What is your problem spot in your approach?

[Hammer]

Not enough knee bend in your approach, not swinging straight back and forward in your swing, not swinging close to your ankle in the release area, not keeping your hand from turning too early when you reach the release area or not sliding right or close enough to the foul line or all of the above? Out of all of these mine would be my sliding. For some reason when I slide my sliding foot will not slide to the center of my body sometimes and sometimes it does. When it slides to the center of my body I have a nice in balance shot. Sometimes it will slide straight forward and then I have to be ready to catch my balance when I release the ball. This technique is great if you like pulled shots. Another sticking point is sometimes I have a tendency to rush the shot when I reach the top of my backswing and I start to come forward. This is also nice for pulled shots. Pulled shots are okay if they lead to Brooklyn strikes. What is your thing?

[e-tank]

not releasing ball next to ankle and a poor leg kick for me

[classygranny]

Hammer, I think you pretty much summed it up for me. All of that stuff could be better, although I do have a nice straight swing. I am working on more knee bend and balance foot farther left - as that seems to force the other issues in place. In order to get more knee bend I am attempting to step more into the slide which puts my slide foot more in the middle of my body making the balance foot having to go more left. Dang physics again taking over my bowling!

[mike_thomas93]

Hmm I would say probably when my foot tends to be a bit far back from the foul line sometimes when I throw my shots. Maybe that's what usually happens in my style, but I certainly discovered that.

[striker12]

mine is when every time i step with my left leg it seems to go left but this could be a problem with my spin but we will see on friday.

another thing is not getting close to my ankle but reason fro that a few years ago i hit my ankle with a 15lb ball on my spare shot and it hurt but not enough to make me stop bowling

[Hammer]

mine is when every time i step with my left leg it seems to go left but this could be a problem with my spin but we will see on friday.

another thing is not getting close to my ankle but reason fro that a few years ago i hit my ankle with a 15lb ball on my spare shot and it hurt but not enough to make me stop bowling

OUCH! :cool:

[Aslan]

My problem is...that sometimes the ball doesn't knock all the pins down. I release it...wanting it to...but it doesn't. And I HATE that. :rolleyes: Because if it doesn't knock them all down...then I have to throw a ball...at a smaller target...like one pin. And thats even harder than the FIRST shot!! :rolleyes:

Also...my follow-through. Straight follow-through....I do pretty good. If my follow-through looks more like a bear clawing at Scooby Doo...not such a good result.

And for spares...not trusting my spot....then not following through....too afraid to hit the gutter and missing left.

[classygranny]

My problem is...that sometimes the ball doesn't knock all the pins down. I release it...wanting it to...but it doesn't. And I HATE that. :rolleyes: Because if it doesn't knock them all down...then I have to throw a ball...at a smaller target...like one pin. And thats even harder than the FIRST shot!! :rolleyes:


I have to disagree with the statement, based on logic only. The FIRST shot has to enter between two pins at a specified angle in order to carry a strike.

When shooting ONE pin, you have a target that is approximately 26" wide - the width of two bowling balls plus the width of the pin. All you have to do is to get a small portion of the ball to hit on either side of the pin, thus creating a larger target than you have on a first shot.

BUT....easier said than done!

[Perrin]

Does rotating my arm early count as part of the approach?

[vdubtx]

For me keeping my speed consistent and walking a straight line. I seem to drift right every now and then.

[Stormed1]

Mine is knee bend. After bowling 7 years in a cast where I could'nt get down and swing my leg behind i have been working on breaking my muscle memory

[Aslan]

I have to disagree with the statement, based on logic only. The FIRST shot has to enter between two pins at a specified angle in order to carry a strike.

When shooting ONE pin, you have a target that is approximately 26" wide - the width of two bowling balls plus the width of the pin. All you have to do is to get a small portion of the ball to hit on either side of the pin, thus creating a larger target than you have on a first shot.

BUT....easier said than done!

WRONG! On a "technicality"...

I said it was harder to hit "just one pin"....I did NOT say, "It's harder to knock one pin over than knock 10 pins over." In other words...if you're in the 10th...and need ONE pin....is it easier to get ONE pin with a full rack out there...or just the one pin?

I never said anything about "strikes". Remember...I'm old school...we don't roll strikes unless we get lucky. We try to spare every frame and avoid splits.

