Bowling Spare Shooting 101. How to Make Your Spares Like the Pros!

📣 FREE Spare Shooting Guide: bit.ly/FREESpa...
🎬 Join our NEW Online Community - Backstage Bowling!
🗣 Talk to the coaches every day and receive instant feedback about your game.
➡️ LINK: BackstageBowlin...
✅ SAVE $20 on an Annual Subscription with CODE: SAVE20
• Shannon O'Keefe is a two-time Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Player of the Year & a five-time Collegiate Coach of the Year at McKendree University. She is also a member of the Hammer pro staff.
• Follow the PWBA at PWBA.COM.
• Follow McKendree University Women's Bowling at MCKBearcats.com.
• Check out Hammer's products at Hammerbowling.com
• In this learn to bowl video, Coach Shannon teaches you how to pick up spares while bowling. Use her simple method to raise your average.
• Check back weekly for more informative tips to help you bowl better on Tuesdays & Thursdays from the coaches at Backstage Bowling.
► Subscribe to our channel here: bit.ly/IBSubsc...
🎳 SUPPORT US! Save 15% on our Merch at InsideBowling.com with code: KZbin
► Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook.
📸 / insidebowling
➡️ / insidebowling
✅ / insidebowling
Special thanks to the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas for providing the venue for us to shoot this video. We highly recommend the South Point Hotel & Casino when you visit Las Vegas!
Business or Media, please contact us at:
[e-mail]

[@insidebowling]

Do you have a spare system? Tell us what works for you!

[@AKUSUXs]

3-6-9 system for 35+ years. I still use my strike ball for "center" deck (1,2,3,5,8,9 combinations) spares and sleepers. I'm left handed and a couple of years ago went to plastic ball for 4,7 6-10 and 2,4,7 spares. My spare percentage went way up. I also believe that plastic balls can deflect on sleepers so using a strike ball is better for those vs plastic.

[@mskita007]

@@pa28cfi 🤣 Some of us aren’t THAT great.

[@mskita007]

@@pa28cfi 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jimmarr1487]

Learned "the" spare system from Bill Taylor, the 'guru of bowling'. It's so simple you will say "that's stupid, it can't work". . . . know your strike target, for pins left on the left - 2, 4, 7 - 'double' the pin number, move that many boards to the right, and shoot your strike target. Pins on the right - 3, 6, 10 - 'equal' the pin number, move that many boards to the left, and shoot your strike target. Years after I refined this system another howler, in her nastiest voice, blurted out to me, "Well, you never miss a spare." Try it.

[@tonyguerrier2258]

@@jimmarr1487not completely following you. Is there a web site or video explaining Taylor's system?. I couldn't find it.

[@CommishTV]

Missing 10-pin spares especially has been killing my games lately. Looking forward to trying out the center arrow approach you demonstrated so clearly!

[@atchafalaya2835]

Very well explained. You kept it simple. I am a retired educator after listening to you I understand what to do. This is good teaching.

[@demetriusjohnson7189]

Great advice, Shannon! Ten pins spares are so rewarding when u make them cuz it keeps your score moving. Nothing worse than missing it when you’re working on a string of strikes or need that spare in the 10th frame to win a game. I will definitely practice using the tips you gave us.

[@ch33syp00fs]

I’m a not so heavy of a spinner type, and my father taught me to use a 3, 5, 7 board slide for spares. Works super easy for a regular bowler who isn’t cranking up the spin and may not have a spare ball. Whatever your strike ball setup is, keep that line up. Depending on the pin location away from the head pin, move 3, 5, or 7 boards away. If the pins are on the right side of the head pin, move left and vice versa. The 3 pin would be 3 boards to the left, 6 pin would be 5 boards, etc. This way you’re still throwing at the same reference mark as your strike ball. Granted, right handers may still have a hard time with the 10 pin, lefties with the 7 pin, but this works for most spares.

[@tnmando]

I used this idea today and it made a huge difference. I kept leaving the 10 pin, but finally had a method of aiming that worked. Picked up the 10 consistently (3 of 3) and feel much more confident in how to approach spares.

[@joshuawhite4850]

This video has helped my game tremendously. I purchased a plastic ball and rarely miss ten/seven pins anymore during league.

[@hankgolfer1]

Thank you Shannon, for the great bowling tip of using the middle arrow to work the spares. I am awful at picking up the spares, all over the lane. This video, I know will definitely improve my spare shooting. Thank you again for an excellent video.

