The only dictionary you'll ever need!!
INTRO THROUGH D:
THE STATS PLUS WHO’S WHO TRIBUTE TO SOME GREATEST PERSONS!
What website would be complete without some history, a few great articles, some great photos, a little humor, honoring persons who made a difference, two top 10 lists, share how promoting attracts customers, 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 vacation traveling listening to great music? No website would be considered complete without a dictionary to validate it's 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.
The Dictionary for the modern bowler
By Alan Brizee © April 6th, 2001. rev. Jun. 2014 & July 2020
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 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!
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 such as a 10 pin will be used. Obviously, but maybe not for certain left handers, as they’re sometimes not in the “right” frame of mind, have to reverse any pins left. Sorry John, Jeff, Dwight and Kary, bowlers needed to be warned.
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 420 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. 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. Even I don't 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. 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.
None of these definitions should be taken serious. 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 and terms have been added and maybe more 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. If I missed anything or if you have suggestions for the ones I have, e-mail 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 and Len Nicholson are just two PBA Hall of Famers mentioned here. 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.
And wouldn’t think that all this fun would stop. For a more enjoyable experience, are the 24 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 37 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, Phlash, Roy, Scott and Steve. These 18 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.
Over 420 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?
*added or revised since 2001.
NOTE: It took two weeks to make this page look better. I added photos and links to meke it more interactive.
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. 3. One of the reasons why I won the Tucson USBC Senior
Masters, as my opponents kept leaving them.
100% 1. The amount needed to have fun on today's conditions. 2. The amount needed 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. The score beginners want for bowling three
games.
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.
"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 “suppose” 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.
ability* 1. A quality of stuffing bills (Benjamins) in your wallet. 2. What most bowlers want when
needing strikes to win.
accuracy* 1. A lost art and skill needed many, many years ago. 2. Young guns today and two
handers with revs, don’t worry about not having this ability. 3. What some bowlers realize is needed
to average 210 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. A 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 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 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.
age* 1. The years of bowling experience. 2. Knowing what works because of your experience.
3. Why you can't bowl three games without getting winded. 4. Why sometimes you feel older than
you really are.
alcohol* 1. A drink that can make some bowlers unbeatable at times. 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 eventially take place after your opponent wins the match after they
intimidated you.
All Star* 1. Anyone good enough to make people notice them. 2. The best of the best. 3. The
Traveling Masters website which made the list due to Mr. Stats promoting by all avenues possible
and having the biggest website of any league in history! (See Mr. Stats.) (Check out the
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 games. 3. The bowler who gets blamed
for losing close games no matter how much over their average they shot, unless they shoot 300.
4. Someone who misses 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”, technique, video & wall.) (Check out his
Dedication in my Success book.) (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 hustlers make 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
hustlers will alter to try to get you out of the zone.
arrows* 1. What most bowlers use as their target on the lanes. 2. Using this target on all spares can
be your weakness in your game. 3. What 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, 36 times in a league night and must use their head to make good decisions to acquire
great scores. 2. What certain individuals 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. 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 log book 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.
awards* 1. What you receive after shooting a great score. 2. What you may get lucky enough to
receive if you shoot a good score, depending on your average. 3. What you hope to add to your
collection.
"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. (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 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 throws
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.
bagger* 1. When you go to the bar after league to buy a six pack, because they didn’t throw a six
pack, and they have to bag 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.
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 for practice to work on your game, to show others you’re not easy
pickings.
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. (See photo below.)
bargain 1. The ball 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 the very next 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 4-6-710 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.
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 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. 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 out his Dedication.) (Check out
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 What bowlers get after winning a match, no matter how bad they scored.
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 out the Stats Plus
bowling A sport that is now more like golf, where you will rarely finish with the same ball you started
with.
bowling ball* 1. Unlike golf, you won’t have to chase it, it comes back and will be waiting for you.
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 and the others are distracted from them.
2. The added excitement when your team is in last place and you can win enough 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 out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
break* 1. What good bowlers get when they need it the most or what the opposing team gets on a
bad shot during the league championship. 2. Something bowlers want to do 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.
breathe 1. What some bowlers have trouble doing and after losing a close match. 2. What you must
control during a close match of you want to win.
