Picked up a plastic ball a month ago and it’s taken a bit for me to get used to, but I feel much more comfortable at 10 pins. 56 yo, 14-15 mph, 350ish rev. I find I don’t have to change my release much which has always been an issue for me to be consistent. Good stuff, keep it up 👍
I'm a beginner bowling in a league for the first time, and have never been able to pick up the 7 or 10 pin. After watching your video, I picked up a spare on both sides today! thanks so much!
I've learned from these guys to throw cross-lane for the 10 & 7. Throwing flat handed with my regular ball. I now very rarely miss a corner pin. Thanks guys.
That's what I've done for over 20 years & I rarely ever miss corner pins. Something else I do is relax my middle finger when releasing the ball for corner pins. I didn't even realize I was doing this until I saw Kris Prather explaining it, lol.
I wonder if Marshal Holman's spare technique would work with today's bowling balls. He actually topped the ball when shooting the ten pin or seven pin. I know that when I did bowl I used a similar spare technique with an old rubber black beauty ball more than 20 years ago.
I have been a disaster at league the past couple of weeks. I'm going to try this. Practice has been great but missing spares is keeping my scores lower than they have been in a while
Standing on 35 and aiming at the 4th arrow for the 10 pin has been pretty good for me for decades, usually without much issue across different oil patterns. On THS, I rarely miss a 4 or 7 by hooking from the right by standing on 10 and throwing pretty much anywhere between 5 and 10 (I typically drift a little left on most of my shots), but other oil patterns get tricky for my 7 pin.
I'm like you, I never liked going straight at left side single pins. I found my accuracy and results were much better maintaining my release and allowing room for the ball to hook into the pins.
Big change for me, besides learning how to get the ball on the lane earlier and on the left, has been changing my finger position. Moving my index finger closer to my middle finger allows me to throw straighter and not worry about over-hooking and missing spares on the right.
Great video, great tips. I use a plain old trusty Brunswick T-Zone for my corner pins and the 4 and 6 pins. It goes ramrod straight down the lane and since I'm a low rev/low tilt bowler, I don't have to worry about changing my hand position or my release. I want to eliminate as many variables as possible when shooting those pins, so it's always a safe bet.
I’ve been getting better at making 10 pins more consistently, and I can make 7 pins a vast majority of the time if I hook at it. I’m still working on going straight at the 7 pin.
I didn't even realize people shoot 7s without hook. I always shoot with hook and the hardest part is just trusting yourself/your shot, I think. Never seems like it'll make it all that way, to me... I struggle with cross-lane straight-ish 10s way more than I do hooking for 7s. The way I go for 7s is to move about 6-8 boards right with my feet and shoot my target. 10s, 15-20 boards left or all the way, and shoot somewhere between 3rd-4th arrow. Also, on 10s, I will tuck my index finger and exaggerate my pinky flair a bit.
@@christ9359 that's a good point. I guess on some patterns the way I shoot may not work out so easily and then it might be better to know how to shoot straight for it. Thanks!
@@TheRealInky no problem. I've always felt much more comfortable throwing plastic at spares, but that's just me. A couple guys I've known throw a big backup hook at their ten pins. They are pretty accurate, but that would never work for me.
I used to be deadly when going for a 10 pin 20 years ago. I stopped bowling as much and practice became just what I could get in before league. I stand about the same place as Brad and throw 23. My 10 pin shot has become hideous! Always practice throwing at your 10/7 pin. There is an old saying "if you don't use it, you lose it." I'm very happy to see that I'm not the only one that throws a backup ball at the 10 pin.
I've been trying in league to change the hook of my ball to pick 10 pins up for a while. I see other bowlers do it. But I think you guys have made me confident enough to try going straight. Let's see how it goes!
It makes it much easier if you have a spare ball, I don’t really worry about changing my release because it doesn’t really curve. I also found more success in aiming at the pin instead of a mark, but that may not be the best way
Thank you guys for this. I have gotten in my head and now missing the 10 more than usual. I needed to break down my game and build my 10 Pin shooting back up
I like your videos but can’t wait till bowling season begins. Video taping Inside the ropes during tournaments play is the best. Good Luck in 2023 bowling season.
I use a super weak wrist position (broken wrist). on dry lanes sometimes this is not enough for me because I do not have the flexibility in my wrist and arm to throw a perfect straight ball. So now I added a what some people call suit casing the ball with the weak wrist position. I don't miss the ten pin at all anymore. great video. Thank you for your time. Congrats on making it on Luis Napoles's top 5 you tube channel.
I'd love to see a video on left side spares. I see a lot of pros stand pretty left and throw it straighter at those, whereas for right side they're as left as you guys are. Is that so they don't have to be so closed throwing to the left? Would you recommend standing as far right for a 7 pin as you would standing left for a 10 pin?
So just wanted to check in and let you know the slight backhanded release has been working great for me the last 2 weeks in practice and league play. Im making close to 90% of the time now....thanks for the help!!!
Great video, thanks guys. I would love to see a video on a drill to learn how to throw the ball straight. It doesn't matter what I try, I always end up putting some axis rotation on the ball. I do use a plastic ball for spares.
