corner pin spares set up

[fortheloveofbowling]

I think that is obvious.

[Aslan]

Growing up i always wanted to hook a ball like mark roth

You and 93% of every other bowler.

I tried to "emulate" WRW, but his accuracy despite that sort of funky delivery is really hard for me (or anyone) to master. I chose Earl Anthony because there's many parts of his approach and release that fit into what I'm working on right now. A slower approach, keeping the head steady, square to the foul line, forward spine tilt, trying to get the knee bent more, and most importantly the focus on accuracy and repeatability over release/revs.

Now, I do vary a bit from Earl. Not only am I a Righty...but I haven't really tried to incorporate his bent elbow. And, his swing leg almost went straight back where as I have trouble balancing and staying paralell to the foul line if I don't have my back leg moving across. Sometimes my balance leg is on the floor, sometimes it gets off the floor...I haven't really been focusing on it much lately.

There are other guys I will "try" to look at and emulate...but can't for certain reasons. PDW and Norm Duke not only have very fast feet...but they have that outward release to the side that makes me throw the ball to the right. I love Mika's game, and his is probably closest to what I tend towards...but he has a much better release and that extremely high backswing that I don't even want to mess with right now. And both Parker and Barnes probably have the "best" technique...but I can't really do what they do unless I master the more modern release.

I think the "danger" of emulating is knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. If I tried to emulate Mark Roth...I'd be back to tossing the ball 12-15ft down the lane trying to torque the (blank) out of it. I'd have no accuracy, my scoring would be erratic, and it would erase most of my progress. I also know that I can't start all the way back in the approach (like most pro bowlers do) because speed is not my "friend" right now. Hopefully as I improve my release, I can add some of that ball speed back in...but not now.

So I see nothing wrong emulating the elite...they are elite for a reason. It's just emulating the right person...and the right parts of their game. And I do it as a SUPPLEMENT to actual instruction not a REPLACEMENT for actual instruction.

[Amyers]

I was going to ask, "Well, then who SHOULD we emulate? I mean, do we emulate the local pro? The guy in the league with the highest average? The most "gifted" (= Iceman)?"...but then I remembered the ananswer to this question is ALWAYS Chris Barnes (unless you are 2-handed, then it's Belmo).

I don't emulate anybody. I bowl like I do. I will take advice and see a small element of someone's game that's better than me and try it but I know I'm not Belmo or PDW (who probably throws closest to how I do) and never will be. This goes double for the unusual elements of PBA players games. If I tried to get Rhino Page's back swing i would end up flipped upside down on the lane with ball on the back of my head.

I just believe the shortest past is straight forward if there is a part of your game you just can't change that forces you into an unusual way of bowling than fine that's part of your style but to go pointing out examples of PBA players as an excuse not to change because they do it like that is just wrong headed.

Your right Norm Duke does throw backup balls with his strike balls but he has nothing else to do but practice it 20 games a day. If you want to make that kind if commitment to doing that okay but it's seems to be your time would be better invested using plastic with an easier system and spen that extra time working on the rest of your game.

[Aslan]

I don't emulate anybody. I bowl like I do.

Are you "gifted"?

If I tried to get Rhino Page's back swing i would end up flipped upside down on the lane with ball on the back of my head.

I thought that actually happened to you recently though???

but to go pointing out examples of PBA players as an excuse not to change because they do it like that is just wrong headed.

I would say it's equally "wrong headed" to say that people should do something simply because everyone else is doing it. The game goes through "phases". Once everyone wore wrist braces...now it's no longer en vogue. Once nobody used a spare ball....now everyone does. I've even been told that in 10-15 years everyone will throw 2-handed. I do what works for me. I emulate those that are the greatest (excluding Iceman). AND...I CHANGE and ADAPT my game based on what I learn. I used a plastic ball, now I don't, maybe I will again someday. I wore a wrist positioner, then didn't, now I do, maybe some day I won't. You have to be willing to adapt and change...not just do whatever everyone else is doing. I tried a plastic ball...it didn't work for me. Maybe it was because I wasn't ready for it...maybe it was because it was 16lb and my strike ball was 15lb...who knows? But I adapted, my spare rate has improved steadily...and if I get to the point where I just can't seem to keep that dang Slingshot from going left...then I will adapt again.

Your right Norm Duke does throw backup balls with his strike balls but he has nothing else to do but practice it 20 games a day. If you want to make that kind if commitment to doing that okay but it's seems to be your time would be better invested using plastic with an easier system and spen that extra time working on the rest of your game.

Well, I doubt Norm would agree that he has "nothing better to do" than practice 20 games a day....but I digress.

