Which do you prefer: Strikes with open frames or no strikes with all spares?

[NewToBowling]

Yeah, it's a loaded question.

Disregard final score for a minute. Would you prefer a game where you had 6-7 strikes and 3-4 open frames or a game with all spares

Honestly, I'd go for the game with strikes even though you would be considered inconsistent or lucky

[vdubtx]

If I can't get strikes, I most certainly would want to pick up my spares. All spares for me, without question.

[bowl1820]

Yeah, it's a loaded question.

Disregard final score for a minute. Would you prefer a game where you had 6-7 strikes and 3-4 open frames or a game with all spares

As for strikes and opens, it would depend on just where the opens are. Alternating strikes and opens will be a sub 200 game, stringing 6-7 strikes with the opens on the ends is a plus 200 game.

A all spare game the best you can do is 190 (191 with a strike fill ball in the 10th)

I'd prefer keeping it all clean.

[Bradski9]

I get the all strikes and opens type games way too often, I don't bowl clean games too often unfortunately. all spares for sure.

[Blomer]

Clean games are nice, but a higher scoring game is better for me.

[RobLV1]

Spares for sure!

[bubba809]

Funny, because I was going to make a separate thread on my bowling last night, but I will post rightfully in this one.

Last night I had only one open. I am pretty sure this is the first time I have done this. I had 2 splits (one baby) and made them both. I missed one 4 pin. Funny part is I shot a 599. Sure I was upset all I needed was "one more pin", but I was so happy on my consistently of my spare shooting. Could not string together more than a few turkeys. I found it more satisfying than a big game followed by many opens the next.


Just curious how many guys (Vdub,RobLV, Mudpuppy, Mike W., etc) have had a clean night and how often they have done so?

[Amyers]

I have had quite a few clean games but never a clean series.

[vdubtx]

Funny, because I was going to make a separate thread on my bowling last night, but I will post rightfully in this one.

Last night I had only one open. I am pretty sure this is the first time I have done this. I had 2 splits (one baby) and made them both. I missed one 4 pin. Funny part is I shot a 599. Sure I was upset all I needed was "one more pin", but I was so happy on my consistently of my spare shooting. Could not string together more than a few turkeys. I found it more satisfying than a big game followed by many opens the next.


Just curious how many guys (Vdub,RobLV, Mudpuppy, Mike W., etc) have had a clean night and how often they have done so?

Bubba, to answer, 30 clean frames is nice to get and also pretty tough too. Have done so several times over the course of this past season, maybe 4 times through 52 sets or so. On even some of my best nights so far this season, have been tripped up with a split or flagged 10 pin etc. More times than not, I have 1-2 opens in a set.

[bubba809]

Bubba, to answer, 30 clean frames is nice to get and also pretty tough too. Have done so several times over the course of this past season, maybe 4 times through 52 sets or so. On even some of my best nights so far this season, have been tripped up with a split or flagged 10 pin etc. More times than not, I have 1-2 opens in a set.

That's what i was curious about... how rare a feat this was. I believe that's the first time I've had only one open. Usually when I roll a 600 series, I have 4-7 opens. Last night one open and I didn't even get the 6. Go figure.

[RobLV1]

I threw a clean thirty the first night of the season in the Almost Scratch League. Though I've done it a few times in the past, this made me really happy because Wendy Macpherson was subbing for one of our team members who was out of town, and bowling with someone that good can be more than a little bit intimidating!

[bobforsaken]

Strikes for me. I'm sick of clean games in the 180's and not stringing together strikes. Funny thing is.. when I can string together strikes, usually my spare shooting is off.

[NewToBowling]

For me strikes are harder to come by so I'm happy when I get one. I'm pretty good with single pin spares, even 10 pin. Splits and combo spares are another issue though.

[Mike White]

Funny, because I was going to make a separate thread on my bowling last night, but I will post rightfully in this one.

Last night I had only one open. I am pretty sure this is the first time I have done this. I had 2 splits (one baby) and made them both. I missed one 4 pin. Funny part is I shot a 599. Sure I was upset all I needed was "one more pin", but I was so happy on my consistently of my spare shooting. Could not string together more than a few turkeys. I found it more satisfying than a big game followed by many opens the next.


Just curious how many guys (Vdub,RobLV, Mudpuppy, Mike W., etc) have had a clean night and how often they have done so?

I've had a boat load of 29 of 30 clean. Even had my one open occur in a 267 game (missed a 7 pin)

Since the beginning of 2014, I've probably managed 8-10 (league) sets of clean 30.

I had 2 of them in the VBT, 1st one on video, and the 2nd only had 3 spares to shoot at (that house was dead walled up).

[Mark O]

I'd absolutely prefer all spares as opposed to being a "strike bowler" I feel 30 clean frames is a very impressive feat but it's often overlooked because it isn't an actual score. 30 clean frames is my goal every time out, not a particular score or series.

[bubba809]

I've had a boat load of 29 of 30 clean. Even had my one open occur in a 267 game (missed a 7 pin)

Since the beginning of 2014, I've probably managed 8-10 (league) sets of clean 30.

I had 2 of them in the VBT, 1st one on video, and the 2nd only had 3 spares to shoot at (that house was dead walled up).



Wow, that's impressive. I didn't know how often the higher bowlers achieved this. I was thrilled with only one open frame.

