How to Convert Spares When Bowling

To spectators, strikes might be the most exciting part of bowling, but any good bowler will tell you that consistency making spare shots is the difference between a good bowler and an average one. A bowler who can consistently convert his spare shots can overcome "bad luck" when bowling. Sometimes you might throw what appears to be a perfect strike, only to leave a split. The difference between being a good spare bowler and a poor spare bowler can be as much as 30 to 40 points on your average. Here are some tips to improve your bowling game when it comes to making spare shots.

Things You'll Need

  • Bowling ball
  • Bowling alley
  • Score pad (optional)
  • Opponent (optional)
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Instructions

  1. How To Make More Spares When Bowling

    • 1

      Be consistent with your first ball. Maintain the same approach and release location when thowing your first ball. The advantage to this method is that, when you leave pins standing after your first ball, they will tend to be the same or similar ones each time. The more often you need to convert the same pins for a spare, the more accurate you will become at "picking up the spare."

    • 2

      Be consistent, not fancy when shooting spares. Learn how the ball reacts when you maintain the same arm motion, release and approach toward the foul line. Keep all of these factors uniform for spare shots on each side of the lane. You will need one approach and swing for spare shots on the left side of the lane, and another for those on the right side of the lane.

    • 3

      Do not try to alter too many aspects of your game at once. As long as you keep your approach, arm swing and release the same for everthing (depending on the side of the lane), you only need to adjust one factor: the point at the foul line from which you throw the ball. By having just one variable to adjust, you can anticipate your ball reacting the same way each time. This way, you can adjust your release point on the foul line to take into consideration such factors as oil on the lane, the type of lane you are bowling on, and the condition of your bowling ball.

    • 4

      Watch how others bowl whose approach and arm release mirror your own, and who drill the ball the same way. Notice the angles they take as they approach the foul line. Learn what is working for them. If they throw the ball in the same way you do, it is likely that your ball will travel an identical (or at least very similar) path.

    • 5

      Don't worry about your score when you practice during the week. Instead, practice converting the spare shots you find yourself leaving regularly after your first ball. You can ask the bowling alley attendant to set up the pinsetter so it replaces the same pins every time, to help you to practice that spare shot.Another way to practice spare technique is during your practice time before league bowling starts. Even with all of the tenpins set up, practice hitting just the seven- or the tenpin, as these can be two of the harder spares for a bowler to convert. Consistently converting spares on the seven- or tenpin can increase you score by up to 20 points per game.