How to Get Spares

Articles In This Section:

· How to Get Spares

· FAST AND SLOW ALLEYS

· BABY SPLITS

· THE 7-9 AND 8-10 LEAVES

Making spares consistently is the principal distinction between the star and the average bowler. The star knows that if he continues to pick up his spares, he will wind up with a respectable game, and that the strikes will come eventually. In the meantime, he chalks up his spares so that when the strikes do arrive, he can come through with big counts.

The average bowler, on the other hand, never bothers to figure that if he made only spares throughout a game, he could still shoot a game of 190. He is always too intent on the strike, which is the beginning and end of bowling as far as he is concerned. He never really stops to consider the importance of the spare shot, and consequently he never practices shooting at spares. You would be surprised to know how many bowlers who have been at the game for years have never ordered a pin boy to set up a spare leave on which they might practice.

I know from personal experience that spares can make or break you, especially when your strike ball is not clicking as it should. Many a time I have gone what seemed to be endless frames without a strike, just converting each spare as it popped up, and then suddenly found myself right up in the running as the strikes began to appear. The point I am making is that I kept myself in the running by making the spares and thus avoided those really bad low games that can cost the difference between winning a tournament and finishing twentieth.

So aim at every spare carefully. Play mentally each spare that you see on the lanes next toxyou. Play them intelligently. That means attacking them from the proper angle so that the ball strikes the pins at the best possible spot and at the best angle to topple them all.