

      or league.

PBA The organization where about half of its members, think they're better than they 

      really are. 

peak performance* 1. How champions perform when on top of their game. 2. Why many

      amateurs will be closer to it after reading my two books. 3. What some coaches

      helped me with later in my career. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, coach, Laura and

        “proformance”.) 

perfect game 1. A game that requires 12 strikes out of 12 shots, and is usually anything but

      perfect, as very few perfect games have had 12 perfect shots. 2. 10 perfect shots might

      get you 12 strikes with today's equipment. 3. After you throw your 300, nobody that 

      watched, knows how many perfect shots you threw to be perfect. (See pro shop.)

perfect shot 1. What the modern bowler should avoid as the solid 9 will appear when 

      least expected. 2. It is where the ball hits dead center in the pocket and should carry

      all ten, but bowlers will still leave something to pick up.

perfection* 1. What a few bowlers have achieved with their 900. 2. What no bowler has

      one over any period of time. 3. Making a commitment to excellence may lead to 

      perfection. (See pro shop.)

performance 1. Hopefully it was an enjoyable experience where you learned something.

      2. What bowlers hope that good breaks for them will happen. 3. A step away from the

      ultimate “proformance”, which should happen after reading my book. (See 

        “proformance” & pro shop.)

persistence*1. What most will need to reach their goal. 2. The work that must happen for

      improvement. 3. The reason you keep showing up with the hope of a 300 game.

       (See photo above.) (Check it out, my Persistence spells title article.)

pessimistic 1. A bowler you won’t want on your team. 2. Someone who believes bad luck

      is better than no luck.

Phoenix* The wrong pocket if you live outside of the Phoenix area in Arizona.

      (See  Brooklyn & Tucson.)

pit Where you want all 10 pins to be after each shot.

pocket The place bowlers try to hit, even though it may not result in a strike every shot.

positive* 1. What your attitude must be if you expect to shoot 800 or win the league

      Roll-Offs. 2. The reason why you got out of bed this morning knowing that anything

      is possible. 3. The way bowlers with a GREAT mental game make correct adjustments!

pot* 1. The bowl that holds the entry fees every bowler hopes to claim by winning a pot 

      game. 2. What you hope your opposition will go to during the match. 3. What you hope

      your opponent smoked before the big match. 

potential* Bowlers that keep missing shooting 300’s and 800’s.

practice* 1. What almost every bowler needs, but finds excuses not to. 2. The best way to 

      keep shooting those high scores. 3. What should occur after seeing a qualified coach 

      so the change feels natural.

pray* 1. Bowlers do this after opening a game with 8 strikes, in hopes that the bowling

      gods will help them carry the last four. 2. Bowlers will do this during a slump with the 

      hope that good scores will follow.

preparation* 1. The mental exercises to psych you up for the big match. 2. Getting your

      equipment ready for bowling tournaments. 3. One of the reasons why you cashed as

      others just showed up.

present* The state of mind you want while competing.

pressure* 1. What 99% of all bowlers put too much on themselves, causing an avalanche

      effect. 2. What friends, family and buddies will put on you during the last game of a

      tournament.

prey* 1. The reason why some bowlers watch pot games hoping to find some fish. 2. The 

      reason why some teams change leagues they have trouble winning in. (See fish.)

pride* The reason why you show up every week and pay your fees on time.

pro bowler* 1. Someone who thinks they are the world’s greatest. For some, it’s not

      bowling as shown by their scores and spare shooting abilities. 2. For the few that have

      a card, demonstrate why they make a living in this great sport and are happy to sign 

      autographs for the fans. 3. A weekend warrior who competes against other pros to

      test the waters. (See Earl, Mark, Norm & Steve.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus

        competitor’s guide.) 

“proformance”* 1. What all amateurs do when throwing GREAT scores, with some

      thinking they are pro bowlers. 2. How your pro shop operator can make you look like

      with the right layouts of the ball. 3. What coaches can sell you if you work on your 

      game. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, coach, Laura, pro shop & Roy.)

promotions* 1. The reason why you bowl in a certain league. 2. The reason why the 

      Traveling Masters league doubled in size. 3. It was the FREE entry into the $700 

      Tournament of Champions that Stats Plus offered and more that got most bowlers

      attention. (Check it out, my Why promote? article.)

pro shop* 1. Where bowlers can get quick advice and buy the latest gadgets. 2. A place

      where bowlers go to get an advantage over their opponents, hoping their next ball will

      have a 300 drilled into it. 3. The place where “proformance” can be drilled into your 

      equipment. 4. The place that guarantees a perfect game if you roll 12 strikes in the 

      same game. (See peak performance, ferfection, “proformance” & Roy.)

psyched up What bowlers get after they throw the first double of the day.

psych out (artist)* Anyone who tries to get you off your game by whatever means, that 

      works for that day. (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

punch out 1. Something you want to do to your opponent after just being beat. 2. The act

      of throwing a string of strikes to finish the game to hopefully win a close game. 3. What

      is done during the celebration after winning the league championship, you pop open a

      bottle of wine and throw the punch out, it time to celebrate. (See all the way,

      off  the sheet & X'd out.)

    Norm Duke who won the PBA Grand Slam has normal highlights at the museum!

HOW TO see why bowling is serious for some?

Because their recipe for competing is different!

My Bowling Dictionary shows why its special for bowlers to "talk" Bowling! You will now understand why some will only "talk" Bowling, they take their game way too serious!