[bowl1820]

I said it was harder to hit "just one pin"

If your throwing a straight ball ( or basically straight.) A single pin spare should be a easy spare. Depending on where the pin is on the deck, you'll have the widest margin of error.

You have hole almost 22 inches wide hole to put the whole ball through (Ball max. size is 8.595 and pin Max. is 4.766). Now the closer that pin gets to the gutters that margin starts dropping.


Now if your trying to hook that ball into the single pin, you've made it a lot harder. You've now added a lot more variables to the equation.


In other words...if you're in the 10th...and need ONE pin....is it easier to get ONE pin with a full rack out there...or just the one pin?

Now only in this context, would the statement "harder to hit "just one pin"" would be true. Because throwing a ball at ten pins and only needing one of them to fall "is" a lot simpler than shooting at a single pin. (But not a given: See "Ballard Ball").

[Aslan]

Now only in this context, would the statement "harder to hit "just one pin"" would be true. Because throwing a ball at ten pins and only needing one of them to fall "is" a lot simpler than shooting at a single pin. (But not a given: See "Ballard Ball").

And THAT was my context. And if ANYONE...has ANY amount of money...that they would like to bet me....I am VERY good at hitting "some" pins with a roll at a full rack of 10....yet if there's just the 10 pin (which hates me and has the goal in it's pin life to mentally destroy me)....I'll take your money ALL DAY missing that sucker. And I'll do all this blindofolded so you KNOW I'm not intentionally missing it.

Straight ball or hook...physics and chemistry dictate that as long as the pins are free standing and not obscenely heavy....the pins occupy nearly the entire lane....you probably have a 70% if throwing an object/ball in their direction of knocking at least one over. Of matter of fact...you actually have a very small percentage chance of NOT knocking over more than one! If only one pin remains...even if it's the 5 pin, dead center....that percentage (based purely on the laws of chemistry and physics) drops to 31% (7 and 10 pins would be closer to 15.5% as you stated..because you can't hit them on the one side).

So the toughest shot in bowling...by the numbers with a fresh rack of pins (obviously splits are the toughest shots)...is to hit ONLY a 7 pin or a 10 pin when throwing at a full rack (roughly 11% tops).

Disclaimer: I WISH this was not true...because my spare game is KILLING me...so if it was easy to hit those last 1-4 pins...ughhh....PARADISE! :D

[bowl1820]

So the toughest shot in bowling...by the numbers with a fresh rack of pins (obviously splits are the toughest shots)...is to hit ONLY a 7 pin or a 10 pin when throwing at a full rack

Actually picking 2 pins off a full rack is tougher.

A 292 game is the rarest game score, only about 20 have been shot. Because it requires getting only two pins on the last shot.

The easiest score to shoot is a 77, because theres 172,542,309,343,731, 946 ways to make it!

[manke]

Mine is i pitch my arm out!!

[Aslan]

Actually picking 2 pins off a full rack is tougher.

A 292 game is the rarest game score, only about 20 have been shot. Because it requires getting only two pins on the last shot.

The easiest score to shoot is a 77, because theres 172,542,309,343,731, 946 ways to make it!

I'm semi-attracted to you that you know that. :eek:

[Mike White]

If your throwing a straight ball ( or basically straight.) A single pin spare should be a easy spare. Depending on where the pin is on the deck, you'll have the widest margin of error.

You have hole almost 22 inches wide hole to put the whole ball through (Ball max. size is 8.595 and pin Max. is 4.766). Now the closer that pin gets to the gutters that margin starts dropping.



I covered this with billf a while back, but it looks like you have either forgotten, or disbelieve.

Lets assume were are shooting at the 5 pin, and we use your figures of 8.595, and 4.766 (I think the pin is slightly thinner at the point where the ball makes contact)

If the ball makes contact with the pin, the center of the ball must be within 6.6805 inches of the center of the pin. Since it can be on either side, the room for error would be 13.361 inches.

For a 10 pin, the gutter is approximately 2 inches right of the center of the 10 pin, so you have 8.6805 plus the slight amount where the ball is falling off the lane as it makes contact with the 10, but has not yet touched the gutter.

[bowl1820]

I covered this with billf a while back, but it looks like you have either forgotten, or disbelieve.

Lets assume were are shooting at the 5 pin, and we use your figures of 8.595, and 4.766 (I think the pin is slightly thinner at the point where the ball makes contact)

If the ball makes contact with the pin, the center of the ball must be within 6.6805 inches of the center of the pin. Since it can be on either side, the room for error would be 13.361 inches.

