I never used a spare ball.......

[LOUVIT]

Now I'm talking 25 years ago when I bowled serious. Didn't think I needed one now. when I started 3-4 months ago i was using an old non reactive ball and had no issues with corner spares. Now that I'm using a ball that moves a lot I can't make a 10 pin to save my life....lol.. 3 games today the lanes were running I must have left 9 10 pins i think I made 2 out of the 9. So I guess I will put my old ball back in the bag for right side spares... live and learn...seems every time I threw a double the next hit was a 10 pin. ruined some good games. it was kind of funny, I thought I had a few and at the last second the ball would hook away from it like it was afraid of it...lol

may go shoot a couple of games tomorrow and see if I can just shoot 10 pins with the new ball, and I'll bring the old ball in also

[ep1977]

I've been using my Hectic to shoot 6 and 10 pin spares rather than my plastic because the Hectic is more versatile and I'd rather have it in the bag.

[got_a_300]

As I just posted in another thread I've been using my Storm Reign On
as my first ball and also my spare ball too. I've worked on getting to
where I can flatten it out when shooting single pin spares by putting a
dead flat end over end roll with absolutely no side turn on it like a Norm
Duke style.

I've gotten to where I can make the 10 pin with no problem on the fresh
or even on dried / burned out lanes. I used to always think that I needed
to have a plastic spare ball but not so much now.

[RobLV1]

At the risk of of sounding like a broken record, there is a reason that 99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic spare balls, and it's not because it makes spare shooting tougher!

[ep1977]

At the risk of of sounding like a broken record, there is a reason that 99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic spare balls, and it's not because it makes spare shooting tougher!

Playing on a THS a spare ball isn't necessary IMO.

[NewToBowling]

Playing on a THS a spare ball isn't necessary IMO.

Agreed, my 10 pin conversion rate has increased with using my normal strike ball. My spare sits in my basement now.

[LOUVIT]

I think I just need practice since I've only been using this new ball for a week. This ball hook 3 times as much as my old one. I need to learn how to flatten the hook and aim a bit better.

[Mike White]

Playing on a THS a spare ball isn't necessary IMO.

Based on what I've seen on a THS, the ability to make spares isn't necessary on a THS.

[Amyers]

I think I just need practice since I've only been using this new ball for a week. This ball hook 3 times as much as my old one. I need to learn how to flatten the hook and aim a bit better.

Why go to the trouble to develop multiple deliveries if you don't have to? I would much rather spend my time focusing on perfecting one delivery than having 2 adequate ones. If I had 25 games a week to practice maybe I could develop two deliveries that are first rate but most of us don't have that kind of time. Buy a plastic spare ball and don't worry about it.

[NewToBowling]

I may go back to my spare ball but I might sand it down a bit. I think Rob mentioned this that many people sand their spare balls down to 500 or so to give it some more traction. I feel my spare ball just floats down the land and I kind of want it to hook just a little bit down lane. That's why I use my strike balls now because I like/need that little hook at the end even after flattening out my hand a little

[Tampabaybob]

Having bowled with Lou yesterday, seeing him struggle with his ten pin shots, I can tell you that for a low speed senior bowler, a spare ball is almost a necessity. It's a very cheap investment, IMO, to cure several frustrations. You can explain, demonstrate, and do whatever to get someone to flatten their hand out, but you can't throw the ball for them. Keep in mind his natural delivery has quite a few revs on the ball, so that coupled with drier back ends do not make a good fit.

I stopped using a spare ball several years ago and just flattened out and broke my wrist at the release point. It worked well, however, when the lanes changed oil patterns and I started missing a few. So back to a spare ball. Easy, no hassle.

[Amyers]

Having bowled with Lou yesterday, seeing him struggle with his ten pin shots, I can tell you that for a low speed senior bowler, a spare ball is almost a necessity. It's a very cheap investment, IMO, to cure several frustrations. You can explain, demonstrate, and do whatever to get someone to flatten their hand out, but you can't throw the ball for them. Keep in mind his natural delivery has quite a few revs on the ball, so that coupled with drier back ends do not make a good fit.

I stopped using a spare ball several years ago and just flattened out and broke my wrist at the release point. It worked well, however, when the lanes changed oil patterns and I started missing a few. So back to a spare ball. Easy, no hassle.