And now bowling is like baking a cake, you have ingredients that go into your special recipe. What's in your recipe? You don't have a recipe? If not, why not?

Here's my recipe! It's time to make your own recipe 



Q - S:


quad* The string of four strikes or a four bagger, that lost its identity, because of a

      skeleton (ham bone). 

quiet* Shushhhhh! What you hope your team will get after a non-spectacular evening, 

      because you just want to go home.

quitter 1. A bowler who gives up too soon before a match is over. 2. Someone who doesn't

      care about being a better bowler. 3. That bowler you hope to bowl against when

      bowling in a match play tournament. 4. What my mom didn't want me to be.



rack* 1. What usually leaves a pin off spot when you're shooting for a 300. 2. What the

      lady bartender or waitress may have.

reaction* 1. What you hope your pro shop operator drills in your ball. 2. You hope your ball

      will have a positive one when bowling nationals. 3. You hope it will be positive when 

      asking a bowler of the opposite sex out on a date. 

reactive What occurs after winning an important match, league or tournament.

reading the lanes 1. What is required with reactive equipment. 2. What a few of your 

      teammates do during league play. 3. If your good at it, you or your team can walk out 

      of the center with the win. 4. The trial-and-error method used by several bolwers who

      really thinks it helps them. (See trial-and-error.)

recipe* 1. What you hope you'll get from the good looking lady for cookies she gave you.

      2. What is needed to have a consistent routine to start winning. 3. What is needed to

      accomplish GREAT results. 4. What your team will need if they want to make the

      Roll-Offs. (Check it out, the Confidence Class.)

recognition*1. What USBC used to do and now put the awards on the local level. 2. What

      Stats Plus did better than any other secretary with the weekly newsletter. (Check it out,

        the Stats Plus section.)

record* 1. What most bowlers want to break, but with today’s equipment, it comes down

      to just trying to tie it. 2. What seniors put on their phonograph years ago, so they could

      listen to music to relax before bowling.

relaxed 1. The best way to continue to make great shots. 2. The trouble is, that there are 

      just too many things to keep you from being in this state than getting back there.

release* 1. What must happen to avoid injury. 2. Having just one, limits your scoring ability.

      3. What good bowlers and Hall of Famers worked on to get better. (See Earl and Norm.)

repetition* 1. Anything done twice like shooting a 300 or 800. 2. What you want to do after 

      your first 300 or 800. 3. What champions expect after their first tournament victory. 

      4. What you want to happen to your game.

reset* 1. The button you hit when a bad rack happens. 2. What you need to do after

      getting tapped three frames in a row.

respect* What you hope others will give you before you can no longer enjoy this GREAT

      game. 2. What all bowlers should give towards other bowlers because they know that

      every dog has their day and today just might be that day.

retirement* Something rarely spoken about, as you can still enjoy this great game when

      you’re in your 90’s. 

rev* 1. The shortened version for hook. 2. What strokers which they had more of. 3. The

      rev dominate players continue to search for a solution to acquire at least one more

      revolution for their ball.

reward* 1. What few leagues offer their members. 2. The reason why the Traveling

      Masters league doubled in size to become the GREATEST league ever! 

      (Check it out, the Traveling Masters section.)

ringer 1. A high average substitute that the opposing teams uses to beat your team. 

      2. One reason why leagues have a maximum entering average for teams. 3. The

      reason why one league I subbed in, didn’t want me back. 

risk 1. What all good bowlers take to become better bowlers. 2. The 1st step towards

      improving your game. 3. What some good bowlers take when trying to beat the pros

      bowling in a PBA regional. (Check it out, my risks article.)

rival When you're battling your opponent instead of the ever-changing lanes.

roll* 1. Bowlers' favorite food. 2. A sweet way good bowlers beat up on competition.

      3. Why bowlers bring coffee, because it goes well with their sweet roll!

roll-offs 1. Where you want your team to be every season. 2. The end of the season

      playoff where a few lucky and even a few teams with no skills are found.

routine* 1. What you want consistent on days you bowl league. 2. What has to be 

      consistent before every shot. 3. Having one will reduce pressure.

Roy* 1. Someone who knows what new ball will work best for you. 2. Someone who knows

      the best layouts for your ball when you’re ready to get that ball drilled. 3. Someone

      who has drilled many 300s in my equipment and helped me win a title. 

      (See photo above.) (See “proformance”, pro shop & tribute.) (Check it out,

         his Dedication.) (Check it out, his Tucson Tribute and Honor page.) 

rules 1. Something that most bowlers follow. 2. What some bowlers try to bend in order to

      help their team. 3. What tournament directors will change almost every season.



sandbagger* 1. What a low class hustler will do to get a side bet with you. 2. Some

      bowlers will do this before tournaments, hoping for a big pay day. (Check it out,

        the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.) 

scenic route Bowlers should avoid going down this road when the lanes are tight or

      down and in.

schedule* 1. The systematic way to raise your level of play. 2. An itinerary for your

      upcoming tournament.

score 1. What tells you if you won or lost the game or series. 2. Something that almost 

      never indicates how well you've bowled. 3. What some bowlers worry about, way too

      much of the time.

