Left hander missing left on 6 and 10 pins

[Lancerdad34]

I use a plastic ball for my 4 and 7 pin spares. I have been using it for the 6 and 10 pins and am recently having issues missing left. The ball just does not want to grab in the middle of the lane slides by right. I am getting ready to go back to my strike ball for the right side spares. Could it be simply too much oil in the middle? I have always stood on 10 and gone over the second arrow. Thanks for any advice.

Brian in MI

[1VegasBowler]

It might be just a matter of taking a straighter angle towards that corner with a plastic ball. It would be something to work on during a practice session.

It's also not a bad thing to use your strike ball either. Just be sure it doesn't over hook if you have the 6-10 or you might just miss the 6.

[LOUVIT]

Stick to what works, use your hook ball if that was working.

[J Anderson]

I use a plastic ball for my 4 and 7 pin spares. I have been using it for the 6 and 10 pins and am recently having issues missing left. The ball just does not want to grab in the middle of the lane slides by right. I am getting ready to go back to my strike ball for the right side spares. Could it be simply too much oil in the middle? I have always stood on 10 and gone over the second arrow. Thanks for any advice.

Brian in MI

Generally speaking, the point of using a plastic ball for spares is for the ball to go straight at the pin. If you used to stand on 10 and target second arrow with your strike ball to make the 6 or 10 pin there is no way, unless you're a left-handed Mike White that a plastic ball will make the turn. When teaching people to go cross alley at a corner pin, we usually suggest a target near or at the center of the lane. I've seen people successfully use targets anywhere from third to fifth arrow. Most often it's within a couple of boards of the center (4th) arrow.

So pick a target closer to the middle and adjust your starting point until it works.

[2handedsniper]

the brunswick has a bullet core so taht extra wobble may help your spares. Matt McNeil uses a
tzone for his spares and is lefty too

[Mike White]

the brunswick has a bullet core so taht extra wobble may help your spares. Matt McNeil uses a
tzone for his spares and is lefty too

What is wobble, and how could it be helpful in making spares?

[Mike White]

I use a plastic ball for my 4 and 7 pin spares. I have been using it for the 6 and 10 pins and am recently having issues missing left. The ball just does not want to grab in the middle of the lane slides by right. I am getting ready to go back to my strike ball for the right side spares. Could it be simply too much oil in the middle? I have always stood on 10 and gone over the second arrow. Thanks for any advice.

Brian in MI

I'm right handed, so reverse to compare to your game.

Using my strike release, if I use urethane, I can't get the ball to hook enough to reach the 4 pin, and if I use resin balls, I can't get it to not hook past the 7 pin into the gutter.

The oil in the middle of the lane delays the significant part of the hook until about 40 feet down the lane.

My solution is to use very weak release, and a plastic ball, then throw it straight at the 4-7.

[Mike White]

...unless you're a left-handed Mike White...

I'm a product of the environment in which I learned.

If I had been left handed, the environment would be different to the point that I wouldn't be the current version of me.

[Lancerdad34]

Thanks john bullheaded me was alway stuck on the second arrow where I used to use my strike ball to shoot the 6 and 10. Never thought of trying more in the middle! I will give it a shot and let you know!

Brian

[Hammer]

I am left handed and use my urethane Blue Hammer to pick up spares. I can throw it more or less straight to go after the seven pin by taking the cup out of my hand and staying behind the ball at the release. I am standing in line with the right gutter and throwing between the third and fourth arrow. Other spares I can hook the Blue enough to pick up other leaves. I have used my reactive resin ball to pick up the 10 pin by standing left and throwing over the 8 board on the left side of the alley.

[Lancerdad34]

Thanks for the reply! I went back to using my strike ball for the 6 and 10 and my plastic ball for the 4 and 7. Having better luck that way. I stand where you do for the 7 and stand left and go over second arrow for the 10.

[Lancerdad34]

John,

I went back to using my plastic ball for the 6 and 10 last week and am going over the 3rd arrow and made them all! I am going to keep working on that and stay with it!

Thanks,

Brian

PS 728 series last week

[Tampabaybob]

Thanks john bullheaded me was alway stuck on the second arrow where I used to use my strike ball to shoot the 6 and 10. Never thought of trying more in the middle! I will give it a shot and let you know!

Brian

Brian, the spare shooting system I teach, and it is my own I've use for over 45 years, is to always use the middle ten boards to shoot spares (and splits). I have a spare shooting percentage well over 90% and I've taught Hundreds of bowlers, Kids and Adults alike, this system. Basically you're using the heavy part of the lanes oil to your advantage. So I always will tell bowlers to shoot somewhere between 15 and 25 as your target board. I teach a visual system, where you "don't look at your feet" when you line up for a spare. It's all visual. You draw an invisible line between the center of your body the middle arrow and the target pin. A lefty you'd shoot the 5th arrow (for a righty) but your 3rd arrow. Remember, accuracy is paramount but you do have a margin of error. If you're shooting the 6 pin, for example, you're shooting at a 21" target. Yup, That's what I said 21". All one pinners are 21" wide. Like Hitting a Bull in the axx, with a bass fiddle. LOL Good luck give it a try.

[Lancerdad34]

Bob,

Thanks for the reply. I have been out of town and have not checked this board or even bowled now for two weeks. I have had some success using my plastic ball and using the 15 board for my 6 and ten. I missed a couple left but believe that was because my shoulder was not lined up. Will keep you posted when I get back to it this weekend.

Brian