So last night in leagues I have an ok first game and bowl a flat 200.  Someone says "Congradulations you get an award for that!"  Not being versed in USBC awards I asked; "For what?"  He responded you bowled a Dutch 200.  I went to the USBC website today and there really is an award for this.  My question is; Why?  Is it really that rare?  It seems kind of silly, but I'm always happy to accept an award for something.  How often do you guys see this?
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Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.  Albert Einstein

I have been bowling for about 14 years now, and have never seen a Dutch 200 thrown.  So yeah, I would say it is pretty rare.

Dutch 200 seems to be pretty rare. Not difficult, but simply rare.
A friend of mine had one in training, and we were quite confused by the animation on the Brunswick monitor which suddenly popped up after the game. In fact, that was the first time I ever heard about this "result". And I haven't seen one achieved since the, 2 years ago, neither in training or in league.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
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Ive had 3 chances in teh 10th to shoot one.

Each time I struck out for 210 instead.

Edited on 4/12/2007 7:38 AM

The funny part about all of it was I had no idea I was shooting for one.  It just happenned.  And yes I was Dialed in on one Lane.  I used the Dyno CM and Played 15 - 10 on the lane I was striking on.  The other lane I moved just about everywhere and could not carry to save my life.  90% of the balls were pocket hits.  However, I left weak 10s, 7s, 8s, and one time left a 5.  It was problem.  I guess I was lucky not to know because there was no pressure.
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Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.  Albert Einstein

Split conversions may be easier to convert than a Dutch.  You just have to make the 7-10 once.  For a Dutch, you have to strike every time on one lane, and then spare on the next.  Either you have bad carry on that lane and you are going 9/ with some 4-pins and 10-pins (for righties) or something of the like.  If you are truly lost on that lane, it's even harder for you to stay Dutch.  "Lost" incinuates that you can't find the pocket, so the likelyhood of a split, washout, or difficult spare combination is higher, thus resulting in an open frame.  I think the Dutch 200 Award is like a consolation prize for "decent bowling."  I've had plenty of opportunites, only completed it once.  Think about it, how many times have you tripped a 4 pin, or had a messenger-10 or some kind of break that allowed you to double?  A dutch game is almost true to its form in that you get what you deserve and your score represents it.

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Why does everyone try to make it harder than it really is?  Overthinking makes the game that much more difficult.

Edited on 4/12/2007 11:56 AM

I've only seen it done once and that was against me, head to head in the round robin finals of a tournament.

I've bowled my one and only last year. Came close this year a couple of times.
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Hammer-Lane #1-Ebonite-Brunswick