Scott* 1. A bowler that has more sportsmanship than ten other bowlers combined. 2. A

      bowler who will be hard to beat even if you’re bowling your best. (See Hall of Fame,

        smile, sportsmanship & zoner.) (Check it out, his Testimonial, Dedication and

        Praise for this website.) (Check it out, The Zoner in the Competitor's guide.) 

scratch* 1. What bowlers do to their head after leaving a ringing corner pin. 2. What 

      crankers will do after getting a 4 count while hitting the head pin. 3. A serious league

      where good bowlers can bowl for sometimes great money. 4. One of the reasons why

      the Vantage Miller Lite Traveling Masters was the greatest league ever!! (Check it out, 

        the Traveling Masters section.) 

second* 1. The first loser. 2. Where you want to end up, should you not be able to win.

      3. The worst position you want your team to be in for all four quarters. 4. The good

      news about the third definition is that you should be a wild card for the Roll-Offs!

second chance* 1. A last ditch effort to possible win an entry into a tournament. 2. A way

      Stats Plus gave bowlers a chance to win their entry fee after being eliminated in the 

      regular event. (Check it out, the Stats Plus page.)

second wind* 1. After bowling a 258 in the 7th game, it will give you a boost of confidence

      and energy to finish the 12 game tournament. 2. What you hope will happen after your

      team had a mediocre first half.

self-talk*1. What most bowlers do to wake themselves up, after back-to-back 160

      games. 2. The reason why champions keep winning because they do a lot of it.

      3. The way bowlers with a GREAT mental game psyche themselves up for league.

senior* 1. Anyone who has trouble putting two revolutions on their ball. 2. Someone who

      is old and always underestimated. 3. Any bowler that has been around the block

      more than a few times and can still beat the “kids” from time to time. 4. Anyone who

      has enjoyed this great sport for over 40 years. 5. Any bowler with injuries who feels old

      because of arthritis. (See Norm & Mr. Stats.) 

series* 1. The number of games bowled that make up a set. 2. What you hope to finish

      without  getting injured. 3. What you hope is over your average at the end of the night.

serious* 1. The reason why many bowlers fail to have fun. 2. What a few bowlers will

      start being after having thrown below average games. 3. The reason why good

      bowlers become GREAT bowlers!      

set* 1. What you get before bowling. 2. Something high enough to help your team make

      extra dough. 3. Something to help you qualify as a number one seed!

setback* 1. Any injury that requires a month of rehab. 2. Not winning enough points 

      during position round to make the playoffs. 3. Taking the entire summer off expecting

      to bowl better than last season. 4. What the coronavirus did in 2020 to all the bowlers.

setup* What some good pot bowlers have done to victims to pay off their mortgage.

shark* 1. A good action bowler who will always go home with more cash than he started 

      with. 2. What fish can turn into when they get tired of losing more than they win. 3. I

      became one because of my knowledge and experience from donating!

short pin The pin that spins on the deck failing to knock down standing pins that are

      close by, because it isn’t taller.

Shot maker* 1. A very accurate bowler who pick up splits more than half the time. 2. A

      bowler who usually throws one eight bagger each month. 3. A bowler who knows the

      value of half board adjustments. (See Dwight.)

       (Check it out, the Shot maker in the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

six pack* 1. What some finish off before the end of the night. 2. My goal every session, is

      to throw one every month in league. 3. What you grab at the store if you were not

      lucky enough to throw one in league.

skill* 1. What some bowlers have, but what good bowlers have more of and strive for

      more of it. 2. What is needed to shoot an 800 series. 3. Why champions continue to

      win. 4. What separates good bowlers from those who use trial-and-error for

      adjusting to transitions. 5. Reading my first HOW TO book should get you more of it. 

        (See trial-and-error.) (Check it out, my Top 10 reason to read my book.)

sleep* 1. Something often over looked the night before you bowl for the league 

      championship or tournaments. 2. A key ingredient often needed for a GREAT

      mental game. 3. What I should have been getting while writing this comprehensive 

      dictionary for you to enjoy😊.

sleeper* 1. What you are after the neighbor’s dog kept you up all night. 2. The pin, also

      called ex or in-law that you’ll see if you look from either side of the lane. 3. The pin that 

      keeps standing in close matches. 4. A pin that's still standing after missing your spare.

slump 1. That period in time bowlers wants to forget about due to bowlers consistently 

      shooting 50 pins below their averages. 2. How bowlers come out of one, will 

      determine if they will be in one again. 3. The reason you need a routine as outlined in

      my HOW TO book, so you'll never be in one.

smile* 1. What must happen after throwing a strike, as you may not know when the next

      strike is coming. 2. What will also help you relax to throw more great games. 

      (See Scott & sportsmanship.) 

snake eyes* 1. Another example of tying other games to our great sport. 2. Something 

      you normally don’t want to see playing craps, so why would you also want to see it in

      bowling? 3. The third moniker for the same next to impossible split so if you should 

      leave it three times that same night, you can call it a different name for every time

      you were unlucky and left it. (See fence pots and goal posts.) 

social director* 1. A person always on the phone texting friends, family and relatives. 

      Some have bowled with their phone in their non-bowling hand. You always have to

      tell them when to bowl. (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

social media 1. Another distraction that sometimes your teammates get involved in

      when they're not bowling. 2. A GREAT way to brag to those you don’t know, when you

      shoot an 800 series or 300 game. 3. A GREAT way to fill your team if you only need a 

      few bowlers. 4. Another way to promote your league.

space cadet* They never have a clue to what’s going on around them. Have been

      known to throw someone else’s ball. Some have shown up as a trekkie. (Check it out,

        the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)

spare What even the great bowlers must shoot at from time to time.

spare ball* 1. What most bowlers today use to convert corner pins. 2. What some pros

      use to combat dry lanes. 3. What a few bowlers don't need if they just bowl league.

speed* 1. What can kill a great night during league. 2. What you don’t want to get caught

      doing if you’re running late for bowling. 3. What a few bowlers might take after having

      no sleep.

spill* 1. What might happen to your drink instead of the pins on the deck. 2. What might

      happen when you finally shoot your 800.

split* 1. A leave that today’s bowlers have trouble avoiding. 2. A better night then the

      weeks with only one win. 3. Going several weeks without these can make bowling fun.

