Do's & Don'ts For Better Bowling Spare Shooting

 bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 11/3/14; Updated: 4/5/21

There are always useful tips available for new bowlers or those of you trying to improve your spare shooting skills. Let’s examine some simple Do’s and Don’ts for better bowling spare shooting.

Do: consider strongly using a plastic ball for spare shooting, particularly when going cross lane where you ball may hook away too soon causing you to miss a corner pin spare.
Choosing a plastic ball for a beginning bowler (or bowlers of any/all skill levels) is certainly a good idea. (Something like the Pyramid Path polyester ball is an excellent option.)

Don't: expect a plastic bowling ball to provide strong hook potential but rather a long and controllable ball skid distance with a very modest ball motion on the back end.


Do: understand that plastic balls favor slow ball speed players for both strike and spare ball deliveries. Plastic balls will not hook as quickly as urethane balls because of the lesser amount of friction generated on the lane surface.


Don't: expect high ball speed players to get a strong ball reaction using a plastic ball. When shooting spares with a plastic ball, you can rely on your normal ball delivery speed so you retain accuracy instead of trying to hurl the ball much faster than your limited experience or practice allows.


Do: rely on keeping your eye on your sighting target and make sure to follow through in that direction giving you your best chance at converting the spare. If you follow a reliable spare adjustment system, trust the system and trust yourself to make good, smooth deliveries.


Don’t: expect that just throwing your ball in the general vicinity of the spare will do the job. Develop your own system for shooting spares which may include seeking advice from an experienced bowling instructor who knows the local lane conditions and your game.


Do: set up with the front portion of your bowling shoulder facing squarely at the key pin in your spare combination. Even if you see that your hips, shoulders, and head are very slightly aimed at the spare and not square to the head pin, maintain this alignment angle throughout your walk to the line and while you delivery the ball.


Don’t: align yourself so squarely to the head pin and try to walk squarely to the foul line if you are trying to shoot a corner pin spare, in particular. Opening or closing your shoulders and hips slightly to influence your swing path angle toward your spare is a common trait among the very best players.

Do: walk your lines to the when shooting spares. If you adjust laterally a good distance on the approach to shoot at a corner pin spare, as example, don’t walk back toward your original alignment spot and cut off your delivery path angle to the spare.


Don't: drift excessively on the approach so regardless where you align yourself for any given spare, you always end up sliding into the center portion of the approach near the foul line. Walk you lines and practice doing so before entering competition.
Spare shooting is a vital part of the competitive game. Developing a reliable system for adjusting to any spare on the lane, using a ball which gives you consistent control, and walking your lines and then following through toward your target are important tips for successful spare shooting.
Challenge yourself to improve your spare skills and watch your scores soar.