Love the video! Really appreciate it. One question. Do you guys ever find yourselves needing to adjust a board or 2 on some of the more extreme oil pattern lengths/volume? ie a 35 foot pattern or a 48 foot pattern? I usually creep a board or two left or right in this case even throwing a straight plastic ball. Not sure if that a mental thing or if the oil volume and pattern length can impact a good "straight" ball enough to justify a move. Thanks
Great, informative video. Mostly confirmed that what I'm doing is right, so thank you for that. If I may make one suggestion, though, it would be to use a spare ball with multiple colors. That will make it easier to see how the roll is different with the slight backup.
Funny thing, I was told to have a lot of angle to 10-pin but third or fourth arrow works best for me... so as you said, I am sticking to that =) Maybe because I am righty with left eye dominant?
Thanks, great video on an important topic. I miss your little theme song introduction, maybe time for a new one. Also, can we get a Kyle update. Great to see him off the crutches. We're all looking forward to seeing him throw shots with that killer release.
I’m just starting to get back into bowling since my high school days. It’s really challenging because I’m ambidextrous. If I’m going against a right handed bowler, I bowl left handled, and Vice versa. Need to keep practicing until I’m ready for competition. 🤗
I entered 💪🏽 love watching you guys, you two helped alot with bowling and understanding how to read lanes and how to throw my ball i could never figure out lol!
I was a completely straight bowler for most of my life (almost 60 now). I throw a reactive ball that hooks for my first throw now but commonly use my old straight ball that I have had since I was 15 for spares. For the 10 pin I move to the right and throw the ball straight along the edge of the gutter. I usually get it, sometimes that even works on the 6-7-10.🤔🤓🍻
I used to live up as far left or right for corner pins. But center proprietors don't always make sure you can slide on 5 board or 35 board. My knees already hurt and a dead stick doesn't help.
That's my question. Some people tell me to walk straight and throw the ball at an angle once you get to the foul line. Others say start walking from the dots at an angle toward the release point at the foul line. I'm not sure which to do.
One topic that I’d like to see Brad and Kyle discuss in more detail is the approach on 7 and 10 pin spares, that is whether they recommend that one’s approach should be straight up the boards or more angled toward the target.
I shoot left side spares using my strike ball, just slow it down slightly. For my friend, the 10...I use an old Hammer Nova (one of Carol Norman's tour balls). I use flat release cross lane with more speed and ball basically slides with maybe 6 revs.
My son is 2 handed and flatten outs his hand and uses urethane to get his spares. He practiced by using a 500 pad on his least used reactive ball to get spares 1st then moved to urethane. He does so he gets to use his urethane ball as one of his 5 for junior gold.
I am now retired from bowling. My prime years were 1980 to 2000. It was a different game back then. I had been anchor on my college team for three years (shout out to my buddy Jeff Bellinger, who went from out college ranks to win a couple of titles) and I did get some decent coaching, but mostly my game depended on practice, practice, practice. That is the only way I was ever able to maintain consistency in my release and good timing in my approach. Both are crucial to being a good spare shooter, too. In my day, when there were 3 or 4 fewer strikes/game, spares were absolutely critical and I tend to think we were better spare shooters than today - mainly out of necessity. And spot on accuracy was essential too, coupled of course with good repetition. It was so much harder to turn around and make up for an open with a three bagger. Differences in equipment, conditions, and rules meant that averages were probably about 20-40 pins lower than they are today. (Believe it or not, up until 1992 the American Bowling Congress ONLY allowed flat surfacing. That is the oil had to be a uniform coating across the lane. As a result of that rule, and arcane equipment, A 190-average bowler in 1985 would be a 230-average league bowler today. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, of the 50,000+qualified bowlers in my metropolitan area, the top ten bowlers would average in the 190s. Only three or four times in those 20 years did anyone average 200. And we had some pretty darn good bowlers - a bunch bowled regionals (including moi) and a few bowled on the tour for awhile. So we are talking some very good bowlers in the upper echelon. But the long-winded point is that I believe that the challenges made us better spare shooters. We had to practice spares (especially single pins) and bowl competitively at least three or four times each week to maintain that ability. If you didn't pick up 90% of your single pins, you could not average 190. The lack of strikes just took away so much scoring.
Hey Brad and Kyle, thanks for the great information on making a 10 pin. I used to have a Black Beauty back in Georgia and was very confident with it for making 10 pins. However when I moved to Island City Oregon ( eastern Oregon about 4 hours from Portland and 3 hours the other way to Boise) I left it behind. Boy what a mistake. I’ve tried a few different 10 pin balls and currently using a Storm White Mix. Been pretty good with it so far, but after watching your video about opening your hand to a slight backup release. It makes sense and can’t wait to go and practice it before my next league night.
When I found out I had 25% to work with I switched from my reactive ball to a plastic ball. Before I was around 40% conversions on 10 pins, now I’m around 80%. Once you realize you have 25% to work with it becomes much easier. Just stay behind the ball and throw it hard. When you throw a reactive ball, you have to play the lane condition and if you are having a night where you are struggling to find the pocket and accuracy, throwing that as your spare ball would be a bad idea. Instead use a plastic and you take the lane condition out of the equation. When you take the lane out of the equation, you literally have roughly 25% to miss your mark. You don’t get that with a reactive ball.