I am a slower speed bowler myself although not a senior but I bowl one or two leagues a season on older wood lanes and there is simply no way I can adjust my delivery enough to consistently hit 10's on those lanes when they are drier. On synthetics I can do it's just not optimum.

[Tampabaybob]

I'm with you, when you said it's not optimum. I like always falling back on the KISS theory. I'm pushing 70 and still get my spare ball measuring at 17mph at the cameras, so could I throw my strike ball at the spares but why take the chance of it hooking up and missing.

[LOUVIT]

Spare ball or not to Spare ball....that is the question...lol

Looks like a good debate here

[bowl1820]

Another good reason for using a spare ball is saving the wear and tear on your strike ball.

Think about the times when someone misses a ten pin, ball goes in the gutter and It takes a big bounce or theres a pin jam in that corner and the ball smashes into those stuck pins. Then it comes back with gouge, scratches on it.

[RobLV1]

Bowling changed in the 1990's when reactive resin balls with powerful cores were introduced. Bowlers who learned how to bowl prior to that time need to forget about five beliefs that have no place in bowling in the 21st Century:

1). Reach for the ceiling on your follow through. There are no pins on the ceiling and bowlers today must project the ball down the lane. Reach for the pins, not the ceiling.

2. Don't drop your shoulder. "DYDS" says it all.

3. Don't bend from the waist. That helped bowlers to lift the ball. Today we don't lift, we roll. Spine tilt that increases through the shot is a good thing.

4. When the ball stops hooking, move right (right handers) to avoid the carrydown. Carrydown is a thing of the past. Today, when the ball stops hooking it's because it is losing energy from too much friction. When the ball stops hooking, move left to find more oil.

5. To pick up right corner spares, flatten out your hand to keep it from hooking. Today, a flat hand will not keep a powerful ball from hooking. The core makes it hook all by itself. I'll say it again: 99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic spare balls. If you think that you can be as accurate by flattening out your hand on a powerful strike ball, you're delusional... unless your last name is Duke!

[got_a_300]

If you think that you can be as accurate by flattening out your hand on a powerful strike ball, you're delusional... unless your last name is Duke!

Well for the last 5 weeks using my strike ball and flattening out my hand
I'm 100% on 10 pins and around 90% on all other single pin spares.

I did manage to flatten it out too much and slid by a 4 pin on the right side
of it a couple of times instead of hooking at it and slid by a 6 pin on the
right side of it also a couple of times.

I really had no other choice except to use one of my strike balls except for
maybe using a house ball that is hard to hold onto as my old T-Zone plastic
ball decided to crack all around the finger holes and down the middle of it.

Yes I could go and buy myself another spare ball but that will have to wait
for a little while as I have other financial matters to attend to at the moment.

So I guess everyone can just call me Duke Sr. LOL!!!!!!

[LOUVIT]

I really want to use my strike ball as a spare ball. with my old NVS that I started with 4 months ago I didn't miss a 10 pin, then again that ball didn't move, my new ball is flying. if I can make 2 out of 9 like yesterday I can learn to make them all....considering my only issue is the 10 pin, I don't want a ball just for 10 pins, that's crazy. I need to know why I left 9 10 pins in 3 games... all on the inside line, the lanes seemed to be dry I was going through the nose between the 1st and second arrow on the outside line so I moved inside and the ball was way out on the lane and left 10 pins.

[foreverincamo]

I wish I had a plastic spare ball when my sport league started the first 6 weeks with short oil patterns. I ended up taking a ball and taking it to 4000 Abralon and then polishing it with a slip agent. Now with longer oil patterns I don't have a problem at all with that ball. It skids forever on 47 feet of oil.

[RobLV1]

I really want to use my strike ball as a spare ball. with my old NVS that I started with 4 months ago I didn't miss a 10 pin, then again that ball didn't move, my new ball is flying. if I can make 2 out of 9 like yesterday I can learn to make them all....considering my only issue is the 10 pin, I don't want a ball just for 10 pins, that's crazy. I need to know why I left 9 10 pins in 3 games... all on the inside line, the lanes seemed to be dry I was going through the nose between the 1st and second arrow on the outside line so I moved inside and the ball was way out on the lane and left 10 pins.

I really want to win the lottery. Until I do, I'll throw a plastic spare ball and pretend that I'm bowling in the 21st century!

[BOSStull]

Should be no debate. Get a spare ball.

