Need spare shooting help

**GoodGorilla** · 09-22-2012, 09:51 AM

Before I started using fingertip I use to be great at shooting spares, but I'm not that good now. I can do well shooting spares if I throw hooks at them, but I had to start shooting a strait spare ball at them now because I have to save my wrist for my strike shots. I usually bowl daily and if I throw hooks every shoot it totally kills my wrist. Up to this point I kind of just moved to a spot on the lane that looks good to me and make an attempt at the spare shots. I never really was discrete at what arrows to stand on or shoot at. This video looked interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acaHrhUHvx0
this video looks pretty good too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Bbt...eature=related

**VampyreBowler** · 09-22-2012, 11:37 AM

Well my first question is what is the most difficult spare for you to convert?

Second, here are some suggestions.

1. Get a wrist guard. Whether it's a just a wrap around or a an adjustable wrist guard that should help with the wrist.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice. When I used to go practicing with my ex-wife we would bowl and normal game on the first game. Second game would be nothing but "strike" shots whether it was first ball or second ball. Third game would be nothing but picking up 7 pins and 10 pins. Then i would do 3 more games for stamina purposes.
3. Biggest 10pin (rightie) spare shooting tip came from Parker Bohn III. He came and did an appearance at the house I used to bowl at and unknown to us bowlers, he had one lane completely stripped of oil and he started picking off 7 pins (since he is a leftie). It showed 2 things, the importance of a plastic spare ball and the "breaking" back of your wrist in order to throw the ball as straight as possible. He also liken the importance of having a plastic spare ball to that of going golfing and not having a putter. You use the putter to clean up the hole and you use the spare ball to clean up the frame. Unfortunately I have not been able to purchase a replacement plastic ball after having mine stolen.

**billf** · 09-22-2012, 11:53 PM

Try the 3-6-9 spare shooting system with the middle arrow as your target. For each pin Right of the head pin you move your feel Left 3 boards. For each pin left of the head pin you move right 3 boards. So for the 10 pin you stand on 29 throw over center arrow to 10 pin. For the 7 pin you stand at 11, over center arrow to the 7 pin. It's a starting point anyway until you find exactly what works for you.

**rab91787** · 09-23-2012, 08:08 AM

Thing I always use for spares is just keep everything relaxed and put no effort into speed because you don't need it (unless you need a kicker for a big split or something).

**Tampabaybob** · 09-25-2012, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by GoodGorilla

Before I started using fingertip I use to be great at shooting spares, but I'm not that good now. I can do well shooting spares if I throw hooks at them, but I had to start shooting a strait spare ball at them now because I have to save my wrist for my strike shots. I usually bowl daily and if I throw hooks every shoot it totally kills my wrist. Up to this point I kind of just moved to a spot on the lane that looks good to me and make an attempt at the spare shots. I never really was discrete at what arrows to stand on or shoot at. This video looked interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acaHrhUHvx0
this video looks pretty good too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Bbt...eature=related

The first question I have is "Why is your wrist bothering you so much that you have to change your style shooting spares?" It sounds like you're really using too much muscle on the release. Yeah, it's good to have a quick power release, but if it's killing your wrist, your bowling days could be numbered and we don't want to see that. Something that you are doing during the release is excessive, and causing that much stress on your wrist. If there's a pro in your area that gives lessons, I'd encourage you to book him for at least one lesson and have him see what's going on.

As far as the spare shooting goes, except for the 6 & 10 pin, there's no reason you can't throw a hook for your spares. If you use either one of the third arrows or middle arrow, you shouldn't have to force the ball because of the heavier oil.

Bob

**GoodGorilla** · 10-03-2012, 01:50 PM

I guess my wrist hurts from throwing to many hook shots because I've been bowling like 30 games a week. Ever since I have been using the spare ball, my wrist has not been hurting that much. Now it's my hip that's giving me problems. Hardest spare shot? I am generally not confident in my strait ball. For some reason I can't get the ball where I want to throw it. When the ball comes off my hand, it doesn't seem to take the same direction every time. I have been practicing alot latly, I am getting better. One thing that seems to help me is keeping my elbow locked strait. When I throw hook shots I keep my elbow relaxed. Something I am probably going to try is something I saw parker bohn III say in a video where he uses a weak wrist to throw at spares (bent backwards wrist). Overall I'm doing well at the lanes, I had a 700 and a 600 series in a span of a week. My biggest problem at the moment is throwing my spareball strait. Edit: Heh, I just read that stuff about your experience with parker bohn III. Cool stuff, I want to try not using a broken wrist just yet. I'm sure I will take it seriousloy pretty soon.

**GoodGorilla** · 10-03-2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by billf

Try the 3-6-9 spare shooting system with the middle arrow as your target. For each pin Right of the head pin you move your feel Left 3 boards. For each pin left of the head pin you move right 3 boards. So for the 10 pin you stand on 29 throw over center arrow to 10 pin. For the 7 pin you stand at 11, over center arrow to the 7 pin. It's a starting point anyway until you find exactly what works for you.

I think I will try this, this week.