As someone who’s been bowling 2 handed for 3 years, I’ve found my best success throwing a plastic ball with no inserts, and focusing hard on getting as little revs as possible while trying to get as behind the ball as possible… even with a plastic ball, if I get around the ball at all, it just overreacts every time…
You would be benefited by practicing the 10 pin via second arrow or to the right when you have small centers that have the wall right next to the last board on the lane. Either that or you have to learn how to kick the wall consistently before the release
Think this is just what I need to see to become more consistent Dearing league thank you both and I subscribed. Hope some day I win one of y'all's giveaway. Now to the back of the line y'all given me a way to get my 7 pin with more confidence with the way you'll explain it thank you!!!
I use a plastic ball, go cross lane, and open up my wrist so I'm releasing the ball at the top. Goes pretty straight, so it's just a matter of hitting my spot, which is usually over the 5th arrow.
I definitely needed help with hitting the 10 pin…I can’t keep holding my breath trying to throw it in between the gutter & board 2 😅 I need a safer way & more space (I hit it about 78% of the time just almost passed out 1 time from holding my breath)
Ok update since watching this video…I bowled my 1st 200 game in my leagues season! This video & the one about the lanes & adjusting really helped out! Thank you guys! 😅
I rarely miss single pins anymore, once i started using the KISS system, but last league night, on my last game, i missed the 10 pin 3 times in a row, which was super weird. Still managed to get a 200+ game on it, but i could have been so much better. I practice sometimes on hitting the 10 pin on 5 different places, like light on the left side, light on the right side (ball skids it and goes into gutter immediatly), full front, and medium left and medium right. So when it comes to boards, that is like board 8, board 1, board 3, board 5 and board 2. I set up my camera to film it, to watch later. Also making notes on what board to hit on the arrow, and where my PN is. By doing this, you also learn where to stand when there is a split like 6,7,10 or 6,8,10 and what to hit to make that split. I don't do this just for 10 pins, but all single pins. But yeah, as a righthander, throwing on the right side of the lane, the 10 is the one i leave standing the most
You say you rarely miss single pins anymore and that's great. Here's a suggestion, though. Try actually keeping track of all your single pins and those made (or missed). If you are making 90% over a season, you may be tour ready. Our perceptions can be tricky, but a 90% rate over a long period is exceptionally good, even for the pros
@@kennethterrell7409 Thank you for your reply. And i actually already do keep track of all my spares. My best season was in 2022 where i had a single pin spare conversion of 88% over 456 games bowled. I keep track of not only single pins, but all spares. I started to do this back in 2017, and it has given me so much feedback
Ya bet. There are spares that we leave a lot (2-4-5 and the 3-6-10 come to mind) and can be tricky if you don't keep track of tendencies where we go wrong. League conditions today are easy enough that the ball reaction should be pretty consistent week-to-week. Did I jerk up at the line and pick the 2-4-5? Did I just make a bad shot? Did the ball slide too far cross-lane at the 3-6-10? You know what I'm talking about. Without knowing anything about our performance history, each spare shot is a guess. And practice. I used to practice just spares. Had the front desk set the machine to just load the 2-4-5 twenty times, for example. And congrats on the 88%. That's getting pretty good. Maintain your concentration and try to get that north of 90% and you'll see your average go up 3-5 pins. @@gusk
I've never been to a bowling alley, and I've gone to several, that have a mechanism whereby the pin setter can set down only certain pins upon request. I asked a couple of the alley mechanics about that and they say the machines can't be programmed to set down only certain pins. What bowling alley does this? I may need to fly there for a few days just to practice spare shooting with certain configurations.
I have found in many houses that if you move way left on the approach to shoot the 10 pin that it is more tacky on your slide and I see many bowlers stick on their slide and miss the 10 pin. I use the 15 board to be able to slide closer to the middle of the approach.
It is the dang ball return that gets in the way! When I am on the right side of the lane. It is so big it gets in the way of me moving far left. I am going to lean on it like you said to see if that works! Ugh!!
Ive been making 10s for over 30 years more than missing,but when i moved my swing inside by slide foot from dropping arm straight in line with shoulder,i missed a lot. Now i tuck pinky,index finger tight to middle,ball low by my side and just swing it out to the edge through boards 20 and 25,less missed.
What is I am a lefty .when I shoot for a 7 pin . I put only 2 fingers in the ball my long finger and my thumb. Is that OK to stop the hook on the ball.
When I pick up my 7 pin I like to stand far to right and throw at my 2nd arrow. I make them most of the time but sometimes it’s tough for me to find the spot to stand because my ball doesnt make it over far enough I rarely throw it in the gutter. Is it better to stand more to the middle when picking them up? Should I throw my spare ball at? I normally throw my summit and let it curve to it
I have a very aggressive hook and the only way I could understand how to hit that 10 was being told to straighten my thumb because I have a tilt even when I'm getting in my stance and I just make sure my thumb isn't pointing to 10 o clock and instead bring it to 12. I lose a lot of power but my accuracy is good
For my strike ball I have both my index finger and pinky finger extended to sta " under the ball. For the 10 pin, I move all the way to the left, go just behind or on the center arrow, but most importantly, I stay standing up straighter and tuck my pinky in touching my ring finger. Pinky in is the trick for me.