      4. The kids will get a patch when they leave three in a row.

sport 1. What some believe bowling isn’t. 2. The lane condition where 180's as well as 190's

      can win tournaments and is considered above average. 3. What USBC is trying to get

      in the Olympics.

sportsmanship* 1. Something that several bowlers don't have. 2. A way others view your

      character. 3. What you should have if you don’t win. 4. What may be a regional 

      happening as living in Las Vegas for a year and a half, there wasn’t a lot of it

      going around. 5. Congratulating a bowler that shot a good game in the hope that

      they’ll be so surprised, that they lose their focus and lose the match to you. 5. Thank

      god that there are still bowlers that appreciate it and have it. 6. The reason why

      certain individuals continue to have good luck with their bowling. (See smile & Scott.) 

standings* 1. A sheet filled with numbers to show how well your team is doing in the 

      league. 2. A sheet listing those who bowled well enough to cash. 3. The place where

      you order drinks as you just got hung in the beer frame for at least the second time.

start* 1. What you need your team to do right from the start. 2. Why good bowlers repeat

      GREAT shots for a string of strikes. 3. When the next segment of your league begins.

stats* (statistics) 1. A tool that will help most bowlers improve their game, with most not

      taking advantage of using them. 2. Numbers that can tell you what area of your

      game needs improvement. Something used by Stats Plus to show why the best

      bowlers in the league are the best. (Check it out, my Stats are your friend article.) 

Stats Plus* 1. The person responsible for the most statistics of any league in the history of

      bowling with published achievements, offering unique optional events, rewarding 

      accomplishments, giving back to league members and promoting. 2. The main

      reason why the Vantage Lite Traveling Masters league was the greatest league ever

      and doubled in size. 3. The person who tries to help others by having this website.

      (Check it out, the Stats Plus section and the Traveling Masters section.)

Stat watcher* Anyone, but not including Mr. Stats, who are constantly checking out their

      stats at all hours of the day. I only check out the stats every month 😊! Can you say, 

        TOO MANY STATS? (Check it out, Stat watcher  in the Competitors guide.) 

Steve* 1. A pro bowler who is dedicated to excellence and achieved success. 2. A bowler

      who has cashed in pro regionals by playing a different part of the lane.

       (See dedicated & visionary.) (Check it out, his Dedication.)

       (Check it out, The Visionary in the Competitor's guide.)

sticks 1. What you knock down to show how good you are. 2. What you’ll need to knock 

      over if you didn’t throw a strike. 3. What may attack bowlers after ricocheting from the

      pit. 4. What your team needeed to knock down if you just missed the Roll-Offs.

storyteller* 1. They talk about their tells of yesteryear hoping that you’ll listen. Most of the

      stories are good if they don’t put you to sleep, so ask for the short story version. 2. How

      you quickly learn the history of this GREAT sport. 3. How to relive the glory and make 

      informed decisions about the future. (See author & Len.) (Check it out,

        Len's books in my library.) (Check it out, the Storyteller in my

        Stats Plus Competitor’s guide.)  (Check it out, Len's podcast on Phantom Radio

        as the Phantom Strikes Again.) 

strategy* 1. "A" plan of attack for the big match. 2. What can backfire if you don’t have a

      “B” or "C" game. 3. It can be GREAT when you think through the situation.

streak 1. What every bowler goes through whether their hot or not. 2. What you hope will

      be red hot for your team this season.

strength* 1. One reason why you’re not throwing 16 pound equipment. 2. What you could 

      lose because of not going to the gym. 3. The number of ringers you have on your team.

stress* 1. What you might get by reading this dictionary. 2. The bad set you just threw was

      caused by this number one reason. 3. One reason why Champions win because they

      try to avoid it. 4. Leaving it at the house should make league and tournaments more

      enjoyable and maybe profitable.

stretching* What older bowlers must do if they want to shoot some GREAT scores. 

      NOTE: Of course, they now tell you to stretch after your muscles are warmed up, just

      to give a heads up.

strike 1. Something that can frustrate you when you're not throwing very many of them. 

      2. You should hope that 36 will happen. 3. Those magical X's that appear when you're

      throwing the ball well. 4. You want more of them than opens.

string* 1. What some tie to their finger to remember to focus. 2. Consecutive strikes of

      any length, including carring over to the next game the next game. 3. What most

      good bowlers will do and make it look easy. 4. What Andy Varipapa threw a lot of and

      called any 12 bagger, a "Varipapa 300" and was famous for it. (See Varipapa.)

stupid* 1. A bowler who doesn't know why the mental game will help them. 2. Bowlers

      who don't challenge themselves to seek better scores. 3, Bowlers who don't know why

      the "Fun"da"Mental"s is so important. 

subconscious The only way GREAT bowling happens.

success 1. What most bowlers are trying to find. 2. It can happen after committing to

      Excellence. 3. It usually happens to those who dedicate extra time to improve their 

      game. (Check it out, my success page.)

suggestions 1. Tips you get from lower average bowlers when you're in a slump. 2. Why

      a good bowler might get into a slump if they get too many of them. 3. What you read

      about the mental game because they may not work for everyone.

summer* 1. What many consider practice time. 2. The best time for knee replacements.

