BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: xrayjay on August 17, 2016, 11:21:02 AM

Title: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: xrayjay on August 17, 2016, 11:21:02 AM
maybe they'll break 200 average and not be stuck in the 190's....

I know several bowlers over years who just don't believe in using a spare ball. Many of them don't realize that the spare game is one of the most important aspects of the game.

Some bowlers don't want to carry that extra ball in their bag. Some bowlers believe in their ability to adjust hand position to flatten out the shot. Or, have another reason altogether. Though, the margin of error is lessen when the ball doesn't hook and/or the line to the single pin is a straight line.

I admire those bowlers with a sound spare game, plastic ball or not, it's an art to me. Seeing someone struggle to convert, or stuck just below 200 for many years when using a strike ball make me  :o ???....

I think many bowlers would benefit with a spare ball, or at least give it a try for several months and see if this helps.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: Aloarjr810 on August 17, 2016, 11:33:33 AM
I just bought a brand new Whitedot to replace my 8 year old one.

A polyester spare ball is the most important ball in the bag.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: 2handedvolcano on August 17, 2016, 11:58:39 AM
Having different layouts, pin, pap tilt, axis, etc  is very important for spare and strike balls too. My strike ball has a  top weight of varying around 0.8 or so ,
but my spare ball is  a 2.1 top weight only.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: Impending Doom on August 17, 2016, 12:30:28 PM
I totally agree. I bowled in a 5 game sweeper a few weeks ago on a challenging 38 foot pattern and blew 3 single pin spares the first game (which after not touching a ball since Thanksgiving, I needed tape and didn't see to it fast enough), shot 150 the second game and then finally pulled my head out of my rear, and I was within 60 pins of match play. Spares count. Next time, I'll be more ready.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: milorafferty on August 17, 2016, 01:09:04 PM
Tell me about it. During the team event in Reno this year, I had a 180 game with 7 strikes. And to follow that up, I managed a 184 game with 7 strikes. Last game was 197 with an open 10th frame from missing the spare.

Oh yea, my team was just soooo happy to have me there...
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: trash heap on August 17, 2016, 01:35:06 PM
If you learn to throw a ball straight, then add a plastic ball, your spare game becomes very easy, on ANY condition!

One the biggest problems I see with spare games is that most bowlers are trying to walk perpendicular to the foul line. Then they try to twist their upper body (throw across their body) to aim at a specific arrow to go for the pin.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: 2handedvolcano on August 17, 2016, 01:39:10 PM
A lot of plastic balls are outsourced and bowlers do not like the quality. I was at a Storm  meeting and he said that is why they unplugged  the plastic ball line.

I do not struggle with my spares. I struggle with the 9s and need a ball to get all 10 pins down or my career will end with me being a low end PBA casher at best.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: themachine300 on August 17, 2016, 01:46:57 PM
Bowled on a 27 ft pattern few years ago.  Ever since then I never go to a tournament without urethane and plastic.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: ignitebowling on August 17, 2016, 03:13:22 PM
maybe they'll break 200 average and not be stuck in the 190's....

I know several bowlers over years who just don't believe in using a spare ball. Many of them don't realize that the spare game is one of the most important aspects of the game.

Some bowlers don't want to carry that extra ball in their bag. Some bowlers believe in their ability to adjust hand position to flatten out the shot. Or, have another reason altogether. Though, the margin of error is lessen when the ball doesn't hook and/or the line to the single pin is a straight line.

I admire those bowlers with a sound spare game, plastic ball or not, it's an art to me. Seeing someone struggle to convert, or stuck just below 200 for many years when using a strike ball make me  :o ???....

I think many bowlers would benefit with a spare ball, or at least give it a try for several months and see if this helps.

In most cases whatever route bowlers choose the issue is many bowlers ,of all levels,  do not practice.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: xrayjay on August 17, 2016, 05:34:27 PM
Most bowlers I see practice just chuck the ball down lane, shoot for score, and call it practice every time they go. Very rarely do I see drills being down on the approach.


Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: SVstar34 on August 17, 2016, 05:47:22 PM
There are a handful of junior bowlers around me that thrown the ball great and have a lot of potential. They all have one thing in common that annoys the (insert expletive) out of me: they miss too many single pin spares. Not just 10s, but the 4 and 7 pins also
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: Steven on August 17, 2016, 06:17:43 PM

In most cases whatever route bowlers choose the issue is many bowlers ,of all levels,  do not practice.

 
And without practice, many bowlers who try using plastic for spares give up because it's very different. Throwing straight and knowing how to line up for different combinations takes a lot of practice to get comfortable. Not many are willing to put in the effort.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: ThomasBowling on August 19, 2016, 05:22:44 PM
I just started using my T-zone again. Was so tired of not being able to spare the 10 pin with my Swerve anymore.
Been having a hard time sparing over on the right with the Swerve or Scandal for a month now. So on the first match of the season I used the T-zone and spared much more. Though I'll be using a hook ball for sparing on the left.
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: lilpossum1 on August 19, 2016, 10:57:48 PM
After reading this I brought out my Maxim that I stopped using because it was cracking out around the thumb. The span was short but I wanted to give it a try anyway. Lot easier for me to pick up the 10 pin than with my pitch black lol
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: mainzer on August 19, 2016, 11:05:43 PM
Spares make the game
Title: Re: if some people start using a spare ball.....
Post by: Impending Doom on August 20, 2016, 12:33:12 AM
Strike for show, spare for dough!