Why is the opposite pocket in bowling called Brooklyn?

Answer 1

It's only a Brooklyn strike if a right-handed bowler goes to the left of the headpin; a left-handed bowler would have to hit to the right side of the headpin instead.

The term originates from a long-standing rivalry between bowlers from New York and New Jersey. Whenever a New York bowler threw such a strike, his teammates would razz him by claiming that he had crossed the river into New Jersey. So New Jersey bowlers started claiming that any of their bowlers who threw such a strike had landed on the Brooklyn side.

In New York City and Long Island, the term 'Jersey strike' is still used. But for the rest of the country, the proper term for a crossover strike is a Brooklyn.

Answer 2

This originated in New York where individuals would "cross over" to Brooklyn from Manhattan.

A side term "Jersey side" references left-handed bowlers and refers to individuals crossing over from Manhattan to New Jersey.

Answer 3

A Brooklyn strike