A whole lot:1

I'd like to figure out what the odds are because I think this would be worthy of a write up in some of the flyers and the local papers

That may be quite difficult to quantify.  The USBC could possibly help....

But it would be total # of all games bowled by 5 person teams:times it's happened.

How you get the former and latter numbers is the "work".

I had this happen to my team.  I was anchor and the other anchor also had the front 9.  I went first and we went strike for strike.  I needed him to not strike in the 11th to have a chance to win the game and unfortunately, it didn't happen.

So that makes the equation:

total # of all games bowled by 5 person teams:at least 2

This actually happened to me.  I was a sub and bowling in the #2 position.   The guy across from me was also a sub.  A much younger guys and he looked nervous. I really didn't have a dog in the fight, so when we started the 10th I kept talking to him to keep him calm.  I didn't really get nervous until he got his 300, and I  realized I had to throw one more strike for my 300.  Anyway,  I  struck and I  just thought it was neat that two subs bowling across from each other both threw 300 games.   A little later the other team thanked me for keeping him calm.  They told me that he hadn't been bowling that long and had never bowled more than a four bagger before.

though I there was no 300, well close to it....

In a tournament, two anchors going head to head had the front 9 two games in a row. The second and the last. The first game scores were up there as well...

But, to see XXXXXXXXX on both monitors for back to back games is very impressive. One of the guys has been in this situation before with other 230 average bowlers. He's a Classic down and in player with more speed than revs, accurate like a MOFO!!! the other guys are no thumber/two hander, high rev crankers. Guy is damn good.

First night at leagues two years ago, he shoots 805 with a 300....  who said you need 325-350 rpms to be good!! not him lol

September 30, 2008

During our scratch league my opponent, a friend, and myself both shot 300 the first game to split the point.  The odds are not great.

Game 2 we also tied at 221 to split another point.  The odds got even worse to have two guys start with exactly the same pin count after shooting a 300.

(Game 3 he beat me by 14 to win the series 757 to 743).

Every time we see each other we reminisce and enjoy the memories.  Fun stuff.

I don't think the odds are that astronomical for the following reasons:

1. Most "elite" league bowlers compete against other "elite" league bowlers who have the ability to shoot 300 at a somewhat higher rate than less than "elite" league bowlers.  Therefore, they cluster and increase the chances of it happening.

2. Scoring pace on a nightly basis usually correlates for most bowlers.  When the lanes are easy for one, they are usually easy for others.

I'm not saying the odds are low for it happening, however, my best guess is that it happens numerous times a year.  In this thread alone we have numerous posters who have experienced it...