Picking Up Spares

Bowling Tips Index:

Bowling Terminology and The Lane

Bowling Etiquette

Keeping Score

Perfect Strike

Spot Bowling

Four Step Approach

Picking Up Spares

Developing Better Accuracy

Adjusting to Lane Conditions

Mental Game

Picking Up Spares:
Right Hand Bowler
Left handers should reverse the techniques.

Making all your spares is the fastest way to increase your scores. Best of all its easy to accomplish. All you need to do is determine which target or position to hit to make the spare, line up at the proper spot on the approach, and aim for the correct target. Don't sweat it, we will show you how!

Since you are already familiar with The Lane and the fact that all Ten-Pin Lanes follow this basic standard, you're ready to read on.

Hundreds of spare combinations exist. However you only need to throw several different kinds of shots to make almost any spare combination.
The First Step would be to determine the Key Pin Position. The # 1, 4, and 6 pins are the most common Key Pins. Since most leaves will be best made by aiming for the position of those pins. However, other pins can be used as the Key Pin Position.
The Next Step is to move left or right of where you line up for a strike shot.
For a leave to the Left of the Head Pin move your stance position right three boards at a time.
For a leave to the Right of the Head Pin move your stance left 3 boards at a time.
When shooting for the # 1 or the 5 you should stay in your strike position without moving left or right.
For an example if you are shooting at the # 7 pin you should be standing just left of the 2nd dot from center on the right. If you're shooting for the # 10 pin you should be standing between the last two dots on the left side.
Unlike a strike shot, your shoulders do not have to be square with the foul line. It's a good idea to set the angle of your shoulders in the direction of the target.
Even though your shoulders may be propositioned at an angle, you should continue to walk straight toward the foul line during your approach.