Picking a 7 or 10 pin

[santos314]

Watching EJ Tackett on some step ladder finals and I have a question. Years ago I was told, to pick a 7 or 10, you stand opposite side and shoot your straight ball across lane. They throw almost straight on which I thought was harder to do. Is that because of the oil patterns they play on? Is that also why they throw so hard at their spares?

[J Anderson]

Watching EJ Tackett on some step ladder finals and I have a question. Years ago I was told, to pick a 7 or 10, you stand opposite side and shoot your straight ball across lane. They throw almost straight on which I thought was harder to do. Is that because of the oil patterns they play on? Is that also why they throw so hard at their spares?

I haven't really noticed how Tackett shoots a ten pin. Are you saying it looks like he throws straight down the five board?

Shooting " cross alley" is still the best strategy for making corner pins. Using a plastic ball and going straight takes the pattern out of consideration. You're going straight with a ball that does not hook so the pattern does not matter.

[C J]

Watching EJ Tackett on some step ladder finals and I have a question. Years ago I was told, to pick a 7 or 10, you stand opposite side and shoot your straight ball across lane. They throw almost straight on which I thought was harder to do. Is that because of the oil patterns they play on? Is that also why they throw so hard at their spares?

Most all pros go straight at their spares to take oil pattern out of play. Actually most all people who own a spare ball go straight at them. EJ Tackett will at times hook a 7s and other pins on the left side if his spare game isn't feeling good at the time. But he almost always is money with a straight ball at em. I think if you are throwing straight how far you stand is a personal preference. My father-n-law stands on like board 10 or 15 when he goes at a 10 pin and picks up about every one of em. Other people stand further over....... I personally hook at 10s and I stand on 35 and pick up 10 pins pretty consistently. Stand on about 15, square shoulders up and hook it at the 7........ Straight ball is the "preferred" method but where you stand and how you do it seems to be personal preference.

[bowl1820]

Watching EJ Tackett on some step ladder finals and I have a question. Years ago I was told, to pick a 7 or 10, you stand opposite side and shoot your straight ball across lane. They throw almost straight on which I thought was harder to do. Is that because of the oil patterns they play on? Is that also why they throw so hard at their spares?

Going cross lane and throwing a straight ball at the corner pin (which are near the gutters, which cause you lose to some miss area), gives the highest margin of error.

http://www.alabamabowling.com/articles/10pinphoto1.gif

Plus it takes the lanes conditions out of play, which can cause those unexpected last minute hooks.

Throwing straight to take the lanes conditions out of play, becomes even more important on the harder conditions.

Now while some do throw the ball harder, usually because their trying to keep the ball from possibly hooking. (Because they can't totally kill their hook.)

A lot don't actually throw harder, they use their normal shot. It's just the ball is retaining speed, because it usually plastic and it's traveling over a lot of oil so it's not losing much speed do to friction.

[got_a_300]

On my left side spares I usually use my strike ball and flatten it out and
go straight at them now on the right side is a completely different story
I use my plastic ball and go straight at them.

I use to use the plastic ball at all spares right and left sided but some
times I would throw it too hard across the middle at the left side spares
and it would slide right by them.

[santos314]

Yeah...actually I hook it for the 7 and 10 but across lane for both. Not quite sure where I ever heard that across lane is much easier.

[JasonNJ]

This summer I worked on using my plastic ball and throwing straight at all my spares. Once you get comfortable with what angle and what target to shoot for, then its just memorization and repeating it for that spare. Throwing plastic straight will be pretty much the same on any oil condition.

[Albundy]

I read a way to practice is aim for it on your first ball. Th aim for the pocket on the 2nd ball to practice a strike shot. You get more shots in each game this way. I throw my strike ball with a plastic ball and stand on the last dot facing across the lane. I have a hard time with it no matter how i throw it. Anyone else so used to throwing a hook have a hard time throwing it completely straight?

[santos314]

I read a way to practice is aim for it on your first ball. Th aim for the pocket on the 2nd ball to practice a strike shot. You get more shots in each game this way. I throw my strike ball with a plastic ball and stand on the last dot facing across the lane. I have a hard time with it no matter how i throw it. Anyone else so used to throwing a hook have a hard time throwing it completely straight?
Yes, that's the way I feel. A straight ball seems difficult and unnatural....I don't even through much of a hook.

[Amyers]

I read a way to practice is aim for it on your first ball. Th aim for the pocket on the 2nd ball to practice a strike shot. You get more shots in each game this way. I throw my strike ball with a plastic ball and stand on the last dot facing across the lane. I have a hard time with it no matter how i throw it. Anyone else so used to throwing a hook have a hard time throwing it completely straight?

If your throwing a plastic spare ball your normal release should allow you to roll the ball relatively hook free. corner pin spares are about practice and a consistent swing more than anything else. Even good bowlers will struggle with corner pins at times and often timing issues will show up in your corner pin spares before anywhere else

[JasonNJ]

Yes, that's the way I feel. A straight ball seems difficult and unnatural....I don't even through much of a hook.

