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Balanced [Motor Sports] Perfect grip on both the front and rear tires. Not loose or pushing.

Balanced Count [Blackjack] Any counting system which has an exact balance between plus cards and minus cards. A card counting system is balanced when the sum of the card point values for the whole deck is equal to 0. An unbalanced count is when the sum of the point values is anything other than 0. Balanced counts include Hi-Low, Halves, Zen etc. Unbalanced counts include Red 7, K-O and Uston's Unbalanced Zen count.

Balanced Games [Poker] The philosophy in some public card room that keeps two games of the same type at the same limit balanced with respect to the empty seats. Rather than one full game, and one short game, two games at the same limit would have the same number of empty seats. The rules that govern when and how players can move between such games vary from card room to card room. For example, if a card room has two 20-40 hold 'em games, and 14 players, rather than seat nine players at one game and five at the other, the floor personnel ensure that the games stay at seven and seven. If one more player comes in, the games would become eight and seven. Whatever is considered the main game--sometimes the more desirable game in terms of action; sometimes the game that started first--gets the extra player when there are an odd number of players. The reason to have balanced games is so the card room doesn't lose players who might not otherwise hang around to play in a short game. What often results is two short games full of disgruntled players.

Balata [Golf] Natural or synthetic compound used as a cover material for balls. Characterized by a soft feel and high spin rate. Generally preferred by better players. Less durable than other types of balls.

Bald (Head Marking) [Horse Racing] A White face which includes the eyes, nostrils and upper lip.

Bald (Or Bald Face) [Horse Racing] White face of horse, including eyes, nostrils or part of the latter.

Balestra [Fencing] A forward hop or jump, typically followed by an attack such as a lunge or fleche.

Balisong [Martial Arts] A knife produced in the Phillipines. Also known as a "butterfly knife."

Balista, Ballista [Archery] An engine sometimes in the form of a huge crossbow, used to project darts or stone balls.

Balk [Baseball] An illegal movement by a pitcher. Balks are called for various reasons, typically if a pitcher, with runners on base, begins his motion towards home plate to throw a pitch and then stops before delivering the ball. A balk results in runners moving up one base.

Ball [Golf] The round object which we attempt to hit into the hole. Prior to the 17th century it was made of wood or wool in a leather cover. After the 17th century feathers were boiled and compressed, then sewn in a leather cover. It continued to evolve to a solid gutta percha (or a mixture with gutta percha other substances) in the 1850's and strip rubber wound around a core in the 1900's. Presently made of solid compressed synthetic rubber with hundreds of surface indentations which aid in the flight of the ball.

Ball at Rest [Golf] The ball has come to a complete stop on the fairway or green

Ball Carrier [Football] Any player who has possession of the ball.

Ball Drawing Device [Keno] The mechanical instrument used to randomly select 20 winning numbers from 80 in each Keno game.

Ball Embedded [Golf] A techinical term for a plugged ball

Ball Fake [Basketball] A fake pass or shot.

Ball Game [Keno] A keno game that uses plastic balls to represent the numbers. This is the most common type of keno game today.

Ball Gate [Bingo] The one-way metal flap at the top of the ball runway which the ball passes under to enter the main playfield area.

Ball Handler [Basketball] 1) The player in control of the ball. 2) A player known for skillful handling of the ball.

Ball Holed [Golf] A ball is holed when it is entirely below the level of the lip of the hole

Ball in Hand [Croquet] A ball that has to be picked up and moved, either before taking croquet or because it has gone out of bounds. Any player may pick up a ball that has roqueted another ball or has gone out of bounds. (see: Etiquette).

Ball in Play [Golf] A ball is in play as soon as the player has made a stroke in the tee off area. It remains in play until it is holed out except when it is out of bounds, lost, lifted or when another ball is substituted in accordance with the rules.

Ball Joint [Motor Sports] Usually refers to the outboard(wheel) end of a CV joint(halfshaft). The ball joint allows the wheel to steer and move with the suspension and still receive power from the engine. The term ball joint can also be used to refer to how suspension components are attached.

