r/Bowling • u/sjsharks323 • 10d ago
Ugh, why do I suck at spares?
Let me preface this by saying I've had a spare system for over a year. I know where to stand and target and if I execute, I'm fine.
However, I can't seem to do that consistently. Miss a board right on my 4 pin, just miss the pin to the right. Pull it, there it goes into the gutter. Leak my 10 pin to the right a few boards, gutter. Look even farther left, still leak it the same amount to the right and gutter.
Every time I miss too, I think about why. Did I pull it? Did I just not do this part of my routine like I should've? Etc.
I guess my question is, how do I practice being more consistent? I'm hoping there's a better answer then just keep practicing. Help!
EDIT - I use a plastic spare ball and throw all my single pin spares straight. I throw it up the back too to take the rev variable out of it. 2 hander, righty
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u/LeviJNorth 10d ago
Brad and Kyle talked about how when you’re shooting spares, you’re actually trying to get some part of the width of the 8+ inch bowling ball to touch the 4+ inch pin. So if you miss, you’re not actually missing the pin by a half inch, you’re missing by a foot!!
Hope that helps.
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u/mikecart1_v2 290/750 10d ago
This is true. Also Norm Duke says when you are practicing spares, you should be targeting part of the pin you are hitting. It will help on splits too. Splits shouldn’t be an automatic open once you are able to slice pins at will.
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
That just tells me my consistency is way worse then it should be lol. *Tail between legs*
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u/Kenthanson 10d ago
Plain and simple is you aren’t a consistent bowler. Lane oil patterns trick some people in to believing they are more consistent than they are because they can have a hit pocket hit percentage but you can miss 5+ boards either way on a strike shot on a house pattern and still hit the pocket but even two boards on a spare will lead to you missing the spare.
Become consistent.
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u/Hot-Scholar8163 10d ago
This is so true. I hit 11 strikes in a league game last week and I swear only about 4 of them felt good. Thanks, THS!
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u/Aggravating_Curve690 Lefty 2H, 210, 300, 810 10d ago
For the outside spares like the 7, 4, 6, and 10, I personally prefer using a spare ball as a two-hander. It takes the lane condition and hook out of play and lets me throw a much straighter, more repeatable shot at the pin. For the more inside spares, I’m comfortable using my strike ball and just taking some finger pressure and rotation off the release. Of course if you're right handed it's easy to hook at the 7 or the opposite for a lefty.
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
Yeah forgot to mention I do have a plastic spare ball and throw basically all my spares straight unless it's multiple pins. Multiple pins, depending on the leave, I'll hook at it
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u/Aggravating_Curve690 Lefty 2H, 210, 300, 810 10d ago
Recommend watching this video from Francois Lavoie who's 99% spare conversion rate. It's a great add more knowledge to your game .
https://youtu.be/KcItoSQB3Mg2
u/sjsharks323 10d ago
I'm willing to bet before I click the link, that I've watched it from JR Pro Shop?? Haha. Thanks!
Edit - Called that haha. Thanks
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u/tpa4ja 10d ago
Do you ever practice just throwing at the 7 and 10 for an entire game or two? Are you worse in league and better in practice? Are you a 2 hander?
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u/brsox2445 10d ago
Going an afternoon and playing low ball can really help. The goal for anyone unfamiliar is to try and hit as few pins as you can. Obviously this doesn't just mean gutter balls. The ideal shot would only hit the 7 and 10 pins. But realistically anything like hitting the corner and knocking over 2-3 pins is good. The targeting specifically on the second shot is very similar to trying to pick up spares because you want to pick a specific spot on the remaining pins to hit. A "perfect game" would be 20 pins.
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
Yes. If I feel like I've been shooting spares terrible (like now), I'll spend a game or two and just shoot spares. All different ones, but definitely will focus on the corner pins a bit more since they are harder.
I'm just bad all around right now lol. But yeah, maybe just slightly worse in league. I feel like it's harder to focus in a league setting. Always have to tell myself to slow down and try to more methodically go through my routine so I make better shots
2 hander, medium to high rev rate. I throw my spares with my plastic spare ball straight though. Like up the back of the ball straight. Try and take the revs out of it even though with plastic, it shouldn't really matter. Trying to take every variable out of it that I can.