[vdubtx]

I've had a boat load of 29 of 30 clean. Even had my one open occur in a 267 game (missed a 7 pin)

Since the beginning of 2014, I've probably managed 8-10 (league) sets of clean 30.

I had 2 of them in the VBT, 1st one on video, and the 2nd only had 3 spares to shoot at (that house was dead walled up).

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/59464232.jpg

[NewToBowling]

^ lol

[swingset]

I prefer whichever is the higher score. Usually that's strikes strung together with a split/spare here and there.

To produce strikes and an open implies your first ball is doing things more right than wrong. To produce all spares indicates your strike ball/line is all wrong. I'd rather know my first ball is "on" and if I leave an difficult split here and there I'm closer to success than not.

[RobLV1]

It turns out that this is a very appropriate thread in regards to my league today. Because I had to leave early last week because of illness, I did not realize that we were bowling on the last two pairs of lanes today. These lanes are notoriously difficult, and I usually bring a couple of different balls to deal with them, but didn't bring them today. We bowl two games on one pair, and then move one pair to the right for the second two games. I shot 212-209 on the first pair with one open (a split), moved to the right and found that I had no shot whatsoever on the end pair. After struggling like crazy in game three (144), I finally just accepted the fact that strikes were not in my future for the last game. I ended up shooting 177 with one open (a split) and two strikes for the entire game. While I felt really bad about my performance, I was surprised when our anchor man (a lefty) congratulated me on the game based on the fact that I was able to stay nearly clean for a game where I couldn't buy a strike for anything.

[foreverincamo]

Sometimes it doesn't matter. I had a 186 with one open on a pocket 7-10, and followed it with a 3 open ( all splits ) 8 strike game for a 189.

[Mike White]

Yeah, it's a loaded question.

Disregard final score for a minute. Would you prefer a game where you had 6-7 strikes and 3-4 open frames or a game with all spares

Honestly, I'd go for the game with strikes even though you would be considered inconsistent or lucky

I recently had a game consisting of 6 strikes, 4-9 twice, ring 10, and a pocket 7-10 in the 10th frame.

Comparing that to back when I had a hurt arm, I couldn't get the ball to hit with any power, and left weak 10 pins, 5 pins, 7 pins, 2 pins, all day long.

Even though I could easily pick up those spares (averaged 190 in the league) I didn't feel like there was much upside to that way.

I preferred the 10 shots with the potential to carry, with the occasional split/open vs the drudgery of 2-3 strikes at most, and mostly clean frames.

[HughScot]

Open frames are killers for your average. You will not have all strikes and you'd better make your spares.

[Mike White]

Had a guy (about 190 avg) on my Thursday team start out the first game with 47 in the 5th frame.

I jokingly said he still had room to reach 197.

After he threw the next strike, I said "1 down, 6 to go"

He ultimately threw the last 7 in a row to shoot that 197, then started the next game with another 7 in a row for a 242 game.

And finally he saved the best for last, starting off with the first 10 to shoot 285.

As the middle bowling was stringing strikes, I joked with the lead off bowler (170 avg) that he should strike out in the 10th frame on the off chance the middle guy shoots 299, that way we would have a chance to stick him on a bear frame the one time he didn't strike.

We ended up having a chance in the 11th, I struck in the 10th, but left a solid 9 on the 2nd shot.

[NewToBowling]

Ok, may have to change my stance. Just bowled a few games this morning

6 strikes and 3 open frames through 9th = 192 score
http://s24.postimg.org/mdy2xxiol/192.jpg

4 strikes, 4 spares, and 1 open frame through 9th = 202
http://s24.postimg.org/51xqchp79/202.jpg

Of course 7 straight strikes will help your score, but an open frame really hurt it also
http://s24.postimg.org/tsneqb4k5/247.jpg

[NewToBowling]

These are my first games since de-oiling the ball a few days ago and ball definitely reacted more. A big difference from just a few nights ago before de-oiling.

But since it was more reactive I did have a hard time picking up spares, especially 10 pin ones.

[Mike White]

These are my first games since de-oiling the ball a few days ago and ball definitely reacted more. A big difference from just a few nights ago before de-oiling.

But since it was more reactive I did have a hard time picking up spares, especially 10 pin ones.

What? No picture of the 112 game to start?

[fortheloveofbowling]

What? No picture of the 112 game to start?

I see you can add also mike. :)

[NewToBowling]

Nah, 112 game was feeling out lol

[Aslan]

Strikes for me. I'm sick of clean games in the 180's and not stringing together strikes. Funny thing is.. when I can string together strikes, usually my spare shooting is off.

I gotta admit…I was going to annswer all spares…because honestly a clean game EVERY game is my underlying philosophy/goal.

BUT…

…gotta agree with bobfs on this one. With a strike rate that has been in the 10s/20s(%) on many a league night over the past couple seasons…I'd really like to see some strikes for a change.

ALSO…take it from someone with an abysmal strike rate…having lots of strikes and then opening a couple times…no big deal. You're probably still over 200. But if you CAN'T strike…then you not ONLY have to pick up spares…but you have to leave "easy" spares to pick up. All 9 /s are great…I'm still hoping to acheive that feat. But ya wanna know an even HARDER feat?? All 6 /s. Because if you leave more than 3 pins any more often than "occasionally"…you're in for a long and disappointing night…guaranteed.