As Bowling Editor for BellaOnline.com, I wrote an article about the 3-6-9 Sparing System. Here it is:
The simplest and most commonly taught sparing methodology for beginners is "The 3-6-9 Rule." It is an easy way to determine where and at what angle you need to throw the ball to pick up spares. Please note that this is an estimate and you'll have to practice in order to fine tune it to your exact style of bowling. The important thing is that you will have a foundation upon which to build your spare shooting.
Before you start, though, learn the pin positions, the "boards," the "target arrows" on the lanes, and how to recognize the "key pin" in a spare set-up. This, and any future methods or systems you learn, will depend heavily on your knowledge of pins, boards, targets, and key pins.
Here's a quick summary:
1) Pin Positions - (standing at the foul line, looking at the pins) - the full rack is in a triangular set up. Think of then as four rows of pins with each row being numbered from left to right - in order to make a triangle, the first row has 1 pin, the second row has 2 pins, the third row has 3 pins, and the fourth row has 4 pins. Numbering the pins, then: the pin closest to you is Pin 1 or more commonly referred to as the "headpin;" row two has Pin 2 and Pin 3 (remember, left-to-right); row three has Pin 4, Pin 5, and Pin 6; and row four has Pin 7, Pin 8, Pin 9, and Pin 10.
2) Boards - a standard bowling lane has 39 boards.
3) Target Arrows - there are seven target arrows 15 to 17 feet from the foul line. Each arrow is 5 boards apart and the middle arrow sits on the 20th board whether you count from the left or right channel.
4) Key Pin - in any spare combination (except for splits), the key pin is the pin closest to you. For example: in the 2-4-5 pin spare, the 2 pin is the key pin; in the 6-10 spare, the 6 pin is the key pin; and in the 1-3-10 spare, the headpin is the key pin.
Note: For split combinations, the key "pin" is actually the missing pin that gives you the best chance for making (converting) the split. For example: the 3-10 split, the 6 pin is the key pin; in the 4-5 split, the 2 pin is the key pin; and for the 6-7-10 split, the 10 pin is the key pin. If you visualize these examples, you'll be able to see that if you "hit" the missing key pin, you will have a better than average chance of converting the split.
On the lane approach, it is important for you to know that there are dots on each of the two starting lines. In a regulation lane set-up, the large dot is lined up with the middle target arrow (20th board) and each dot to the left and right of that large dot are 5 boards apart. Therefore, the first dot to the right of the large dot is the 15th board (third target arrow); the second dot to the right of the large dot is the 10th board (second target arrow); and the third dot to the right of the large dot is the 5th board (first target arrow). Vice-versa for the dots to the left side.
The simplicity of the 3-6-9 rule is that the base point is where you stand and aim for your strike, or first, ball. Once you have this established, it is then just a matter or moving 3, 6, or 9 boards to your left or right depending on where your key pin is; but, you still aim for the same target. If the key pin is on the right side of the lane as you look at it, then you move left; if the key pin is on the left side of the lane as you look at it, then you will move right.
When the key pin is the headpin, you do not have to move from your base point.
When the key pin is the three pin, move 3 boards to your left; when the key pin is the six pin, move 6 boards to your left; and when the key pin is the ten pin, move 9 boards to your left.
When the key in is the two pin, move 3 boards to your right; when the key pin is the four pin, move 6 boards to your right; and when the key pin is the seven pin, move 9 boards to your right.
Simple, no? Now just go out and practice your spares using this "3-6-9 Rule" as your starting point. For the beginner, this rule will at least give you a system for making spares; for the person who takes a keener interest and advances their style, this rule will be at least the base system to begin building on.
Choc576 -
http://bowling.bellaonline.com
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