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When it comes to shooting spares, there always seems to be 2 different theories:

1)  learn how to break your wrist and throw the ball differently, or

2)  shoot all spares with a plastic ball.  Throw it hard and fast because plastic doesn't hook.  It's better to use a spare ball that way you can use your "normal release" and be more consistent.


So, which is it?

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Should be a combination of the two. learn how to break your wrist and use a plastic ball.

A question to ask is why when attempting to throw a  straight ball at say a 10 pin, would you use the same release that was meant to make a ball hook?

The thing I was seeing was all the bowlers who are using plastic balls and complaining that they hook too much.

Which says to to me the "throw it the sameway, just throw it harder" method doesnt work that well.

plus theres things like what happens after youve been bowling a big block of games and you can't throw that 25mph ball at the 10 anymore?

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Right, but that's my point.  Even during the PBA telecasts you'll hear the announcers saying that the bowlers are using plastic because it doesn't hook.


Articles:

http://www.bowlingball.com/info/Article_Making_Spares.html

 

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The other option which I myself use it to throw a plastic ball at your spares. (I do not use this for double wood spares) Using a plastic ball takes the lane out of play. The ball should not hook at all or very little. This allows you to line up straight to your spare and throw right at it.

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http://www.improvebowling.com/bowl200game.html

 

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It is most effective to use a ball that is made specifically for picking up spares professionals call it a spare ball. Spare balls are most commonly plastic, because plastic balls have the tendency to go straighter than regular bowling balls.

When trying to pick up a spare, it is best to straighten the wrist as much as possible. Relaxing the wrist during the release is most effective, and is a key part of picking up spares.

 

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http://ezinearticles.com/?Tuning-Up-Your-Bowling-Technique---Picking-Up-Spares&id=661931

 

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Professional bowlers use a "spare ball". That being a regular, plastic ball they use solely for the purpose of picking up their spares.

Even if you have your own ball, try using one of the regular, plain-colored, plastic "house" balls to pick up your spares. They are drilled to roll perfectly straight, enabling you to better hit your target.

 

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I'm not saying all these articles are accurate, I'm just saying that so many people just go around saying "plastic doesn't hook."

I started out just using my strike ball for spares, and just adjusting my target and release.  Then you read books that say that isn't the best way because it may work on a THS, but on different patterns you don't know how you're ball will react - there may be more (or less) oil in the middle, and the ball will over/under react.  So, just use plastic because it takes the conditions out of play.

I tried that and found that my plastic ball would tend to jump/squirt at the pin deck and I was missing single pin spares - totally my fault since you already have a large margin of error, but still not what I expected since "plastic balls don't hook."


So, yes, you are correct in the OP, that just learn to break your wrist and throw straighter.  And, sure, go ahead and use a plastic ball if that's what you're comfortable with, because it does help take the lane conditions out of play....for the most part.

I think the problem is that a lot of THS make it easier to plastic balls to hook.....when thrown with a hook type of release.  Any time you have friction, a ball is going to hook, and with a THS, that's generally anywhere outside of 10, and after 35'.

So, you have conditions that are conducive for balls to hook, and a notion that certain balls can't be made to hook, so people just expect plastic to go straight.

Hard to imagine that people would actually be expected to learn how their equipment reacts or how to make adjustments.