| A lot of people worry so much about bowling a | | | | the 7 pin or the 10 pin (if you're a lefty). |
| strike but not enough about picking up the | | | | This will allow you to observe your reaction |
| spares. Do you think the pros just think | | | | as you're going across the lane. I don't |
| about bowling strikes? No they don't, they | | | | care how good a bowler you are, you will not |
| want to make strikes but they know they won't | | | | always bowl a strike, that's why it's good to |
| be bowling a strike in every single frame so | | | | learn how to pick up your spares because |
| they think about how to pick up spares too. | | | | it'll raise your average.Take your time when |
| This is often an overlooked element of | | | | it comes to sparesA large part of bowling is |
| bowling, but I'm going to let you in on a | | | | based on spares. Let's be serious, while |
| little secret. Picking up spares will beat | | | | throwing 7 or 8 strikes is good, when the |
| the competition.Ok well maybe it wasn't a | | | | other frames are spares you missed, that 240 |
| secret, but it sure is the truth. Here are | | | | or 250 game that you were smiling about drops |
| the necessities to pick up those spares.1. | | | | to about 200 really quickly.Remember these |
| You should aim directly for a pin square and | | | | tips the next time you're trying to pick up a |
| hit it. Don't think about it, just do it. | | | | spare:1. Take your time and think about itYou |
| This one tip alone will help you increase | | | | should first carefully think about where you |
| your spare percentages. You're throwing a | | | | want to line up for the spare and then take |
| straight ball to certain areas of the lane. | | | | the shot. Don't rush it, think about where |
| Expert bowlers use a ball especially for | | | | you want to throw the ball.2. Throw straight |
| picking up spares, called a "spare ball". | | | | ballsThis is one of the keys to picking up |
| The ball is made of plastic, because plastic | | | | spares. You need to relax your wrist during |
| balls go a lot straighter than regular ones. | | | | release, so the ball can go as straight as |
| Try to straighten your wrist as much as | | | | possible. You need to minimize the spinning |
| possible so you can throw the ball at the pin | | | | of the ball. A plastic ball is much better |
| square and as straight as possible.2. A lot | | | | to use when trying to pick up spares because |
| of people take spares for granted, but if | | | | a plastic ball goes a lot straighter than the |
| there is one thing that I wish I could drill | | | | standard ball does.I'm going to end this |
| into newbie bowlers' heads it would be, | | | | lesson by saying again that spares play a |
| SPARES DO MATTER. If you're in a league or | | | | huge role in determining whether you bowl a |
| in a tournament, take some balls and shoot at | | | | 250 or a 200. |