[Blomer]

I use a plastic. As Aymers said, why have multiple deliveries? I shoot the spare ball the same way as my strike, just s lot more left. When I try with a regular ball, it just feels so uncomfortable on everything. Then the damn ball hooks most of time right before it gets the pin. Spare balls are cheap, fits in my 4 ball roller, no sacrificing any balls, so spare ball is way to go for me.

[LOUVIT]

I don't even need to buy one I have my old NVS that doesn't hook anyway. I threw it back in the bag and will use it for some spares for now. i rarely missed a 10 pin with that ball, and that pin is my problem with the Track ball. So really I have a ball just for 6 or 10 pins..lol

[RobLV1]

I don't even need to buy one I have my old NVS that doesn't hook anyway. I threw it back in the bag and will use it for some spares for now. i rarely missed a 10 pin with that ball, and that pin is my problem with the Track ball. So really I have a ball just for 6 or 10 pins..lol

If your old NVS doesn't hook, then you need to learn how to hook a ball, AND THEN buy a plastic spare ball!

[Amyers]

Unless you have the time to commit to the practice regimen of a PBA bowler you will be better off to throw plastic with your normal release at right side single pin spares. If you think you can shoot your spares just as well with a modern resin bowling ball you are kidding yourself and will eventually run into the condition where it's less effective than throwing plastic would have been. a spare ball is a very small investment and even if it means bringing a extra two ball tote with you to hold it it's worth it. A spare ball is not just for 6 and 10 pins either. A spare ball makes it easier to pick up 3-10 and on some conditions is the better way to pick up the 7 and 4 pins. I always though I was pretty good at the 3-10 my coach changed me over to using the spare ball for it and I'm pretty much automatic on that spare now.

[LOUVIT]

If your old NVS doesn't hook, then you need to learn how to hook a ball, AND THEN buy a plastic spare ball!


It'll hook a bit, it's an old ball and not drilled right. My track Heat hooks a lot, so I can throw a hook...lol

[billf]

I use my spare ball for tournaments. When money is on the line I take no chances.
I have been using multiple releases from almost the beginning. While it has hurt my average at times it also has taught me what I need to do in different situations.
With today's THS and synthetic lanes I just bring my Rebel Tank for Tuesdays. Change tilt and rotation, pick lane area based on transition and bingo!

[LOUVIT]

Unless you have the time to commit to the practice regimen of a PBA bowler you will be better off to throw plastic with your normal release at right side single pin spares. If you think you can shoot your spares just as well with a modern resin bowling ball you are kidding yourself and will eventually run into the condition where it's less effective than throwing plastic would have been. a spare ball is a very small investment and even if it means bringing a extra two ball tote with you to hold it it's worth it. A spare ball is not just for 6 and 10 pins either. A spare ball makes it easier to pick up 3-10 and on some conditions is the better way to pick up the 7 and 4 pins. I always though I was pretty good at the 3-10 my coach changed me over to using the spare ball for it and I'm pretty much automatic on that spare now.


all good points, I have all the time I need but not all the energy and physical ability. I've only had the track Heat 2 weeks maybe 20 games. i bowl at the same house 2-3 times a week. I will decide tomorrow if I should use the old junk for spares. My coach (tampabaybob} is bowling with me.

[LOUVIT]

I did pretty well today without using a spare ball. made a good amount of corner pins. I tried my old ball on my first 10 pin and it fell out of my hand. I guess I'm so used to the drilling on my new ball I can't hold the old one anymore. time will tell if I get a plastic ball.

[RobLV1]

It'll hook a bit, it's an old ball and not drilled right. My track Heat hooks a lot, so I can throw a hook...lol

If it doesn't fit you, why are you still using it?!?!?

[LOUVIT]

I didn't realize it didn't fit until I had my new ball drilled correctly. remember the 25 year layoff and my huge learning curve here on the new bowling game.

[RobLV1]

I didn't realize it didn't fit until I had my new ball drilled correctly. remember the 25 year layoff and my huge learning curve here on the new bowling game.

The fact that you didn't realize it, doesn't change my original question. Now that you know it, why are you still using it?

[LOUVIT]

If it doesn't fit you, why are you still using it?!?!?

I'm not using it. I tried this week and I guess after 25 games or so I am really used to the fit on my new ball. I threw one shot with it last week at a 10 pin and it fell out on my hand. It's out of the bag now, Until I can get a real spare ball I will suffer with my one ball. I did convert a few 10 pins with my one ball...