Does anyone not use a spare ball?

[Hammer]

Sorry, but I disagree. You say you don't use a spare ball, and then in the next sentence you say, "for SPARES I use my urethane Blue Hammer". Thus, to me, you use a Blue Hammer as a spare ball.

While I understand it is not a plastic spare ball, and you could bowl with it as your strike ball, so can those that throw plastic, if they so choose.

So as the OP asks, "Does any one NOT use a spare ball? The answer would probably be, not very many people, including yourself, Aslan, and Iceman.

Using a ball that doesn't hook as much just makes sense - just because it isn't a PLASTIC SPARE ball, doesn't mean it isn't a SPARE ball.

I should have clarified myself a little more. I meant that I don't use a plastic ball for spares. My Blue Hammer is not strictly a spare ball. If
conditions are not right for my Anger ball then I use my Blue as a strike ball and spare ball. Usually plastic balls are used as spare balls.

[Lloyd6770]

From what I gather, it's actually illegal in tournaments/leagues, but I don't bowl in tournaments/leagues, so there you are. For my 6, 9, and/or 10 pin pickups, (I'm a righty), I throw my normal ball, but left handed, with a big sweeping hook. I probably pick up the 10-pin 75% of the time, if not more. (Kind of pulled that number out of thin air, but I know I get it more than I miss it).

[bowl1820]

From what I gather, it's actually illegal in tournaments/leagues, but I don't bowl in tournaments/leagues, so there you are.

What's illegal? Using a spare ball? not using one?

It's NOT illegal in tournaments or leagues.

[Blomer]

Why would using a plastic eb be illegal in tournament or leagues? In my league a good majority uses them. On tv, you see the pros changing for spares.

[Amyers]

What's illegal? Using a spare ball? not using one?

It's NOT illegal in tournaments or leagues.

He's referring to throwing left handed since he is a righty

[Beagle]

Ill use my 1st ball for spares. I just switch fingers and use the ring and pinky. goes straight for me

[Lloyd6770]

Sorry guys, I should have specified better. Yes, what I've gathered is illegal is throwing the ball with the opposite hand from your normal throw, (i.e., throwing with my left hand when I'm a righty).

[Blomer]

Thanks for the info! I missed a bunch of 10s today so hopefully when I get my spare ball, I'll clean that up.

[Mudpuppy]

No spare ball for me

[RobLV1]

Last night in a challenge shot league we bowled on a 34' pattern. Scores were very low. I shot 168-185-195-190 and won all ten points, for the simple reason that I only had four opens in four games and all were splits or washouts. I watched bowler after bowler try to hook their strike ball to pick up spares, or try to flatten it out to get to the ten pin. I watched miss after miss. The only reason for not using a spare ball is that you just don't understand that the game has changed. Every bowler that I have seen that insists on using their strike ball for spares learned to bowl before the modern era (reactive balls with powerful cores, synthetic lanes, synthetic oils), or was taught by someone who learned before the modern era. When you are ready to really reach the highest level that you are capable of achieving, you'll break down and learn to use a plastic spare ball. It's really just that simple.