At first it might be but with anything it takes practice and really committing to it. In the past I would always go back to hooking at spares but I really committed to shooting spares straight this summer and I actually feel pretty good about my spare game now. Now if I miss a spare it was something I physically did wrong and not because my ball hooked more or less than I thought it would.

Also as a side benefit, you save some wear and tear on your more expensive strike ball. You are using it half as much so the ball should last twice as long before dying.

[C J]

Every time I try to throw a ball completely straight I throw it in the gutter lol. I have tried many times to throw a house ball straight at spares and it results in a gutter every time. I tried to throw my Tyrant straighter at them and thats better but my conversion rate wasn't very high.. Now I throw a small hook at the 10 pin with my Code Red and I will say I pick the 10 pin up 90% of the time now. If I miss one it's usually early on when I haven't gotten loosened up yet.... This isn't the best way but for me this is how I consistently pick them up.

[santos314]

Every time I try to throw a ball completely straight I throw it in the gutter lol. I have tried many times to throw a house ball straight at spares and it results in a gutter every time. I tried to throw my Tyrant straighter at them and thats better but my conversion rate wasn't very high.. Now I throw a small hook at the 10 pin with my Code Red and I will say I pick the 10 pin up 90% of the time now. If I miss one it's usually early on when I haven't gotten loosened up yet.... This isn't the best way but for me this is how I consistently pick them up.

Agreed.....especially on the 10 pin. I just feel safer like my ball will stay on the lane better with that little hook..

[santos314]

Actually, now that my memory comes back...lol, it was the Hall of Famer that gave me lessons when I was young. He told me, always shoot 7&10s across lane because your accuracy and chances are so much better.

[bowl1820]

Every time I try to throw a ball completely straight I throw it in the gutter lol.
Well that's a easy fix, just aim a little more left (or right as the case may be) and practice!


I have tried many times to throw a house ball straight at spares and it results in a gutter every time.

Forget the house ball and get one that "Fits" properly and as said above "PRACTICE".

[bowl1820]

The thing with a lot players who say they can't roll a straight ball is, it's not that they can't throw one (they can't flatten it out etc.). It's just when they do, they find out just how wildly inaccurate they really are.

Tell them that and say they just need to practice some and they think your crazy.

It's another symptom of the THS, there's such a wide margin of error on strike shots. They assume they are accurate, because they shoot a lot of strikes. So they figure it must be something else that causes them to miss when throwing a straight ball.

[djp1080]

The thing with a lot players who say they can't roll a straight ball is, it's not that they can't throw one (they can't flatten it out etc.). It's just when they do, they find out just how wildly inaccurate they really are.

Tell them that and say they just need to practice some and they think your crazy.

It's another symptom of the THS, there's such a wide margin of error on strike shots. They assume they are accurate, because they shoot a lot of strikes. So they figure it must be something else that causes them to miss when throwing a straight ball.

Yes! I've thought that hitting the pocket was much easier than picking up spares for a long, long time.
I've gotten better at hitting the right side spares by using a simple urethane ball (Storm's Mix) with just a little hook to it. I target board 12 and move my feet for the 3. 6 and 10. For left side spares the target becomes board 22. Been working on breaking my wrist back and changing the position of my hand for washouts lately and getting much better at that, too. If I keep at it, I'm hoping this will get my average up a notch or two. :)

[fordman1]

Hitting the pocket is easy. Carrying strikes not as easy. Making one pin spares other than the is a no brainer. I get so tired of shooting 7-8-9's and especially 10's. You shoot at the pocket every frame. The spare shot can be different every frame.

[santos314]

Practiced today....grabbed a house ball to throw a straight shot at some spares....yeah, I think I like it....Dang, now I am going to have to get a spare ball!

[vdubtx]

Straight at the corners diagonally cross lane is how I pick mine up. I have improved a ton this past year with the 10 pin in particular. My goal for this next season is to be in the 92% range for conversions. With my practice this summer I am exceeding that so hope it continues into the fall season.

This past spring I started using plastic to convert all of my spares. This really helps when shooting on a sport shot where you want to take the lane out of play when you are needing those spares to keep your scores going. Nothing worse than open frames.

Strikes for show, spares for dough. :cool:

[santos314]

Strikes for show, spares for dough.

Never heard that before, I like it!

[drlawsoniii]

Practiced today....grabbed a house ball to throw a straight shot at some spares....yeah, I think I like it....Dang, now I am going to have to get a spare ball!

I got a pyramid path spare for 85 bucks drilled from bb.com about 15 bucks cheaper than any local pro shop. Plus they paid for me to send my favorite ball and they copied my specs and resurfaced that ball for free.