I was told by someone that Norm Duke once went 3 years without missing a single-pin spare.

That is my goal. Someday I want to be able to say...that I went 3 entire years...playing in at least one sanctioned league each season...without ever missing a single-pin spare. Now, you're right...I can't devote 20 games a day to that goal...but I WILL get better. And, if I hit a wall where I'm 88% at corner spares....and I just can't seem to get over that last hurdle...and a plastic ball does it for me...it'll be the greatest $125 I'll ever spend. But until then...I think I'll work on the REAL reason I'm missing those spares...my inability to find a consistent target line and my variability in executing the shot.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Maybe you could end all discussion about the plastic ball by getting a old rubber ball for spares. I use a brunswick black diamond my dad purchased in 1962 for my spares. It works just fine for me

[Amyers]

Are you "gifted"?

Heck no I'm not gifted unless your considering making mistakes over and over gifted

I thought that actually happened to you recently though???

Yes it did but without the benefit if the back swing and the ball landed on my chest and not head but close enough


I would say it's equally "wrong headed" to say that people should do something simply because everyone else is doing it. The game goes through "phases". Once everyone wore wrist braces...now it's no longer en vogue. Once nobody used a spare ball....now everyone does. I've even been told that in 10-15 years everyone will throw 2-handed. I do what works for me. I emulate those that are the greatest (excluding Iceman). AND...I CHANGE and ADAPT my game based on what I learn. I used a plastic ball, now I don't, maybe I will again someday. I wore a wrist positioner, then didn't, now I do, maybe some day I won't. You have to be willing to adapt and change...not just do whatever everyone else is doing. I tried a plastic ball...it didn't work for me. Maybe it was because I wasn't ready for it...maybe it was because it was 16lb and my strike ball was 15lb...who knows? But I adapted, my spare rate has improved steadily...and if I get to the point where I just can't seem to keep that dang Slingshot from going left...then I will adapt again.

I never said we should all be cookie cutter bowlers if you can change and find an alternate method that works for you that's fine. Just don't make the excuse of insert "PBA tour player here" does it like that to justify it.


Well, I doubt Norm would agree that he has "nothing better to do" than practice 20 games a day....but I digress.

I was told by someone that Norm Duke once went 3 years without missing a single-pin spare.

That is my goal. Someday I want to be able to say...that I went 3 entire years...playing in at least one sanctioned league each season...without ever missing a single-pin spare. Now, you're right...I can't devote 20 games a day to that goal...but I WILL get better. And, if I hit a wall where I'm 88% at corner spares....and I just can't seem to get over that last hurdle...and a plastic ball does it for me...it'll be the greatest $125 I'll ever spend. But until then...I think I'll work on the REAL reason I'm missing those spares...my inability to find a consistent target line and my variability in executing the shot.

As I've said a plastic spare ball is not a panacea for throwing the ball poorly it just removes a set of variables from the equation.

Finally $125 for a spare ball? Do you really need one that costs that much?

Good luck

[bowl1820]

$125 for plastic ball!! That better becoming with a bag and a pair shoes!

[Hampe]

As usual, Aslan has all the answers. After all, he tried a plastic ball for a whole week and it didn't improve his spares immediately, so we all clearly don't have any clue what we're talking about. It only took me about 4 months until I had lines I was comfortable with for all my spares and I started to see a real improvement in spare shooting (and that's just on THS), but Aslan tried it for a week and it didn't work, so clearly it will never work for him.

I guess he's just determined to find out the hard way.....


Also, spare balls cost 45$.....not 125.
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/...ack-White.html

[vdubtx]

As usual, Aslan has all the answers. After all, he tried a plastic ball for a whole week and it didn't improve his spares immediately, so we all clearly don't have any clue what we're talking about. It only took me about 4 months until I had lines I was comfortable with for all my spares and I started to see a real improvement in spare shooting (and that's just on THS), but Aslan tried it for a week and it didn't work, so clearly it will never work for him.

I guess he's just determined to find out the hard way.....


Also, spare balls cost 45$.....not 125.
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/...ack-White.html

When you add in drilling, thumb slug, and finger inserts. The $125 price is not far off. Typically drilling is in the $60-70 range, all depends in the area you live.

[bowl1820]

When you add in drilling, thumb slug, and finger inserts. The $125 price is not far off. Typically drilling is in the $60-70 range, all depends in the area you live.

Lets see I got my GF a new whitedot, driled with inserts for her last Birthday it was about 70-80$.

Most of the time around here around when the leagues are starting up. The pro shops have a ball & bag or ball, bag & shoe combo for 100 - 150$