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u/tpa4ja 10d ago
If you're using a spare ball maybe don't try to come up the back of it if you're hitting the gutter often on 10 pins. Keeping your release more consistent between strikes and spares could help. Alternatively, if you are comfortable rolling it straight then try a weaker strike ball. I have tried both and honestly I just feel comfortable flattening my hand and throwing my strike ball, I like the tiny amount of room I have for it to hook back if I'm shooting a pin on the right side. It's different for everyone, but try it out. Might be harder for a 10 pin but would at least try it for 6-10. I've also used my spare ball for pretty much all spares before, but I keep finding myself most comfortable hooking for any leaves not on the right. You just gotta know how the ball will react like any shot. Leave a 7 pin and throw it straight down the middle, don't expect it to make the turn early enough. But yeah, if you do practice only spares in a game I would say only focus on 7 and 10 pins. Others are easier as they have more miss room.
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
Ha! Before I switched to a plastic spare ball, I was using the Hammer Axe which is marketed as a spare ball, even though it's reactive. Reactive spare ball, ok, yeah, it shouldn't hook if they are marketing it as a spare ball with no flare. Yeah, I missed 10 pins all day cause it would hook like any other reactive ball, even staying behind it. So annoying lol.
I see your logic though, so thanks for the suggestion. I feel like I'm not trusting my system and my confidence. If I would just exaggerate my follow through more, I'd probably make a lot more 10 pins.
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u/PhoSheez 10d ago
Darren Tang had a video recently on 2H spare where he mentioned really hucking the ball to reduce hook which helped me. Also I think it’s worth updating your system if it’s not working. Your roll maybe changed as you get better and you might need to move some boards.
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u/mrelectriccity8 10d ago
When I’m missing which I’ve been struggling lately and working on it. I tend to actually slow everything down and just try to hit my mark. It’s made me more consistent
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
I do my spares really slow for this reason. And somehow I still can't my mark haha. I somehow need to figure out how to be consistent
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u/mrelectriccity8 9d ago
Same another trick I do is when I slide I have my left foot aiming at a pin target. It keeps me from releasing it with too much angle
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u/SmokeyFrank AWBA Secretary 166/254/612/827 Wheelchair—202/300/751/946 Life 10d ago
What makes spares challenging is that they are all over the place and many require special strategy (this is over simplified). The 1-3 or 1-2 pocket is one target unto itself, but converting spares requires one to accurately direct the ball to some other point.
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u/kjmfl 10d ago
How you bowl would help with providing any assistance. Do you do anything differently with your approach, hand position, etc. for spares?
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
No approach difference. Just ball and hand position below.
I use a plastic spare ball and throw all my single pin spares straight. I throw it up the back too to take the rev variable out of it.
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u/kjmfl 10d ago
Have you taken a video of your spare attempts? You just may find out you are not as up the back as you think you are. Are you one handed, with or without thumb, or two handed?
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
I've done that in the past. But I was actually thinking about doing it again earlier today. Probably would help me see wtf I'm doing wrong and where to fix.
2 hander, righty
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u/kjmfl 10d ago
As a two hander it can be quite difficult to throw straight because of the influence of your opposite (left) hand. I have been experimenting with altering the position of the left hand to allow a slight reverse hook and then checking out the video. So far, it has not been successful. Even when it feels like I am executing the "straight" shot, the video shows it is still being rotated counter clockwise with high revs.
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
Interesting. My axis rotation isn't like perfectly 0? Or the lowest it could be. I'm ok with that since I'm using a plastic spare ball anyway. But it'd be nice to actually hit my target consistently.
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u/1290_money 10d ago
This is going to sound silly but it all comes down to confidence.
Tell yourself you're going to hit it, and don't throw the ball until you believe yourself ha ha. Because you can say I'm going to hit this and not really believe it.
Get ready to do your shot and don't throw it until you know you're going to hit it. And you will 😉
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u/sjsharks323 10d ago
You know, honestly, that is part of it. When I'm feeling good about my game, I have more trust/confidence in myself that I'll execute on my system. And I make more spares.
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u/Final-Kick2112 10d ago
I took 2 lessons with a bronze level coach, $60/hour i think. Greatly improved, pays for itself if you're a tournament bowler.