How to Get a Spare With a Curve Ball When Bowling

A properly thrown curve ball in bowling creates more pin action than a straight ball since it enters the "pocket" at an angle. A good curve begins with a solid finger grip. Learning to throw a curve, and then learning to control that curve to pick up a spare takes some practice. However, setting up on the right line on the bowling lane will give you the best shot at making a spare with a curve.

Instructions

    • 1

      Use a ball designed to spin instead of roll. Reactive resin and particle balls are the best for curves.

    • 2

      Choose the right spot on the lane. Bowling alley lanes are 42 inches wide and have 39 boards. Start out on the same board every time. Use the dots and arrows as your guides. For example, the dots on the lane are arranged five boards apart, with a large dot in the middle (in bowling terms, this means you are standing 20). The arrows near the foul line correspond with the dots. Practice throwing the ball a few times with the same steps and body motion and note where the ball ends up when it hits the pins.

    • 3

      Contact your local bowling center and see if you can arrange to practice spares only for a flat-rate fee. Some centers will even change the automatic pinsetter arrangement to only set down certain pins. Otherwise, practice throwing spares even when all of the pins are there. In those sessions, throw the curve to a spot and don't worry about the score.

    • 4

      Move your starting point over -- one or two boards at a time -- in one direction or the other, depending on where you are throwing the curve. For example, let's say you are right-handed, and every time you try to pick up the 4-7 spare, the ball slides in front of the 4 pin and goes into the gutter. Move one or two boards to the right. Approach the foul lane at a slight angle to compensate for your curve, but otherwise throw the same ball.