Spares

[GoodGrief]

Just a little background on me, I'm a 42 year old guy who is returning from a close to 25 year layoff. I bowled competitively in high school, but didn't have time in college and after, life sort of took over. Now, my kids are getting in to bowling and I've returned...for about 3-4 months now.

I find it's like riding a bike...mostly. I can't shoot spares for nothin'. I imagine it's just a matter of needing more practice, but I'm curious on statistics...now that it seems that a lot of folks are tracking things. I have an app. I've only been using it for a few weeks, but the numbers don't lie.

If you have the data, I'm curious on the following:

What's your average?
What's your left side single pin spare percentage?
What's your left side multi pin spare percentage?
What's your right side single pin spare percentage?
What's your right side multi pin spare percentage?
Do you throw straight at spares, use your strike line for spares or some mix (shoot straight at right side, shoot strike ball at left side...for righties?

It seems online that most people advocate for using plastic and throwing straight at spares, but in my leagues and a couple low-key tournaments, it seems that MOST decent bowlers use their strike balls for most spares except the 10 pin (for righties) and maybe 6 pin.

Anyway, my numbers:

Avg: 207
Left side singles: 86%
Left side multi: 79%
Right side singles: 62%
Right side multi: 56%
Spares: straight ball

Although I used to throw off my strike line for left all but 6 and 10 pins...and I'm thinking of going back because my numbers stink. Granted my sample size is still pretty small (29 single pin spares on both right and left side, 24 left side multis, 18 right side multis). I'm just curious where others are relative to their averages.

[vdubtx]

Welcome to Bowling Boards.

Average: 223
Left side single pin: 96.94%
Left side Multi: 80.21%
Right side single pin: 89.25%
Right side Multi: 80.23%

This is through 3 fall season of league bowling tracking with PinPal.

I throw straight at all right side spares. I am transitioning to shooting all spares straight though. Have been practicing that this summer so far.

[Amyers]

Welcome to the boards

Average 189
Left side singles low 90's%
Right Side Singles mid 80's%

I don't use a tracking app so my numbers are approximate.
I throw straight at 6, and 10. I am also transitioning to throwing straight at the 3-10 and 3-6-10
I typically hook at left side spares but on sport conditions will throw straight at them in the mid 80% range.

[RobLV1]

The difference between now and 25 years ago when you started your layoff is that today's bowling balls have cores that cause the balls to hook all by themselves. 99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic for all of their single pin spares and the reason is not that it makes them harder to convert.

[NewToBowling]

The difference between now and 25 years ago when you started your layoff is that today's bowling balls have cores that cause the balls to hook all by themselves. 99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic for all of their single pin spares and the reason is not that it makes them harder to convert.

Also because they mostly play on sport patterns. If all you are doing is bowling on THS you can make due with shooting your spares with strike ball

[ChuckR]

Also because they mostly play on sport patterns. If all you are doing is bowling on THS you can make due with shooting your spares with strike ball

I disagree. THS usually are a little and become more dry on the outside. Unless you can kill your strike ball you may find it hooks past the pin(s). Going straight at the spare has another benefit. IT becomes swing practice for throwing on your strike ball target as the lanes transition.

[Amyers]

I disagree. THS usually are a little and become more dry on the outside. Unless you can kill your strike ball you may find it hooks past the pin(s). Going straight at the spare has another benefit. IT becomes swing practice for throwing on your strike ball target as the lanes transition.

Good point also shooting spares with the strike ball works until it doesn't work then your screwed. Nothing teaches a lesson like going to a tournament or league in a new house and looking like you can't bowl because your missing 6,10,4, and 7 pins because the conditions aren't what your used too

[GoodGrief]

I see the point in the straight ball...which is why I made the switch. And I watch bowling on TV and see all those guys throwing straight. Just surprised to see all the local bowlers throwing strike balls at left side spares. For me, right now, I feel like on most days, I'd make more spares off my strike line than I'm making now. But maybe I just need more time. I totally get the "it works until it doesn't" thing...that's the very thought that made me switch.

And, my daughter just started working the counter at my home house. That should mean I get some sort of discount going in there and having her turn a lane on me so I can shoot corner pins for 30-40 minutes a couple times per week!

[Sche3067]

AVG:188

left side single 95%
left side mlti: 90%
Right Side Single: 90%
Right Side Multi: 85%
Spares: Combination of hook and Straight / Lane condition dependent



Ill usually just throw my strike ball at spares and line up my body to the type of shot i need. THe most important aspect of my game is making sure my wrist matches the intention of what I want my ball to do. I tend to shoot my strike shot at the 3 9 moving around 5 boards left and adjus my speed and rev rate. Ill shot straight at the 7 and 10 lining up on the opposite side of the pin. It took me a good 6-8 months to get really comfortable but i'm seeing it pay off in a big way in these tougher oil patterns

[billf]

Avg 186
RH
Left side single pins 78%
Left side multi 84%
Right side single pins 94%
10 pins 97%....not a misprint, I can get a 10 a lot easier than any left side pin
Right side multi 92%
Washouts 84%
Splits 74%
7-10 split 10% 1 out of 10