Brooklyn* 1. A place where some may visit if nationals are close. 2. A place 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 A teammate or friend who remembers when you choked, but won't ever remind you.
burning the maples The fire started after throwing 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 their new sky high average with their
300’s in every ball drilling.
calm The state of mind you need when 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 wishing for with that
new $200 ball even if it just missed 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 from 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 20
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 out my
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 mental 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 for the 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 your opponent when they beat you by
a 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.
clean game 1. Getting through a game without an open frame. 2. Finishing the night without spilling
your drink on you.
cleaning* Taking your opponents last dollar in pot games, where they don’t have enough 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
fundamentals 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 to peak performance so you can look
like a pro. (See Andrew, Beth, Bobby, cash, Laura, lesson, Norm & peak performance,
“proformance”, technique, tip, video, wall & weakness.) (Check out Beth and Laura in
Testimonials.) (Check out Beth, Bobby, Laura & Norm in Dedications.) (Check out Andrew’s
Dedication for my second book.) (Check 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, bowler tries to remember how good they threw the ball after the long layoff.
commitment* 1. What you hope all the bowlers on your team have when bowling tournaments or in
the Roll-Offs. 2. The way bowlers should respond when the 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.
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 bowler averaging 170 are instant pro bowlers
on a walled up shot. 2. Why pro bowlers turn to being average amateurs on tough conditions.
3. Making them consistent is next to impossible, because of where you live and the weather.
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. (See photo below.) (Check out my confidence 101 class to build your confidence.)
consistency* 1. The state bowlers want to be in by repeating strikes, spares, clean games which
means higher scores. 2. What most newbies don’t have because of all the new balls and unsure
how they react to their other balls.
control 1. Being able to shoot over your average over a period of weeks. 2. The reason why 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 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.
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* Someone who throws temper tantrums when the bowling gods are on break. (Check out
the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
Curtis* A bowler who wants to see some great bowling by holding tournaments with guaranteed
money. (See challenge.)
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.
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 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 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.
desire* An athlete who reads my book and goes to my website to improve their game.
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 out his Dedication.) (Check out The Hustler in the Competitor's guide.)
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* One. Someone who plays your pheel good songs so you can pheel good aphter destroying your
competition. Two. Someone who tries to psyche you out by playing their music on their phone too
loud phor way too long. Three. The person responsible phor getting you ready phor your match.
Phour. Plays your phavorite music on Sirius XM 60'son 6 while traveling to bowling. Phive. Phlash
Phelps, Cousin Brucie, Pat St. John, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Dave Hoephphel, Peter Noone, Ron
Dante and Mike Kelley making your day better by pouring on the hits phrom the pheel good 60's.
(See photo below.) (See Phlash.) (Check out Phlash Phelps in inspiration's Phinal Phour.)
(Check 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 are more of them. (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 end up 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 out his Dedication.)
(Check out The Shot Maker in the Competitor's guide.)
Dictionary with pictures - What a concept!
great test drive ball
display of dust collectors
display of dust collectors
What's going to work? This ball is one of the few with interchangeable weights to get the best reaction possible. It isn't needed today. It's part of bowling's history. (See ball.)
display of dust collectors
display of dust collectors
display of dust collectors
Of course I don't mind doing a little dusting. It's about the memories to keep competing. Having fun and picking up souvenirs is why I compete. The eagle came from not giving up.
(See confidence & persistence.)
pheel good music
display of dust collectors
pheel good music
Enjoying music before competing relaxes you and helps produce higher scores. Plash Phelps and DJ's keeps the 60's going on Sirius XM and now have an app to listen at home.
(See DJ & Phlash.)
History and modern terms included at no extra cost
E through O:
Earl* 1. A beautifully executed shot that hooked more than expected and still carried. 2. What some
handicapped bowlers 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 out his book in library.) (Check 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. (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 lack. 3. Tournament bowlers
in Las Vegas seem to have no problem finding some.
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. 2. The
reason why I continued to bowl to reach some of my goals. 3. Where you game should be after
reading my book, The Path to Excellence.
excuses 1. What 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 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.