      3. Another time to shine if you bowl the No-Taps or in a league. 4. The break in

      between winter leagues to find a bowler for your team.

superstitions* 1. What keeps some bowlers from reaching their full potential. 2. What 

      good bowlers with a GREAT mental game don't have. 3. Bowlers you don't want on

      your team because they have some. 

support* 1. When you throw a string of strikes to help your team win. 2. When you 

      encourage your team during a close match. 3. When you loan money to your

      teammate so they can get the latest and greatest bowling ball in the hope of them

      helping the team win a quarter.

surrender* 1. What you and I will never do. 2. What you hope your team never does.

survivor* 1. Any bowler above the cut line in a tournament advancing to the next round.

      2. A bowler who sticks on the approach and is able to finish the set.

    The Museum had its own recipe with a bowling ball clock you can't live without!

HOW TO tell if you're almost finished reading?

Because you'll be seeing the terrific T's!

I should issue awards to anyone who reads my entire dictionary! 


    Bowling history and learning new bowling terms aren't usually found in the same place. But I didn't want the usual when I added this GREAT Bowling dictionary to my HUGE HOW TO website! I always try to have fun and tell others to do the same. Every time I updated my dictionary, it seems I added a word or added more definitions.

 

     This is one part of giving back to this GREAT sport I have loved since I started bowling as a kid. There's one good thing about being at this point of my dictionary, YOU"RE ALMOST DONE! Finish what you started, you might be tested!

     My GREAT dictionary is PERFECT for describing a 300! It's also good for kids just starting!

HOW TO know that team bowling is a GREAT?

Because your teammates will TELL you!

My Dictionary is a Terrific way to see how Team bowling is a GREAT! Teammates with Talent can Teach you a few Techniques, give Tips to improve, Tell you how the lanes Transition and Trust each other going after Titles!


The T's:


talent* 1. How a bowler is able to convince their partner to let them bowl in three leagues

      for the upcomming season. 2. Any bowler who can consistently cash in tournaments. 

tap Where the drinks from the lounge come from, after not being able to carry all 10 pins

      and getting hung in the beer frame.

target 1. What a team has on their back if they are in first place. 2. The spot you try to hit,

      but have trouble due to lanes breaking down faster than the adjustments you make.

team captain* 1. A bowler who tries to find the right members for his team, so they have 

      GREAT team chemistry and show up most weeks. 2. Hopes his team can afford to pay

      every week so they can bowl. 3. The person who gets stressed out from members who

      get behind in league fees. 4. The person you curse at by not wanting the best possible

      lineup for next season. 5. Someone who should keep the team informed of his

     decisions about the team. (Check it out, my Team Chemistry article from 2024.)

teammates 1. Bowlers who encourage you when you're not scoring. 2. They cheer you on

      when you are shooting the lights out. 3. Those GREAT bowlers who want to have fun,

      but still want to win.

team work* 1. A team understanding what goals need to be set so they can be

      accomplished with good team chemistry and then going after those goals as a team.

      2. When the lowest average bowler on the team shoots the high game and the team

      wins by three sticks. (See sticks.) (Check it out, Team needs goals too,

        Team chemistry and There's no I in team.

technique* 1. The way right handers go after that 10 pin they left. 2. What qualified

      coaches will teach you to improve your game. 3. Some coaches use video to help

      students see their mistakes to correct them. 4. What qualified coaches teach you and

      why you need them while other coaches may not teach you. (See Andrew, Beth,

        Bobby, coach, Laura, Norm & video.)

temper 1. What good bowlers seldom lose. 2. What some bowlers will lose after

      consistently leaving corner pins.

tempo* 1. What your opponent will try to change if you’re bowling well. 2. What your team

      wants to dictate in any close match.

tension* What will happen when a teammate says you lost the match by not throwing a

      double in the tenth frame and you’re over your average and they shot below theirs.

tenth frame bowler 1. Someone who can throw 3 strikes in the 10th except for when the

      game is close 😊. 2. Anyone who has helped your team win by tossing two strikes in

      the 10th at least five times in a season.

think* 1. What gets several bowlers into trouble. 2. What makes champions win more

      championships. 3. What bowlers need to do when scoring is on the low side that night!

thinker* 1. Finally, we have a bowler who uses his brain. A few still question why they need

      to use it. 2. Some have been known to even outthink themselves. 3. Many of them get

      in the Hall of Fame. (See Mike 1.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.) 

thirteenth frame A place for buddies to hang out after friend a shoots a 300 or 800 to 

      celebrate their good fortune. (I realize there are only 10 frames!) (See 12th frame.)

thumb 1. Part of the hand that more and more bowlers are not using to hopefully create

      exessive pin action. 2. A time saver at the Pro Shop when you don't use it, as they only

      have to drill two holes. 3. What strokers use to consistently hit their target before

      throwing a strike.

tilt* 1. A phenomenon that is very common playing Texas Hold-em and can also happen

      bowling after your team loses a close game. 2. What you should avoid like the

      coronavirus. 3. What you hope will happen to your opponents.

