What do you use for a spare ball?

[bowl1820]

I have a white dot and basically use it for the 6, 9 & 10 pin's and for the 3-10, 9-10 splits. I use my strike ball for most everything else.

[kev3inp]

No offense here - but spares are the name of the game - everyone can strike, when you string 6 in a row and leave 1 duck up there, and miss it; Your giving your game away. Concentrate and focus on the spares, it will greatly improve your avg and ALWAYS keep you in the game. One duck miss against a decent bowler, you'll be chasing them the rest of the game.......

I couldn't have said it better myself. I love going against guys that can't spare. If their carry goes, especially, they're toast. That's why when we play cards the second spare is worth 2 cards. A lot of people don't even reward spares. I think they're more important than strikes. "Strike for show, spare for dough."

[The KingPin]

I couldn't have said it better myself. I love going against guys that can't spare. If their carry goes, especially, they're toast. That's why when we play cards the second spare is worth 2 cards. A lot of people don't even reward spares. I think they're more important than strikes. "Strike for show, spare for dough."

Great points. If you cannot be consistent, your game will find troubles. If you have a 5 strike and then open game it hurts.

[nickcuban]

I use my old "Beast" ball for spares. I find it is really easy to hold the lane or go completely straight.

[The Bowling Guru]

I actually flatten my strike ball to make my spares. Many people actually wonder how I can wheel the lane with a Cell, and then throw it straight as an arrow to make a 10 pin. I find it easier to pick up spares with my strike ball due to a consistent feel in the thumb. Switching to another ball leaves the potential of hanging up in it, or having it fall off your hand if the fit is slightly different. Just my .02.

[dougb]

I have a white dot and basically use it for the 6, 9 & 10 pin's and for the 3-10, 9-10 splits. I use my strike ball for most everything else.

I do the exact same thing.

[Jord_84]

I've switched to using my t-road solid for 10 pins here lately. My plastic ball would work, but the guy that drilled it messed it up and it doesn't feel comfortable throwing it. I'd say my accuracy has tripled since making the switch.
now I'm looking into getting a new spare ball, only I won't go back to the pro shop that drilled the last one.

[11 in a row]

Picking up those single pin spares are tough at times, so what do you use to pick up your spares? Do you use a ball just for spares? or do you use your main bowling ball?

Maybe you use your main ball for multiple pin spares, and a plastic ball for single pick-ups?

Let us know what you think is best.

my spare ball(s) i use exclusively for the corners is a tiger viz-a-ball and a eyeball viz-a-ball...
i will use my reactive ball for buckets washouts and split.i used to used my primary ball for corners and others spares but not so much now and it has helped me for the most part....

[ThongPrincess]

Up until a month or so ago I was using a Blue Dot. For some reason I cannot consistently release the ball. I have gone to using the strike ball.

I flatten the wrist, spread the pinkie and first finger, and take the turn out of the release. This takes most of the hook off the ball. I have gotten pretty consistent picking up the left side spares. The right side spares are rarely a problem. I do plan to go back to the Blue Dot, but need to get out and practice shooting 7-pins to build the confidence back up.

My first spare ball was a 16# Dragon. My 2nd spare ball was a 15# Storm Football. I got it along with the Storm PDW ball at a ProAm in Vegas at the Castaways. Then I got the Blue Dot.

[bowl1820]

I would like to offer another reason for using a spare ball.

It's a way to increase the life of your strike balls. Because it helps in reducing how much oil is absorbed by your strike ball.