Do you use a plastic ball or other ball for spare pickup?

[GoodGravy]

Plastic for either corner pins or goofy 6-10, 2-6-10. Anything in the middle I use my main ball..

[mike_thomas93]

Anything on the left side I mostly throw a hook ball at, and on the right I use my pretty white ball. Viz-A-Ball spare ball, that is
But I remember in my last practice I left converted a 2-4-10 split, and I used one of my strike balls. I didn't even expect to make it

[RobLV1]

I really like the idea of learning to throw a plastic ball end-over-end and using it for all of your non-double wood spares for the simple reason that you are, in effect, practicing your ten pin conversions every time you attempt to convert a spare. If you do this, pretty soon your ten pins will become just another single pin spare conversion and not something that you'll worry about missing.

[Perrin]

I really like the idea of learning to throw a plastic ball end-over-end and using it for all of your non-double wood spares for the simple reason that you are, in effect, practicing your ten pin conversions every time you attempt to convert a spare. If you do this, pretty soon your ten pins will become just another single pin spare conversion and not something that you'll worry about missing.

That's a great point. Alot of people miss the 10 because they think they will. or just get worked up about having to throw at a corner instead of just thinking of it as another shot

[MICHAEL]

I really like the idea of learning to throw a plastic ball end-over-end and using it for all of your non-double wood spares for the simple reason that you are, in effect, practicing your ten pin conversions every time you attempt to convert a spare. If you do this, pretty soon your ten pins will become just another single pin spare conversion and not something that you'll worry about missing.

I agree 1000 percent! I have been throwing most of my spares, NO ALL that way for almost a year now! I call it the palm up method, (not coming up the side of the ball, not doing the hand shake! If you learn to throw it that way, it will help with many spares that can be problematic throwing the hook method. Not only that, but you get to hear that unique sound of the thumb hole hitting the surface as it roles down the lane!!

[RobLV1]

To understand what Michael is talking about, check out a video of Walter Ray Williams Jr. picking up a spare. You will hear the distinctive thump, thump of the ball rolling over the thumb hole as it goes dead straight down the lane. Perhaps that's how he got the nickname "Deadeye." There is definitely a correlation between the method and the fact that he is probably the best spare shooter of all time, AND has won more titles than any other PBA bowler in history.

[Aslan]

That's a great point. Alot of people miss the 10 because they think they will. or just get worked up about having to throw at a corner instead of just thinking of it as another shot

For some reason...I "feel" like I'm worse at picking up 10-pins because I have missed so many. But statistically speaking, I convert 50% of my 10-pins and 50% of my 7-pins...exactly 50%. 28/56 on 7-pins and 50/100 on 10-pins. I just tend to leave the 10-pin more often. But it is "scary". I feel a lot more relaxed if it's any other single-pin leave.

[RobLV1]

The ten pin and the seven pin are like any other single pin spare except you only have 16 1/4" instead of 21 1/4" to cover the spare. That's 1 1/3 feet vs. 1 3/4 feet. John, if you are missing 50% of them, get a spare ball and practice. 50% is flat-out rediculous! It's just not that hard (unless of course you're trying to hook into both of them).

[Aslan]

The ten pin and the seven pin are like any other single pin spare except you only have 16 1/4" instead of 21 1/4" to cover the spare. That's 1 1/3 feet vs. 1 3/4 feet. John, if you are missing 50% of them, get a spare ball and practice. 50% is flat-out rediculous! It's just not that hard (unless of course you're trying to hook into both of them).

I'm getting better. The 50% goes back quite a ways. I'm closer to 60-80% now.

And getting the plastic ball would be an option…but it depends on "how" you're missing them. I can't pick up a 7-pin more often with a plastic ball if I'm missing it 3 feet in front of the pin.

Where I HAVE seen a possible improvement "perhaps" leading me to use a plastic ball is the 6-10…one of my most common leaves. The "slight hook" of the Slingshot tends to occasionally chop that.

I HAVE a urethane ball…so the opportunity is there to make that change if need be.

[Hampe]

I generally use a spare ball for everything, even double wood. I don't like relying on my strike ball for certain spares, because if I'm playing in a different center or on different conditions, I don't want to miss spares because my ball didn't react like I expected it to.

I've noticed this year since switching that it also really helps with my mental state when shooting spares. I know all I have to do is hit that spot and I get the spare, which helps me be more confident that I will convert it. If I'm worrying about how I'm going to release the ball and how it's going to react on the part of the lane I'm playing, I'm already worried about missing the spare, which makes me less confident that I'll convert.