I am prefectly willing to take a zero for the frame for every Brooklyn strike I get. As long as everyone else does too. In fact I wish the rules would give you a zero. Its a total miss and should not be rewarded by the highest score count in the game.

I have maybe one or two Brooklyn strikes a month.

Erin

Well said Erin! This entire thread sums up the continual sad state of bowling, where bowlers discuss the benefits of carrying Brooklyn strikes, instead of focusing on hitting the pocket. And, where a bowler is rewarded for buying the lastest, greatest bowling ball to create inflated scores, in conjection with easy house shots. The reality is: the state of the bowling game will continue to erode until we all take 3 steps back to move 2 steps forward.

I guess I'm just old school where,

1. Brooklyn bad (no matter what the excuse)
2. Pocket good

LOL

It is a little sad when bowlers would rather aim and take a great chance at a Brooklyn strike rather then pick up corner pin spares. To me the risk of not getting quite over to the Brooklyn side resulting in a split should compensate for having to pickup corner spares.

I have never bowled a condition where aiming Brooklyn was the best and last option.

Erin

I completely and unapologetically disagree. A strike is a strike. As a matter of fact, I see this viewpoint as being kind of elitist. Very sad.

I will admit, that quite often, you hear another bowler congratulate some one for getting a Brooklyn strike. Hey, it was a mistake.

but, I have bowled on lanes that the back end was so fried that no matter what I tried, I couldn't keep the ball off the nose, no matter how I killed the ball, or moved on the lane, or changed my release.

There was one instance, and only 1, where I pulled out my plastic spare ball to shoot. but, that was just hitting flat. I don't leave 5-7's, but did that night. And, when I left an 8-10, I decided to change to the Brooklyn. I routinely shoot a washout with my spare ball from the left side, going into the Brooklyn pocket. So, that is what I did. I felt that on that particular condition, it was my only recourse.

I'm like Erin, Where I believe a Brooklyn strike is the result of me screwing up somewhere along the line. I feel a bit sheepish sometimes, But of course I'll take them..lol. It evens out eventually for the most part, making up for the times you left a ringing 10 pin on what you thought was a perfectly executed shot.

I hate getting beat by them though. It happened to us last season more than once. Guys were striking with all kinds of silly stuff, some times not even hitting the head pin at all,..and striking. Not much you can do about that when you have that working against you.

Why not point it from the right gutter at the pocket? If you can learn a release that gives 5 or 10 degrees of axis rotation, you can point it at the 3 pin and get a board or 2 of hook. You'll have better carry that way.

If you're going to throw straight, at least throw across the headpin (1-2 from right gutter, or 1-3 from left gutter) in order to increase the mixing action.

Well, maybe because I couldn't get enough finish and drive on entry. Since, my spare ball does slide. I would get some deflection. The Brooklyn shot was better.

Actually, a teammate did this first, and we both shot for the Brooklyn for the final game. We made average, others didn't.

I'm a 160-170 average guy and still learning. If bowling with similar skilled people in competition, I am happy to get the strike but only to keep me in the game so I can get it right in the next frame. I feel myself watching saying- oh no I missed, then saying oh- maybe a brooklyn-yes.... Then try to adjust and execute a proper shot next frame. Right now I approach the game by wanting a clean game making all spares and however many strikes I fit in there just elevates the score. If I get a brooklyn- fine- but I'd never intentionally try for one. If a lower average bowler like myself gets a 234- a "nice Job" should be in order. Otherwise I think it's just best to say nothing and beat your opponent next time.

You can't punish a bowler for what they bowl. Would you also take away Mixers? late trips? Would you then reward better shots? Give strikes to stone 8s? You bowl what you bowl.