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 bowlers due to it.
expert* Someone who thinks he knows more than everyone and lets everyone know it. (Remember,
I didn’t say coach!)
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 out my failure article.)
faith* 1. A bowler who really believes he will shoot 900, for 3 games. 2. Someone who hopes to
shoot 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 3 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 wining
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 to be at any
given time. 3. The time you finally achieved that goal. 4. What you hope won’t happen from the
opposing team.
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.
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.
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 the 9thframe. 2. A good
foundation would be a double in the 8th and 9thframes and a solid foundation would be a 4 bagger.
frame* 1. A place to put your profile shot photo when luckiest enough to throw three in a row. 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
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 John.) (Check 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 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 have in
competition. 3. The reason why several champions continue to win tournaments. (Check out
my Have Fun article.)
fundamentals 1. What most good bowlers have down. 2. What bowlers forget about when the
pressure is on and then the fun stops.
future* 1. Bowlers that hope good scores come with it. 2. Bowlers knowing great scores come with
it because they took the time work on their game to improve.
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 competes 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 out the Stats Plus
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 excuse why they missed their 300 game, whether wearing glasses or not.
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 out my goal setting article.)
goal posts* 1. One example of bringing in other sports to this great sport. 2. Handicapped bowlers
think getting the ball between these two pins gets them three points, but those points only matter
in football. (See fence pots and 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 out the Stats Plus section.) (Check out a travel master.)
graveyard 1. A center that has less excitement then 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.
grind out* A low scoring condition like the U.S. Open or Senior U.S. Open, where even a 190 is a
700.
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 out the Hall of Famers who gave
testimonials and who I dedicated the book to.) (Check 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 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. (See Norm.) 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.
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.
hind sight 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
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. 3. The weight block and cover stock that determines how much your
ball has.
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 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. If you did lose the car, you better find another
way to get home. 2. A person who knows how to win the most money from the bowlers they
challenge. (See challenge & Dewey.) (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
hypnotized* 1. What you want to do to your opponent by continuously throwing great shots to throw
them off their game. 2. What will happen 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.
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 even think there is an “I” in team. (teaim) (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s
guide.)
insanity* 1. Something that keeps happening like leaving 10 pins 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 this ball will have a perfect game built in
to it.
jam 1. Being late to an important match. 2. What you put on bread with peanut butter, because you
are running late. 3. What you hope you don’t run into on the road, because you left late.
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. (See house mouse.) (Check out his Dedication.) (Check 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 log book. (It’s because he throws a lot of strikes.) 4. 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.
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
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 book to. 6. One of Tucson’s greatest bowlers and in two Hall of Fames.
(See backupper & Hall of Fame.) (Check out his Dedication in my Success book.) (Check
out my Mr. 900 article.) (Check 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 interchangeable thumb slugs.
killer instinct* 1. What most champions have because of their desire to 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 book. (See Bob.) (Check 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 out Len’s Testimonial and
Inspiration.) (Check out his the Tucson Tribute & Honor page.) (Check out Len's books in my library.)
last 1. The last place they want their team to be. 2. How you handle your current match based on
your previous matches, could send slide you to the bottom of standings.
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 out her Testimonial and Dedication.) (Check out
The Coach in the Competitor's guide.)
leadoff bowler The bowler getting the team off in the right direction, even if they may not be the
first bowler listed in the lineup.
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.
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 out his Testimonial and Inspiration.) (Check out his Tucson
Tribute & Honor entry.) (Check out Len Nicholson's seven books in my library.) (Check out
The Storyteller in the Competitor's guide.) (Check 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 continue on The Path to Excellence and then From Excellence to
Success. (If I can’t promote my books here, when will I?) (Check out my library of over 200
books and Len's seven books..)
life* The reason you bowl and spend your hard earned dollars. (See my Traveling Masters is life
article.)
list* 1. What you want to accomplish during your next practice session. 2. Showing your future goals.
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 all bowlers do to this game if they want to stay competitive. 2. It happens when
carrying everything. 3. What you do to your equipment when high scores keep happening.
