Everyone needs a spare ball that goes straight or plastic to improve their average. If only for 10 pins, or 7's if left handed.
I may not use a plastic ball for the 1-2-4, but I will use a plastic ball for the 2-4-5, and 4-7.Originally Posted by Aslan
Everyone needs a spare ball that goes straight or plastic to improve their average. If only for 10 pins, or 7's if left handed.
I think everyone does things a little differently Iceman and I use a weak resin ball and enjoy a little "bite" at the end to hook into the 10-pin. Many players use plastic balls on certain side leaves but not the other. Many players never use a spare ball and just use lateral movement. I am NOT leading a CHARGE against the use of it. I'm simply disagreeing with the folks that state things like it being "essential" or "the biggest way to improve a new bowler" or "uniformally accepted". It's not.
It's a tactic. In some ways I see it as "almost essential"...if you're throwing a big hook and/or using very strong equipment. I think a right hander hitting that 10-pin with a strike ball that is assymetrical with a high differential...yeah, gonna be tough to hit that 10-pin without changing your release (which I'm not a fan of). BUT...if a new bowlers is throwing a weaker resin ball and is a stroker...to throw a plastic spare ball as a RULE...no matter where the leave is...just because "all the pros do it" is kinda silly to me.
Like I said, my only complaint about new bowlers is a LOT of them have bought into plastic spare balls and "arsenals"...mostly because it's "cool" and they see the pros doing it...yet they don't understand WHY...and they don't understand lateral movement or other techniques. Thats when you (or at least I) see those bowlers switching from one ball to another almost randomly...because they have no clue what their balls are designed to do. And very little understanding on how they can make slight changes to approach/release to enhance their game. I just think thats more of a "negative" than a "positive".
And even though Rob M. and I have disagreed about modern techniques, etc... I think anyone that claims to be a fan/supporter of Rob's work...you really need to also read his lengthy article on "Knowing Your Arsenal" where he echoes many of the things I've said about how arsenals are far less effective when the bowler doesn't have a good understanding of ball specifications. And I take it one step further with the spare ball discussion by saying that a spare ball is far more advantageous in the hands of a bowler that knows how to make other minor changes (approach/release/swing/etc...) than it is in the hands of a new bowler who has it stuck in their head that you always throw a strike ball and then a spare ball no matter the situation.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
What is your conversion rate for a 10 pin with your resin ball? Just curious as I know what mine was prior to using plastic and what is now. For me there was a large variance on conversion rates. Picking up more 10 pins now has certainly helped my average grow to Blacksox1's point.
High Sanctioned Scratch Game - 300(12) Hi Sanctioned Scratch Series - 822(3)
2016/17 Book Average=221, 2017/18 Composite Average=223
Equipment in the bag - Storm Crux Prime, Storm Physix, Roto Grip Idol, Roto Grip Idol Pearl, Roto Grip Hyper Cell Fused, Storm Sure Lock, Storm Drive, Roto Grip Winner Solid, Roto Grip Haywire, Storm Fever Pitch, Roto Grip Red ball spare.
Rev Rate 400. Speed 18 at heads, 16.5-17 at pins. Axis tilt 10, Axis Rotation 55. PAP 5 5/8 x 5/8 up
I actually use an old entry level reactive for my 10 pins, and most single pins. Since getting PinPal I'm at 80% on 10s. Thing is that I flatten my wrist way out and just throw essentially straight at them, I don't hook towards it at all. I can throw it that way at the 4/7 as well but need more practice on a consistent starting spot and target to bowl straight at those well.
I've been meaning to get a plastic ball, since I feel that I would be more consistent and get my single pins up to 90%+ with the same release as my strike ball. That'd be enough to raise the average several pins too. I feel that changing my release like that doesn't do me any favors in my game and could lead to a strike or 2 more per series, too. Looking to pick it up for the summer league... all tweaks/adjustments get pushed to summer league to try
Hard to say because it's still too early on in the process. Like I said, a good bowler like you...if you make that change...you see an increase in picking up the 10-pin...BAMM....makes sense to use a spare ball. But if you're a beginner and you're picking the 10-pin up 35% of the time....then get a plastic spare ball and over the course of a year that raises to 65%...was it the ball....or the year of learning how to bowl??