[santos314]

I got a pyramid path spare for 85 bucks drilled from bb.com about 15 bucks cheaper than any local pro shop. Plus they paid for me to send my favorite ball and they copied my specs and resurfaced that ball for free.

Yes, I was just looking at those!

[Blacksox1]

Hey, I use the Pyramid Path too ! :)

[C J]

Well that's a easy fix, just aim a little more left (or right as the case may be) and practice!



Forget the house ball and get one that "Fits" properly and as said above "PRACTICE".

Yeah, I just tried it with the house ball for the time being. If I ever get serious about straight spare shooting I will definitely be getting a spare ball. My PSO has already been telling me that I need to get a Storm Mix drilled up to shoot spares lol.

[JasonNJ]

Hey, I use the Pyramid Path too ! :)


Me too. I just switched recently. I was using a Storm Mix but occasionally it would still pick up and hook a little so I decided to get the cheaper plastic ball I could and that was the Pyramid Path.

[Tony]

Percentages it seems say throwing a plastic ball cross lane straight at corner pins is the highest average result for most players, but there are certainly a
number of bowlers who have a high level of success using a strike ball and throwing it straight.
I usually use a plastic ball but decided in this summer league not to carry the extra ball and used my strike ball, rolling the ball flat with no rotation by having the fingers and thumb at 12 and not rotating the hand with index finger snugged in tight and pinkie finger spread wide resulted in a straight ball with very little hook.
For most of the season I was pretty happy with the results, but on fall league I have a locker so carrying the extra ball isn't a factor, I'll probably use the plastic ball.
I bowled with guy this summer that threw a backup ball with his strike ball at 10 pins, he actually was pretty good at it......not that anyone would recommend that method.

[bowl1820]

Percentages it seems say throwing a plastic ball cross lane straight at corner pins is the highest average result for most players, but there are certainly a
number of bowlers who have a high level of success using a strike ball and throwing it straight.

Yes if your good at flattening out your shot, you could use your strike ball (and many do).

Another good reason for using a plastic ball for shooting corner pins is the possibility of ball damage. When shooting at the corners, the balls are typically traveling faster, hitting hard etc.

If it goes in the gutter it can bounce up and hit the rack etc, the ball can hit pin jams back in the pit. So it's better to have that happen to a cheap plastic ball than your strike ball. Also it helps reduce the amount of oil your strike ball is picking up, so helps your strike ball last longer.

[C J]

Another good reason for using a plastic ball for shooting corner pins is the possibility of ball damage. When shooting at the corners, the balls are typically traveling faster, hitting hard etc.

If it goes in the gutter it can bounce up and hit the rack etc, the ball can hit pin jams back in the pit. So it's better to have that happen to a cheap plastic ball than your strike ball. Also it helps reduce the amount of oil your strike ball is picking up, so helps your strike ball last longer.

I can certainly see this. When I shoot any single pin spare if I hit it head on the ball ends up hitting the pin twice. The pin typically flips upside down and the ball smashes it against the curtain in the back. If I just missed it, it exits off the pin deck going full speed which for me is about 16.5mph depending on the day. I don't normally miss single pin spares but even if you barely kick one out to the side, the ball is still coming off the deck pretty hot.

[imagonman]

A couple weeks ago in practice getting ready for the upcoming league season my target line accuracy was all over the place. Was wondering if it was release or armswing inconsistency? Thinking on how to check it. Came up with this:

Insert thumb only in the ball, let the fingers just drape over finger holes. Basically just kinda 'palming' the ball w/ thumb inserted. Slow down the backswing to keep control & not lose the ball off the hand & just swing arm @ the target. Well, the ball skids downlane forever, kinda like a knuckle ball. Makes 1-2 revs at most just before the pins. Straight as an arrow! Tried this shooting spares as well, all of them. Really worked and really showed you if your accuracy is on & armswing is directed properly. Might want to try this in practice as well! Who knows, might just end up incorporating into your game. It's a lot easier than trying to master broken wrist, flathanded, or backup releases!

[Eddy]

"The thing with a lot players who say they can't roll a straight ball is, it's not that they can't throw one (they can't flatten it out etc.). It's just when they do, they find out just how wildly inaccurate they really are.

Tell them that and say they just need to practice some and they think your crazy.

It's another symptom of the THS, there's such a wide margin of error on strike shots. They assume they are accurate, because they shoot a lot of strikes. So they figure it must be something else that causes them to miss when throwing a straight ball." Bowl1820

I think some people forget that the best/better bowlers can throw a straight shot when necessary. It is an important part of a better bowler's arsenal. I really worked on throwing a dead straight ball this summer with a plastic ball, and it is paying off big time. Take the lane conditions out of the equation, and it's much easier.

[jamoke]

I have noticed that when I miss simple spares (right-handed - usually missing to the right) it's because I don't fully extend my back-swing.
I make the mistake of easing up on my throw for better accuracy, and get the opposite results.

Keeping a strong swing is the key for me.