Dead Apple Meaning in Bowling

A dead apple describes a bowling ball that has no spin or power when it finally reaches the pins. This usually happens when the ball is released poorly or loses all its energy while sliding through heavy oil. Because the ball has no “life” it fails to scatter the pins and often leaves several standing. It is a frustrating result for players who expect their ball to drive through the pins with force. For example his throw looked good at first but it hit the pins like a dead apple. A dead apple is a weak and ineffective hit that lacks the energy to create a strike. His throw looked good at first but it hit the pins like a dead apple.