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Author Topic: Practicing spares. How do you do it?  (Read 6678 times)

lilpossum1

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Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« on: April 07, 2015, 11:49:09 AM »
i have determined that I REALLY need to practice my spares as I feel my left side spares are what is keeping me from averaging 200+. What is a good way to practice spares?
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xrayjay

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2015, 12:09:20 PM »
Do you throw a spare ball at all your spares?

Or, do you hook at it?

Or, both?

Or, do you use your strike ball, kill it and throw end over end?
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lilpossum1

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2015, 12:17:14 PM »
It depends on the spare. I kill my resin balls throwing at 10 pins and 6-10s. I hook at every other right side spare. It is the left side that kills me. I use to try to hook at the left side back before I had a competent spare game. Then I started moving left and killing my ball. That was hit or miss, and I started chopping more of them. Now I am back right throwing through the oil with less hand than my normal shot and I feel it is getting better. I don't have set marks throwing at spares. I mostly go by feel
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LyalC52

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2015, 12:58:58 PM »
Quote from: lilpossum1 on April 07, 2015, 11:49:09 AM
i have determined that I REALLY need to practice my spares as I feel my left side spares are what is keeping me from averaging 200+. What is a good way to practice spares?

IMO FWIW:
Spare practice 101
Ignore the scoreboard while practicing.
Set yourself a schedule of what spares you want to work on.
Throw 10+ balls at the same cover.
Throw at the location of the cover on the second ball of the frame.

If you have a buddy that takes the game as serious as you do, go at the same time, one person throws 20 or so balls while the other watches, charts and critiques. For me, being able to talk it out is a big help.

good luck, hope some of this helped
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Azaelv

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2015, 01:03:19 PM »
After practice I usually play lowcount, that way it forces me to hit only the corner pins in case you want/need to practice those pins, the score is the next.

If you throw it to the gutter on the first shot it counts as a strike, if you do it in the second shot, it counts as a spare, pretty simple, pretty difficult.

Also, you can play like frame 1, just get 1 pin, frame 2, 2 pins and so on.

hope this helps
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milorafferty

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2015, 01:06:19 PM »
I throw plastic at all single pin spares and non-double wood combinations except the bucket. For the bucket, I throw a straight 2 pin shot.

I use the center arrow for right of head pin shots, third arrow for left of head pin shot and move my feet to create the correct angle for the target.

For practice, I throw at least one game of corner pins only. First shot at the 10 and second shot at the 7. I also throw at least one game of first ball at the 10, then try to pick up the leftovers using my spare ball. Then I will have at least one game of throwing at the in 2-4-7 and the 3-6-10(even with a full rack), alternating between the two each frame. Second ball I try to pick up what's left.

I'm a right-hander, so I practice on what I leave most often, which is the 10 pin of course.
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xrayjay

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2015, 01:45:36 PM »
IMO, I'd start using a spare ball for majority of your spares.

1. takes lane conditions out of play
2. you can throw your normal release
3. no over thinking the spare game

once you have a system in place, for example, like the "4th arrow system", your spare game will be easier to manage. We do a lot of thinking already (which we shouldn't do unless we are not on the approach) when it comes to game. We think of so many things and forget the important ones that matter most. Why not clean out the closet and get rid of the guessing game, or the uncertainty of the outcome of your spare game. Having a spare system that works and becomes "automatic" will take all the extra thinking out of play. And you can focus on your next adjustment so to not leave a 10 pin on the next frame, for example.

For practice, I play a game of "low ball". I try to score the lowest I can. I try to make practice fun just so I don't get bored. Also, I practice at looking at the pins when playing this game of low ball. I'll look at the side of the pin I want to hit and see if I can get the ball to that side of the pin that I'm aiming at.

Good luck.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2015, 02:45:12 PM by xrayjay »
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trash heap

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2015, 02:33:56 PM »
I don't know why so many resist using a plastic ball for spares. It really is easier. You use the same release no matter what side you play. As xrayjay stated, let your brain only worry about adjusting on your strike ball (nice reply xrayjay).



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lilpossum1

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2015, 03:45:00 PM »
I had a plastic ball for 3 months until it busted out around the thumb. I have a urethane ball now that i could use for spares, but I can kill a ball as well as anyone, so I really don't want to take the time to switch out my thumb inserts. Ill try the low count game next time i bowl. thanks
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spencerwatts

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2015, 04:08:52 PM »
At least for my game, I've found that old-school urethane pieces (i.e., my Fab Blue Hammer and Columbia Black U-dot) have worked best for me. I ascribe to the opinion of going hard and straight at most spare combinations, including the 2-8 and 3-9. The only time I'll use my strike ball is for the 5-8 and 5-9 combinations.

During practice, unless I'm working specifically on getting used to a new ball, I'll spend usually first 40% of my session (about 45 minutes) working exclusively on spares. Doesn't matter whether it's a full rack or not. Then when I shoot at a full rack, I'll attempt everything that I've left.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2015, 08:12:08 AM by spencerwatts »
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HankScorpio

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2015, 06:08:03 PM »
Quote from: lilpossum1 on April 07, 2015, 03:45:00 PM
but I can kill a ball as well as anyone, so I really don't want to take the time to switch out my thumb inserts.

Pros can also kill it as well as anyone, yet the vast majority use spare balls. This is not a coincidence.

There's more to spare shooting than just making a ball not hook. Spare shooting is about consistency in your swing and footwork. How many times have you missed a spare and said "spare ball wouldn't have helped there, I missed by a mile"? You probably would've made lots of those if you didn't change your swing and speed trying to turn a strike ball into a spare ball.
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jhutch769

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2015, 07:08:53 PM »
We have AMF 82-70s..  I just throw a lane on Shadow and fire balls non stop at the ten..  Then the Six...  Then the three... Usually take a day off or a few hours off, repeat with the 7-4-2...  Then when I am tired, I do it some more...
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lilpossum1

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #12 on: April 07, 2015, 10:56:19 PM »
Quote from: HankScorpio on April 07, 2015, 06:08:03 PM
Quote from: lilpossum1 on April 07, 2015, 03:45:00 PM
but I can kill a ball as well as anyone, so I really don't want to take the time to switch out my thumb inserts.

Pros can also kill it as well as anyone, yet the vast majority use spare balls. This is not a coincidence.


The pros are also bowling on a shot where any mistake they make in spare shooting is magnified. A concede to the point that changing speed and swing can throw off timing, resulting in errant shots, but I do not change my speed or my swing. My only difference is in my hand. I come straight up the back of the ball as much as I can. I may see the ball turn the tiniest bit at the end, but it is not much at all. And if I do run into a shot where that is not enough, I have my urethane ball. And I was throwing plastic at my spares for a while, but I saw minimal difference,if any, in my spare making.
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BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2015, 01:09:47 AM »

1- Throw your first ball horribly AND all over the place.

2- Try to pic up the junk!

If you become competent at picking up the difficult leaves then they won't freak you out if you leave them, and the routine spares become easier, too.  Make spare shooting fun instead of a "negative".

I do use an old polished urethane ball because it's indestructible and will outlive me...



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lilpossum1

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Re: Practicing spares. How do you do it?
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2015, 02:33:49 AM »
Notclay, I like your's the best yet! Although, I do not see how that is any different from me during league..  ;D
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