I think you guys should make a video on how to consistently throw the ball straight. I’ve been shooting my tens how Brad demonstrated for awhile and have been pretty consistent doing so. But I’ve had multiple friends who just can’t throw the ball straight; they get stuck in muscle memory of throwing the ball with hook. I have also found that following through with my arm straight up directly towards the ten pin helps tremendously in staying consistently accurate.
@@mikeforest8405it's a problem because 90% of your throws are with a hook if you are not a straight bowler. And then for that odd 10 pin miss you have to change everything including mechanics, foot position, target arrows and bowl straight for that one odd 10 pin.
I wish I’d seen this video two weeks ago. I’m a leftie beginner. Two weeks ago, I knocked down nine pins and left the ten pin six times in one game. I didn’t pick up any of those spares and finished with a score of 115 (my average).
I just bowled in a league game yesterday and bowled 5 frames, leaving a ten pin. I didn't get a single ten pin even though I got the other spares. It certainly messed with my head because I was in the pocket on all those shots, or at least I thought I was. Not getting that 10 pin gave me a final score of 125 when my average is 167.
Could people use the 3-6-9 positioning? I can throw with reactive or plastic at the ten pin and on Sundays I bowl 2 leagues at a time. (One sanctioned other unsanctioned) My “main” league I use my spare ball and the other league I do not. I Make about 85-90% both leagues by jumping left 9 boards, (3 boards per pin to the opposite side) small sight adjustment, and take my hand out of it. (little backup when throwing reactive.)
Best thing I ever heard, especially with spares… if we had eyes in our shoulders, we would all be better bowlers. I don’t use a spare ball and I’m decent at flattening my hand to pick up spares because of that. When it comes to my spare shot , I try to think from my shoulder. I will literally hold my arm out in front of me pointing to the target when I set up on the approach to make sure my setup is decent. I’m not the best bowler, but my spare accuracy is much better just from that thought process. Hope this can help someone, especially if you are a straighter player or bowl straight shot
Imma high rev player most the time I do not own a urethane or plastic I use what ever I'm rolling with for my ten pin I break my wrist and go straight across the lane and never hooks on me but I also shoot my ten pin 23 to 25 mph depending how frustrated I am lol but have always done this and never fails unless I miss
It's by far the easiest to approach from the left side of the lane and angle your shot to the right. The only thing that makes it a little tricky is the ball return being uncomfortably close on your left as you approach. I personally slow down my normal strike approach, as you don't need nearly as much power or finesse to just throw the ball straight. You just need to focus on your speed and having a smooth release right at the 10 pin. You only need enough speed to keep the ball from hooking back away from the pin. The only time I really miss a 10 pin is when it's a 100% mental mistake. Which can easily happen in a pressure situation.
Just to add to what they said...I stand 35 and target 16 but my ball is further from my ankle than these guys so that's what works for me. If I target 23 I'm hitting the head pin square on, maybe slightly brooklyn. So it does depend on each bowlers swing and like Brad said, trial and error until you find what works for you
Kyle is looking like a police officer without the shades. It’s must be the mustache🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
He looks like he's about to pull you over "littering and....littering and....littering and....littering and smoking the reefer"
Sir… do you know how fast you were going?
Look here meow!
Kyle you should have been in the movie super troopers with that mustache🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Police officer???? I was thinking 70's porn star! 🤣😂🤣😂
Some days I can't miss the ten-pin. And some days I can't hit it to save my life. Such is bowling.
Picked up a plastic ball a month ago and it’s taken a bit for me to get used to, but I feel much more comfortable at 10 pins. 56 yo, 14-15 mph, 350ish rev. I find I don’t have to change my release much which has always been an issue for me to be consistent. Good stuff, keep it up 👍
I'm a beginner bowling in a league for the first time, and have never been able to pick up the 7 or 10 pin. After watching your video, I picked up a spare on both sides today! thanks so much!
Hi guys . I'm from Iowa and am 67 years young. I bowl 2 times a week. I love bowling. I just bought a uc2. I love it.
I've learned from these guys to throw cross-lane for the 10 & 7. Throwing flat handed with my regular ball. I now very rarely miss a corner pin. Thanks guys.
Same as you.
That's what I've done for over 20 years & I rarely ever miss corner pins. Something else I do is relax my middle finger when releasing the ball for corner pins. I didn't even realize I was doing this until I saw Kris Prather explaining it, lol.
I wonder if Marshal Holman's spare technique would work with today's bowling balls. He actually topped the ball when shooting the ten pin or seven pin. I know that when I did bowl I used a similar spare technique with an old rubber black beauty ball more than 20 years ago.
@@Jeff_PNW I've gotta try that I can't get my hand flat for the life of me
@@Jeff_PNW I'll give this technique a try as soon as possible. Theoretically it makes sense. Thanks!
I have been a disaster at league the past couple of weeks. I'm going to try this. Practice has been great but missing spares is keeping my scores lower than they have been in a while
Standing on 35 and aiming at the 4th arrow for the 10 pin has been pretty good for me for decades, usually without much issue across different oil patterns. On THS, I rarely miss a 4 or 7 by hooking from the right by standing on 10 and throwing pretty much anywhere between 5 and 10 (I typically drift a little left on most of my shots), but other oil patterns get tricky for my 7 pin.
