Ten Pin help needed -- Sorry if covered before.

[Mike White]

Originally I was using a 3-6-9 approach...but it wasn't working. I changed, due to a suggestion by Bunny (thanks!), and used a 4-8-12 approach. That seems to work for the 7 (I'm a righty) but not so much for the 10.

So for the 10 or the 6-10 I use Norm Duke's approach of just throwing cross lane. I'm by no means "good" at it yet. But it is easier once you find that target in the middle of the lane to just aim at that target and throw it straight across.

At the clinic I went to last Saturday, I spoke with Barry Asher about the 10-pin and the conversation went like this:
Barry: See, that was better!
Me: Yeah, but that darn 10-pin is a huge aggravation.
Barry: 10 years from now, if I'm here and you're here...you're going to still be saying that 10-pin is an aggravation. It aggravates everyone, always has, always will.

He then helped me fine tune my shot at the 10-pin by getting me to face it more. He said you want your shoulders parralel to the foul line normally. But if you're shooting cross lane at a corner pin/spare you want to be slightly angled toward the pin/spare you're shooting at.

So I've been trying to remember that. Like I said, I haven't had much success yet...but I'm making more than I used to. Hitting a 10-pin with a normal shot for a righty...using your regular "strike" ball...that was tough. I don't throw a "spare ball". My regular strike ball is a fairly straight ball so it's not necessary. I only throw my urethane/spare ball if I'm trying to pick up a real low % split...because it's dead on straight and it's 1lb lighter so I can control it better.

Get a cheap plastic ball and polish the crap out of it.. I used Mequiar's Ultimate Compound just once about a year ago, and my plastic ball still doesn't hook an inch.

If you throw at a 10 pin (or 7 pin) with your expensive strike ball, and the ball goes into the gutter, bad (expensive) things can happen, which is another reason to use a cheap plastic ball for spares.

[e-tank]

for whatever reason i find im most accurate with 10 pins when i suitcase release. Prob only missed a handful of 10 pins since ive been doing it

[Aslan]

I just watched Earl Anthony's 5-part instructional videos and his explanation of picking up spares was really informative. After watching that, I think I'm gonna be far more confident about it.

[GeoLes]

If you are a right handed hook bowler, it is very helpful to know the path of your first ball through the pins. Traditionally, the standard hook rolls through 1-3-5-and 8 pin. In short no adjustment is required to drop the 8 pin, Just throw a strike ball

[Mike White]

If you are a right handed hook bowler, it is very helpful to know the path of your first ball through the pins. Traditionally, the standard hook rolls through 1-3-5-and 8 pin. In short no adjustment is required to drop the 8 pin, Just throw a strike ball

Traditionally the ball the ball rolls through the 1-3-5-9 for a right hander. It's with the modern bowling ball that the ball leaves the pin deck between the 8-9.

Depending on why you left the 8 pin to begin with, throwing the strike ball may not hit the 8 pin.

For example, your shot is almost parallel to the lane, and just inside the oil line.. the ball is still skidding as it hits the pocket causing almost an 8-10 split.
Throw that shot again and you won't hit the 8 pin.

[J Anderson]

If you are a right handed hook bowler, it is very helpful to know the path of your first ball through the pins. Traditionally, the standard hook rolls through 1-3-5-and 8 pin. In short no adjustment is required to drop the 8 pin, Just throw a strike ball

Without the 1 and 5 pins to provide resistance, even a modestly hooking strike ball will miss the nine pin.

[Mike White]

Without the 1 and 5 pins to provide resistance, even a modestly hooking strike ball will miss the nine pin.

I have to disagree with "modestly hooking".

For a ball that would make contact with the headpin at a position to drive the headpin into the 7 pin, would have to have 6 degrees of angle or more, to miss the 9 pin on the left.

[J Anderson]

I have to disagree with "modestly hooking".

For a ball that would make contact with the headpin at a position to drive the headpin into the 7 pin, would have to have 6 degrees of angle or more, to miss the 9 pin on the left.

What I mean is, if you throw what is in today's game a modest hook, the line you use to get to the pocket will miss the 9 pin if headpin and the 5 are not there. For example your normal strike line is straight down the tenth board with just enough hook hit solidly in the pocket. Your first ball is just the slightest bit off and leaves the 9 pin. While your first ball just barely missed hitting the 9, if you throw that line again with no pins to deflect it the ball will exit the pin deck by the 8 pin position.

[Mike White]

What I mean is, if you throw what is in today's game a modest hook, the line you use to get to the pocket will miss the 9 pin if headpin and the 5 are not there. For example your normal strike line is straight down the tenth board with just enough hook hit solidly in the pocket. Your first ball is just the slightest bit off and leaves the 9 pin. While your first ball just barely missed hitting the 9, if you throw that line again with no pins to deflect it the ball will exit the pin deck by the 8 pin position.

Pocket... (assuming Right Handed) To most people seems to mean the ball hits the headpin on the right side so the ball also hits the 3 pin.
Thats a very wide definition of pocket.
I described the head pin being driven into the 7 pin to be more specific in my description of the "pocket".

As you move your head pin impact point further left (your "slightest bit off") the ball deflects less right from the head pin impact and more left from the 3 pin impact.

Without out the pins to deflect the ball both right and left, your ball would hit the 9 pin.

[bowl1820]

In regard to the pocket.

A 2.5 inch offset is basically the perfect strike hit for all entry angles and all ball weights. The strike pocket is approximately 17.5 boards in from the right, or the same from the left for left-handers.



Here's the pocket showing 0°-2°-4°-6° entry angles