Tim* 1. A knowledgeable player who knows when to offer a tip to genuinely help another

      player. 2. A person who enjoys the competition by volunteering to help out in 

      tournaments. (See tip.) 

time* What most bowlers don’t want to spend to improve their game.

timing* What you hope will not lose when shooting for an 800 series.

tip* 1. What some will give to their opponent in an attempt to win the game. 2. How some

      bowlers actually get better with enough of them. 3. A trial-and-error method to the

      madness for a few bowlers instead of seeing a qualified coach. 4. What some

      coaches may give you if you’re a regular for free. What’s not to like about it being

      free? 5. What I give to teammates to improve their game. 6. What you may not give to

      the waitress if your drink takes over five frames to arrive. (See coach & Tim.)

titles* 1. What most good bowlers will chase until they finally win one. 2. The reasons why

      champions keep coming back for more. 3. What you want your team to win this

      season.

today* 1. The only day that matters. 2. The reason you should not wait for tomorrow. 

      3. The reason to prepare for the future.

tomorrow* 1. The day that good bowlers don’t wait for. 2. The day to do a post-match 

      evaluation so your brain is fresh the next day, so you can get some sleep that night. 

tools* 1. The tips you’ll use from your experience to win matches. 2. What you’ll use to 

      alter your equipment for peak performance.

Top 10 1. The reasons for something being significant. 2. The list of 10 things to work on

      when practicing. (Check it out, my book's Top 10 list and of course you wanted it,

        the Traveling Masters Top 10 reasons to bowl that GREAT league.)

tournament 1. A test of your ability where only a few will succeed. 2. A way for several 

      bowlers to supplement their income.

training* 1. What bowling camps are for. 2. Why certain bowlers continue to win because

      of getting lessons from a qualified coach. (See Coach.)

track* 1. That area of the lane where the ball reacts the best. 2. An area that breaks down

      after a half game because of reactive balls. 3. What you could be on, traveling to bowl

      nationals. 

transition* The main reason why many bowlers have low scores for their second game. 

trash talk* 1. One form of intimidation. 2. Something you shouldn’t pay attention to when

      competing. 3. Something to avoid if you want to stay in the Zone.

travel* 1. The way you get to nationals or state tournaments. 2. It occurs after your

      season is over. 3. What some good leagues do. 4. One of the reasons why the

      Traveling Masters was the GREATEST league. (Check it out, the Traveling Masters

        section.)

Travel Master* 1. A bowler who plans his journey to travel all over Tucson in the hope of

      becoming a Champion and win the trophy. 2. Wanders to win lots of cash in brackets.

       3. Waited eight months to bowl in Tucson’s best sweeper. 4. Their favorite symbol is

     “$”; favorite letter is “X”; favorite number is 300 (of course); favorite profile is a turkey.

      5. They have no fear of the dreaded 10 pin. 6. They love to fill any frame with a strike. 

      7. They throw a colorful bowling ball to get their name in lights and in the newsletter.

       8. They will without hesitation hang teammates to drink Miller Lite, our league sponsor.

       9. They travel to league by a Flintstone mobile or by car depending on their age; travel

      by plane, motor home, train or by car to bowl nationals. 10. They travel to bowling

      listening to GREAT music on XM. 11. They love to see Stats Plus chart their average

      using stats and show the top averages on a graph. 12. They have their sight on

      winning a ring with the hope of multiple rings. 13. They're hoping that they’ll never leave

      an unmakeable spare during the Roll-offs or the sweeper when the money is on

      the line. 14. They love the fact that their family, relatives and friends can see them on

      the world wide web. 15. And they love that Vantage Bowling Centers and Miller Lite beer

      along with team sponsors add over $10,000 to the prize fund. (Check it out,

        the travel master with graphics.)    

trial-and-error* 1. What some good bowlers have done in their career. 2. Why bowlers

      miss cuts in tournaments because they're tweaking instead of finding the shot. (See

        reading the lanes and skill.)

tribute* 1. Roy Tietz showing respect for bowlers and their great accomplishments by his

      Tucson Tribute & Honor. 2. What Mr. Stats did with his two HOW TO books and with this

      huge website with over 30 pages giving back to this great sport. (See Mr. Stats & Roy.)

      (Check it out, the Dedications page, Inspirations & the Tucson Tribute & Honor page.) 

trigger* 1. Key word in pre-shot routine. 2. The first strike in a string of strikes.

trophy* 1. Something you win if you want it bad enough. 2. Only a few leagues offer them

      anymore as most bowlers want the cash. 3. Dust collectors many bowlers want to add 

      to their collection. (See photo on upper right.)

trust Something that is a MUST or your game is a BUST. 

try* 1. What many bowlers have done with the PBA. 2. What some do on demo days.

      3. What you hope your team does during the playoffs.

Tucson* Knocking down all 10 pins to record a “x” on the telescore to beat a bowler from 

      the Phoenix, AZ area. (Note: If it is a strike on the other side, it is a Tucson to Brooklyn

      flight.)

tunnel vision* The side effect of being in the zone.

turkey* The profile seen on automatic scorers when a bowler is lucky enough for 3 in a

      row that you want to see every game. 2. What puts pressure on the other team when

      your team has them and they don't have any.

twelfth frame 1. The only frame that really matters when shooting 300. 2. Throwing for

      count after a double in the tenth frame.

two-hander* 1. Some bowlers trying to out rev even the other two handers with only

      some having some success. They like the effect of the grenade in their hands and the

      explosion 60 feet down the lane after release. 2. Most right handers see this group as

      annoying due to the lanes changing twice as fast requiring faster adjustments. 

