Spare Ball Question

[JoeBeavis]

I, being a beginner haven't really accumulated an arsenal yet. I have a 15 pound Storm Optimus and 14 pound Storm Punch Out. I honestly don't know enough about bowling balls to know what either ball is supposed to do. I do know that the one thing that is holding me back right now is my spare game. In the last couple weeks I've picked up a 6-7 split and a 6-7-10 split during league which at this point feel like big accomplishments for me. Where I'm struggling is the spares where I leave a spare with one pin directly in front of another. I usually tend to hit the front one and leave the back one standing which that happening quite a few times during a series is costing me some decent points. I've decided I need a 'straight' ball.

My questions are...

1. Any good recommendations on ball/brand/weight?

2. Is finger tip grip or conventional grip more common for straight/spare balls?

Thanks for any advice!

[bowl1820]

My questions are...

1. Any good recommendations on ball/brand/weight?

2. Is finger tip grip or conventional grip more common for straight/spare balls?

Thanks for any advice!

Use the same weight as your other ball and use the same grip.

[RobLV1]

Since you are just starting out, you need to decide on a ball weight and stick to it. About the only thing that coaches and PSO's pretty much all agree on is that changing weights between balls can do nothing but hinder your bowling.

[Tony]

Most of the guys I see using a "spare" ball use a plastic ball with the same grip style and weight as their "strike" balls. Some of them only use these balls to shoot 10 and/or 7pins and use a strike ball for everything else. How did you end up with two different weight balls?

[Amyers]

The big thing with shooting double wood spares is hitting the pin on the opposite side you hook from. If your a righty you want to hit them on the right side vise vs if your a lefty. This allows you the most miss room if you miss right the ball still has a chance to recover miss a little left you hit it dead on and drive the other pin straight back into it miss left you'll chop it every time.

Most bowlers I know use thier strike ball for double wood I can pick them up with either. As far as brand or anything any plastic ball will work for spares don't get suckered into spending extra.

[JoeBeavis]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. In the short time I've been here I've come to believe that this is a great community to be a part of.

Ok...as far as different weights go, I bought the 14 pounder first and a month later moved to the 15 pound Optimus. I rarely even take the 14 pound out of the bag anymore as I feel it really doesn't do anything different for me.

Will take all this advice into account when getting my spare ball.

Thanks again!

[PauL757]

I would try to use the same weights and grips like everyone else said. Being comfortable with you spare game is very important. Practice shooting spares from different starting points and find what works best for you. Once you've got that figured out practice, practice , practice.

[Jessiewoodard57]

last weeks league play I was watching the man laying down the oil and I mentioned to my son that it was an awful short pattern only about 20 feet. sure enough when I threw a few practice balls all my usual go to balls where starting to roll out way too early. My Crux pearl, my Ride, and my Score where too much for the conditions so I did something out of the ordinary I pulled out my Taboo spare ball and opened league play with 2 strikes! Everyone that knew me looked like where did you get that ball. This ball rarely was out of my bag due to the fact It hurt my hand to throw it. Earlier that week I had my pro shop fix the grip on it and boy was it working good. I managed to roll an above average game. I will never look down on that ball again it has become my favorite dry lane ball. BTW there were so many bowlers mad about the way the lanes played. I am glad I get there while he is still laying down the oil!

[RobLV1]

last weeks league play I was watching the man laying down the oil and I mentioned to my son that it was an awful short pattern only about 20 feet. sure enough when I threw a few practice balls all my usual go to balls where starting to roll out way too early. My Crux pearl, my Ride, and my Score where too much for the conditions so I did something out of the ordinary I pulled out my Taboo spare ball and opened league play with 2 strikes! Everyone that knew me looked like where did you get that ball. This ball rarely was out of my bag due to the fact It hurt my hand to throw it. Earlier that week I had my pro shop fix the grip on it and boy was it working good. I managed to roll an above average game. I will never look down on that ball again it has become my favorite dry lane ball. BTW there were so many bowlers mad about the way the lanes played. I am glad I get there while he is still laying down the oil!

One of the centers where I bowl lays down the entire pattern in the morning and just does a 25' head run before evening leagues. The biggest effect is that the short head run breaks down very quickly through the heads. If you are right handed, you have to move left often and fast. I often end up against the ball return by the end of the third game.

[Average200someday]

The big thing with shooting double wood spares is hitting the pin on the opposite side you hook from. If your a righty you want to hit them on the right side vise vs if your a lefty. This allows you the most miss room if you miss right the ball still has a chance to recover miss a little left you hit it dead on and drive the other pin straight back into it miss left you'll chop it every time.

Most bowlers I know use thier strike ball for double wood I can pick them up with either. As far as brand or anything any plastic ball will work for spares don't get suckered into spending extra.

Amyers, could you clarify? Did you mean hitting the front pin on the same side you hook from, not the opposite? A righty, hooks left, so hit the right side of the pin, seems to make sense.

I have tried to hit a double wood spare straight on with my spare ball and am just not accurate enough. Miss slightly left or right and the pin goes flying off in the other direction, leaving the back pin. I like your suggestion of hooking it into the side and will try that next time.

[Amyers]

Amyers, could you clarify? Did you mean hitting the front pin on the same side you hook from, not the opposite? A righty, hooks left, so hit the right side of the pin, seems to make sense.

I have tried to hit a double wood spare straight on with my spare ball and am just not accurate enough. Miss slightly left or right and the pin goes flying off in the other direction, leaving the back pin. I like your suggestion of hooking it into the side and will try that next time.

You are correct for a right hander you would line up to hit the front pin on the right side. A hit on the right side should take out both pins pull it a little you still hit dead on and pick it up. Maximizes your miss room. I very rarely miss one of these anymore. I guess what I meant in the original post is opposite from the direction the ball is hooking.