I've only been using PinPal for 1 month...but here's a breakdown/comparison as best I can get you:
Using a spare ball (low level reactive) and a different strike ball:
I am 45% at spares.
I am 59% at single pin spares.
I am 33% at picking up a single 10-pin.
The single 10-pin represents 22% of my single pin leaves. The single 5-pin is my next highest leave, and I am 82% at picking up that pin...however, that is using my strike ball. On left side single pin leaves I am 50% or greater (2, 4, 7) however again, thats using my strike ball.
Using only ONE ball as both strike/and spare:
I am 52% at spares.
I am 72% at single pin spares.
I am 58% at picking up the single 10-pin.
Using just the one ball, I am over 65% on left side single pin leaves. And the single 10 is my worst on the right, but actually not my most frequent. When using just the one ball, I most frequently leave the single 6-pin and am 69% at picking it up.
A better illustration is a comparison of 4-7 leaves and 6-10 leaves where I am about even at picking them up (57% and 55% respectively) when using just the one ball.
So, my conclusion is, two-fold:
1) I am equally BAD at shooting spares irregardless using a spare ball or not (45-52%).
2) I tend to do better at single pin spares (using the same ball) if I don't have to switch from a strike ball to a "spare ball" (59% vs. 72%). The difference is even more dratstic concering the single 10-pin (33% vs 58%).
But here's the ISSUE...remember what I said about beginning bowlers and how switching to a spare ball isn't as much of a help? Here's why:
1) In BOTH of those scenarios...the spare ball is the same...low level reactive.
2) In the times where I use TWO balls....the strike ball is 16lbs and the spare ball 15lbs. SOME would argue...that by using 2 different weight balls....THAT is more likely why I'm having less success (using the same ball) when switching. And I actually would tend to agree.
So, you can't use the "% increase in spare shooting" unless you eliminate other variables. And with low-level beginner bowlers...they are constantly varying their (my) game. Approach, stance, swing, release.....all these things are being changed constantly....AND...beginners tend to not be as good at shooting spares because they're "beginners". EXPERIENCE is what makes you a better spare shooter..not a "Vis-a-ball". Now...when you're the mega pro that is VDub...and you've kinda got you game consistent...then adding a spare ball as a variable...you can see how that increases/decreases your results (especially with something like Pinpal). But you MUST leave everything else constant. And beginners...lack "constant"...unfortunately. Because believe me...bowling is less fun when you're only picking up 45% of your spares...especially when your strike rate is sub-30%. But, on the bright side, a LOT of practice at shooting at spares!!
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
Wow,,, And I thought War and Peace was wordy!!
If I was a guessing man, and I am a pretty good guesser!!! I swear that all those percentages you have above were pulled right out of your..... LOL LMAO
Don't walk on Thin Ice!
Don't worry Ice. I have a coloring book version for you and Mud.
If you spent as much time working on your spare game as you do posting war and peace every day, you might be a 167 average bowler some day soon.
High Sanctioned Scratch Game - 300(12) Hi Sanctioned Scratch Series - 822(3)
2016/17 Book Average=221, 2017/18 Composite Average=223
Equipment in the bag - Storm Crux Prime, Storm Physix, Roto Grip Idol, Roto Grip Idol Pearl, Roto Grip Hyper Cell Fused, Storm Sure Lock, Storm Drive, Roto Grip Winner Solid, Roto Grip Haywire, Storm Fever Pitch, Roto Grip Red ball spare.
Rev Rate 400. Speed 18 at heads, 16.5-17 at pins. Axis tilt 10, Axis Rotation 55. PAP 5 5/8 x 5/8 up
Good grief this again?
Let's settle it.
Are you Norm Duke?
If you answered no, a spare ball can improve your scores.
The end.
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