      3. Someone who will carry more strikes because of their rev rate until the lanes 

      transiition. 4. A bowler who just wanted to be different by throwing a few more strikes

      per game. 5. A group who forgot that spares actually wins games ever now and then.

      (See USBC.) (See photo before, it's from 1909.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus 

        competitor’s guide.)

    Can you have too many trophies and

awards? The champions say NO!

HOW TO expect more Two-handers in the future?

Because several have found some SUCCESS!

Unexpected two-handed left hander post card in my dictionary was A GREAT Unusual find! Bowling's history will never be the same again, as they say!


     (The two-hander definition is just above.)


     Bowling history on a post card I found going to a Phoenix Post card Exposition was unexpected. It's from the year 1909 and the post card was made in Germany. It was mailed to I.B. who lived in Illinois.



     This is my slice of the pie of bowling's RICH history. You'll now find two handers everywhere including junior leagues. I don't believe this card started the two-hand revolution like what you witnessed on the PBA tour. Most sports have seen some changes and athletes need to determine if any change is in their best interest. Changing to being a two-hander has positives as well as negatives. The jury is still out deliberating. Being old school, and now basically just bowling leagues in my retirement, I'll give you my quarter's worth in my delightful dictionary.


      See my Two handed entry in my dictionary and of course, you have to see

the Stats Plus competitors guide.

    I should sell this post card because it's a

 collector's creation! My piece of history!

HOW TO see the seriousness in many bowlers?

Because their vision is better than 20-20!

Some show us an urgent way to see why bowling is serious for them. Don't fear it, your GREAT mental game will be a HUGE help in keeping up with them! Now your urgency SHOULD BE to improve your game and develop a GREAT mental game!


U - Z:


USBC* 1. A group of bowlers “trying” to make the sport better but make decisions that turn

      some bowlers off. 2. An organization that wants to make the sport more competitive

      with sport bowling, but still allow reactive equipment that have 300’s drilled in them. 

      3. The organization that now allows for two handed bowlers to put even more massive

      revolutions where scoring has gone through the roof. 4. The group trying to get our

      GREAT sport in the Olympics, but because of the inflated scoring from resin balls, the

      Olympic committee keeps turning bowling down. 

under What bowlers are when they miss shooting their average.

urethane* 1. A ball manufactures make to limit hook on the ball. 2. The type of ball some

      wish they would be illegal because the way it changes the oil on the lanes. 3. The bal

      l that pros throw on TV due to drier lanes because of being uncomfortable making

      adjustments.

urgency* 1. Your mental state just realizing how close you are to cashing or making the

      cut. 2. What teammates should have in very close games. 3. The act of praying for

      some great scores for the last game during position rounds and playoffs. 



 Varipapa* 1. A fierce competitor. 2. The art of achieving a high score anytime during a

      series. 3. Any 12 bagger that even continues to the next game shall be known as a 

      "Varipapa 300". (See 300 & zeroed in.) 

video* 1. What most great coaches produce to show during lessons to improve your

      game. 2. A sure-fire way to prove that you’re throwing the ball better, then you were a

      month ago during the last video. 3. Something Laura doesn’t use or need because

      she’s a great coach using her own techniques. (See Andrew, Bobby, coach, Laura and

        technique.)

vision* 1. What you see happening in the future but must still live in the present to make it

      real. 2. What Stats Plus saw after being elected secretary/ treasurer of the Vantage

      Miller Lite Traveling Masters league that DOUBLED IN SIZE! 3. What Mr. Stats had for the

      Traveling Masters league and why it was the GREATEST league ever. 4. The reason why

      some go big and the others just go home. 5. How you determine your future after 

      consulting your crystal ball. (See Mr. Stats.) (Check it out, the Traveling Masters and 

        Stats Plus sections.) 

visionary* 1. They’ll be looking at a wealthier future after tackling the lanes and taking

      down some of the best bowlers in the center. 2. Since it’s not their first rodeo, they will

      expect everything and are prepared for it. (See Steve.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus 

        competitor’s guide.)

visualization*1. One reason why bowlers have trouble focusing. 2. An experience unlike

      any other. 3. Why most great bowlers continue to do to amaze anyone watching them.



wall* 1. A lane with a super easy house shot where four boards produce guaranteed

      strikes. 2. Bowlers that have trouble on this shot need to see a qualified coach for

      better repetition. 3. What Andrew used as no other coach ever used it as a prop to

      rebuild my confidence. (See Andrew & coach.) 

wallbaby* A bowler who only bowls on easy house shots and quits on a shot that 

      requires accuracy. (Added by Joe P., 2014) (Check it out, the Stats Plus  

        competitor’s guide.)

want 1. A wish list of the latest and greatest balls. 2. The reason to bowl tournaments.

      (Check it out, my What I want article.)

want-to-be 1. Bowlers dreaming about wearing someone else’s shoe. 2. Wishing you

       could bowl with your opposite hand.

washed-up Over the hill champions who have trouble shooting 200.

washout 1. What happens to bowlers who can't make it on the pro tour. 2. When bowlers

       miss the headpin and leave pins that look like a split. 3. When bowling tournaments, 

       you watch out to not leave one!

weakness 1. What all bowlers should work on to be better performers. 2. Anything holding

       a bowler back from their true potential. 3. Great bowlers like Earl Anthony and Norm

       Duke who worked on them and came back to win at least 40 titles. (See Brooklyn,

         Earl and Norm.)

weather 1. Something that shouldn't affect the sport except when it rains, the power goes

       out, the snow collapsed the roof or possibly a tornado to blow the roof of the center.