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 out The Pro Bowler in the Competitor's guide.)
match* 1. A series of games that may never determine the better team or bowler. 2. The winners
are the luckiest people around by having a higher total for an event. 3. What you may need to
light that fire when your team starts slow.
mental monster* 1. What champions become after mastering the mental game. 2. What you be
close to after reading The Path to Excellence. 3. What you may become after reading my
second book, From Excellence to Success. (Another good time to promote my books.)
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* A competitive bowler who uses his head to keep fighting till the end. (See Hall of Fame &
thinker.) (Checkout his Testimonial and Dedication.) (Check out The Thinker in the
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. An error that good bowlers learn from and put them in their past as others can’t admit they
made.
mo* The energy a bowler or team 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 bowling. 3. The person who
taught me a several things when she got me started on this great sport. 4. The person who finally
got to see me throw a perfect game before she passed away.(See photo below.) (See
motivation.) (Check out my Inspiration for my mom.) (Check out my Motivational page.)
momentum* 1, What can change after just one shot. 2. The reason for great scores. 3. The extra
player on a team when things are going their way. 4. What all good bowlers and teams want on
their side. (See mo.)
money The green backs needed to enjoy this game we love.and shooting some great scores. 3.
mood* 1.The side of the bed you got up from. 2. A positive attitude will always have a good one.
more* 1. What you want and can happen when you start this great sport. 2. Something you want
after winning 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 below.) (See mom.) (Check out my
move What you must constantly do when the lanes keep changing after around 6 frames.
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
league ever. 6. Now is an author to give back to this great sport. 7. A gambler who 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 out the Author, the
Traveling Masters and Stats Plus section.) (Check out his Tucson Tribute & Honor entry.)
(Check out The Gamble in the Competitor's guide.)
negative* The games you avoid when bowling tournaments.
nerves What stiffens up when throwing a shot under pressure.
new* 1. The only reason why the ball produces higher scores. 2. The start you’re willing to make
after last season or after an injury.
Norm* 1. The 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 coach, Hall of Fame, hero, lesson,
pro bowler, release, senior, technique & weakness.) (Check out his Dedication.) (Check out
his video in my library.) (Check 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 X’d out.)
ONE SHOT* Your mindset on every shot, no matter the circumstances.
opening The door you hope to walk through after your opponent gives you an opportunity.
optimistic* Knowing that every situation could have a positive result.
over The amount over a 200 average that all bowlers want more of.
Many more pictures than you expected?
mom motivates me to win title
mom motivates me to win title
mom motivates me to win title
Some say mother knows best. Well, she knew how to teach me to never quit. A lesson that I never forgot. Now, she is missed,but always remembered. (See mom.)
qualified ball driller
mom motivates me to win title
mom motivates me to win title
Roy knows how to drill your equipment as well as throwing several 300 games. He has drilled four 300 and the Senior Masters title in my equipment. (See Roy.)
motivation is a daily job!
mom motivates me to win title
motivation is a daily job!
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.)
This dictionary is a great way to learn about bowling!
P through z with index for names:
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 tobe 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 done 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 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.
Phlash* One. Someone who has phun playing all the pheel good music phrom the 60’s. Two. A D.J.
along with his accomplices, which keeps a lot of bowlers dancing on the way to nationals or work
with his Phlash Phelps phunny pharm on Sirius XM’s 60’s on 6 in the mornings. Three. All his
phiends pheel phine that he phills the airwaves phor the phurture during the coronavirus
pandemic, since he didn’t phorget about the pholk phestival trip. Phour. A person who gives great
travel advice for many side trips as he has traveled to all phiphty states. Phive. A person who
spells everything with ph for of the 6th letter of the alphabet so he has his own code. (You must
not phorget to phace the phacts, it’s time to phind your pheet and have phaith in a phast phlight in
Phebruary, to phind the phish phacility or phocus on the phacts phor your pharthest journey to
phind the Phlash 54, where are you’s city of the day.) (See photo above.) (See DJ, where you’ll
also find his accomplices on Sirius XM 60s on 6.) (Check out the Phlash Phelps Inpiration's
Phinal Phour.) (Check out The DJ in the Competitor's guide.)