Ball Lifter [Bingo] The mechanism used to raise the ball from beneath the playfield to the ball shooter tip. Manual: A plunger below the ball shooter can be pushed in at any time to raise a ball for play. Automatic: A motor raises the ball when appropriate. On most games, a ball is raised as soon as the current ball leaves the ball gate. Some later games actually detect when a ball has fallen into a hole, and raise the next ball then.

Ball Marker [Golf] A token or a small coin used to spot the balls position on the green prior to lifting it

Ball Retriever [Golf] A pole with a scoop or net attached, used to retrieve balls from water hazards and other areas that are difficult to reach.

Ball Runway [Bingo] The channel along the right side where the ball is launched up by the ball shooter to enter the main playfield area.

Ball Shooter [Bingo] The spring loaded plunger with a rubber tip used to launch the ball into the playfield area. The rubber tip should be replaced if torn, as pitted balls will damage the playfield quickly. The rubber tip and springs are cheap and and easy to get.

Ball Size [Golf] The size of a USGA conforming ball must not be greater than 1.680” (42.67mm.)

Ball Track [Roulette] The outer, stationary rim of the roulette wheel where the ball is spun. Also called the backtrack

Ball Under [Water Polo] A foul committed when a player for takes or holds the ball underwater while being tackled by an opponent.

Ball Washer [Golf] A device found on many tees for cleaning golf balls

Ball Weight [Golf] The weight of a USGA conforming ball must not be greater than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois (45.93 grams.)

Ballast [Motor Sports] A controlled amount of weight, functionally positioned, used to help a vehicle meet class weight requirements and/or used as a tuning variable. Holeshot: Reacting quicker to the Christmas Tree starting lights to win a race agains a quikcer opponent.

Ballet [Freestyle Skating] The former name for acro.

Ballet Leg [Synchro Swimming] A position in which one leg is extended perpendicular to the water surface, while the body is in a back layout position.

Ballet Leg Double [Synchro Swimming] A position in which both legs are extended perpendicular to the water surface, with the swimmer's face at the surface.

Balling Up [Skiing] A condition of the skis when snow adheres to the running surface, and thus prevents efficient glide.

Balls [Keno] Keno balls. Similar to bingo balls or ping pong balls. Numbered 1-80.

Balls Out! [Baseball] Called by umpire to tell fielding side to throw practice balls back into the dugout as the inning is about to start.

Balsa [Bowling] A hit on the head pin with little power behind it.

Baltimore Chop [Baseball] A ground ball that hits in front of home plate (or off of it) and takes a large hop over the infielder's head.

Banana [Poker] Dollar; dollar chip.

Banana Ball [Golf] A slice that curves to the right in the shape of a banana. An extreme slice.

Banana Kick [Soccer] A type of kick that gives the ball a curved trajectory; used to get the ball around an obstacle such as a goaltender or defender.

Banco [Baccarat] [1] The Banker. [2] The term used by a player who decides to fade the entire bank bet in chemin de fer (old form of baccarat, played in Europe)

Banco Prime [Baccarat] The privilege of the player to the bank's right to fade the entire bank bet in chemin de fer (old form of baccarat, played in Europe) when there is more than one player calling banco.

Bandage [Horse Racing] Bandages used on horse's legs are three to six inches wide and are made of a variety of materials. In a race, they are used for support or protection against injury. "Rundown bandages" are used during a race and usually have a pad under the fetlock to avoid injury due to abrasion when the fetlocks sink toward the ground during weight-bearing. A horse may also wear "standing bandages," thick cotton wraps used during shipping and while in the stall to prevent swelling and/or injury.

Bandages [Horse Racing] Soft wraps used around a horse's legs for therapeutic purposes or to prevent a horse from hurting its heels on the racing surface.

Bandbox [Baseball] A small ballpark that favors hitters.

Bandesh [Martial Arts] An ancient form of Indian fighting who principle tenant is to defeat an armed enemy without killing him.

Bandit [Golf] See hustler

Bando [Martial Arts] A Burmese method of armed and unarmed combat composed of karate-like striking a kicking, judo-like throws, stick fighting, swordplay, and knife and spear fighting.

