Unusual method for aiming at 10 pin

[NewToBowling]

For me it's mental. I see a lonely pin on far right side of lane. Now I picture the 6-7-10 split and aim as to hit the imaginary 6 into the imaginary 7. Mentally it helps to think there are other pins out there.

Same with the baby 3-10 split. Imagine the 6 pin is there and aim strictly at it.

[fokai73]

Not unusual at all. I do the same thing with baby splits and for ten pins. Only difference, I don't imagine the 7 pin at all. Too many pins mess me up

[NewToBowling]

Not unusual at all. I do the same thing with baby splits and for ten pins. Only difference, I don't imagine the 7 pin at all. Too many pins mess me up

With only an imaginary 6 pin too high a chance of a chop. With the imaginary 7 pin I have to direct the ball to the right of the 6 pin. Of course easier said than done

[vdubtx]

This is essentially what Susie Minshew teaches for spares. Don't shoot at a single pin, think of it as if another pin is up on the deck. If just a 10, think of it as a 6-10 etc. She wrote exactly that in a Bowling This Month article on the topic.

I do think of a 6 being there on a baby split conversion.

Personally, I don't think I would put a pin that is on other side of deck up with a single pin conversion, but hey, whatever works for you is great.

[vdubtx]

With only an imaginary 6 pin too high a chance of a chop. With the imaginary 7 pin I have to direct the ball to the right of the 6 pin. Of course easier said than done

Also, Susie's point about shooting at a 6-10 vs. just the 10 standing, is you have picked up both probably countless times, and chopped some as well. But, try to purposely chop the 6 from the 10 and see what happens.

[RobLV1]

Check the video I did on U-Tube. It's entitled the "Shadow Pin Spare System." It uses this same system for splits.

[vdubtx]

Hello Rob, Just watched the video for shadow pin system. Pretty much have to have read the article to know what you are talking about in the video. Video doesn't really explain anything aside from throwing ball straight up 5th arrow.

Article: LINK

Here's video in case someone can't find:

[fokai73]

I should go back and do this system. I used to convert many wash outs, double wood, and even saved my team in a tourney when both times I had splits on the 10th frame in the 2nd and 3rd games.

I was able to convert 2 4 10 and 3 4 6

I made up a name for my spare method 345, like 375 (gun)... my 345 shooting spares lol... I guessed right, yes it's the arrow. Corners I used the 4th arrow system. the 2's and 3 combo spares I rolled over the 3rd and 5th arrows. BUT......somewhere in 2009 and 2010, I started hooking at spares when I stopped bringing my spare ball and bowled more house patterns. I just got lazy..

Just a heads up... I roll end over end, I thump down the lane...I had to repair my thumb slug/hole constantly. Luckily, spare balls are cheep and you can find one at a thrift store lol.

Finally, I'm not sure if this has been mentioned already, but bowlers should know their lay down point, or how many boards is the ball to the inside ankle at the release point. It'll help line you up...

[fokai73]

Check the video I did on U-Tube. It's entitled the "Shadow Pin Spare System." It uses this same system for splits.

I just read your article on BTM... good one.. I learned this back in 2005 when I watched a senior bowl leagues one afternoon while waiting for my coach. He was picking up the 2 8 easy. He actually left it 3 times in ONE GAME! he rolled over the 5th arrow and converted all of them.

I was money on spares back then, using a plastic ball. I was a much better spare shooter back then than I am now. I strike more now, but suck so bad at right side combos. I need to go back and work on this "shadow pin" method again. The 3 pin is my enemy.. I mean my friend.. lol This last summer, I started using a plastic ball again in hopes to improve my spare game. but some times I still hook at 7 pins - only if I didn't get to shoot at 7 pins during warm ups.

I'll watch your video next..

[bowl1820]

With only an imaginary 6 pin too high a chance of a chop. With the imaginary 7 pin I have to direct the ball to the right of the 6 pin. Of course easier said than done

Shooting one certain key pin/pin spot that will pickup several different spare leaves with the same shot. As the others have said it's a common technique.

As for the "high a chance of a chop" by not imaging a 7 pin, on the other side of the coin imagining a 7 pin so you have to direct the ball to the right of the 6 pin, increases the chance of dumping the ball in the gutter. A lot of bowlers gutter trying to pick up the 6-7-10 split

That's why you have to work on your straight ball and try not to hook balls at the 10. Got to watch out hooking at a baby split (3-10) too! Beside chopping, you can put a ball right in between them and miss both.

But in the end you do what works for you.