I do the same for 10 pins
I'm like you, I never liked going straight at left side single pins. I found my accuracy and results were much better maintaining my release and allowing room for the ball to hook into the pins.
Big change for me, besides learning how to get the ball on the lane earlier and on the left, has been changing my finger position. Moving my index finger closer to my middle finger allows me to throw straighter and not worry about over-hooking and missing spares on the right.
Great video, great tips. I use a plain old trusty Brunswick T-Zone for my corner pins and the 4 and 6 pins. It goes ramrod straight down the lane and since I'm a low rev/low tilt bowler, I don't have to worry about changing my hand position or my release. I want to eliminate as many variables as possible when shooting those pins, so it's always a safe bet.
I’ve been getting better at making 10 pins more consistently, and I can make 7 pins a vast majority of the time if I hook at it. I’m still working on going straight at the 7 pin.
I didn't even realize people shoot 7s without hook. I always shoot with hook and the hardest part is just trusting yourself/your shot, I think. Never seems like it'll make it all that way, to me...
I struggle with cross-lane straight-ish 10s way more than I do hooking for 7s.
The way I go for 7s is to move about 6-8 boards right with my feet and shoot my target. 10s, 15-20 boards left or all the way, and shoot somewhere between 3rd-4th arrow. Also, on 10s, I will tuck my index finger and exaggerate my pinky flair a bit.
@@TheRealInky the problem with hooking is that you have to trust/know how the oil pattern is going to affect the ball motion.
@@christ9359 that's a good point. I guess on some patterns the way I shoot may not work out so easily and then it might be better to know how to shoot straight for it. Thanks!
@@TheRealInky no problem. I've always felt much more comfortable throwing plastic at spares, but that's just me. A couple guys I've known throw a big backup hook at their ten pins. They are pretty accurate, but that would never work for me.
I used to be deadly when going for a 10 pin 20 years ago. I stopped bowling as much and practice became just what I could get in before league. I stand about the same place as Brad and throw 23. My 10 pin shot has become hideous! Always practice throwing at your 10/7 pin. There is an old saying "if you don't use it, you lose it." I'm very happy to see that I'm not the only one that throws a backup ball at the 10 pin.
I've been trying in league to change the hook of my ball to pick 10 pins up for a while. I see other bowlers do it. But I think you guys have made me confident enough to try going straight. Let's see how it goes!
It makes it much easier if you have a spare ball, I don’t really worry about changing my release because it doesn’t really curve. I also found more success in aiming at the pin instead of a mark, but that may not be the best way
Thank you guys for this. I have gotten in my head and now missing the 10 more than usual. I needed to break down my game and build my 10 Pin shooting back up
I like your videos but can’t wait till bowling season begins. Video taping Inside the ropes during tournaments play is the best. Good Luck in 2023 bowling season.
Good information. Thanks again Kyle and Brad 😂😂😂
I use a super weak wrist position (broken wrist). on dry lanes sometimes this is not enough for me because I do not have the flexibility in my wrist and arm to throw a perfect straight ball. So now I added a what some people call suit casing the ball with the weak wrist position. I don't miss the ten pin at all anymore. great video. Thank you for your time.
Congrats on making it on Luis Napoles's top 5 you tube channel.
I'd love to see a video on left side spares. I see a lot of pros stand pretty left and throw it straighter at those, whereas for right side they're as left as you guys are. Is that so they don't have to be so closed throwing to the left? Would you recommend standing as far right for a 7 pin as you would standing left for a 10 pin?
@@GolfNut10 oh yea no it's definitely one of those scams
Like the help on 10 pin pickup. I have had trouble picking it up. Hope to win a package soon. I throw a reactive ball all the time
This was very well spoken. Especially about the pros missing and not changing because they know it works.
Perfect timing, today I actually started throwing straight at my 7 pin(righty) and it felt good.
So just wanted to check in and let you know the slight backhanded release has been working great for me the last 2 weeks in practice and league play. Im making close to 90% of the time now....thanks for the help!!!
Thanks for the video! Love the way you guys explained stuff. Definitely helps as I'm trying to improve my game.
Great video, thanks guys. I would love to see a video on a drill to learn how to throw the ball straight. It doesn't matter what I try, I always end up putting some axis rotation on the ball. I do use a plastic ball for spares.
I love your UA-cam channel it's so cool because you bowl and I love bowling
Love the video! Really appreciate it. One question. Do you guys ever find yourselves needing to adjust a board or 2 on some of the more extreme oil pattern lengths/volume? ie a 35 foot pattern or a 48 foot pattern? I usually creep a board or two left or right in this case even throwing a straight plastic ball. Not sure if that a mental thing or if the oil volume and pattern length can impact a good "straight" ball enough to justify a move. Thanks
Great video. I don't have trouble with 10 pins but definitely good info to remember
screen shot for future nefarious deeds
Great, informative video. Mostly confirmed that what I'm doing is right, so thank you for that.
If I may make one suggestion, though, it would be to use a spare ball with multiple colors. That will make it easier to see how the roll is different with the slight backup.
Funny thing, I was told to have a lot of angle to 10-pin but third or fourth arrow works best for me... so as you said, I am sticking to that =) Maybe because I am righty with left eye dominant?