Bang on the Drum [Bingo] 71

Bang the Blower [Motor Sports] An explosion inside the supercharger caused by a flame from the combustion process accidentally re-entering the supercharger, wehre fuel and air are present. Generally caused by a stuck or broken intake valve that normall would be closed during the combustion sequence. Hydraulic: When a cylinder fills with too much fuel, thus prohibiting compression by the cylinder and causing a mechanical malfunction, usually an explosive one.

Bang the Boards [Basketball] To go after a rebound very aggressively.

Bang the Glass [Basketball] Same as bang the boards.

Bang-Bang Play [Baseball] A play in which the baserunner hits the bag a split-second before the ball arrives or vice versa.

Banjang [Martial Arts] A West Javanese style of gulat.

Bank [Blackjack] This usually refers to the total amount of money a team of players and/or investors has set aside for blackjack play. It can also refer to a single player's bankroll.

Bank Hand [Baccarat] The hand in all forms of baccarat which is dealt to last which acts last.

Bank Rate [Motor Sports] The amount the bank charges the consumer, expressed as a percentage.

Bank Shot [Basketball] A shot where the ball is first bounced (or banked) off the backboard at such an angle that it then drops into the basket.

Banked Turn [Motor Sports] A turn that's inclined so the outside area is higher than the inside area.

Banker [Poker] 1) The player who sells and buys the chips, usually in a private game. This function is often fulfilled by the host of the game. 2) The player against whom all other players play in California games, analogous to the house in a casino.

Banking [Motor Sports] The sloping of turns, which help cars negotiate corners. Zero degrees of banking would be a track that is flat while 30 degrees of banking represents a significant amount of banking. The higher the degree of banking the faster the cars can run because the do not have to slow down as much to get through the turns. The steepest banking on the Winston Cup Circuit is the 36-degree banked turns of Bristol, Tenn., and the shallowest is 12 degrees at Martinsville, Va.

Bankroll [Blackjack] The amount of money a player sets aside for gambling purposes. It can be expressed as the player's overall bankroll for the total amount of play or a session bankroll, which is the amount of money a player is prepared to bet in any individual gaming session. Another expression of bankroll often used is a player's trip bankroll, which is the amount of money a player is willing to wager during a single trip to a casino or to a gambling venue. A casino is said to have an unlimited bankroll and will cover all bets within the table limits.

Banqui, Hanqui [Archery] A short bow wrapped with rattan, Japan.

Banshay [Martial Arts] A Burmese martial art, influenced by both Chinese and Indian sources, which embrases the use of such weapons as the sword, staff and spear.

Bar [General] This term refers to those runners in a race not quoted with a price during early betting shows. For example: S.I.S quoting '14/1 bar six' means that at least 14/1 is available against any of the runners other than the six already quoted. Bookmakers do not usually lay the bar price against any named horse.

Bar / Barring [Blackjack] To exclude from play at certain tables, such as blackjack for counting or Poker for being obnoxious or cheating. Some people are "barred" from the whole casino. See also "86.",,,When a player has been prohibited from playing blackjack in a casino, usually under the threat of arrest if he tries to continue playing. Does not necessarily imply cheating or illegal activity. Not legal in Atlantic City.

Bar Plates [Horse Racing] Horseshoes with bars across the rear of the plate.

Bar Price [General] Usually used as helpful shorthand when talking about large field events, with long lists of participants. It refers to the odds of all those at the last quoted price and bigger. An example might be odds to win the English Premier League, which would read: 2/1 Manchester United, 3/1 Liverpool, 5/1 Arsenal, 8/1 Newcastle, 12/1 BAR. This shows that every other team in the betting list has odds of 12/1 or bigger.

Bar Shoe [Horse Racing] A horse shoe with a rear bar to protect an injured foot; bar shoes may be worn with aluminum pads to protect a bruised frog, or my be worn alone.

Bar the 12 [Craps] Makes the 12 a standoff (bars the 12 as a winning bet) for wrong bettors, which allows the casino to keep its advantage on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets. In some casinos the 2 is barred instead of the 12.

Barai [Martial Arts] To sweep, to block

Barb [Archery] A rearward turned point on an arrow head.

Barbara Hutton [Poker] In hold 'em, 10-5 as one's first two cards.

Barbell [Weight Lifting] The entire bar that is lifted, including the weight discs and collars.