[@voranet]

I like your voice and simple theory. Thank you for your Easy-to-understand explanation. 10P(F35) 7P(F22) 3*6P(F36) 2*4*5P(F26)

[@doctorrobert60]

Being old(school) loved the tips of shooting off the center arrow. I know that some of the R handed Pros shoot the 7 pin from left side of lane hard and straight right at the pin. I feel more secure using center of lane as this great video illustrates. This is real bonus having McKendree University coach and PWBA star Shannon O'Keefe coaching us!

[@DavidHoughtaling]

Qq- looks like she is basically using a plastic ball for all of her spares. So this system would be best I believe with a straight plastic ball right?

[@alfredoball-llovera8609]

Also, do you use same “weight” ball for everything?

[@markhawkins5324]

Thanks. I never thought of the middle arrow as a guide.

[@mpaji750]

I already bowled several games without an open frame after watching and applying this spare system. Very easy to follow tutorial. Pretty much basic geometry and the other execution. thank you, thank you.

[@jimclark3486]

Great tips, I do alot of this, I just need to get consistent in my ball placement

[@youarebeingfooled]

for any shape that doesnt have one of these pins: 3,6,9,10 its easiest to just throw the strike ball with the same hook you need to get to the pocket, but maybe slightly modified. rolling it slower to make it go further left. I like to throw a backup ball with an extremely light plastic ball (9lbs) for any pattern that shapes right. Plastic balls can actually have nasty hooks/rolls on them if you throw them at 5-8 mph. So I can roll that thing straight up the 2nd arrow in from the left with a backup curve extremely slowly to hit those right hand pins. Having this skill is also greatly beneficial to many multi-pin splits that most right handers find difficult. I have hit many 4+10, 8+10, 5+10, 1+2+4+10, etc with this backup ball curve with ease while it takes huge talent and a little bit of luck to do it with a standard straight throw. The extremely light ball allows me to bounce the ball off of a pin to deflect it into another pin, and it also minimizes wrist strain from the backup curve motion. However, it does not provide any help for that pesky 7+10, you still need a miracle for that, so plowing straight at one of them aiming for the side to hope it bounces off the wall still seems to be the best option.

[@TheMao999]

Thanks for the advice, only a question in 10 shot do you shot straight always? Or hook a little bit. Thanks !!!!❤hello From Bogotá, Colombia.

[@johnpenny257]

Best spare video ever. Thanks so much.

[@markholland8953]

Nicely done, yet again, Shannon! The only problem I have is the ten pin on the right lane. I'm on the hefty side and the fourth arrow is a bit too far left for me to keep the ball on line to the ten. I do quite well using the third arrow though. Same adjustment system as you recommend, work around the same target to find the best starting position. Simply reiterates an old saying, "Keep It Simple!" Thanks!

[@gmohler]

Excellent video I use this system since I was 8 years old and now I'm 63

[@crazywoman13121]

Thanks!

[@donaldwilliams1437]

Great tip, I’m changing my system. Great place to start.

[@trae1965]

Thank you so much for this awesomely simple spare system-brava, brava!

[@ObjectiveEthics]

Thank you for posting this very helpful video! I am planning on giving this system a try next practice session.

[@livinb450]

We all need to learn to roll a strait rolling shot, that we trust, so we don’t have to fit our hook in. Best tip that helped me rolling the ball strait with accuracy is to, at address, hold the ball with a loose wrist, and keep my thumb pointing parallel to the shot through the entire approach. At release, thumb pointing at the shot and fingers at 5 and 7 o’clock. The ball rolls end over end. Then if I use plastic, any unintended side spin won’t grab the lane. Lastly, use the middle for targeting to have the best angle, chances at keeping on the lane and to be in the oil pattern as long as possible to kill any reaction on the ball.

[@brianpreston4121]

Thank you very much. Getting back into league bowling. Been 20 years.

[@twheele77]

Great tip. Time to go get to work

[@NWPencrawler]

Love this. Will give it a try. I have a spare system thats similar but always looking to simplify and improve.

[@carolerkila6525]

I sometimes get the tenpin but most of the time I miss most of the time and also the 7 pin and 365 spare here

[@chriswellisley6163]

Thank you for the advice! I have been struggling badly on my 10 pin and can’t wait to go to bowling to try this!

[@Mityob67]

Huge tip for this new bowler, makes so much sense. Thank you!

