If You Keep Missing Your Spares, You Need To Watch This

PBA Pro Darren Tang breaks down his system for picking up commonly left spares, including feet position, targeting, and alignment.
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[@BillyDaGoat1017]

“When you miss it, you’re actually missing by more than you think” is so Darren lmao!!!

[@scotthoward6070]

I would add that on a ten pin you can miss by a lot, but you can cut your miss area in half if you miss poorly in one direction. It seems to me that the pros miss 10 pins more on the left side than the right. It would be interesting to find out for sure.

[@BillyDaGoat1017]

@@scotthoward6070 interesting perspective

[@bhartissimo]

Thanks, Darren. I use a 3-6-9 system, shooting through board 20 at the arrows. It generally works as long as I hit the target (board 20). But you're given me some options to try out for specific spares. And I definitely have to try what you suggested for washouts and splits.

[@theking7657]

Took me a while to learn how to flatten my wrist and have been struggling with being consistent. This is gonna help a ton . Thank Darren !

[@drwisdom1]

This is one of Mr. Tang's best videos. I like how he moved fast through the spares providing guidance. This video makes Nelson Burton's "Rolaids Tip of the Week" look third grade level. One thing Mr. Tang should have emphasized was if you are on a league, missing single pin spares is a crime against your team, it doesn't just wreck your game. On our team if you miss a single pin spare you have to add money to the strike poker pot and get ridiculed. Single pin spares are too easy to make, so if you don't then you need to watch this video.

[@drsudz]

I like your fines! We have a couple of teammates who just don't pay attention to anything that is going on. They never know who is ahead or by how much, they are too busy chatting with friends, (they actually have their non-bowling friends sit down at the table) The worst thing is, they'll lose focus, throw the ball and get a single pin - usually the 7, then rush back to the screen to see whether or not they were on a spare! And if we remind them before they shoot that they're on a spare, omg... For bonus points, guess what gender these two are?

[@drwisdom1]

@@drsudz Hmm, on our team we don't need to check. We are always on a spare, strike, or double. Sounds like your team has a case of distracted bowling.

[@Hank-Bubba]

​@drwisdom1 yep...

[@40beretta1]

this vid is going into that bowling save bag for sure. I wish you had shown how you set your feet before approaching. I really liked how you made the point of getting the points. If you have three pins, at least pick up two...

[@cspmg]

Probably one of the best videos you've ever done, Darren. Also, great camerawork and editing, as always. Always supporting the entire House, but DTang's stuff is just a cut above. Love to see all the guys getting subs and support now.

[@CamTate]

Definitely watching before league tonight

[@tg2great916]

Good luck

[@justinbenefiel]

Same for me today tonight as well.

[@alexfisher2002]

Thanks for showing the 3-6-9-10. I’ve left that way too much recently and have struggled to pick it up.

[@ksjlb2612]

If nobody has said it yet, thank you so much for making this type of video! I have been contemplating using the straight system for spare shooting even though I rarely see anything but a house shot. On top of that, in the last few years age has made my game decline so I needed something to be more competitive. Since I haven't had much practice time, I only break out the straight game for anything shy of the 3-6-10 combination when I feel there is no other option. Luckily I guessed right last night and nailed the 2-10. Keep making a few of these videos for those of us who really want to hear it from those who really depend on it.

[@Barbara-sl7qw]

New bowler of one year, and I was approaching spare shots about 2 mph slower than strike shots thinking this increased concentration (or something). Tried, “hard and straight” with phenomenal success, and tyvm. 😊

[@kenhill6408]

Wow! You just explained how I was taught to pick up spares 50 years ago, right down to the 2.5 boards left or right, and make it hit the pin twice on the way down. My teammates look at me like I am nuts when I tell them that is what they should be doing. It is a bit harder to explain now since we have those damn white lanes without all of the board lines. I have even been told that I throw too straight at the pins. I am right-handed, and during warmups before the league, I try to pick off just the 10 and then just the 7 to get my mind straight before we start bowling. Thanks for making this old man feel vindicated for those who seem to think area bowling is the thing to do on spares.

[@TheJudge317]

Honestly have been waiting for a video like this and can say thank you. Def gave some some good insight on how to pick up more spares.

[@spyghetti]

DTang always brings the best explanation and tips.. a lot of great pros with channels but Darren is one of the best imo.

[@pebbleschan6085]

Since corner pins are essentially accessible from one side, I loft the gutter with great success! 🎉

[@TheAmazingBendini]

Excellent! Was looking for a detailed breakdown of set up and target on every main leave and this is it!

