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Author Topic: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG  (Read 14137 times)

revTrex

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POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« on: November 20, 2008, 05:00:45 AM »
Alright, so I'm trying to compile an extensive dictionary of bowling terms and slang for Bowlers Journal, and I want everyone's help. We've already got hundreds of terms -- everything from Turkey to PAP to Adult Bumper Bowling to Count to Double-Wood -- but what I'm looking for now are the strange, weird, out-dated, and/or regional terms that one might easily overlook.

What have you guys got? Post 'em with a brief definition.
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dechrist

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #46 on: November 20, 2008, 08:45:29 PM »
Double Pinochle - Big 4 - 4-6-7-10
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supernoodle

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #47 on: November 20, 2008, 09:51:01 PM »
"Taxi" when someone bowls very wide of their target

"Rip the nuts off a ball" a.k.a "Grip it and rip it"

One thing that made me laugh was a straight bowler in my league who always shouts "in the pocket!" when he is anywhere near the headpin. One night he bowled a first ball gutter and someone from behind the lane shouted "in the gutter!" and everyone wet themselves laughing.
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I would have got away with it if it was not for those pesky kids (Behind my lane) and those blasted 10 pins.
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I would have got away with it if it was not for those pesky kids (Behind my lane) and those blasted 10 pins.

backupball

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #48 on: November 20, 2008, 10:34:24 PM »
Cheesecake: high scoring center/lanes
Christmas Tree: 3-7-10 or 2-7-10
Cincinnati: 8-10
Faith, Hope, and Charity: 5-7-10
Picket Fence: 1-2-4-7 or 1-3-6-10
Poison Ivy: 3-6-10

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charlest

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #49 on: November 20, 2008, 10:37:23 PM »
quote:
When someone throws a pocket shot a leaves a 5 pin...we like to yell "Give that guy (or gal) a nickel!"...and depending on consumption of adult beverages or who it may be...we've been known to throw the nickels at them...
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"Chicks dig the trip 4" -Randy Pederson


Sometimes it's the 5/7/10.

I usually tell the members on his team:
 "we're moving him up to a 12 lb ball next week."

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

charlest

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #50 on: November 20, 2008, 10:43:44 PM »
I got one that positively archaic. I learned it from a guy who was 87 years old and still bowling:

On a light sweeping, mixer that results in a strike, he called it,
"Scrambled eggs, no bacon."

The back pin on the 2/8 or the 3/9 was once called the "mother-in-law".

The 1/2/4/7, for a righty, has been called the "picket fence".

(Haven't seen this one in the thread
4/6/7/10: double pinochle.

And, lastly, when leaving the stoned 8 pin for a righty, the only true tap in bowling, often is heard this lament,
"And he didn't get to use any vaseline either."

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

KingofKings696

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #51 on: November 20, 2008, 10:47:25 PM »
"blue board" for gutters
"Throw it out not up" when someone gets their thumb stuck in ball and throws it straight up.
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agroves

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #52 on: November 20, 2008, 11:40:28 PM »
Hit em weak, watch em freak
Better tip the lane man
Lumberjack for a guy that is a total hack

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vilecanards

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #53 on: November 20, 2008, 11:41:05 PM »
nobody has mentioned the "double-dribble"? or the "field goal" for missing a split between the pins?
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Edited on 11/21/2008 0:42 AM
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JessN16

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #54 on: November 21, 2008, 12:48:26 AM »
Bowled with a woman who, if she left the 2-8 or 3-9, would yell quite loudly, "There's a MAN in my bed!!!"

If you'd seen this woman in person, you would have known that was not a possible outcome, either in or outside of a bowling alley.

Unrelated -- if anyone is in Tuscaloosa, Ala., you might find someone who can tell you what a "Yeager strike" is. It's getting a strike when the last three pins to fall are either the 1-2-4 or 1-3-6. It's named for a former teammate of mine, Gary Yeager, who would miss the headpin quite often but somehow, still strike by taking out the 1-2-4 or 1-3-6 from behind (in other words, the 6 falling first, followed by the 3, then the 1). He'd get at least one a week.

If he took out just the 6 or the 4, it would be a "half-Yeager." Taking out the 2-4 or 3-6 would be a "three-quarters Yeager," while getting all three pins would be the "full Yeager."