[@MyLameAnimations]

Excellent explanation and demonstration. Simple, short and sweet. Thank you.

[@insidebowling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andybowlin2385]

This is great im going to start doing this! Thanks Shannon

[@edwh164]

This really makes a lot of sense, please tell me how to shoot a straight ball. For some reason, especially throwing out my tenpin my ball still wants to hook slightly, even if I try to throw it straight.

[@DanArr1]

Great system and video. Visual of the line thru the middle arrow helped.

[@flutterbydragonfly]

Great tips! Thank you. 😊

[@kevtlee08]

This makes sense. The 10 pin is my kryptonite and this looks simple and easy to practice. Gonna give it a shot.

[@curiousmaster1970]

@1:49 I'm Learning How to do that too.

[@jrooney58]

Great video. For years I have shot spares off of my strike line (using my strike ball for all but the ten pin) and employing variant of the 3-6-9 rule. But every now and then I would find myself getting into trouble and was looking to find a system that would take the lane conditions out of play for the spares.

[@beyondsportswithpaulandjer1295]

How do you shoot at the 3-9?

[@jasminduncanson2520]

I'll need all the help I can get since I just joined a league

[@aztgspecops6738]

This was needed so much! Converting spares are really hard for me and would like to button that down and convert them more than I am now. Sadly when I have a good shot the pesky 7 and 10 pins are the bane of my existence. Cant wait for my second ball so I can practice with a proper setup than using a house ball

[@tonysfamilytalk]

Thank you Shannon! That's a great tip!!

[@patrickgarber2606]

Please keep the tips coming

[@DGV_Tips]

Nice video! Whether you shoot them straight or use something like 3-6-9, I think the important thing is to have a system, not just “wing it”. Also, and this is more of an advanced thing as you know, but ideally you want to hit the corner pins on the inside (as you did, of course!)...outside and you risk falling into the gutter.

[@joehoenig7596]

Great vid, Shannon! I do have a few questions: First, I noticed that although you spoke of using the middle/4th arrow as your visual target, on both your 10 pin and 7 pin shots, your ball appeared to be slightly left of the 4th arrow (10pin) and slightly right of the 4th arrow (7 pin). Since you obviously converted both of those spares, would you agree that the goal is not to nail the 4th arrow dead center all the time, but that it's more of a reference point? Second, I noticed that on your 7 pin conversion, while you definitely converted it, your ball hit more of the right side of the pin. When we are attempting to convert spares and solidifying our spare shooting system and skills, and especially when we are using a plastic or rubber spare ball (in my case, lol!), should we care how flush we hit the object pin, and tweak our system until we can hit it flush, or does that not matter, because after all, we hit it and that means our targeting system works? Third, although you didn't mention it, as the bowler determines which board to stand on for which spare, should the bowler make a note of those board numbers for future and faster reference, or should the bowler simply repeat the process of visually drawing a line from object pin through 4th arrow to wherever the bowler feels comfortable standing--as you demonstrated--on each and every shot? Thanks again, Joe

[@MotoCentric]

VERY GOOD INFO THANK YOU

[@Scalp269]

Awesome !!!! Thank you !!!

[@LuisNapoles]

Great tips for spares ! I’m def going to incorporate this into my practice session !

[@elr2141979]

Same here

[@thejaben]

You have also great tips Luis. Love from Holland.

[@clarkydm]

My 10 pin shooting is my bane, when it goes cold it's ice cold. Can cost me 30 to 50 pins a night.

[@lt8473]

Thank god I needed this

[@mreid08]

If and when I can bowl again this will be the first thing I do!!

[@stevekeller3643]

Shannon, Thanks for the tips from a lousy spare shooter. As a lefty, I shoot the 7 pin as you describe but still have problems. Do you walk straight on the approach or walk toward your target (4th arrow) ? Thank you.

[@mikelambrecht7267]

Thank you this is just wlhat i needed

[@delhume2691]

Great help!!!

[@rickwaas8276]

For any spare other than a 7 pin or a 10 pin, do you use plastic or your strike ball? Thank you.

[@insidebowling]

That can depend on the individual spare. Most of the time Shannon will use plastic to pick up all single pins and most other spares, excluding those that include double wood. Thanks for the question and for watching our videos, we appreciate it!

[@bhartissimo]

Thanks, Shannon.

[@MasterGunz84]

Great tip! Thanks you!!! 🙏🏼😊🙏🏼

[@insidebowling]

You are so welcome!