I found this video very helpful!! Thank you very much!
Great video. Very helpful
Thank you! Great video, and very helpful!
This vid was very helpful…..I have always had trouble with the 10 pin. This past Sunday, I was 10/11😮😮😮
Thanks, great video on an important topic. I miss your little theme song introduction, maybe time for a new one. Also, can we get a Kyle update. Great to see him off the crutches. We're all looking forward to seeing him throw shots with that killer release.
I’m just starting to get back into bowling since my high school days. It’s really challenging because I’m ambidextrous. If I’m going against a right handed bowler, I bowl left handled, and Vice versa. Need to keep practicing until I’m ready for competition. 🤗
They have good techniques. "Don't call me mustache.." I like your videos. Thanks Brad and Kyle.
I entered 💪🏽 love watching you guys, you two helped alot with bowling and understanding how to read lanes and how to throw my ball i could never figure out lol!
I was a completely straight bowler for most of my life (almost 60 now). I throw a reactive ball that hooks for my first throw now but commonly use my old straight ball that I have had since I was 15 for spares. For the 10 pin I move to the right and throw the ball straight along the edge of the gutter. I usually get it, sometimes that even works on the 6-7-10.🤔🤓🍻
Thanks guys....very helpful....seen you compete....excellent. /thanked
I used to live up as far left or right for corner pins. But center proprietors don't always make sure you can slide on 5 board or 35 board. My knees already hurt and a dead stick doesn't help.
You have very good info, what would help is to have slo-mo to show those technicals in action.
Thx for all the help.
That was great. Would love to see a video on picking up double wood.
Are you walking up the boards or walking toward your target (righty going left to right for the 10-pin)?
That's my question. Some people tell me to walk straight and throw the ball at an angle once you get to the foul line. Others say start walking from the dots at an angle toward the release point at the foul line. I'm not sure which to do.
@@exoressdelivers70 Brad? / Kyle? / Anyone... ???
Great video guys!!!! This completely reinforces what I teach my high school and youth bowlers.
One topic that I’d like to see Brad and Kyle discuss in more detail is the approach on 7 and 10 pin spares, that is whether they recommend that one’s approach should be straight up the boards or more angled toward the target.
I shoot left side spares using my strike ball, just slow it down slightly. For my friend, the 10...I use an old Hammer Nova (one of Carol Norman's tour balls). I use flat release cross lane with more speed and ball basically slides with maybe 6 revs.
I am def going to go up to the foul line and see how it looks from there as mentioned.
Great discussion. Thank you 😊
My son is 2 handed and flatten outs his hand and uses urethane to get his spares. He practiced by using a 500 pad on his least used reactive ball to get spares 1st then moved to urethane. He does so he gets to use his urethane ball as one of his 5 for junior gold.
Missed my first 200 because of a 10 pin today😭 Thank you Kyle❤️
I am now retired from bowling. My prime years were 1980 to 2000. It was a different game back then. I had been anchor on my college team for three years (shout out to my buddy Jeff Bellinger, who went from out college ranks to win a couple of titles) and I did get some decent coaching, but mostly my game depended on practice, practice, practice. That is the only way I was ever able to maintain consistency in my release and good timing in my approach. Both are crucial to being a good spare shooter, too. In my day, when there were 3 or 4 fewer strikes/game, spares were absolutely critical and I tend to think we were better spare shooters than today - mainly out of necessity. And spot on accuracy was essential too, coupled of course with good repetition. It was so much harder to turn around and make up for an open with a three bagger. Differences in equipment, conditions, and rules meant that averages were probably about 20-40 pins lower than they are today. (Believe it or not, up until 1992 the American Bowling Congress ONLY allowed flat surfacing. That is the oil had to be a uniform coating across the lane. As a result of that rule, and arcane equipment, A 190-average bowler in 1985 would be a 230-average league bowler today. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, of the 50,000+qualified bowlers in my metropolitan area, the top ten bowlers would average in the 190s. Only three or four times in those 20 years did anyone average 200. And we had some pretty darn good bowlers - a bunch bowled regionals (including moi) and a few bowled on the tour for awhile. So we are talking some very good bowlers in the upper echelon. But the long-winded point is that I believe that the challenges made us better spare shooters. We had to practice spares (especially single pins) and bowl competitively at least three or four times each week to maintain that ability. If you didn't pick up 90% of your single pins, you could not average 190. The lack of strikes just took away so much scoring.
Great tutorial, guys! So...how does Darren shoot spares with his strike ball seemingly all the time?
Hey Brad and Kyle, thanks for the great information on making a 10 pin. I used to have a Black Beauty back in Georgia and was very confident with it for making 10 pins. However when I moved to Island City Oregon ( eastern Oregon about 4 hours from Portland and 3 hours the other way to Boise) I left it behind. Boy what a mistake. I’ve tried a few different 10 pin balls and currently using a Storm White Mix. Been pretty good with it so far, but after watching your video about opening your hand to a slight backup release. It makes sense and can’t wait to go and practice it before my next league night.