[@SlothPlayingGames]

This video came right on time. I missed my first single pin of the season, open KZbin when I got home and this is the first video that was recommended to me

[@SteveSierigk]

I generally look at pins for spares but tried your system with great success in today's league play...thanks for getting me out of my old ways!

[@jeffmarkham5769]

Great information! I really like hearing your tips and techniques to help all be be better. Thank you.

[@christopherandreassen9456]

I'm new to the game as a casual bowler with pro-bowls and I love the difference! I've been watching close to everything you do. My goals for this year is to do an average 150 and curve the shit out of the bowls🤣 keep it up!!!

[@RUSure2449]

Great video. One point that seems inconsistent to me. If hooking at 2-8, is advantageous then I think that hooking at 3-6 - 9-10, would have a nearly equivalent advantage.

[@anthonyhart7878]

I always attribute parallaxing to having a cross dominant eye. Right handed with a left-eye dominance or visa versa

[@spyghetti]

I knew about this from putting in golf but it translates a lot in all sports, I didn't think about it in bowling.. the epiphany moment was tennis and contact point from forehand to backhand which eye sees the ball first on either side. Definitely helpful to consider especially considering what you are talking about having cross dominant eye and not realizing it in bowling (ie. being right handed with a left dominant or vise-versa, it's quite common).

[@SpeedDemon7165]

Great tips you are giving me Darren, I started watching your channel for a while now, and I like your advice, it helps me a lot

[@thomasboyd6242]

I’ve been using the 3-6-9 system and it’s helped a lot except the 10 pin. I think it’s mental on it

[@sabrialquza9024]

Im a lefty and I will defintely try this, now makes everything seem alot easier thank you Nice video

[@eric_howell]

Nice video. I'm a 175 avg. And I miss too many spares. I bowl tonight. Hopefully I can put some of this in place.

[@wallele3910]

This video helped me so much!!! Thanks Darren!!!

[@daverosinski3663]

I hate 10 pins, but the 2-8 is my real nemesis. Thanks for showing the best way to pick up all of these.

[@die7fox]

Great advice all around! I hook at the 2-8, too. I've never been able to pick it up going straight at it. Frankie Lavoie taught me to stand farther left (as a right-hander) to pick up the washout. I stand on 35 and roll the ball over 5th arrow. If I hit my mark on the lane, the head pin kicks out nicely and takes out the 10 while the ball takes care of the rest.

[@remington1439]

17:03 dang brother’ great shot.

[@timblankemeyer9290]

What about a 2-4-5 or the bucket? I've had more success still going hard and straight on those. But is hooking it better?

[@KobeRon-nin]

A big Thank you Darren!!👍🏻🎳 Great tips indeed! ❤❤❤

[@XxFrankieBxX]

Great information. I'm incorporating this into my practice today! 😊

[@MrGilfred]

I had a system for shooting spares and I based it off of some of the touring pros methods for picking spares. Although I went a little on my own with the ten pin spares because to make the adjustments for oily lanes that the ball would go into the gutter if I shot it from the center arrow all of the time It would be hard for me to make the correct adjustments to hit the ten pin almost every time. That is why I would shot the ten from somewhere between the middle third arrow on the left to the middle of the third arrow on the right. The whole point of my ten pin spares was I would want to hit the ten pin left of the center of the pin drawing a line based on how oily the lane was to whatever spot on the lane I wanted the ball to roll over at the arrows. Also knowing my ball wasn't a big hook ball to start with. I did about the same for the seven pin wanting to hit it with the ball to the right of the center of the pin. I was pretty accurate at hitting both corner pins. as far as the other spares goes like I said I used the tips that touring pros gave at the time to be able to spare the rest of the pins that I left and it made me a better spare shooter. If I needed the ball to go straight and the lanes were dry. I would use Marshal Holman's type of straight ball because I wouldn't need a lot of strength to pull it off. I would intentionally top the ball which makes it an inefficient roll thus killing the hook.

[@gregoryNallison]

Hey Darren, you journal while bowling as do I. You take notes and draw diagrams on plain white or lined paper ? Looking for a journal book designed for bowlers to keep notes. Any suggestions? Also like to see a video built around how journals can help those bowlers how could benefit from this process and routine. Thanks Greg Allison

[@edwh164]

Can you explain what you do with your hand to get the reactive ball to go straight?

