Because of what happened last night I wanted to start a thread to get everyone’s opinion on Brooklyn strikes.

I was living out on what for me is the edge, trying to hit the 4 or 5 board to the pocket. I have a tendency to once in awhile while I am playing this line to plunk one in the channel or hang it out so far I miss the pocket all together. I think as a result I was subconsciously hitting the 7 board most of the time and blasting the Brooklyn pocket. After a very rough practice and first 3 frames where everything was high I was relieved to have a strike ball working but I was crossing over probably about 75% of the time. I was nailing the Brooklyn pocket and blasting the pins into oblivion so in all honesty I was not that concerned. I even hit the Brooklyn light a few times and carried. In the past like most of us I have missed the mark a few times and carried a Brooklyn but this was just crazy. Even crazier was when I did hit the regular pocket flush several times it did not carry.

A fellow bowler (A pretty good bowler I should add) once told me that if your line is so that the Brooklyn is more effective or it is where you are hitting and carrying there is nothing wrong with that. I don’t think a lot of people share this opinion but after last night I was left feeling that if that was where I was most effective why mess with success. If not for those first 3 frames and a concentration meltdown in the last game I could have rode that line to my highest series since my comeback.

So I am interested to hear opinions about Brooklyn strikes. I found out last night that when you bowl a 234 with a ton of Brooklyn’s you do not get anywhere close to the respect you are given if you bowl a 234 with solid regular pocket hits. This was a one of a kind night that will likely never happen again but I felt the shame that goes with crossing over and “getting lucky” all night long.

I use to get really upset at Brooklyn strikes because it meant I was missing my mark....bad. My goal is to find my way to the 1-3 pocket and stay there. With how many times I've been robbed on good pocket hits I've learned to be thankful for every strike I get.

It hasn't happened in years but if I was to have a night where a bunch of cross overs got me in the 230 range I wouldnt worry about respect. I'd take it as a lucky game and make adjustments in the next one. When I see people bowling against me carry the opposite side all night I dont look at it as their ability. I see it as them missing by a lot and being rewarded for it. It happens a lot though, it hurts worse when it's in handicap leagues.

I dont really get upset on broklyn strik i will adjust off of it though. I seen people get upset if they get one and i see opposing team members get upset they cant carry perfect pocket hits while others can carry broklyns. Too me it all looks the same on score boards.

I had someone tell me yesteday when i shot a 229 it was worse 229 he ever saw because i happened to get some messenger slice out the ten pin. I take it either way i can get them.

I'll take the brooklyn strikes. I'm not as happy about them but they're still a strike. It's pretty annoying to go broklyn and watch it hit flat and leave the 5 or 5-9 I think it is. Powerful brooklyn strikes are fun to see. Either way, I never adjust for brooklyn. Always go for the 1-3, I believe unless you're in extreme conditions there's always a way to score.

They're the best miss you can get. So be happy that you were "lucky" enough to put down all ten and not leave a 5 pin or something worse. Simply adjust and let it be.

Of course if it's me who gets a Brooklyn strike I will take it, especially if I am having a bad game to begin with. I will also high five a member of the opposing team if they get a 4 or a 5-bagger, but not if that string consists of Brooklyn strikes. I don't congratulate luck or bad bowling.

johnw,

Your post kind of sums up the lack of respect. I think a lot of it in my case Tursday night was jealousy because the regular pocket was really touchy and I kind of by accident found a way to score bigger than anyone else that particular night. Actually I consider it good bowling because through 6 practice balls and the 3 first balls I had moved everywhere and was unable to find anything but the nose so I finally locked in on something that worked very well. In the past I would have ended up with a mid 400 series on a night like that. I was just in one of those zones where if I hit it flush regular pocket, a little high, or Brooklyn I was getting 9 or better most of the time. My 2 huge splits came when I hit the regular pocket light which was what a lot of the other bolwers were struggling with. I did not have that problem because I was crossing over and throwing crushing strikes.

I myself tend to not get too upset if someone is getting lucky because I think we all have those nights and that is part of the thrill of the game. I think people who say things like what that guy said to Brandon is wrong. Why even bother to say something like that is the worst 229 game unless you are jealous. The proof is in Execution and if someone executes and gets the scores because the ball is reacting a certain way so be it, no need to belittle their accomplishment.

In looking back I actually was exactly half and half in Brooklyn and Regular pocket hits on the night (7 & 7). I guess it just seems like more because normally I would only corss over a few times a night.

What someone thinks and what someone does when people carry over is different. If someone finds it necessary to tell you your 229 was weak they are just pissed they didn't shoot as high or lost the game due to that score. It could be them checking your mental game too. I never make it a point to down play someone's score or what ever. I give them their celebratry hand slap like it was a dead flush hit. If we lose a tight game and I see a bunch of cross overs from their team I may not like it but it is what it is, accept it and move on.

Most people can't and won't carry Brooklyn all night, all series or all league. Chances are if they are off that much they will pay for it sooner or later. It's part of developing your average. My favorite part is when they actually do make adjustments and find 10 pins lol

I dont think you should get mad at anyone or up them down - who happens to be carrying good that night. We all have nights we have terrific carry and then some nights we can get a break. Its bowling suppose to be fun that why i bowl. I keep cheering people on no matter how they get there strike.

I seen a guy get broklyn for 300 on last ball. Yeah it was lucky but hey it still a great achievement.

Be honest with yourself. Were you lining up to strike on the Brooklyn or were you crossing over from where you were trying to hit and carried strikes on the Brooklyn?

If a person was trying to hit the opposite pocket and was doing it with success, more power to them. If however someone was trying to hit their own pocket and missed and crossed over, that's a completely different story.

For me personally, I'll apologize for strikes where I crossed over. Again, for me it's a bad shot that where I got a lucky result. On sport patterns when I've thrown a couple in a game and managed a decent score, I'm still disappointed. There's a difference between bowling well and scoring well. I'm happier when I execute well and don't get breaks than when I execute poorly and get lucky breaks.

The lack of respect you talk about is because it's not a good shot. It's a bad shot that happened to strike.