Why fear the 10?

[aussiedave]

Or the 7 for lefties.
For those who have been bowling long enough to consistently leave the dreaded 10, I reckon it is a mental thing that stops us from picking them up. Think about it - it is likely the most common leave for those good enough to hit the pocket most times in a game, so logically, it should be the one we throw at the most. Ergo, we should be most accomplished at hitting the darn thing.
I know exactly what board to throw at to get it as should you. So what is the problem? It's all in the mind - we fear the gutter.
The solution for me was to shoot across the lane and straight and not throw a hook. It all boils down to technique from there.
So many bowlers seem leary of shooting across the lane - and when you think about it, it should ease the mind as you have more lane to keep the ball on. Flirting with the gutter trying to shoot down the 5 or 10 board only exacerbates the problem as far as I'm concerned - why not take it out of the equation as much as possible?
I see so many hook bowlers persist with the hook when shooting at this pin and miss it to the left. If they had not tried to hook the ball, you can tell they would have picked it up. It's a simple adjustment to keep the hand under the ball and not rip the follow through but just let it flow off the hand. I
Look at it this way, would you rather be a 170 average or a 180+? One frame a game is all it takes. I know I get more appreciative high fives when I pick up a ten than other single pin spares.
I pick it up at least 8 times out of ten and have no qualms shooting at it whatsoever.
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[Greenday]

10 pin, after the 1 and 3 pins, is the easiest IMO. I grab my spare ball, stand on the 35 board, spread my pinky wide, bring my index finger against my middle finger, and throw the ball over the middle arrow. Pick it up every time.

[ecub]

I'm a righty, but I don't fear the 10. I fear the 7 more. LOL

I go cross alley, when picking up either the 7 or 10. I always adjust for my hook, I don't use a spare, to pick up either the 7 or 10. But whenever I pickup the 7, I end up not putting enough finger on the ball that it doesn't hook into the 7 or I pull it.

[TheSheibs]

I was very lucky. When I was younger and being taught to bowl by my dad, there was more emphasis put on being able to pick up spares. My dad would tell me to hit the pocket and try to leave something you can pick up. I would leave a lot of 7s and 10s. So I was taught how to pick them up and to go from one side to the other for both. Sure enough, I know exactly where I need to throw the ball to pick up them both. Oh, and I'm a lefty. When bowling now, I don't care so much about leaving one of those pins since I know I that if I am being consistent with hitting my mark, that I will pick up those pins between 75% and 100% of the time. When I miss, it is usually because I threw the ball straighter than I should have or sent the ball at too sharp of an angle. This also is where having a spare ball that doesn't hook comes in handy.

[aussiedave]

10 pin, after the 1 and 3 pins, is the easiest IMO. I grab my spare ball, stand on the 35 board, spread my pinky wide, bring my index finger against my middle finger, and throw the ball over the middle arrow. Pick it up every time.

Man, you just described me exactly!
When I use urethane, I will continue to use her, but if on resin, I will pick up the urethane ball and shoot it.
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[aussiedave]

I was very lucky. When I was younger and being taught to bowl by my dad, there was more emphasis put on being able to pick up spares. My dad would tell me to hit the pocket and try to leave something you can pick up. I would leave a lot of 7s and 10s. So I was taught how to pick them up and to go from one side to the other for both. Sure enough, I know exactly where I need to throw the ball to pick up them both. Oh, and I'm a lefty. When bowling now, I don't care so much about leaving one of those pins since I know I that if I am being consistent with hitting my mark, that I will pick up those pins between 75% and 100% of the time. When I miss, it is usually because I threw the ball straighter than I should have or sent the ball at too sharp of an angle. This also is where having a spare ball that doesn't hook comes in handy.

I have seen drier conditions when resin balls are starting to behave erratically and they will shoot it at the spares!
I prefer to play it safe and pick up a less aggressive ball for my spares period.
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[Greenday]

Man, you just described me exactly!
When I use urethane, I will continue to use her, but if on resin, I will pick up the urethane ball and shoot it.
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If there's enough oil, I can 10 pin shoot with my Tropical Breeze, it's weak enough that I can throw it straight easily on heavier oil.

[BoomGoesTheDynomite]

I personally think the 10 pin is one of the easier spares. Just because as you said I leave it the most. I like to throw my strike ball cross lane and take all my hand out of the ball so it goes dead straight. I used to spend games only practicing corner pins. It definitely forced me to be comfortable shooting them.

[chrono00]

Yea I tend to worry about the ten far less than the seven, mostly because I've had to shoot at the ten so much I figured out how lol. The seven I don't leave that often so it's a bit tougher

[e-tank]

i just use a house plastic ball and throw it across lane. I still throw it like a hook but it only hooks about 2 boards max