Spare Shooting - Targeting

[Ryan1700]

Hi guys,
I am new to the boards so hello and thanks for having me. My question today is about spare targeting. I consider myself an very good spare shooter (97% on single pins this season) but lately I have left a few more than I normally do on double wood. I throw a Brunswick TZone spare ball and I love it. My PSO missed the drilling a tad and I have to correct it with quite a bit of tape but that's beside the point. My question is do you guys target looking at the boards or target the pins when shooting your spares. I remember back when I was a one ball for everything guy, I played boards on first ball and pins on my spares. I have a problem kinda bouncing back and forth now between the two and I wanted to see how you guys were doing it so I could go to practice and focus one way or the other. That said, my rev rate does cause some hook in my spare ball so oil is a factor so let's just take that and transition out of the equation and just say "in general). Thanks! Look forward to the feed back!

- Ryan

[vdubtx]

I focus on pins for right side spares(I am a righty), boards for left side spares.

[Ryan1700]

Thanks for the response!!! That's kinda where I have been too. Do you throw a spare ball? And if so, do you throw it at your left side spares?

[vdubtx]

I do use spare ball, and only on sport shots do I use on left side.

[Josch]

I do the same thing. I use to focus on pins for all spares, but I missed the left side ones way more often than I should have. I'll use my strike ball for left side spares, and spare ball for right side.

[Amyers]

Spare ball and target boards for both sides. I have experimented with targeting spares on the right side at the pins with mixed results.

[Ryan1700]

Amyers - How much, if any movement does your spare ball have? If so how do you adjust for transition? Like I mentioned, I have the TZone and I still get some movement out of it, especially as the lanes break down. Bowling league with 9 others throwing all over the lane and tracking/drying/moving oil reduces my confidence on what exactly the ball will do on the particular line I may be throwing at a particular spare. Anyone else dealing with spare ball movement like this and if so, should I get a different ball or maybe drop down a pound on it to throw it faster? I am not exactly struggling with it by any means, just always trying to improve. Thanks for the feedback!

Edit: First ball speed about 16.7mph if that helps at all. Also how do I get my arsenal in my signature like you guys have it?

[Josch]

I'm used to getting some movement out of my spare ball, which is why I only use it for right side spares. It doesn't effect me too much when going for 10 pins since there's so much oil. I'll usually pick up 3 and 9 pins by throwing my same down and in strike line, but with my spare ball, since it will hook a good five boards when playing the outside. When the lanes really break down and nothing else is working, I'll use it as a strike ball. When using it for left side spares I was never sure how much it would hook. I'm much more confident in my strike balls for left side spares because I know how much hook to expect from them.

To edit your signature, go here (http://www.bowlingboards.com/profile.php?do=editsignature).

[Amyers]

On drier conditions my spare ball does hook some but on fresh or even transitioned lanes I haven't really seen enough that I couldn't adjust for it pretty easily. Now if its one of those days where I'm throwing the spare ball as my strike ball because they are so dry then it can be kind of brutal. There really isn't much transition on spares anyway the outside edges are dry regardless unless your bowling on some really funky patterns.

[Ryan1700]

Thanks and thanks. I agree with using it as a strike ball late in the lane too. I bowled after league with it the other night just to see if I could hit 200 with only the TZone. Ended at 201. Have to say I was nervous on that last ball! Hahaha!

and it says I am not allowed to edit my signature. I give up! LOL

[epiepenburg]

Spare ball for all spares that aren't the 1,2,3 or 5 pin. I target the arrows/boards. I get very little movement from my plastic spare ball, in fact I've dulled the surface to gain a few board movement out of the ball.

[Josch]

Thanks and thanks. I agree with using it as a strike ball late in the lane too. I bowled after league with it the other night just to see if I could hit 200 with only the TZone. Ended at 201. Have to say I was nervous on that last ball! Hahaha!

and it says I am not allowed to edit my signature. I give up! LOL

There's a post threshold you have reach. I'm pretty sure you're close. Somewhere between 10 and 30 sounds right.

[Ryan1700]

epiepenburg - Do you just use regular abralon pads for the plastic same as you would any other? Never altered a plastic ball surface

Josch - Thanks again man, not really a big deal. Guess that's what I get for being a noob!

[epiepenburg]

epiepenburg - Do you just use regular abralon pads for the plastic same as you would any other? Never altered a plastic ball surface


That's what I did, the plastic cover is so incredibly smooth, i sanded to to 1000 grit. I wanted something that would hook just a few boards when throwing at 10 pins. My Wednesday league has slowly been increasing oil volume. I was feeling my spare shot was skidding too much when shooting at the 10 pins, so a little more bite means I make more.

I personally don't leave a lot of left side pins on spares, for those I have learned to not move as far right as I normally would, that way the ball can't hook away from the pin if my angle is too great.

I recently started adjusting surface on my Thug, out of box surface is not always the best choice, so tweaking equipment allows for better shots and better scores. I've tested my Thug at 1000 grit and currently it's at 2000 grit wet sanded. I may get some Brunswick polish and try polishing the ball with the factory polish but with a different grit underneath than what the factory does.