For a 10 pin, the gutter is approximately 2 inches right of the center of the 10 pin, so you have 8.6805 plus the slight amount where the ball is falling off the lane as it makes contact with the 10, but has not yet touched the gutter.

No I haven't forgotten, or disbelieve.

I said you have to put "the whole ball through" that 22" window, not part of the ball. If the whole ball is inside that 22", the center of the ball will be 6.6805 inches of the center of the pin.

Were both saying the same thing just different ways.
Your just saying the center of the ball has to pass through a 13" window, I'm just saying the whole ball has to pass through a 22" window. Both are doing the same thing.
http://s5.postimg.org/70tybcybr/sparewindow.jpg

Photo 3:
http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/6pinphoto3.jpg

Photo 4:
http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/6pinphoto4.jpg
(and yes I know that say's 21.95" , I said "almost 22 inches" not exactly 22)
" in photos 3 & 4, we have placed poster boards with a gap in between which illustrates just how much room you do have…from outside to outside. If you can fit your ball in the gap, you will make the spare. Photo 3 shows two balls and a 6-pin to hopefully help you realize the actual size of your target area.(Photos 3 & 4 here) Photo 4 shows the same target without the balls"



and Here's the 10 pin margin
http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/10pinphoto1.gif

[Aslan]

Uh oh...mommy and daddy are fighting again.... :eek:

[classygranny]

Actually, I must correct myself, as the statement Aslan made contained the statement that he had to shoot "at a smaller target".

My error in the indication of target size of shooting a spare being larger than the first strike ball is incorrect. After thinking this thru, the target is actually the same size as the strike ball. It should be approximately 1" as most of us tend to target a "board" on the lane with a breakpoint farther down. I shoot my spares the same way, as I would think most of us would.

Therefore, BOTH first ball and second ball TARGETS are the same.

[Aslan]

Therefore, BOTH first ball and second ball TARGETS are the same.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/mind_blown_kids.gif

[bowl1820]

Actually, I must correct myself, as the statement Aslan made contained the statement that he had to shoot "at a smaller target".

My error in the indication of target size of shooting a spare being larger than the first strike ball is incorrect. After thinking this thru, the target is actually the same size as the strike ball. It should be approximately 1" as most of us tend to target a "board" on the lane with a breakpoint farther down. I shoot my spares the same way, as I would think most of us would.

Therefore, BOTH first ball and second ball TARGETS are the same.

The targets are not quite the same, you still have more margin of error shooting the spare.

Here's from Jim Kings article in Bowling this month on spare shooting:
"You still have more room for error than you think. Let’s assume that you use the middle arrow as your target for a 10-pin and that you release the ball at the foul line. Let’s assume also that you are lined up so that if you hit your mark perfectly, the center of your ball will hit the 10-pin exactly in the middle. The middle arrow is 17 feet from the foul line and the 10-pin is 62.5 feet. from the foul line. This is a ratio of 3.676 to 1. Therefore if you missed your target one board (one inch) to either side, this would mean the center of your ball would miss the center of the 10-pin by 3.676 inches (Still a spare). If you missed by 1.8 boards inside, then the center of your ball would miss the center of the 10- pin by 6.61 in. (Still a spare). You can miss 1.25 board outside and still convert the spare. This gives you over 3 boards worth of room at the 4th arrow."

Read the whole article here:
Click for SPARE SHOOTING – PART 3 Just how hard is it? (http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/king0102.shtml)

This also talks about what Mike and I were talking about.

[dnhoffman]

Not keeping my hand loose and relaxed

[Aslan]

The targets are not quite the same, you still have more margin of error shooting the spare.

Here's from Jim Kings article in Bowling this month on spare shooting:
"You still have more room for error than you think.

Jim King can **** me. After a terrible afternoon of missing probably 80% of my spares...it's NOT easy. It's IMPOSSIBLE!!

[classygranny]

The targets are not quite the same, you still have more margin of error shooting the spare.

Here's from Jim Kings article in Bowling this month on spare shooting:
"You still have more room for error than you think. Let’s assume that you use the middle arrow as your target for a 10-pin and that you release the ball at the foul line. Let’s assume also that you are lined up so that if you hit your mark perfectly, the center of your ball will hit the 10-pin exactly in the middle. The middle arrow is 17 feet from the foul line and the 10-pin is 62.5 feet. from the foul line. This is a ratio of 3.676 to 1. Therefore if you missed your target one board (one inch) to either side, this would mean the center of your ball would miss the center of the 10-pin by 3.676 inches (Still a spare). If you missed by 1.8 boards inside, then the center of your ball would miss the center of the 10- pin by 6.61 in. (Still a spare). You can miss 1.25 board outside and still convert the spare. This gives you over 3 boards worth of room at the 4th arrow."