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.
pot* 1. The bowl that hold the money 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
him 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 out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
“proformance”* 1. What all amateurs do when throwing great scores, with some thinking they were
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 some leagues
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 out the Stats Plus section.) (Check
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,
perfection, “proformance” & Roy.) (Check out Rev. Roy’s Pro Shop.)
psyched up What bowlers get after they throw the first double of the day.
psych out* 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.
quad* The string of four strikes or four bagger, that lost its identity, because of a skeleton (ham
bone).
quiet* Shushhhhh! What you hope your team is 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.
rack* 1. What usually leaves a pin off spot when you're shooting for a 300. 2. What the 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. One reason why certain opponents kick ass.
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 out the Stats Plus
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 had years ago, so they could to 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 and 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.
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 find 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
doubled in size. (Check 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 most bowlers take when trying to bowl in a PBA regional. (Check out my
rival When you're battling the changing lanes instead of your opponent.
roll-offs 1. Where you want your team to be every season. 2. A place where a few lucky and even
fewer 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.
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 300s in
my equipment and helped me win a title. (See photo above.) (See “proformance”, pro shop &
tribute.) (Check out his Dedication.) (Check out Rev. Roy’s Pro Shop page.) (Check 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
situation.
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 pat day. (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s
guide.)
scenic route Bowlers should avoid going here when the lanes are tight and 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 never indicates how
well you've bowled.
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 out his Testimonial, Dedication and Praise for this website.) (Check 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
bow for sometimes great money. 4. One of the reasons why the Vantage Miller Lite Traveling
Masters was the greatest league ever!! (Check 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.
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 tournament.
(Check out the Stats Plus page.)
second wind* After bowling a 258 in the 7th game, it will give you a boost of confidence and energy
to finish the 12 game tournament.
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.
senior* 1. Anyone who has trouble putting two revolutions on their ball. 2. Someone who is old and
always under estimated. 3. A 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. A bowler with injuries who feels old because of arthritis. (See Norm & Mr. Stats.)
series* 1. The number of games or total sets bowled. 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 some fail to have fun. 2. The reason why you see good and great
bowlers. 3. Why a few bowlers will actually start throwing below average games.
set* 1. What you get before bowling. 2. A series that you hope will attract good scores.
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 the bowling season.
setup* What some good bowlers have done to victims to pay their mortgage.
shark* A good action bowler who will always go home with more cash than he started with.
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
may have one eight bagger each season. 3. A bowler who knows the value of half board
adjustments. (See Dwight.) (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
six pack* 1. What some finish off before the end of the night. 2. My goal every session, getting lucky
enough for six in a row. 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.
2. What is needed to shoot an 800 series. 3. Why champions continue to win. 4. Another reason
to read The Path to Excellence. (Check out my Top 10 reason to read my book.)
sleep* Something often over looked the night before the championship.
sleeper* 1. What you are after the neighbor’s dog kept you up all night. 2. The pin, 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.
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 it, determines if they will be in one again
and for how long.
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’ll have a different name for every time you 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 out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
social media 1. Another distraction that your teammates get involved in. 2. A great way to brag to
those who you don’t even know about your 800 series or 300 game.
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 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.
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 What might happen to your drink instead of the pins on the deck.
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.
sport 1. What several think bowling isn’t. 2. The lane condition where a 190 score is above average.
3. What USBC is trying to get in the Olympics.
sportsmanship* 1. How others view your character. 2. What you should have if you don’t win.
3. 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. 4. Congratulating a bowler that shot a good game in the hope that they’ll
be so surprised, that they lose their focus. 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. The place at the bar where the team goes to order drinks. 2. Where it shows how well
your team is doing. 3. Where it shows how bad your team is doing. 4. A sheet listing those who
bowled well enough to cash.
start* 1. What you need your team to do right from the start. 2. How good bowlers throw strings of
strikes. 3. When the next segment of your league begins.
stats* (statistics) 1. A tool that can help most bowlers improve their game, but few realize it.
