Spares...... when to use the plastic ball

[Jarhead88]

I have a spare ball and use it for most single or double pin spares. I usually do pretty good and throw a consistent spare ball pretty straight.

my friends say I should use my regular ball and curve it to all my spares except the 10 pin or 6/10 spare. (I'm right-handed)

I see a lot of guys on TV throw straight shots at different pins.

what's the feeling here???

[fokai73]

When I returned after being away 15 years, I got a coach to show me a system. It was the "4th arrow" system. All the spares I left I used only a plastic ball. Having this system took a lot of thinking out of the game. I was a really good spare shooter, really good. Couldn't strike much, but damn good spare shooter.

Over the years I changed my spare game, and today I switch to hooking at left side spares, splits and buckets. Why did I DV8 from something that wasn't broken? I don't know, but I'm not as good of a spare shooter on multiple leaves. I really really suck. And though I average much higher now than I did before, I regret every changing my spare game.

[J Anderson]

I have a spare ball and use it for most single or double pin spares. I usually do pretty good and throw a consistent spare ball pretty straight.

my friends say I should use my regular ball and curve it to all my spares except the 10 pin or 6/10 spare. (I'm right-handed)

I see a lot of guys on TV throw straight shots at different pins.

what's the feeling here???

What I have done and continue to do is to throw straight at almost every spare leave. I know that many bowlers say that unless you're bowling on sport conditions you should do as your friends advise. I think that is bad advice since the THS tends to help the ball get to the pocket for those who throw a hook. I would argue that this must make it harder to hook at and hit anything not in the center of the lane. Since most bowlers stick to one or two centers, they eventually figure out a system that allows them to hook reasonably well at anything other than the 10 pin.

You're doing well with your system of shooting straight. Why would you want to change i what you're doing works?

There are a few spares where I can see the logic in hooking at them. The five pin is obvious. The 1-2-4, 1-2-4-7, & 2-4-7 all seem easier to make if the ball is hooking right to left. The 2-8 also seems like agood cadidate to hook at. While it would seem like the head pin would be an other obvious choice, but I always think if I was that far off on the first ball why should I take a chance on the spare? The 2-4-5 & 2-4-5-8 are probably a toss up as to whether it's better to go straight or hook.

[RobLV1]

my friends say I should use my regular ball and curve it to all my spares except the 10 pin or 6/10 spare. (I'm right-handed)

I see a lot of guys on TV throw straight shots at different pins.

what's the feeling here???

Unless you see your friends on TV, find some new friends!

[YODA]

for me I guess it would depend on what the spare is. one or two pins (close) I would opt to throw straight. Although I could see some use for throwing a curve into some spares I think for me it would take a good deal of practice. As a right hander also I guess on the left side of the lane I could curve it, but a early or late hook would hurt me, when throwing straight at them would be a better advantage.

[mishatx]

Straight at almost everything, and certainly every single pin.

[Hammer]

I don't have a spare ball but I use my Blue Hammer urethane ball to pick up leaves from the 5 pin to the left-I am left handed. Pins from the six pin right I use my reactive strike ball to pick those up. I have been doing it this way for a long time.

[chip82901]

It all depends for me. My spare shooting has gotten a bit better the last few years. In my home house, I know that if I hook at anything left of the head pin, I know where I need to be. Almost everything right of the head pin I throw plastic at. I can try and hook it as much as I want and the thing isn't going to move more than a board. Although, I have grown to use plastic when shooting at a 4-9. More accurate that way anyway for myself. Also, 4-10, 4-7-10. 2-4-8-10, stuff like that where you know you need to hook it is pretty obvious

[Blomer]

I only use my spare ball the 10 pin. I use my strike ball for everything else.

[Jarhead88]

thanks all, I feel like I'm doing the right thing shooting straight at it.
I'll keep it going.