| Why bother to pick up your spares? | | | | to the effort of crossing the lane. |
| | | | |
| All too often, beginning bowlers overlook | | | | Practice, relax, concentrate and take your |
| clearing their frames. They're just delighted | | | | time when going after your spare. A moment |
| to have knocked down any pins at all, and | | | | taken to line up your shot and take a deep, |
| laugh as they shoot yet another obvious | | | | relaxing breath will make all the difference. |
| gutter ball down the alley. | | | | |
| | | | A good rule of thumb is to aim your ball at |
| Picking up spares is the one thing that even | | | | the pin closest to you, striking it on the |
| a beginner bowler can learn to dramatically | | | | side opposite any other pins. Always start |
| improve their game. It can easily make the | | | | from the arrow to the left or right of |
| difference between a 110 and 180 average! | | | | whichever pins remain standing. Roll across |
| | | | the strike target at the pins you're aiming |
| While strikes are an important thing to | | | | for and before you know it you'll be picking |
| learn, for a beginning to intermediate level | | | | up your spares! |
| bowler, I advise this: Clear your spares and | | | | |
| the strikes will come. You'll beat most of | | | | What can stop your efforts to pick up spares? |
| the competition by simply clearing your | | | | |
| frames. | | | | There are a few instances in which your |
| | | | efforts may prove futile. If you know that |
| Tools of the trade | | | | you're doing the right bowling techniques but |
| | | | are missing your targets, one of the |
| Professional bowlers use a "spare ball". That | | | | following culprits is usually to blame: |
| being a regular, plastic ball they use solely | | | | |
| for the purpose of picking up their spares. | | | | If your ball is too dull or dirty, it can |
| | | | roll early and use up all its energy instead |
| Even if you have your own ball, try using one | | | | of storing it up until it reaches the |
| of the regular, plain-colored, plastic | | | | back-end. Pop it in the ball-polishing |
| "house" balls to pick up your spares. They | | | | machine. |
| are drilled to roll perfectly straight, | | | | |
| enabling you to better hit your target. | | | | If your ball is consistently hooking early |
| | | | and slowing down on the back end, it could be |
| Ready...Aim...Bowl! | | | | the ball's surface. Again, use the polisher |
| | | | or have it buffed with very high-grade |
| Take the time to learn how to effectively | | | | sandpaper. |
| pick up your spares. Start by looking at your | | | | |
| body posture and stance. The way you hold | | | | If your ball seems to slip, or obviously |
| yourself makes a difference. When your wrist | | | | moves funny at the same spot on a lane, it |
| is straight yet relaxed and your arm flows | | | | could be a divot, oil, or other flaw in the |
| smoothly and in a straight arc forward (not | | | | lane. Try a different lane and see if that |
| curving around your body and back) your aim | | | | helps. |
| will be more accurate. | | | | |
| | | | If you've tried a new ball surface and a new |
| The easiest bowling technique to knock down | | | | lane and your ball is still hooking too |
| your spare pins is to aim the ball directly | | | | early, move your feet a little to the left if |
| at them in a straight line. It's not the time | | | | you're right handed or right if you're left |
| to use your $300 hook ball; you want to | | | | handed to compensate. |
| minimize any spin. | | | | |
| | | | With just a little extra effort you can learn |
| Be sure to relax your wrist as you release | | | | to improve your average and clear your |
| the ball and it will roll smooth and | | | | frames. You'll have a newfound appreciation |
| straight. Take the time to practice picking | | | | for the sport, admiration of your teammates |
| up your spares every chance you get. Many | | | | and the envy of your competitors once you've |
| experienced league and professional players | | | | mastered the bowling tips and techniques to |
| practice by aiming for the 7 or 10 pin. This | | | | effectively pick up your spares. |
| method allows them to see how the ball reacts | | | | |