2. Numbers that can tell you what area of your game needs improvement. 3. Something used by
Stats Plus to show why the best bowlers in the league are the best. (Check out my Stats are
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 reason why the Vantage Lite Traveling Masters
league was the greatest league ever and doubled in size. (Check out the Traveling Masters
section and the Stats Plus section.)
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 out his Dedication.) (Check 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 after ricocheting from the pit.
story teller* 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 out Len's books in my library.) (Check out the Stats Plus
competitor’s guide.) (Check 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 back fire if you don’t have a “B” game.
streak What every bowler goes through whether their hot or not.
strength* 1. One reason why you’re not throwing 16 pound equipment. 2. What you could lose by
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. Champions win by avoiding it. 3. The
number one reason why you had a bad set.
stretching* What older bowlers must do if they want to shoot some great scores.
strike 1. Something that can frustrate you when you're not throwing any of them. 2. Most hope that
36 will happen.
string* 1. What some tie to their finger to remember to focus. 2. Any length, including the next
game, of strikes thrown. 3. What most good bowlers will do and make it look easy.
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 happens to those who dedicate extra time to improve their game. (Check out my success
page.)
suggestions 1. Tips you get from lower average bowlers when in a slump. 2. Why a good bowler
might get into a slump as they get too many of them.
summer* 1. What many consider practice time. 2. The best time for knee replacements. 3. Another
time to shine if you bowl a summer league.
superstitions* 1. What keeps some bowlers from reaching their full potential. 2. Something you’ll
never want to hear from a good bowler.
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 to get the latest and
greatest bowling ball.
surrender* 1. What you and I will never do. 2. What you hope your team never does.
survivor* 1. Any one 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.
talent* 1. How a bowler is able to convince their partner to let them bowl in three leagues for the
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.
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 that can get along and
show up as well as pay almost every week. 2. The person who gets stressed out from members
who get behind in league fees.
teammates 1. Bowlers who encourage you when you're not scoring. 2. They cheer you on when
you are shooting the lights out. 3. The ones who have fun, but still want to win.
team work* A team understanding what goals need to be accomplished and then going after those
goals as a team.
technique* 1. The way bowlers 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 their students see their mistakes
to correct them. 4. What separates qualified coaches from other coaches and the reason you
need a qualified coach. (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 you want 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 Someone who can throw 3 strikes in the 10th except for when the game is
close.
thinker* 1. Finally, we have a bowler who uses his brain. A few still question what they use it for.
2. Some have been kn own to out think themselves. 3. Many of them get in the Hall of Fame.
(See Mike.) (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
thirteenth frame A place for buddies to hang out after friend a shoots 300 or 800 to celebrate their
good fortune.
thumb Part of the hand that more and more bowlers are not using to hopefully create better carry.
tilt* 1. A phenomenon that is very common playing Texas Hold-em and can also happen bowling.
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. (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.
today* 1. The only day that matters. 2. Why 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.
tools* 1. The tips you’ll use from your experience to win matches. 2. What you’ll use to alter your
equipment for pear performance.
top 10 The reasons for something being significant. (Check out my Top 10 list.)
tournament 1. A test of your ability that only a few can pass. 2. A way for several bowlers to
supplement their income.
training* 1. What bowling camps are for. 2. Why certain bowlers continue to win.
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 to bowl nationals.
transition* The 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.
travel* 1. The way you get to nationals. 2. It occurs after the season is over. 3. What some good
leagues will do. 4. One of the reason why the Traveling Masters was a great league. (Check 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 Waits
eight months to bowl in Tucson’s best sweeper. 4 Their favorite symbol is “$”; favorite letter is “X”;
favorite number is 300; 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 theirt my name in
lights and in the newsletter. 8 They will without hesitation hang teammates to drink Miller Lite, our
league sponsor. 9 TheI 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 Phlash Phelps on Sirius XM 60’s on 6. 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
out the travel master with graphics.)
trial and error* What many good bowlers have done in their career.
tribute* 1. Showing respect for their great accomplishments. 2. What Mr. Stats did with his two
books and with this huge website with over 40 pages giving back to this great sport. (See
Mr. Stats & Roy.) (Check out the Dedications page, Inspirations & the Tucson Tribute &
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 as most
bowlers want the cash.
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.
