Definitions
Laydown Board:
Actual board the ball lands on when it first contacts the lane.
Arrow Board:
Board the ball was on while crossing the arrows. The distance for this measurement is based on splitting the length of each arrow, and drawing a line from the center of each arrow to the next, creating an inverted V from gutter to gutter. The board that the ball is on when crossing this line is considered the Arrow Board.
Breakpoint Board:
Board the ball was on at the breakpoint. Breakpoint is determined as the point the ball is the farthest from the center line of the lane, or the point at which the ball has changed direction from rolling away from the pocket to hooking toward the pocket.
Entry Board:
Board the ball was on just before it contacted the pins. In DigiTrax the distance for this measurement is 715 inches from the foul line, or 59.58 feet.
Launch Angle:
Angle the ball is traveling during the launch, or the front part of the lane. A negative number is moving away from the head pin, and a positive number is moving towards the head pin. A zero angle would be traveling straight down the lane parallel with the boards.
Breakpoint Distance:
Distance from the foul line when the ball reached its breakpoint. It is the distance where the ball is down the lane at the apex of the hook portion of its path down the lane, and when the ball reaches the breakpoint board.
Hook Power:
This is the speed or how strong the balls movement is traveling horizontally towards the pocket from the breakpoint. This is not the speed traveling down the lane, it is the speed or how strong at which the ball is traveling side to side. A higher number indicates a stronger movement to the pocket; a lower number indicates a smoother movement towards the pocket from the breakpoint.
Alpha Angle:
The combined angle movement of the ball. It is calculated using the launch and entry angles to give a total angle change or movement of the shot.
Entry Angle:
Angle the ball is traveling just prior the entering the pin deck. A positive number indicates traveling towards the pocket; a negative angle indicates movement away from the pocket.
Launch MPH:
The ball speed average during the launch portion of the shot. This is considered the skid portion of ball motion.
Midlane MPH:
The ball speed average during the transition part of the lane, or the breakpoint area. This is considered the hook portion of ball motion.
Entry MPH:
The ball speed average during the entry portion of the shot. This is considered the roll portion of ball motion.
Loft Distance:
This is the distance the ball traveled in the air before contacting the lane. It is measured from the foul line.
Launch (LBC):
This is the total boards covered or crossed from the board the ball contacted the lane on (Laydown Board) to the breakpoint board.
Backend BC (BBC):
This is the total boards covered or crossed from the breakpoint board to the entry board.
Total BC (TBC):
This is the total boards covered or crossed from the time the ball contacts the lane to the entry board at the pins