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What happens when a bowling ball enters the gutter?
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Tommy Jones competing in the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions final in Uncasville, Conn., April 1, 2007.
When a bowling ball enters the gutter, it is referred to as a gutter ball. Because the ball has entered the depressed troughs located on either side of the lane, it is considered out of play. Consequently, the delivery is forfeited, and the player loses the opportunity to knock down any pins with that specific roll.1