Jess
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tenpinspro

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #55 on: November 21, 2008, 12:52:43 AM »
bucket with a handle = 2-4-5-8 w/ 7
twig = one board
nickel = 5 pin
dime = 10 pin
stone 7,8 or 9 = solid 7,8 or 9
ping a 10 = leaving the 10 pin
pinging = leaving mutiple weak hits
yell "wheel" when a ball is far right and downlane and ready to turn towards the pocket
make a "W" with your index, middle and ring finger meaning "weak ball" and hold it to your forehead when someone leaves a 10 pin
love tap = 6 carrys out the 10 real late..
hit'em light..watch'em fight
someone who leaves a 5 pin = "Does your husband bowl?" same expression used when coming up short on a putt (replace bowl with golf)
leaving the back row = as it sounds...
thru the face = high hit
rbf = reverse blowing 5 (Nelson Burton used it a long time ago on ABC telecast)
"Yaaaahs" (my made up term) = extreme or violent break on the backend
scout = messenger
asian scout (my term) = headpin flies in front of the 10 missing it (came up short)
spillage = lite mixer for a strike
trust is a must or your game is a bust
no drive..no five
1-2-4-7 or 1-3-6-10 = fence
brook, brooklyn, jersey, cross over  
up the gut = inside line directly to the pocket
the world (may be my term) = bowler who is carrying everything from lite, pocket to high hits.  He's got "the world"
fudging or fluffing the ball = low revs
twirler, helicopter or copter = bowler who spins the ball or has a lower track
"man in" = everyone on the team strikes in the frame but one..usually has to buy drinks
rail = split
bedposts = 7-10 leave
after leaving the bucket = want some fries with that (referencing to a bucket of chicken)
cake,ditched,juiced up, china or wall = blocked shot or nowadays ths
sahara or hooking in the parking lot = very dry conditions
blower 7 = lite hit but 5 misses the 7
can he play? = is he a good bowler
player = very good bowler
spider (my term) = bowler who never travels to other houses to bowl pot games, only bowls for money in his house or one who waits for action to come to him
call me "lightning" (my term) - cause I never strike in the same place twice...lol

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Edited on 11/21/2008 2:37 AM
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Co-Founder - Tag Team Coaching
"El" Presidente of the Legion

leftyinsnellville

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #56 on: November 21, 2008, 05:02:14 AM »
When someone hits flush and leaves a stone 8 or 9, we yell "Call a cop!"  (because they just got robbed).  Or in the same situation we'll wave our fist with the fingers pointing down and the thumb in front like we're spraying them with a hose, because they "just got hosed". (Some women have complained that it looks a little obscene...I just tell them to get their minds out of the gutter.)


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Pinbuster

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #57 on: November 21, 2008, 06:15:26 AM »
Half a loaf - 2-4-5-7-8  or 3-5-6-9-10

When a bowler looses a shot by bunch wide and misses the head pin we will use the Bob Uecker's line from the movie major league. "Just a bit out side".
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seamistlark

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #58 on: November 21, 2008, 06:49:03 AM »
The 1-3-6-10 or the 1-2-4-7 = The Four Horsemen / New England term
Heard this the past Saturday night from one of the oldtimers on our mixed league when his wife left this mess.
5-7-10 = Frankenstien
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janderson

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #59 on: November 21, 2008, 08:21:03 AM »
Sophie, TOE, THB, House Mouse, House Plant, House Rat - Typical House Bowler. "Sophie" or "TOE" generally used to describe people with the "Big Fish in Little" pond or FIGJAM mentality. A "Sophie" specifically for a THB fluffer who pipes charcoal off the wall with a single-digit rev rate at 20+mph but still averages 220+ (Different from someone with talent doing it on purpose to take advantage of the easy lane conditions).

FIGJAM - is explained in another thread
Charcoal - ball sanded down to 360 grit or less
Fluffer - bowler with a low rev rate
Big Fish in Little Pond - bowler who is on of the average leaders in a single bowling center and rarely bowls anywhere else
Shuffle, plant, and heave - describes the technique of many newer bowlers to the sport who believe more revs is the answer

TRapped - heard from a very strange group of bowlers who will say "TRapped" when leaving a single pin on a good hit (versus the older "Tapped")

THS, Wall of China, China, Bumper bowling for adults, Cheese - lane conditions that make it easy enough for a blind, one-legged monkey to score on

Mama's in the Kitchen - refers to double wood, specifically the 8 pin or 9 pin behind the 2 pin or 3 pin respectively.

Stone 7/Shaker 7 (for righties) - when the 7-pin stands after a flush/light hit respectively.


Great thread, BTW - I love reading about slang terms in other parts of the world. Let Bowlers Journal know that the posters at BR only charge $.10 per word BTW.

Edited on 11/21/2008 1:39 PM
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dewatkins

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Re: POST YOUR WEIRD/STRANGE/OUT-DATED BOWLING SLANG
« Reply #60 on: November 21, 2008, 08:57:47 AM »
6-7 Split is the Schlozman Split came from the 50-60's from a local bowling show in Kansas City where they would bowl a bracket and the winner would have one chance to pick up the 6-7 split and if he did he would win a new Ford from Schlozman Ford Dealer for a year.
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