Barber Pole [Blackjack] A bet consisting of varying colors of chips. "Barber poles are to be broken down and paid color for color." Dealers must make sure the smallest value chip is on the top to discourage "capping" of the bet.

Barc [Motor Sports] British Automobile Racing Club - Orgainising body.

Bare Bow [Archery] A bow without sights.

Barge [Sailing] A long vessel with a flat bottom used to carry freight on rivers. Barges are usually not powered, being pushed or towed by a tugboat instead.

Barmaid [Bowling] A pin that's hidden behind another pin.

Barn [Poker] A Full House, three of a kind and a pair.

Barnburner [Poker] Very good hand; likely a wheel in lowball or a high straight flush in high poker.

Barnstorming [Motor Sports] Staging of an informal series of races by a touring group, often on temporary or jury-rigged race tracks. A popular form of racing in the '30s and '40s when race cars were rare and sanctioning bodies were rarer, barnstorming has just about died out now in the U.S., although there are still some touring groups staging events such as stunt shows and demolition derbies.

Barograph [Sailing] An instrument used to keep a record of atmospheric pressure, such as on a paper drum.

Barometer [Sailing] An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure, usually measured in inches of mercury or millibars. Inches of mercury are used because some barometers use the height of mercury in a sealed tube as a measuring device.

Barometric Pressure [Sailing] Atmospheric pressure as measured by a barometer.

Barrage [Fencing] A fight-off to break a tie.

Barrelled [Archery] An arrow which is thickest in the middle and tapers to the ends.

Barren [Horse Racing] Used to describe a filly or mare that was bred and did not conceive during the last breeding season.

Barrier [Bingo] A barrier, in bingo terms, is a box section that contains playing consoles and coin slots, usually on both sides. Inside, there is a conveyor belt which moves money taken at the coin slots to a cash-box at one end of the barrier. Players sit facing each other across the barriers.

Barrier Draw [Horse Racing] The process which is performed to determine the starting position or barrier for each horse in a race. Generally, the barrier draw is conducted by a computer, however, for special races like the Miracle Mile, the barrier draw may be conducted manually in front of patrons at a paceway.

Base [Skiing] 1) The bottom of a ski; its running surface, typically coated with polyethylene or carbon fiber. 2) The bottom of a slope or mountain. 3) The average depth of snow at a ski area.

Base Coach [Baseball] A coach who stands by first or third base. The base coaches instruct the batter and base runners with a series of hand signals.

Base Dealer [Poker] A Bottom Dealer. A cheat who deals cards from the bottom of the deck. Also sometimes called b-dealer, subway dealer, or cellar dealer.

Base Hit [Baseball] A play in which the batter hits the ball in fair territory and reaches at least first base before being thrown out.

Base Line [Baseball] The white chalk lines that extend from home plate through first and third base to the outfield and up the foul poles, inside which a batted ball is in fair territory and outside of which it is in foul territory.

Base on Balls [Baseball] Also commonly referred to as a "walk". When a batter receives four pitches that are out of the strike zone, he is awarded first base.

Base on Balls (Bb) [Baseball] When a batter is awarded first base as a result of four balls being pitched outside the strike zone.

Base Position [Badminton] An area in the center of the court where a singles player usually wants to be positioned after each shot.

Base Price [Motor Sports] The price of a vehicle without options but including standard equipment, factory warranty, and freight or destination charge. This price is printed on the Monroney sticker.

Base Runner [Baseball] An offensive player who has successfully reached base or its attempting to reach base.

Base Wax [Skiing] A preparatory wax applied to the base surfaces of skis to allow klisters, grip and glide waxes to take firmer hold. 'Grundvalla' is the Swedish word for this substance.

Base Weight [Luge] A maximum weight to be carried by the luge slider, typically 75 kilograms for women's singles and 90 kilograms for men's singles. Athletes are allowed to wear additional weight, up to 75% of the difference between the body weight recorded at weigh-in and the base weight.

Base-Coat [Motor Sports] A coat of paint acting as the base for other layers to be applied.

Base-Jumping [Skydiving] Jumping from fixed objects rather than airplanes, balloons or helicopters. BASE is an acronym for Buildings, Antennae, Spans (bridges) and Earth (cliffs). Considered by most skydivers as "cool" but "not the real thing". Because after all, there is no freefall included.

