All of a sudden I am having issues making the 10. It seems to have started about 2 weeks ago with me missing it mostly right, either dropping off just short or dropping off about 1 foot before. So other than the obvious - practice - what other things should I try?  I am going to put some surface on my spare ball. I am also going to try a different ball to shoot at it. advice?

All of a sudden I am having issues making the 10. It seems to have started about 2 weeks ago with me missing it mostly right, either dropping off just short or dropping off about 1 foot before. So other than the obvious - practice - what other things should I try?  I am going to put some surface on my spare ball. I am also going to try a different ball to shoot at it. advice?

Dont move your eyes and maybe move a board or two right with your feet to change the angle a touch.

When throwing a ball that takes lane pattern out of play the general rule is if you hit your target and miss right then you need to move your feet right. If you are missing left the move left.

You indicated that you were throwing a spare ball and most often missing right into the gutter so move right with your feet a board or two.

If you are missing your target then there is little a line adjustment can do.

If you are right handed, move left as far as possible, line right shoulder through pin, walk relatively straight and put hand on pin during the follow through. This all assumes you use a really low friction ball for right side spares. This method mostly takes the oil pattern out of play.

don't leave them and you won;t that problem

I wish

I think these are the 3 reasons why someone may struggle to throw straight at 10 pin:

1) They don't have a straight armswing

2) They don't have good feel for the ball. So even if arm swing it dead straight at 10 pin, they jerk the ball left or right at release, because of their fit.

3) Over time, minor changes to drift and arm swing, cause a need for realignment. About a year ago I was missing left. Used to stand on board 31, had to adjust and stand at board 31 1/2 since for some reason.

The amount of hook you'll get from a spare ball on anything except the shortest sport patters is so little, that should not be the cause of misses.

Just practicing shooting the 10 pin is a waste of time, if not correcting the problem. What has helped me if taking a game or two to just practice spares, focusing on releasing ball off my hand the exact same way each shot. As the only reason I ever miss is my #2 listed above.