Is it wrong????

[J Anderson]

It certainly isn't wrong to not know the pin numbers. I've been bowling since 1975 and still have to think about what the pin number is when I need a pin reset. It does make it much easier to talk to other bowlers, whether you're bragging about converting the 6-7 split or griping about having a good game going and then leaving the 4-6 in the tenth.
Do I think pin numbers during the game? Heck no! I'm really thinking," I left the pin to the right of the head pin and the one behind it, I need to to stand on this board and target the third arrow.

[gergy22]

The guy making fun of you was wrong. If you don't know the meaning of PAP, that doesn't necessarily matter but would be good to have a ball driller that knows it and takes time to apply that to any new equipment you were to buy. Not knowing the pins, probably doesn't matter at all. That said, if improvement is the goal, knowledge is going to be a great thing to gain. I bowled with a lady in a tournament the other day and I was telling her to make moves and her lack of knowledge prevented her from doing so properly. Long story short, more knowledge about most aspects of the game is necessary for improvement. Knowing pin numbers is not one of the necessary pieces of knowledge to have though. Good luck and good bowling.

[gergy22]

That guy was wrong for making fun of you. Learning the game will help you improve in certain areas of your bowling but learning pins isn't necessarily one of them. Learning about equipment may help you find bowling balls that match your game better. Learning lane play will help your scoring, but know what spare your shooting at doesn't help you pick it up. forget him, keep practicing and good luck

[briar_fan]

The diagram helped a lot. I will say that I do know what I have to do to pick up spares or to make a ball carry through sometimes. I have started asking one of my friends about the lingo they use when they talk and he is gracious and patient enough to explain (i.e. Greek Church...LMAO). He was talking to me the other night and mentioned that, and started laughing at the blank stare I gave him. Anywho, thanks for all the help and responses to my question.

[littlelegs]

And for a quick reply to the PAP without going too technical.

PAP = Positive Axis Point. It's basically where the center of the ball is when it rotates from your release. That enables the driller to position your finger holes correctly in relation to the weight block in the middle of the ball. Think of a spinning top - the PAP is the middle of the disc i.e. center of the spin. It's the same with a ball.

Hmmm...reading that back that's either going to make perfect sense or really confuse. Oh well.

[bowl1820]

For some info on the PAP take a look at Talkbowlings video
What is and how do you find the Positive Axis Point (PAP)?

[J Anderson]

A lot of the lingo is regional. Here in CT a ball hitting the wrong pocket is called a 'Brooklyn'. A friend who grew up in PA calls it 'going Jersey'. And it changes as well. The 'big four' split, ( e.i. the 4-6-7-10 ) used to be called 'double pinocle'.

[DaveAyotte]

I thought "going jersey" was when it was a lefty hitting the wrong pocket... that's what I heard anyway. I've been working on getting a 6-bagger called a turducken though. (Think about it, Turkey in a Turkey -it makes sense.) I was even on ESPN with a poster for it, HA!

[J Anderson]

Shouldn't that be for 9 in a row, a turkey of turkeys?

[bowl1820]

I thought "going jersey" was when it was a lefty hitting the wrong pocket... that's what I heard anyway. I've been working on getting a 6-bagger called a turducken though. (Think about it, Turkey in a Turkey -it makes sense.) I was even on ESPN with a poster for it, HA!

Lets see
1 strike is a Strike
2 strike a Double
3 strikes is a Turkey (Which I believe came from houses (Back when), where if you got three strikes in a row. They gave you a Turkey.)
4 strikes use to be just a Four bagger, But Hambone is coming to a dubious popularity. (Hambone is a term made up at the start of the 2007-2008 Pro Bowlers Association (USA) season on ESPN by new announcer Rob Stone.)
5 strikes is a Five Bagger
6 strikes is a Six Pack.
7 and up don't really names other than local names.


In regards to the OP's question.
I think other than a casual, open bowler (maybe even then). You should at least know how the pins are numbered. If your in a league, you should at least know the pin numbers, that the arrows are on every fifth board and what board the dots on the approach are on.

So you'll know what you left, what you aimed at on the lane and where you stood on the approach.