Baseball [Poker] Plays the same as Seven Card Stud except that in this game, threes and nines are wild, and a four up allows you to buy an extra card. If a player gets a four up, he has the option to buy an additional card for a predetermined amount, which is then dealt up.With eight wild and extra cards, it is usually fair to say, if you ain't got 'em, get out. That is unless you are dealt a natural royal flush. BEE No. 92 (TM) n. Trade name for the "diamond back" cards frequently used in casino games.

Baseball Grip [Golf] A grip in which all ten fingers are on the club shaft, similar to the way a baseball bat is gripped.

Baseball Poker Dictionary [Poker] Baseball.

Baseline [Basketball] 1. One of the two lines that mark the lengthwise boundaries of the court. 2) A loosely defined area just inside the baseline, used in phrases such as, "He drove the baseline and made a layup."

Baseline Drive [Basketball] A drive on which the player moves along the baseline toward the basket.

Baseline Tennis [Tennis] A tactical approach whereby players remain at the baseline and attempt to wear their opponents down through long rallies, or - should the opportunity arise - to win the point with a passing shot.

Basement [Poker] Bottom of the deck; usually preceded by from the. Usually refers to the move of a bottom dealer. "I saw him coming from the basement" means I saw him deal a card from the bottom of the deck.

Baserunners Per Nine Innings [Baseball] These are the hits, walks and hit batsmen allowed per nine innings.

Bases Empty [Baseball] No runner on the bases.

Bases Loaded [Baseball] This category shows a player's batting average in bases loaded situation.

Basho [Martial Arts] Grand sumo tournaments scheduled six times each year in Japan.

Basic Rate [Motor Sports] The rate from which discounts or additions are calculated.

Basic Stance [Skiing] A position in which you might stand when about to receive a serve in tennis or squash, or when about to catch a heavy ball -- with the knees flexed forward and head over the balls of your feet, and hands reaching forward slightly.

Basic Strategy [Blackjack] A playing system defining the optimum play for any given situation. A set of rules that enables one to obtain the best possible advantage for a neutral deck situation using a given set of rules. Also called the "Zero-memory strategy" or just "Basic". Playing perfect basic strategy gives the casino between 0.5% and 1.5% advantage depending on the casino rules. If the rules or number of decks are changed, the basic strategy is also likely to change. Basic strategy is not based upon the count, but rather upon the total of the player's hand and the dealer's up card.

Basilar (Fracture) [Horse Racing] See sesamoids.

Basket [Basketball] Attached to the backboard, it consists of a metal rim 18" in diameter suspended 10' from the floor, from which a 15-18" corded net hangs, and through which points are scored; also used to refer to a successful field goal.

Basket Catch [Baseball] When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level.

Basket Interference [Basketball] See goaltending.

Baskin-Robbins [Poker] In hold 'em, 3-A as one's first two cards; from the ice cream chain's "31 Flavors."

Bastard String [Archery] A string used to draw the bow of a crossbow so that the regular string can be strung.

Baston [Martial Arts] A wooden or rattan stick or cane of varying lengths used in the Filipino martial arts.

Bastonero [Martial Arts] Students and practitioners of anis de mano.

Bat [Baseball] Instrument used by the hitter while batting. In the ABL bats made of aluminium or wood. The bat must be no longer than 42 inches and no wider then 2 3/4 inches. Players are allowed to cover the first 8 inches of the bat’s handle so they can grip it better.

Bat on Ball [Baseball] Form of encouragement called out to a batter, often with a proper noun as in "C'mon, bat on ball, Bazza!"

Batten [Sailing] (1) A thin strip of hard material, such as wood or plastic. (2) Battens are attached to a sail to stiffen it to a more preferred shape. They are placed in pockets sewn into the sail called batten pockets. (3) Battens also used to be used to secure hatches.

Batten Down [Sailing] Also batten the hatches. To put away all loose objects on the ship and to close all openings, such as ports and hatches, in preparation for heavy weather. Hatches used to be secured with battens.

Batten Pockets [Sailing] Pockets in a sail where battens can be placed to stiffen the sail.