If there is one place you cannot resist going back to again and again, it’s a bowling alley. And no, we don’t mean for the scrumptious bowling alley food, which always manages to taste even better after winning a game.
The sound of the bowling balls hitting the pins and knocking them to the ground is completely addictive, especially when you show off and score one of those ego-boosting strikes.
But the bowling scoreboard can be quite frustrating to understand, especially if you don’t know the basic terminologies.
So what exactly is a Brooklyn in bowling? You cannot possibly stop the game to ask your friends that. That’s embarrassing. So who do you ask? Us, of course!
Brooklyn in bowling does not mean the iconic place in New York City, even though it has something to do with its name. It is something totally different, something that will blow your mind!
What is a Brooklyn in Bowling?
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “Brooklyn” is, of course, New York. But if you are a novice bowler, you’ll be surprised to learn that there is a “Brooklyn” in bowling as well.
A Brooklyn is a bowling shot where the ball strikes a spot between the first and second pins. But this is only for right-handers; if you are a lefty, your Brooklyn shot would be the bowling ball hitting the spot between the first and third pins. But what is so different about Brooklyn? (Again, the shot, not the place!)
It’s not a normal shot where the ball simply rolls toward the first and second or the first and third pins. Let us visualize a Brooklyn, starting with all right-handers.
It happens when you aim a bowling ball at the center of the pins, but it defies your orders and steers to the left, hitting the first and second pins. There you have it, a Brooklyn!
Now, for the lefties, we mustn’t forget to leave them out! Think of yourself throwing a ball at the center of the pins, visualizing a strike, but the ball moves slightly towards the right and hits the first and third pins. There you go, another Brooklyn!
It is pretty much a perfect shot gone slightly wrong at the end. But it’s not a complete failure, as you always hit a few pins if not all. A win is a win, whether it’s a strike or a Brooklyn!
Brooklyn’s Bowling History
You may wonder why this slightly askew shot is named after one of the most popular regions in the world. It’s the right connection to make.
Most people believe that this name comes from New York City’s iconic Brooklyn side. You know, the one, the place with the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge you probably first saw as a kid in Dumbo.
But how does Brooklyn the place link to Brooklyn the shot? Some people think the connection comes from the Brooklyn Bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and the Brooklyn shot hitting the pins at an unexpected angle.
What is a Brooklyn Strike?
If you are into bowling and the Brooklyn shot has piqued your interest, you may be thinking of another similar name you might have heard. Let me guess, you’re wondering about the Brooklyn strike.
The Brooklyn strike is quite simple. It occurs when you throw the bowling ball at one side, and it ends up going to another. But there is nothing to be sympathetic about if the shot becomes a Brooklyn strike!
The ball may not go in the direction you wanted it to, but it strikes the pins and throws all of them to the ground in one go. Brooklyn strike!
If you think about it, a Brooklyn strike is better than a normal strike. You throw the ball in one direction, and it hits all 10 pins.
You have a strike, but it’s not that exciting. But then someone else comes and throws the ball in one direction; it ends up going in the opposite direction, and bam! Hits all 10 pins. The Brooklyn strike makes it exciting!
So the next time you are out bowling with your friends and your ball goes the wrong way, don’t lose hope. The Brooklyn strike may rescue you at the last moment; you never know!
Should You Try to Get a Brooklyn Strike?
A Brooklyn strike can be fascinating; you can expect a few pats on your back if you manage one. But should you really try it intentionally? We are not stopping you, but some experts believe this shot shows a mistake in your throw.
They say that bowling is very different from soccer: you should aim at what you want to achieve instead of indulging in such deceptions.
But that is just one side of the story. Other bowlers believe there are no rights and wrongs as long as you don’t get a foul. A hit is a hit; there are no mistakes when a ball hits all the pins and knocks them down.
If you want to learn to throw a Brooklyn strike, go for it! We support you! But keep in mind that not everyone would, especially the stricter bowlers who believe you should always play by the book in bowling.
How to Throw a Brooklyn Shot
Has the Brooklyn shot spiked your interest? We totally get it. It’s an interesting shot, for sure, and it’s only natural for you to want to learn more about it. But you should keep in mind that most Brooklyn shots are not intentional: they are a gift from the Gods of Fate.
Even if you don’t believe in the bowling Gods, you should know there is one regulating the Brooklyn shots.
He may alter your footing a bit, make you release the ball a couple of nanoseconds late, or just make the lanes a bit slicker that day. Whatever the cause may be, you can get a Brooklyn shot with pure luck alone.
So give it a shot on your own, experimenting with different techniques until you find that signature bowl. We’re sorry to have to inform you, but there is no hard and fast rule on how to score a Brooklyn shot.
You will have to try it out yourself. But one thing’s for sure: you may nail it even without trying at times, courtesy of the God of Brooklyn shots.
How Brooklyn is Different from Other Bowling Shots
As you now know, the Brooklyn shot is named after New York City’s iconic region, so how can it be unlike all other normal bowling shots? A Brooklyn shot is just like an insolent child who does not listen to what you say but ends up doing what you asked them for.
You throw the bowling ball at one side, and it ends up going to the other. But it does the job: it does hit all 10 pins and strikes them to the ground. So you cannot really be mad at the Brooklyn shot, just as you can’t at the insolent child.
The way a bowling ball is thrown is what makes the Brooklyn shot so different from a regular one. Even if both shots hit all ten pins, would you call a Brooklyn shot and a normal strike the same? Not at all. One goes straight, while the other disassociates from reality and slides to the other side.
We agree that the perfect strike in bowling is the one where the ball beautifully glides across the alley. It hits the pins in the middle with a good force and strikes them all down. A Brooklyn shot doesn’t do that, but it has its own beauty that you can’t deny.
At the end of the day, whether you get a Brooklyn shot or a perfect strike doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that you win and have a great time while winning.
Advantages of Mastering the Brooklyn Shot
Even though the Brooklyn shot is not celebrated in the bowling world, it is still a nice technique to master. You can learn it to impress your date or excite your friends with a strike never seen before.
The conventional strike is great but is a little plain. Why not think outside the box and learn new tricks?
Plus, the Brooklyn shot can be a great alternative for the bad days when you just can’t seem to hit the pins right. It can even be your calling card, a way to summon the God of Fate and ask him to ease your bowling battles.
And, of course, a perfectly executed Brooklyn shot can keep your opponents on their toes, making them wonder how many more tricks you have up your sleeve. It’s always good to be unpredictable in sports.
Conclusion
A Brooklyn shot is mesmerizing. It seems to defy the laws of science. You throw the ball in one direction, but it ends up going in the other. You think that you have lost your turn and are about to lose hope when the ball strikes the pins and knocks them all to the ground.
Moral of the story? It is the destination that counts, even if the journey is not what you expected. That may be too poetic for bowling, but it’s still true!
We hope you learned a new bowling trick with this guide and are motivated to practice it to baffle your friends. We support you! Happy bowling and striking!
FAQs
What is a Brooklyn shot in bowling?
A: The Brooklyn shot is amazing. It happens when you throw the ball in one direction, and it goes in the other. But it still manages to hit all ten pins!
Can I train to master the Brooklyn shot?
A: Of course! You can absolutely train to learn the Brooklyn shot. You’ll be surprised to know that most of them happen by chance, but that doesn’t mean you cannot master them through determination!
Are all bowling lanes the same when it comes to Brooklyn shots?
A: Yes, most bowling lanes are almost the same. But you may find some differences in their surfaces. Some may be more oiled, whereas others can be bone-dry.