       2. Bowlers need to survive them during slumps.

weight 1. With technology, something that is now less important. 2. What you feel on your

       sholders from your team in a close match. 3. Something you take off your teamate's 

       shoulder when you're shooting a 250 game.

whammy* 1. What you hope happens to your opponent. 2. What few coaches teach their

       students to insure it will happen less to you. 3. A solid mental game will defeat it. 

       (See Laura.) 

whine Bowlers who didn’t adjust and now needs some cheese and wine to go with their

       complaining. (See cheese & wine.)

Who’s Who?* 1. A list of Whos, who you think would be on that list. 2. A bowler who’s in the

       Hall of Fame. 3. If you accomplished something special, you’ll be one listed as of the

       Who’s. (Check it out, the Traveling Master’s Who’s who? & a Stats Plus Who!)

will 1. The power all bowlers have, unless they choose not to use it. 2. Distractions that keep

       some bowlers from knowing how and when to use it.

wine* 1. A drink to forget your bad scores. 2. Something that goes great with cheese. (See

         cheese & whine.)

winner 1. Whoever comes out on top in a match whether they deserve it or not. 2. The

       reason we compete, to show others who's better, but only for that day!

winter* 1. The season that can make getting to the center next to impossible for some,

      due to snow and ice. 2. The time of the year where you need to check your shoes more

      often. 3. One reason why many bowlers live in southern states.

wisdom What great bowlers have and everyone wants.

work* 1. What can get in the way of being on time for league. 2. The way good bowlers

      turn into GREAT bowlers. 3. The main reason why some bowlers don't improve, too

      much of it!

worry* 1. What, me worry? Don't worry, be happy! 2. Those bowlers with strong mental 

      games won’t have to. If you're happy and you know it, you'll do much better.

wrist 1. Why some pros cup theirs, so they get more revs. 2. What you try not to injure,

      when you're not bowling. 3. What seniors wear braces durin bowling, so it's less likely

      to get injured.



X What you want to see in each and every frame.

X’d out* 1. Nothing but strikes to finish the game. 2. Going off the sheet with a string of

      strikes. 3. What you opponent wants to do to your team after they just lost. (See

        all the way, off the sheet & punch out.)

XYZ* 1. The variables for making correct adjustments.  2. Routine at the gym to rehab

       your shoulder after an injury. 3. Something I forgot to include on my last update of 

       this super dictionary! And you thought I wouldn't get to it. Since no one messaged

       me, everyone but me, forgot about it.



yatzee* 1. Game that some teams play during league hoping you bowl a yatzee. 2. Good

       teams can’t play because every member will throw five strikes in a row.

yes* 1. What you tell yourself after throwing that strike to keep the pressure on your

       opponent. 2. The group you listen to before bowling to psych yourself up for the

       rematch.

yesterday* A day you hope will teach you something about your game to help you win

       for the upcoming tournament.



Zone 1. That magical place where all bowlers want to go to and need to be, but some

      bowlers will have only a short visit. 2. Those who visit for a long period and who are

      return travelers, welcome their trip here and of course want to return here the next

      time they compete. 3. The place that makes higher scores easier and where some 

      opponents will have trouble keeping up with bowlers in the Zone! 4. The reason why

      you should read The Path to Excellence, because it's the ONLY WAY TO COMPETE! 

      (Check it out, my Why Compete in the Zone article.)

zoner* 1. These bowlers know what to expect at every center. They have the best mental

      game of all the local bowlers. 2. They usually find the zone in practice and the reason 

      you need to worry about them. (See Scott.) (Check it out, the Stats Plus 

        competitor’s guide.)

zeroed in 1. The state you're in when you've thrown a "Varipapa 300", which is a 12 bagger

      at any time. 2. Throwing two eight baggers in one league sesion. (See Varipapa.)

    My urgency was to see One final piece of the museum after many good memories from bowling camp!

HOW TO know you got the end of my Dictionary?

Because you'll quickly see my HOW TO website page number!

Congrats on finally getting to the end! I HOPED THIS HELPED! Knowing about this GREAT

sport can help beginners want to learn more about it. You're now more than ready to understand our GREAT sport!  


     Bowling has obviously been GREAT to me and I'm glad my mom introduced me to it. What you just read for each word isn't actual definitions for most, it's my interpertation of what each word means to me, from my competing in bowling for over 60 years and what it means to other bowlers. I've seen changes that may have not been the best for bowling but it's changes we as bowlers had to adjust to. From short oil to sport conditions, just to name two examples, to reactive equipment. Most senior bowler had to adapt, while some kids and adults today adapted to throwing two-handed. Some of my definitions are acurately defined as you read them. Some are just my opinions, or I provided some humor to give more detail, so it becomes a MUST READ.

     I can only hope you enjoyed my dictionary as a whole work and maybe learned a few things from it. I'll address any comments you may have.



HAVE FUN!  


Message me, Alan Brizee  Path to Excellence  w/ Q's  Thanks

    I hope I described everything about the GREAT sport of bowling. Thanks for reading!

PG. 18 = M14/M15 - 11/6/24

As always, See you in the Zone!
Top of this page#'s through FG through MN through ST through Znext section - college of mental toughness

Copyright © 2020-2025 The Path to Excellence - All Rights Reserved.


  • book
  • T.Tribute
  • Fri
  • t.masters
  • message alan/accomplish
  • Site+links
  • Stats Plus