There are many spare shooting systems, some are good and some are outdated. I encourage my students to have a spare ball that does not hook so that they can line up the same way each time for converting spares. Nearly all spares except for double wood leaves should be shot with a spare ball. I would consider working with a qualified coach to become a good spare shooter.

You need to find a fixed target on the lanes to roll the ball over and adjust your feet accordingly. An example would be shooting all spares to the right of the headpin if you are right-handed over the middle (4th) arrow. A ten pin leave one might stand on board 36. A 6 pin leave might be board 33, etc. Just find your comfort zone and practice, practice, practice. You need to get comfortable with your spare ball. If you can throw the ball straight, you can be a very good spare shooter.

T. Scott
USBC Bronze Coach

I bowl college and bowling is all about spares so during practice we throw a lot of them. for me other than double wood and 3-6-9-10 i stand in the same two spots depending if the spare is on the right or left and adjust my mark accordingly. i stand on 34 for all spares right of the head pin and stand on 5/6 for all spares left of headpin and 5 pin. i move my mark and have had great success.
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Shawn

You don’t really need a spare system if you ether know how to throw your strike ball straight or use a plastic ball.

Since most people can’t throw their strike ball straight I will address using plastic. Figure out where you need to hit the pin in front and hit it using your plastic ball. I think you should actually pick a spot out on the pin and try to hit that (like the pin logo if it is in the right spot) and don’t be satisfied until you can hit that spot most of the time.

Try shooting at it from different angles and see what works best for you. For example try shooting the 4 pin and 6 pin straight down the lane and then try going across the lane at it.
Some people do better cross lane and others do better more down the boards.

I think using plastic for all spares but double wood is a mistake; I would use plastic for double wood and the 369-10 as well. If you figure all the possible angles you can strike the 3 pin in the 369-10 and still make the spare with a plastic ball, then figure all the possible angles you can strike the 3 pin and make the spare by hooking at it with your strike ball; I bet the strike ball only has about a 5% advantage. I am willing to bet that 5% is more than erased by the advantage the plastic ball has of taking the lane condition out of play.

Try using plastic for all spares for a while and see how you do, just remember with double wood you just need to hit the front pin a little more full in the face because the plastic ball deflects more.

Bowl great!
Ron Clifton