[@caleb8078]

Could you cover a video on shooting spares such as the 10 as a two hander as i feel like its more tricky? great video though and very insightful!!!

[@seanboogie10]

When shooting a spare, do you still get your hand underneath the ball, the way you would when hooking the ball?

[@bigd8812]

Spare shooting is the foundation of bowling great. You can get a 200 score with 2 strikes and all your spares made.

[@N8Som]

Is your 2handed spare system different than 1?

[@engineered_4u115]

Thank you Darren! I will definitely try this…

[@RLA1983]

would you throw plastic for spares, as a 2 finger no thumb bowler?

[@gearwhine787B]

Great video man. I’ve been watching you for some time and you have fantastic content. I have learned to throw it straight and that is huge for me when shooting at 7 pins(lefty one handed) After watching this video I feel I will throw more spares straight! I need to practice more lol

[@lonestarpatriot876]

I really struggle with spares. I believe it is because the mechanics of my release change when I shoot spares. I use the same system as shown in the video. If I leave a spare, it is a 10 pin 90% of the time. I am generally in the pocket. I call myself an "all or nothing" bowler. I can string strikes and bowl great games. I also can leave a lot of 10 pins, miss them, and bowl terrible games.

[@480_royster]

need to watch this right before i play

[@michaelprince1914]

Should’ve a plastic ball be better for straight up for picking up spares?

[@legit_midget6476]

What about the bucket, 2-4-5, or 2-4-8 for right handers?

[@brigham2250]

I'm a righty and have no problem with my spares except for the 10-pin. I stand about six inches back from the approach dots that are next to the ball return on board 35. I aim my spare ball right over 15 at the arrows. Bullseye... WHEN I hit my target. Too many times, and I don't know why I do it, I don't get my shoulders facing towards the 10 pin and while my eyes are looking at 15 my ball goes more down the middle of the lane because I didn't turn my body towards the pin. Now, somedays, I have no problem doing it right and I'm completely in sync with myself. Other days, I'm just not operating correctly, and my aim is really bad and my shoulders don't turn. I don't know why this happens. I can tell you what it feels like though. It is like when you have a dream and you're trying to turn but you just can't do it. If you know what I'm talking about, that is what it is like and I feel helpless when it hits me. I want to turn towards the pin, but I can't. Maybe it's in my head that I can't. I don't know. And again, other days... no problem picking up the 10-pin.

[@msts3325]

That's 20 boards from where you're starting to your target. That's a lot and probably why you pull the ball left. Do you finish in the same spot or do you sometimes drift right?

[@brigham2250]

@@msts3325 - I start at 35 and move towards the right as I approach the foul line. It is a perfect trajectory/line to the ten pin. The problem is me and facing my shoulders in the correct direction. I'm inconsistent in my aim. Somedays I just about can't miss and somedays that's about all I can do. I notice when I don't think about it too much, I hit it more often. If I start talking to myself not to miss it and overthinking it, the result is usually a miss. The more I tell myself not to keep my shoulders straight with the lane, the more my shoulders don't want to turn. Weird how our minds work.

[@vaeaeaeaentastic1641]

@@brigham2250 If everything is performed right, I don't have to direct my shoulders. They get directed automatically. First things come to my mind, which influence the direction of my shoulders: - bad angle of my pendulum: backswing to the left or right makes my shoulders trying to compensate for the wrong direction of the force automatically by turning left or right) - bad timing: early release makes me turn left to hopefully prevent a gutter. Late release makes me turning right, trying to avoid throwing too far to the left) Additionally: -bad angle + bad timing might end up in straight shoulders but wrong aim That being said: The more I fear the rightside gutter, the more my shoulders get locked to the left. But the source of the problem is not the fear. It's my pushaway. My pendulum is based more on the orientation of the boards, than on the direction of my approach. Maybe you unconsciously don't adjust the angle of your pushaway enough to match the trajectory of your approach. You could experiment with your pushaway by exaggerating the angle by a lot and observe how it changes, which way your shoulders face at release. If your pushaway doesn't lead to a straight pendulum, your shoulders will change their direction - unless your shoulder joints are really flexible (unlike mine). The more crooked the pendulum is, the harder it gets to perform consistently. Your body trying to maintain a stable stand on release, while forcing a crooked swing into a somewhat right direction, may lock your shoulders to a certain direction. And that could result in the dream like feeling you describe. On bad days it's either a lack of speed in my approach or pendulum. They don't match up. And when I concentrate on these issues, my shoulderpositioning and aiming gets better on its own.

