Where to Move to Pick Up More Single Pin Spares
One of the challenges many bowlers have is knowing where to move or how to adjust to pick up spares. Here is a big hint.
Want to pick up more spares? Of course you do, all bowlers want to pick up more spares. Picking up your spares can make all the difference between a good game and a great game.
Once you have figured out where you stand for your strike ball and what mark you are hitting to hit your strike, there is a rule of thumb to where to move to pick up your spares.
It doesn’t matter what board you are standing on or what mark you are shooting at to hit your strike, to pick up your single pin spares, this rule of thumb will apply no matter what shot you are using.
It’s a simple rule of thumb for a number of reasons, the biggest being it applies to everyone, it’s all based on what board you stand on and what mark you are aiming for to hit your strike ball.
For example, if you are a right handed bowler and you find that to throw a strike ball you are standing on the 20 board aiming at the 10 mark (image 1, red line) or you are a right handed bowler standing on the 23 board aiming at the 15 mark to hit that pocket strike ball (image 1, white line), it all applies. (left handed bowlers, simply reverse it).
Image 1
Picking Up The 7 Pin Spare
Let start with the 7 pin spare. What would you do to pick up the 7 pin? With this rule of thumb, it’s easy to adjust. Move 7 boards right while keeping your same mark.
Again, this rule is true no matter what board you stand on to hit your strike ball.
To pick up the 7 pin, the person who started on the 20 board aiming at the 10 mark to hit a perfect pocket strike ball simply moved 7 boards right to the 13 board, keeping their same 10 mark. (image 2, red line)
The person who started on the 23 board aiming at the 15 mark to hit a perfect pocket strike ball simply moves 7 boards right to the 16 board, keeping their same 15 mark. (image 2, white line)
Try it! It works! Change nothing but where you stand. Keep the same mark, keep the same shot.
Image 2
Picking Up Your Single Pin Spare Shots
Here is the complete chart that will help you pick up more spares!
| Remaining Spare Pin | Board Adjustment |
|---|---|
| 1 Pin | Strike Ball |
| 2 Pin | 2 or 3 Boards Right |
| 3 Pin | Strike Ball |
| 4 Pin | 4 Boards to the Right |
| 5 Pin | Strike Ball |
| 6 Pin | 10 Pin Shot or 6 Boards Left |
| 7 Pin | 7 or 8 Boards Right |
| 8 Pin | 2 Boards Right |
| 9 Pin | 1 Board Left |
| 10 Pin | Whatever works |
Notice there is a pattern to help you remember this. All these adjustments (with the exception of the 8, 9 and 10 pins spare), you simply move the number of boards of the spare pin you left.
i.e.: You leave the 4 pin, you move 4 boards, leave the 6 pin, you move 6 boards. (Whether the adjustment is to the right or left will become obvious.)
We hope this will help simplify your bowling game and help you pick up more spares! Good luck!
Stay focused, go bowling! That’s how we roll!
