# "Brooklyn" strike? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814 "2001-08-03T17:56:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![holdenmagroin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@holdenmagroin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holdenmagroin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/1 "2001-08-03T17:56:33Z")
I posted this before and never got a real answer so I’ll try again. Why is brooklyn strike called a brooklyn strike? (for those who don’t know, it’s when you get a strike by hitting the opposite pocket in bowling, for instance, the ball hitting the 1-2 pocket for a rightie) Someone mentioned something about Brooklyn being on the other side of the river… ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/2 "2001-08-03T18:31:59Z")
I’ve always heard it called a Jersey strike, and probably for much the same reason - it’s the opposite side of where you wanted (or expected) to be. IANANYD[sup]\*[/sup], but I expect there have been numberless incidents of trying to get somewhere in NYC but you end up crossing that damn bridge into Jersey despite your best efforts. [sup]\*[/sup]I Am Not A New York Driver ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/3 "2001-08-03T19:34:11Z")
When I grew up (in OK) it was called a Granny Strike. No explaination was given. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/4 "2001-08-04T01:25:28Z")
Lighter cites it first in print in 1949. I think **Olentzero** nailed it. If you are a New Yorker or a New Jerseyite and hit the pocket on the opposite side, it would be a “Brooklyn.” If you were from Brooklyn, it would be a “Jersey.” ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/5 "2001-08-04T02:17:25Z")
Almost right. I’ve never heard anyone from any part of NYC call it “Brooklyn”- it’s always “Jersey”. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/6 "2001-08-04T02:24:45Z")
\<\\> FIRST, Joisey steals the Statue of Liberty. NOW THIS??? Will the indignities NEVER end??? :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [August 4, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brooklyn-strike/74814/7 "2001-08-04T02:32:23Z")
I still like my cite from the last time: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=72973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=72973)