# How do you write this noise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341 "2000-11-08T17:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/1 "2000-11-08T17:42:50Z")
I am making a comic book and there’s a frame where the characters are bowling. I need to write out a noise that sounds like when the bowling ball hits the pins solidly? C’mon, I know you all know what that sounds like- But how do you write it? BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOWLING!!! ---
**Author:** ![MadHatter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MadHatter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadHatter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/2 "2000-11-08T18:01:06Z")
Pins don’t speak… but… I would use “clang”. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/3 "2000-11-08T18:08:51Z")
I hear it as: rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! In my case, it would then be followed by expletives. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DoZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@DoZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoZ)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/4 "2000-11-08T18:10:56Z")
I think “BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOWLING!!!” is very clever and evocative. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/5 "2000-11-08T18:27:11Z")
I would do something comical. Something absurd. Something that doesn’t sound anything at all like a bowling ball solidly hitting bowling pins. Like: Boppity-boppity-boing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/6 "2000-11-08T18:35:02Z")
I always thought it would be “CRASH!!!” Unless you’re going for the comic-y sound, in which case, stick with the “BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOWLING!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/7 "2000-11-08T18:35:04Z")
I would consider it a **"Crash! Rattle… Rattle…"** But that’s just me. **"Pohk! Crash! Rattle… Rattle…"** might work too. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Sang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Le\_Sang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Sang)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/8 "2000-11-08T18:35:17Z")
i think that I would use krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrKaTHUNKachicachicachic but then, for the sound of a guy running into a brick wall my friend and I used B’thouak, so I may not be the best at this… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/9 "2000-11-08T18:36:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! > \*\* This is the best description of the sound of bowling I have ever read. I second this one. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/10 "2000-11-08T18:40:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > > \*\*rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! > > \*\* > > This is the best description of the sound of bowling I have ever read. I second this one. \*\* I agree. PWOCK! is a great word for that sound. I think it might bring bowling to mind even if you heard it out of context. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/11 "2000-11-08T18:52:31Z")
Not to be nitpicky, I do appreciate your input, but I tend to associate rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! With candlepin bowling. I need ten-pins. But i have to agree that rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! is a perfect sound for those sticklike candlepins and little canonball that strikes them. What about the BIG balls, though? BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOWLING! and rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! The only problem here is it will take more creativity on my part to fit a word like that into a frame. CLANG! or CLOING! Those are a bit accurate because I hear a faint hint of a ringing sound when the pins are struck. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/12 "2000-11-08T18:53:17Z")
Gee, thanks, guys… mebbe I’m in the wrong line of work. I see a career as a comic strip Foley artist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/13 "2000-11-08T20:12:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turpentine \*\*\* > What about the BIG balls, though? > \*\* I got big balls, she’s got big balls… It’s my opinion that balls should be held every night ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/14 "2000-11-08T20:16:35Z")
Clonk. Clonkety-clink-crash! ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/15 "2000-11-08T21:19:05Z")
“rrrrrrrrrPWOCK-OCK-ock!” is how I’d imagine tenpins. I like “BOOOOOOOWLING!” too. How about “STRIKE!” ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/16 "2000-11-08T21:54:00Z")
If rrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! is the sound of candlepin bowling, it seems logical that rrrrrrrrRRRRRRRrrrrrTHAWOKKA!!! would be the sound of tenpins taking it from the big balls. ---
**Author:** ![jjjfishe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jjjfishe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjjfishe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/17 "2000-11-08T22:11:50Z")
POINK… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/18 "2000-11-08T22:14:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjjfishe \* > \*\*POINK… \*\* THAT’S the sound of my head when I don’t pay attention getting into my van… followed by expletives ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/19 "2000-11-09T01:53:16Z")
FTR, my favorite noise-sound for the noise of someone hitting something accidentally - i.e., a car hitting a cow; your hand hitting someone’s face as you make that grand gesture and turn at the same time, etc. - is POTCH!!! Not that it fits into the bowling scheme, but hey, you never know when you might need it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341/20 "2000-11-09T05:10:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*I hear it as: > rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPWOCK! > In my case, it would then be followed by expletives. 😃 \*\* I think PWOCK is more the sound you get when you hit someone upside the head with a lemon (or any other large softball sized fruit). My suggestion would be: rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrKerfarflrgarg (I know it may not be the most accurate represenation, but its a doozy to look at.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-write-this-noise/40341.md?page=2)