Which is harder bowling a 300 game or hitting a hole in one?

Golf Digest hired a retired chairman of the Math. Dept. at Boston U. to calculate the odds of a hole in one using the "best available" data. Some results:

# Tour player making an ace: 3,000 to 1

# Low-handicapper making an ace: 5,000 to 1

# Average player making an ace: 12,000 to 1

Source: http://golf.about.com/od/faqs/f/holeinoneodds.htm

The odds of an adult male bowling a perfect game are 1 in 11,500. Source: http://www.newsday.com/sports/highschool/ny-skhsco...

If these two sources are correct, the odds of a golf ace vs. a perfect game of bowling are about the same for the "average" player.

A profession bowler's strike percentage is typically over 60% with the record over a season being 66.28%. A perfect game requires 12 consecutive strikes. If each frame could be treated as an independent event (it's really not since bowlers can't forget that they just bowled ten strikes and have a chance at a perfect game with two more strikes), the probability of a perfect game is about (0.6)^12 = 0.00218. This puts the odds at about 460 to 1. These odds are better than a PGA Tour player making an ace so a perfect game is easier for a pro bowler.

During the 2002-2003 season, the PBA Tour recorded 19 perfect games. http://www.economics.pomona.edu/GarySmith/bowling/...

During the 2005 season, the PGA Tour recorded 33 aces while the LPGA Tour had 21. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2006-07-16-hol...

To make a valid comparison, we would have to know how many pro bowling games were played vs. how many pro golf Par 3 holes were played.

I think the word harder needs to be replaced with "more probable". A hole in one is more probable then a 300 for an armature, as soon a golfer develops the skill to hit a golf ball the distance of an average par 3 there is a possibility he can shoot a hole in one, just needs to be lucky. I have played with a guy that shot 121 for an 18 hole round and he had a hole in one in that round by sculling his shot up a hill and I watched it roll down from the hill onto the green and in the hole for a hole in one, only requires a little luck. I have bowled for 30 years and have never bowled with anyone that bowled a 300 that did not posses a high level of skill. Once a high level of skill on the lanes is achieved a 300 is more probable then a hole in one, as a 300 has more to do with skill then luck (still some luck, ask anyone who leaves a solid 9 or 8 pin after a string of strikes). My bowling average is 215 and I have bowled 3 300 games, hold a 4 handicap in golf and have never had a hole in one (just not lucky enough, been within 1" of the hole on several occasions but no hole in ones). That s my take.

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RE:

Which is harder bowling a 300 game or hitting a hole in one?

I had a hole in one two weeks ago friday, and my best friend is a very avid bowler, but not a average golfer. He thinks it's eaier to hit a hole in one, than bowl a 300 game. What do you think? By the way he has never done either!

Having just bowled my first 300 last night I will tell you that even if I ever get a hole in one I will be much prouder of the 300 game. There is no pressure to a hole in one. No one stands on the tee of a par 3 with the pressure that wow, I can get a hole in one. The pressure for me built after getting the first 7 and by the last frame I had to have mental focus like never before because I was aware that I could get a 300. That and the whole alley stopped to watch the 10th frame. The pressure factor alone makes the 300 game much harder, no matter what the odds say.

Bowling 300

Bowling a 300 game is much harder. Anyone can get a hole in one by a fluke. Also, anyone can hit just ONE great golf shot. But... not many people have the skill to bowl a 300 game. That takes skill and practice, I've never seen a fluke 300 game.

Good question!

For the average joe, i would say that a hole in one is much more likely due to the luck factor (i.e. a lucky kick off of a sprinkler head). For some guy who goes bowling three times a year to bowl a 300 game would be unbelievable. On the other hand, when you are talking about pro bowlers vs pro golfers, holes in one are a lot less likely. When you check a pro bowler's stats, especially a seasoned veteran, they have quite a few 300 games while there are many pro golfers who have not yet had a hole in one.

There are also some crazy long drivers that have had holes in one on par fours, but let's not go there.

A hole-in-one is light years HARDER….There s pro s that never had one. I was an amateur bowler. bowled just once a week on and off for 15 years. I bowled 7 300 s. two 800 series (836, 802) and averaged around 220 career. The technology today is superior compared to decades ago. There s no way I should have done as well as I did. The conditions and equipment made a huge difference.

A six inch hole? Geez, I might have a hole in one if I golfed on a course with six inch cups!!

Bowling a 300 is by far tougher. I watched my ex-wife nearly hole out a par 3 and she can barely hit the ball. You can get a hole in one with sheer luck. You absolutely cannot bowl a 300 without having a great degree of talent.

Like others have said, you can string out several strikes, but there is nothing like the pressure there is when you step up on the approach to try to make that elusive 12th strike. I have been there and completed it successfully. I consider myself a decent golfer and I have not had a hole in one but, then again, I don't play golf as seriously as I bowl. If I did, I wouldn't enjoy it.

Bowling a 300 for sure. A hole is one is just that. One shot. And it is partially skill, but more luck. Bowling a 300 is 12 perfectly thrown pocket hits (okay, maybe a few lucky Brooklyns or light hits). And at about number 8 (trust me) it starts to get a little nerve racking. First you start sweating a little, then you stop talking to everyone. The killer part comes at about the ninth frame when everyone stops bowling and starts watching you. It's rough.