When I found out I had 25% to work with I switched from my reactive ball to a plastic ball. Before I was around 40% conversions on 10 pins, now I’m around 80%. Once you realize you have 25% to work with it becomes much easier. Just stay behind the ball and throw it hard. When you throw a reactive ball, you have to play the lane condition and if you are having a night where you are struggling to find the pocket and accuracy, throwing that as your spare ball would be a bad idea. Instead use a plastic and you take the lane condition out of the equation. When you take the lane out of the equation, you literally have roughly 25% to miss your mark. You don’t get that with a reactive ball.
Actually. I would like to see a video of brad and kyle playing a game of low ball. It helps build up those spare skills.
When they say "look at the 10 board" how far down the lane do we look? The arrows?
As someone who’s been bowling 2 handed for 3 years, I’ve found my best success throwing a plastic ball with no inserts, and focusing hard on getting as little revs as possible while trying to get as behind the ball as possible… even with a plastic ball, if I get around the ball at all, it just overreacts every time…
You would be benefited by practicing the 10 pin via second arrow or to the right when you have small centers that have the wall right next to the last board on the lane. Either that or you have to learn how to kick the wall consistently before the release
Think this is just what I need to see to become more consistent Dearing league thank you both and I subscribed. Hope some day I win one of y'all's giveaway. Now to the back of the line y'all given me a way to get my 7 pin with more confidence with the way you'll explain it thank you!!!
I use a plastic ball, go cross lane, and open up my wrist so I'm releasing the ball at the top. Goes pretty straight, so it's just a matter of hitting my spot, which is usually over the 5th arrow.
exactly my problem...over correction at release
I definitely needed help with hitting the 10 pin…I can’t keep holding my breath trying to throw it in between the gutter & board 2 😅 I need a safer way & more space (I hit it about 78% of the time just almost passed out 1 time from holding my breath)
Ok update since watching this video…I bowled my 1st 200 game in my leagues season! This video & the one about the lanes & adjusting really helped out! Thank you guys! 😅
Loving these videos
I rarely miss single pins anymore, once i started using the KISS system, but last league night, on my last game, i missed the 10 pin 3 times in a row, which was super weird. Still managed to get a 200+ game on it, but i could have been so much better.
I practice sometimes on hitting the 10 pin on 5 different places, like light on the left side, light on the right side (ball skids it and goes into gutter immediatly), full front, and medium left and medium right.
So when it comes to boards, that is like board 8, board 1, board 3, board 5 and board 2. I set up my camera to film it, to watch later. Also making notes on what board to hit on the arrow, and where my PN is. By doing this, you also learn where to stand when there is a split like 6,7,10 or 6,8,10 and what to hit to make that split. I don't do this just for 10 pins, but all single pins. But yeah, as a righthander, throwing on the right side of the lane, the 10 is the one i leave standing the most
You say you rarely miss single pins anymore and that's great. Here's a suggestion, though. Try actually keeping track of all your single pins and those made (or missed). If you are making 90% over a season, you may be tour ready. Our perceptions can be tricky, but a 90% rate over a long period is exceptionally good, even for the pros
@@kennethterrell7409 Thank you for your reply. And i actually already do keep track of all my spares. My best season was in 2022 where i had a single pin spare conversion of 88% over 456 games bowled. I keep track of not only single pins, but all spares. I started to do this back in 2017, and it has given me so much feedback
Ya bet. There are spares that we leave a lot (2-4-5 and the 3-6-10 come to mind) and can be tricky if you don't keep track of tendencies where we go wrong. League conditions today are easy enough that the ball reaction should be pretty consistent week-to-week. Did I jerk up at the line and pick the 2-4-5? Did I just make a bad shot? Did the ball slide too far cross-lane at the 3-6-10? You know what I'm talking about. Without knowing anything about our performance history, each spare shot is a guess. And practice. I used to practice just spares. Had the front desk set the machine to just load the 2-4-5 twenty times, for example.
And congrats on the 88%. That's getting pretty good. Maintain your concentration and try to get that north of 90% and you'll see your average go up 3-5 pins. @@gusk
I've never been to a bowling alley, and I've gone to several, that have a mechanism whereby the pin setter can set down only certain pins upon request. I asked a couple of the alley mechanics about that and they say the machines can't be programmed to set down only certain pins. What bowling alley does this? I may need to fly there for a few days just to practice spare shooting with certain configurations.
I'm throwing a rotogrip Hyped currently. Looking for a bigger ball. Hook, carry, etc. 189 avarage. Advice? Recommendations?
Can you have a video explaining the yo yo drill
I have found in many houses that if you move way left on the approach to shoot the 10 pin that it is more tacky on your slide and I see many bowlers stick on their slide and miss the 10 pin. I use the 15 board to be able to slide closer to the middle of the approach.
would have loved to bowl with you at Nationals, but just got back last week.
Thanks for helping
It is the dang ball return that gets in the way! When I am on the right side of the lane. It is so big it gets in the way of me moving far left. I am going to lean on it like you said to see if that works! Ugh!!
For years I've said 'if I can hit the pocket and make 7 pins (lefty), I could be a good house league bowler. Sounds so easy 🙂
Ive been making 10s for over 30 years more than missing,but when i moved my swing inside by slide foot from dropping arm straight in line with shoulder,i missed a lot. Now i tuck pinky,index finger tight to middle,ball low by my side and just swing it out to the edge through boards 20 and 25,less missed.
thats why i practice left hand to get the 10 pin with that hook or i put a reverse slider type spin so the ball swirves right instead of hook left
Can you guys help with older bowlers. I'm 55 and have a tough time with rev rate.