[@brettnordling2417]

Will this technique work with hooking the ball too using your strike ball or just for the plastic dead spare ball?

[@Samuel-xs2yv]

From what I've been coached you should take the hook out of the corner pin on your dominate side. So 10 pin for righties and 7 pin for lefties should be dead ball.

[@shirikaragach1641]

Hi Shannon thanks for the great tip! I would like to know on which board do you start the approach towards the ten pin? It wasn't clear in the video.

[@AverageLeagueHack]

We don't all have an identical approach. Some drift more than others so there will be some variance. I like straight lines so I walk parallel to my launch angle. 1:05 The line is about 26 and at foul line. I slide at +7 to my launch board so I would slide to 33 but there can be variance there as well. Depends on your form. A consistent target is a good strategy. How we get there tends to have variance. Launch at 26 hit the middle arrow and adjust until its right. This does require minimal ball reaction which for me means plastic if you can flatten your reactive that will work too.

[@livinb450]

The point is to draw the line over what you are aiming for to the corner pin. The pin and that arrow or board you aim for puts you on “your” correct spot, unique to your ball motion. She doesn’t elaborate on it, but going over the center arrow makes the ball push down the lane and react later, keeping it a straiter shot.

[@elgenfranord1651]

Im gonna try this

[@phillipvazquez284]

That's brilliant

[@coreyhartman9521]

Wut is da contraption on ur hand used for?

[@FurdgeBJJ]

Is a brace needed?

[@Deadbolthead]

I noticed on the 10 pin you still put a little hand in it. I just started using a spare ball and it was suggested to keep my hand under the ball and follow through upwards. It doesn’t feel right. I think I’m going to try to finesse it a little like you did. I feel like I have better touch that way. Thanks for the tip! I owe you one.

[@Panon1]

I use a Brunswick Rhino and a wrist support for staying behind the ball. I shoot most spares straight but have a problem throwing perfectly straight without some spin that curves just enough to miss. Any tips other than getting a second ball? PaulL

[@michaeladler2604]

I use Rhino und T Zone Plastik Spareball.

[@kamesanj0]

Watching this on a Tuesday 3 years later.

[@frankschmidt3960]

Do you recommend a plastic straight ball for all spares for the typical league bowler?

[@insidebowling]

Definitely straighter is greater for bowlers at all levels. On a house shot for league bowlers it may be more important because of the amount of dry there is on the outside parts of the lanes which can make corner pins tricky.

[@knightrdrx]

@@insidebowling how do you feel about hooking a straight ball with a flat wrist vs. flattening the wrist and going thumb up?

[@rayxtwo]

Practicing the 7 and 10 pins like this was something Dick Weber told me to do 50 years ago.

[@insidebowling]

That's some great advice form one of the greats!!

[@jasonissel217]

well with my urethane I am really great at picking up the 9 pins, some epic fails on the 10, I am getting my plastic ball drilled next week, done with hooking spears, ooo soo easy the pros claim. I was at a tournament once with a long pattern and nothing hooked, I went on practiced and got an ally ball for my spears.

[@jdwfenton]

I'm gonna try this . I can't tell you how many games I've messed up because of missed 7 or 10 spares.

[@abro9598]

You are so fine! Thank you!

[@robertbacon4265]

I'm going to give it try, but it's harder for me doing left side

[@Ironfangzu]

This is far and away the best that I've even seen Shannon O'Keefe look. In competitions she not only has her hair drawn back, but it seems that she always goes with heavy eye makeup that gives her a sort of "Wicked Witch of the West" look. Another factor is that during competition she is very intense and there's almost a permanent scowl or frown to her face. I've never see her as she is here, relaxed, hair down, and wearing light make-up. She looks YEARS younger and 300% more pleasant to look at. Oh, and BTW, nice video and very sound advice, lol.

[@animalchild9893]

Bruh, pretty rude to critique someone's looks...

[@crazywoman13121]

I love watching Shannon. She is so graceful.Her finish position is like ballet!

[@VIN-7567]

As a 10 pin challenged individual. I have resorted to using backup ball on 10 pin….. no it doesn’t work. Looks like all I needed to do was aim at the center arrow.

[@cosmicwolf94]

i find my throws on single pin shots always to the right of the pin.

[@jhawkdon]

Good advice here. You mention drawing a line but how does it translate to where you should stand on the approach?

