The Five Questions Bowlers Most Frequently Ask

Q. What are the odds of rolling a 300 game?

A. There is no scientific way to determine this. The unscientific method, however, involves the number of games bowled and number of sanctioned 300 earned in a bowling season. It is estimated league bowlers roll an average of 100 games per season (90 league, 10 tournament). With about four million sanctioned league bowlers rolling about 400 million games and more than 35,000 perfect games rolled each year, the odds are about one 300 for approximately every 11,500 games. Since women and youth roll far fewer 300s than men, their odds are much greater.

Q. What is the origin of the term "Dutch 200?"

A. The Dutch 200 refers to a game in which strikes and spares are alternated. The term is believed to be a take-off of "Dutch treat" where two people share the cost of a date. Strikes and spares share the game in alternate frames in a "Dutch treat 200" manner which with usage was reduced to "Dutch 200."

Q. What is the origin of the term "Brooklyn strike?"

A. This refers to shots that "crosses over" the 1-3 pocket for right-handers and 1-2 for left-handers and produces a strike. It originated in New York where people would "cross over" to Brooklyn from Manhattan. A side term "Jersey side" references left-handers and refers to people crossing over from Manhattan to New Jersey.

Q. What is the origin of the term "Turkey?"

A. The term dates back to before the turn of the 20th century. In those years, scoring was much more difficult and to get three strikes in a row was quite an achievement. During Thanksgiving or Christmas week, the proprietor would present a live turkey to the first person on each team who scored three consecutive strikes. The term has carried over ever since.

Q. What is the bowling capital of the United States?

A. This depends on the criteria used. If it is for sheer number of bowlers, Detroit is the hands-down winner. If it's because Bowling Headquarters has long been located there, it's Milwaukee. If it's because of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, St. Louis wins. Or if it's best access to bowling, it's Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis., which according to the Places Rated Almanac has 522 residents per lane.