What is I am a lefty .when I shoot for a 7 pin . I put only 2 fingers in the ball my long finger and my thumb. Is that OK to stop the hook on the ball.
This was really good
Entered. Hope to win. Could use the night road and some coaching.
Their instructions are really helping me. Annette Jacobs
When I pick up my 7 pin I like to stand far to right and throw at my 2nd arrow. I make them most of the time but sometimes it’s tough for me to find the spot to stand because my ball doesnt make it over far enough I rarely throw it in the gutter. Is it better to stand more to the middle when picking them up? Should I throw my spare ball at? I normally throw my summit and let it curve to it
What board are you starting your throw at to consistently pick up the 10: pin
what an awesome video!
Better to get a lighter spare ball to increase speed for less hook? My old blue dot still wants to hook a few boards.
I have a very aggressive hook and the only way I could understand how to hit that 10 was being told to straighten my thumb because I have a tilt even when I'm getting in my stance and I just make sure my thumb isn't pointing to 10 o clock and instead bring it to 12. I lose a lot of power but my accuracy is good
For my strike ball I have both my index finger and pinky finger extended to sta " under the ball. For the 10 pin, I move all the way to the left, go just behind or on the center arrow, but most importantly, I stay standing up straighter and tuck my pinky in touching my ring finger. Pinky in is the trick for me.
is the hand position really matter when we're taking spares?
I think you guys should make a video on how to consistently throw the ball straight.
I’ve been shooting my tens how Brad demonstrated for awhile and have been pretty consistent doing so. But I’ve had multiple friends who just can’t throw the ball straight; they get stuck in muscle memory of throwing the ball with hook.
I have also found that following through with my arm straight up directly towards the ten pin helps tremendously in staying consistently accurate.
Why is it so difficult to throw the ball straight for some people? Seems easier to do that than a hook
I have the opposite problem, I can't hook it. :)
@@mikeforest8405it's a problem because 90% of your throws are with a hook if you are not a straight bowler. And then for that odd 10 pin miss you have to change everything including mechanics, foot position, target arrows and bowl straight for that one odd 10 pin.
I wish I’d seen this video two weeks ago. I’m a leftie beginner. Two weeks ago, I knocked down nine pins and left the ten pin six times in one game. I didn’t pick up any of those spares and finished with a score of 115 (my average).
I just bowled in a league game yesterday and bowled 5 frames, leaving a ten pin. I didn't get a single ten pin even though I got the other spares. It certainly messed with my head because I was in the pocket on all those shots, or at least I thought I was. Not getting that 10 pin gave me a final score of 125 when my average is 167.
Could people use the 3-6-9 positioning? I can throw with reactive or plastic at the ten pin and on Sundays I bowl 2 leagues at a time. (One sanctioned other unsanctioned) My “main” league I use my spare ball and the other league I do not. I Make about 85-90% both leagues by jumping left 9 boards, (3 boards per pin to the opposite side) small sight adjustment, and take my hand out of it. (little backup when throwing reactive.)
Great Content
Best thing I ever heard, especially with spares… if we had eyes in our shoulders, we would all be better bowlers. I don’t use a spare ball and I’m decent at flattening my hand to pick up spares because of that. When it comes to my spare shot , I try to think from my shoulder. I will literally hold my arm out in front of me pointing to the target when I set up on the approach to make sure my setup is decent. I’m not the best bowler, but my spare accuracy is much better just from that thought process. Hope this can help someone, especially if you are a straighter player or bowl straight shot
Imma high rev player most the time I do not own a urethane or plastic I use what ever I'm rolling with for my ten pin I break my wrist and go straight across the lane and never hooks on me but I also shoot my ten pin 23 to 25 mph depending how frustrated I am lol but have always done this and never fails unless I miss
Brilliant!!!!! Fun Guys
It's by far the easiest to approach from the left side of the lane and angle your shot to the right. The only thing that makes it a little tricky is the ball return being uncomfortably close on your left as you approach. I personally slow down my normal strike approach, as you don't need nearly as much power or finesse to just throw the ball straight. You just need to focus on your speed and having a smooth release right at the 10 pin. You only need enough speed to keep the ball from hooking back away from the pin. The only time I really miss a 10 pin is when it's a 100% mental mistake. Which can easily happen in a pressure situation.
What is the best way for me to learn to throw a curve ball in bowling
Good info…but what about throwing straight at the 7-pin?
Ty best tip more blessing 👍👍👍👍
Cool video talk tech bowling brad and Kyle
@@GolfNut10 oh ok
Thanks for the free giveaway to me Brad and Kyle
Just to add to what they said...I stand 35 and target 16 but my ball is further from my ankle than these guys so that's what works for me. If I target 23 I'm hitting the head pin square on, maybe slightly brooklyn. So it does depend on each bowlers swing and like Brad said, trial and error until you find what works for you
@@GolfNut10 yeah i received the same email but I ignored it. I'm a cyber security engineer so there were a few factors that raised red flags for me
As a right hander it is the 7 pin I have trouble with more than the 10 pin