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. Bowlers trying to out rev even the other two handers with some having some
success. They like the effect of the grenade in their hands and the explosion 60 feet down the
lane after release. (See USBC.) (Check out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
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 their average.
urgency* 1. Your mental state just realizing how close you are to cashing or making the cut. 2. 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
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. 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 out the
Traveling Masters and Stats Plus section.)
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 expect everything and are
prepared for it. (See Steve.) (Check 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 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 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 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.
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 from your team in
a close match. 3. Something you take off your team 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 who you think would be on a list. 2. A bowler who’s in the Hall of Fame.
3. If you accomplished something special, you’ll be one of the who’s. (Check out the Master’s
will 1. The power all bowlers have, unless they choose not to use it. 2. Distractions 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.
winter* 1. The season that can make getting to the center next to impossible, due to snow and ice.
2. The time of the year where you need to check your shoes more often.
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.
worry* 1. What, why worry? 2. Those bowlers with strong mental games won’t have to.
wrist 1. What crankers cup until their injured. 2. What crankers break for their comeback
.
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. (See
off the sheet.)
yatzee* 1. Game that some teams play during league hoping you’re the bowling claiming a yatzee.
2. Good teams can’t play because every member will be rolling 5 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 mismatch.
yesterday* A day you hope will teach you something to win the upcoming tournament.
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 league. (See Varipapa.)
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're at the lanes. 3. The place that
creates higher scores where some opponents have trouble keeping up with. 4. The reason why
you should read The Path to Excellence. (Zone article is coming.)
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 out the Stats Plus competitor’s guide.)
Tribute to those who love what they do
the stats plus who's who
This index is for the following 37 people who are not just included in my dictionary, but may also appear elsewhere on my extensive website. Below is the legend and also links to the pages.
The caps are where they appear in the dictionary and in the Stats Plus Competitor’s guide.
Andrew Cain, D/S & C101 & dict & c= Coach Andy Varipapa, dict
Beth Haggerty, T & D & dict Bob O., T & dict
Bobby Saavedra, D & dict & c= Coach Bruce Clayton, D & dict= friends
Colin Gilyeat, D & dict= friends Cousin Brucie, dict= DJ
Curtis Turley, dict Dave Hoeffel, dict= DJ
Dewey Yoho, D & dict & c= Hustler Dr. Steve Watson, T & I & dict= DC
Donovan Hemway, D & dict= friends Dwight Burns, D & dict & c= Shot maker
Earl Anthony, dict & c= Pro bowler Joe Fioreni, D & dict= friends
Joey Burke, D & dict & c= House mouse John V Cook, T & D & dict & c= Gambler
Ken Hosp, D/S & dict & c= Backupper Laura Beahring, T & D & dict & c= Coach
Len Nicholson, T & I & TTH & dict & c= Storyteller & Library Mark Roth, dict & c= Pro bowler
Mike Kelley, dict= DJ Mike Land, T & D & dict & c= Thinker
Mom, I & dict Mr. Stats, TTH & dict & c= Gambler
Norm Duke, D & dict & c= Pro bowler (See photo on right.) Pat St John, dict= DJ
Peter Noone, dict= DJ Phil Mikelson C #1
Phlash Phelps. Events & I & C101 #3 & dict & c= DJ & Site map
Ron Dante, dict= DJ Roy Tietz, D & dict
Scott Washburn, T & D & Home & dict & c= Zoner Shotgun Tom Kelly, dict= DJ
Steve Dekker, D & dict & c= Visionary Tim Robertson, dict
T= Testimony, D= Dedication, I= Inspiration, D/S= Dedication in Success book,
C101= Confidence 101- class #1 - class #3, dict= dictionary & where when bolded,
c= Stats Plus Competitor's guide. LIbrary. TTH= Tucson Tribute & Honor
NOTE: I’ve had a few computer problems and hope all the updates appeared. Well I think I covered almost all that bowling offers with over 400 words and phases and hope you enjoyed some of my definitions.
Any comments, contact Alan.
(End of College of Mental Toughness section.)
Pg. 20: 7/11/20
NEXT: Rev. Roy's Pro Shop page.
