We bowlers toss around terms that have become second-nature to us; but, which may not register with beginners. It's like talking ERA's, RBI's, and Batting Averages to someone who is not into baseball. Everybody has to start somewhere, so for you who are just starting to bowl, here are some words and phrases we bowlers may use without thinking about whether you understand them.

Open Bowling (Open Play) - when you go to your local bowling center, get a lane, and bowl.

League Bowling - when people form teams and compete on a regular basis for set periods of time based on the number of teams that sign up.

Tournament Bowling - a "special" event that pits your individual, team, doubles, or trio skills against a field of bowlers.

Bowling Average (average) - when you compete in a league, you will establish this. It is basic mathematics in that the total pins of the games you bowl are added up and divided by the number of games that you bowl. At the simplest level, let's say you bowl a 197 game, then your average is 197; if you bowl a 197 and a 155, your average is 176 (352 divided by 2); and if you bowl 197, 155, and 168, your average is 173.333 (520 divided by 3). Fractions are always rounded down.

Handicap - a league or tournament will set a base average, subtract your average from it, and then multiply it by a certain percentage. This yields a number that's added on to the game you bowl to give a final score. Let's say the league or tournament states that the handicap is based on 80% of the difference between your average and 210. You have a 155. Your handicap for that competition will be 44 (210 minus 155 multiplied by 80 percent).

Scratch - zero or no handicap. In the above "Handicap" example, anyone who averages 209 and above will be a "scratch" bowler because they will receive zero handicap. There are also "Scratch Leagues" or "Scratch Tournaments" where everybody bowls without any handicap regardless of their average. The PBA is a scratch competition.

Do you want to go do some open bowling? Do you want to join a league? What's your average? How many pins do you get? Are you planning to enter the tournament? Even if you're not a regular league bowler, you should now be able to answer these questions.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)