Read the whole article here:
Click for SPARE SHOOTING – PART 3 Just how hard is it? (http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/king0102.shtml)

This also talks about what Mike and I were talking about.

Still have to disagree. Although I agree you have more room for error, if you are shooting your spares by targeting a board on the lane, then the target would be the same. If you are shooting an area on the lane, then perhaps you are correct - but, if you are shooting an "area", then you open yourself up for lazy targeting and more options of missing the target. In order to keep "focus" I would always recommend shooting a board/target rather than an area/target.

[bowl1820]

Still have to disagree. Although I agree you have more room for error, if you are shooting your spares by targeting a board on the lane, then the target would be the same. If you are shooting an area on the lane, then perhaps you are correct - but, if you are shooting an "area", then you open yourself up for lazy targeting and more options of missing the target. In order to keep "focus" I would always recommend shooting a board/target rather than an area/target.

I believe there is nothing to disagree about with the article.

He doesn't say you should use a area as a target, just that if you missed your "board" target. You still had a margin of error to cover the spare.

[J Anderson]

Jim King can **** me. After a terrible afternoon of missing probably 80% of my spares...it's NOT easy. It's IMPOSSIBLE!!

I know the feeling. I have days when I'm hitting every single pin leave dead center, and then out of nowhere I'll miss my target by two boards and go flying right by. Then I start thinking about not missing and either over correct to miss on the other side of the pin or miss even further to the same side. Some times the best spare shooting mantra is " Don't Think!"

[Aslan]

My problem yesterday was that I was either "just" making the spare...or "just" missing it. I mean, I was close.

My usual problem...same as yesterday...fear of the gutters. I don't trust my mark...afraid it's gonna go in the gutter...then I miss those 6-10, 4-7 spares because the ball is too "middle".

I might start throwing at those corner spares differently. Norm Duke's approach to spare shooting seems simpler...just throwing across the lane. Normally you target spots...then do the whole 3-6-9 board adjustment. And you're taught to never look at the pins (unless you're doing 3-point targeting). But for a 7-pin or a 10-pin...just looking at the pin and throwing cross lane "could" work. I'm not ready to abandon the conventional just yet...but if I can pick up those corner spares easier the other way...eventually I have to make the switch.

[Bunny]

I know the feeling. I have days when I'm hitting every single pin leave dead center, and then out of nowhere I'll miss my target by two boards and go flying right by. Then I start thinking about not missing and either over correct to miss on the other side of the pin or miss even further to the same side.


Oh, it's not just me! I've been picking up my spares more consistently. I mean I've been nailing them pretty good, then :p miss, miss, miss.

:confused:

[Aslan]

Talk about frustrating...Sunday I left a 2-5-8....rolled my second ball and clipped the 5 straight to the left leaving the 2 and 8. THATs how close it's been...close enough to almost make the pin almost sway...but not enough to knock em over.

[classygranny]

I believe there is nothing to disagree about with the article.

He doesn't say you should use a area as a target, just that if you missed your "board" target. You still had a margin of error to cover the spare.

I don't disagree with the article - great article actually (it's in my bowling book even). The comment originally by Aslan was "that he had to shoot "at a smaller target" when shooting spares. I disagree that it is neither smaller or larger, but the same size...a board/same size as strike target.

[Aslan]

I don't disagree with the article - great article actually (it's in my bowling book even). The comment originally by Aslan was "that he had to shoot "at a smaller target" when shooting spares. I disagree that it is neither smaller or larger, but the same size...a board/same size as strike target.

Granted...I can close my eyes and hit at least one pin with a full rack...so target is irrelevant. It's only relevant if you're comparing picking up a spare to bowling a strike...which I was not.

[Zaxmazr]

I don't disagree with the article - great article actually (it's in my bowling book even). The comment originally by Aslan was "that he had to shoot "at a smaller target" when shooting spares. I disagree that it is neither smaller or larger, but the same size...a board/same size as strike target.

All about perspective and yeah, sometimes that messes with my head as well.