[@markholland8953]

It varies from bowler to bowler, but you're looking for that line to come back to where your arm will swing. For your foot position, figure out how "wide" you are. One way is to position your slide foot on a specific board, assume your finish position, then lower the ball to the floor. That difference will give you a pretty good starting point for your feet.

[@BillyDaGoat1017]

I suck at 10 pins because my hook But I spare a 7 ALL DAY. How do I get it down the lane with going into the gutter 😕

[@insidebowling]

If you don’t already have one, we’d recommend getting a plastic ball to use for your 10 pin spares shots and some other right side spare shots. A plastic ball wouldn’t hook away as much and may give you more room for error. For watching and good luck on the lanes!!

[@FJBsaidcornpop]

Nice pick up on that spare😅

[@zz449944]

I see a lot of bowlers that refuse to bowl straight when attempting spares -- they use their regular hook technique. It always looks like a lot of extra effort being exerted. It makes my thumb and wrist hurt just watching.

[@MelDevlin-t1h]

I'm pretty good at sparing them up most of the time. 10 pin no problem, 7 pin pure luck. My husband is the opposite reverse. We're in a bowling league

[@jeananne4527]

So, you throw a curved ball when throwing your "Strike" ball but you throw a straight ball when you go for the strike.

[@allenthomas914]

When I try this my ball usually goes in the gutter I even went to buy a plastic ball smh I avg 178 mainly because I can't constantly hit the dang 10 pin

[@ObjectiveEthics]

One thing you might try is lofting the ball further down the lane. This takes some spin off the ball because of the energy that is displaced when the ball makes contact with the lane.

[@allenthomas914]

@@ObjectiveEthics I try to loft it I finally got a plastic ball and it still hooks alot at least at our lanes we bowl at

[@ObjectiveEthics]

@@allenthomas914 I feel your pain brother! When I was only 181 avg bowler it was because I couldn't strike enough. My spare game was (and still is) excellent. I know your pro shop won't recommend my technique but I promise it works for people like you and me who throw a natural hook into evert shot. Plastic ball or house ball (also plastic) doesn't matter. So what I changed was the weight of my spare ball. I throw my spare ball 2lb less than my strike ball. This allows me to get enough speed into my shot to 'straighten' (throw faster ball has less time to hook) out my shot. Best of luck to you brother 🎳

[@robert_b9251]

In a nutshell - use center arrow and just move feet .? Thanks - my spare game been bad

[@davidseeburger8448]

Sure would like to try this out. However our Governor in Michigan will not allow bowling alleys to open.

[@michaelhurley3171]

Is she the world's cutest bowler or what 🥰

[@austinjd2193]

2nd. Danielle is superior

[@oginaz]

Her husband is the luckiest guy in the world. He totally got the better end of the deal with her. He’s not an attractive fellow at all.

[@decodameta4]

Daria Pajak

[@rhuffstedtler]

Probably the dumbest question ever, but when you are doing your approach shooting across at an angle to pick up the spares, do you approach the foul line straight on and throw at an angle, or is your entire approach at an angle. I couldn’t tell from the video.

[@livinb450]

You approach should be parallel to the target you are shooting at, always. You don’t stay perpendicular to the foul line and somehow throw a shot at a different angle.

[@rhuffstedtler]

@@livinb450 ok that makes sense (assuming you meant perpendicular rather than parallel), and matches what I’ve been doing. Although I don’t know that I’m as consistent in being square to the perpendicular as I need to be.

[@generosociccone6611]

This girl is to be married. Explaining complex things in a simple way is not for everyone.

[@insidebowling]

☺

[@AV8R_1]

So your system is pretty much just "aim for the pin... roll it over the center dot, but still pretty much just aim for the pin." Good system...

[@haydenknowlton22]

Another tip watch where your foot is getting put out

[@emanuelgiria2506]

Why do u put black masking tape on your hand and knees

[@SCRATCHONEMORE]

Step 1: Have a spare ball Step 2: See step 1

[@insidebowling]

Well said!!

[@jhonviel7381]

i need a lesson on how to ignore people walking into my field of view while throwing.

[@linda1lee2]

Horse blinders!

[@WillieYankees]

7i I

[@williekelty5601]

So throw a plastic not reactive...;)

[@stompingpeak2043]

Don't matter. Just don't hook it and release the ball with no hand. The most aggressive ball will go just as straight as plastic

[@SCRATCHONEMORE]

@@stompingpeak2043 Cap

[@100kJake]

Great advice

[@michaelstusiak5902]

Love this tip. Thanks