# bowling question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-question/67439 "2001-06-03T17:31:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![holdenmagroin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@holdenmagroin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holdenmagroin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-question/67439/1 "2001-06-03T17:31:49Z")
Why is it called “brooklyn” when the ball hits the head pin on the opposite side of the pocket? I’ve been bowling for years and always wondered this. ---
**Author:** ![funguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@funguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funguy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2001, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-question/67439/2 "2001-06-03T18:43:49Z")
i dont have an answer but where i am from i and others have always called a brooklyn strike a jersey strike ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-question/67439/3 "2001-06-04T01:07:34Z")
From [http://www.bofish.net/writers/korth4.htm:](http://www.bofish.net/writers/korth4.htm:) > [@](#): > > Q. What is the origin of the term Brooklyn strike? > > A. Thanks to several readers who all came up with the same answer. I feel comfortable with this answer. Vanita and Will LeVasseaur, Ray and Georgine > > Boyles and Chuck Dunn are my sources. In the early days when the bowlers in New Jersey went to the left of the head pin the ball “went across the river (the Hudson) to Brooklyn” Soon this was shortened to just “Brooklyn”. The bowlers in Brooklyn called it a Jersey strike but it became commonly known as a brooklyn. Maybe Jersey had more bowlers. Sounds plausible, anyway.