[@BryxnLive]

All of you keep hating on tang. You do realize views drop every year until wintertime right.

[@leoec1]

My balls always like to hook before it gets to a corner pin.. would straightening out my wrist on release help? I see other people going for corner pins with a lot of revs on the ball so idk what they are doing different to not have the ball hook at the end

[@briandaniel9434]

Probably using a plastic ball for spares. That's what I do.

[@pezboy715]

11:12 My best guess as to the name “PBA washout” is that the angle of entry and power needed to leave that specific spare is far more likely for a pro than for an amateur. Just my guess, though.

[@TheRealGamerJR]

this is so helpful for a 12 year old bowler like me thank you darren!!

[@echoplaysgt]

0:36 wth is the guy in the back doing lol

[@project1216]

swing drills forgot if its called that but its used for opening up the body when u swing

[@thesprinklerguy2598]

I bowled 4 games today and only got 1 spare.. 27 strikes though lmao. I just couldn't adjust for the dry lane as I'm still really new and not even a month in... appreciate the tips

[@okla289]

Hi darren can you teach us how to flatten the wrist to spare as a two hander? Its much harder, thanks

[@JayCeeEff786]

I love you Darren (Your channel of course)

[@XCRiders]

Spares are of “sacred importance

[@stragi]

i keep missing all my spares, so i am watching this video.

[@mustangmagik]

Great video! Gonna try to get the team to watch this one.

[@dman7213]

Wow gave your Dad props on spare shooting

[@crissyrey404]

As a very green bowler; What do the numbers mean?? Can we have a novice breakdown video, thanks! 😊

[@breathedeeep]

The real challenge, I think, for people is that they don’t walk up consistently. The more different your line and approach from your normal strike ball, the worse this gets. That’s why for most casual bowlers, I think throwing off your strike line is way better than going hard plastic straight at everything. This is also why the 10 pin is the hardest single. Because you CAN’T do it that way.

[@ThomasBrewer-k9u]

What type ball are you using and how is it drilled ?

[@marcoschavez173]

Looks like an optimum idol pearl. Regardless of layout, his wrist is so flat that hes able to make the ball go as close to straight as humanly possible.

[@srellessemaj]

@@marcoschavez173definitely NOT the Optimum Idol pearl. It’s just the original Optimum Idol

[@XCRiders]

Super important 👍🏼

[@michaelprince1914]

I like the fact that he admits that he’s not perfect.

[@br4dy1998]

my problem with the 10 pin is i cant consistently and accurately flatten out my hand so half the time at the last second it will have the tiniest hook and just skim past it

[@br4dy1998]

made this comment before u said anything about flattening your hand out

[@SirGenesis206]

Working on the same issue

[@73Harbor21]

Thank you for these tips. 👍

[@ckcx918]

This just reconfirmed the need for a spare ball as a two hander lmao

[@KwonYoungForever]

I wanted to know what's the difference in overseas balls? Example: attention star vs attention spot

[@jazzscott4604]

I'm a 2 hander, and I don't see having a plastic ball as I'm losing a slot in my bag. Because I've learned to use it in extreme cases as a strike ball

[@brandonsmith6460]

8:06 my dad taught me the same bro.

[@lockedonlaw]

It's easier to pick up double wood by hooking the ball. It's the one exception I make to your system.

[@metrobandit69]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5fTeJ6dnL-Zn7s He literally says to hook at double wood

[@lockedonlaw]

@@metrobandit69 At the 2-8. I also hook at the 3-6-9-10 or any other double wood. Darren did not. I'm not saying he's wrong. I'm saying I personally have more success hooking at double wood on either side.

[@metrobandit69]

@@lockedonlaw Gotcha, I have not heard of double wood being used for anything more than two pins lined up. I personally hook at the 3-6-9-10 as well

[@user-fc3vp5so1m]

You got me confused. I'm a beginner so Am I supposed to count each. line?

[@j6s0n]

I wished I had watched this before I had gone to league.

[@your_eulogy2688]

Most popular pin to leave is the 10? I always leave the 7...what am I doing wrong? Or...what am I doing right? 😉

[@HungDinh-m4s]

What about 2 handed bowlers?

[@youngfleshlight5859]

He said get a plastic, watch the vid before commenting

[@banwan22]

Give the board stand to hit which arrow or board for which pin to hit pls!

[@rousefire]

On the ten pin. Youre walking straight down the left of the approach toward the 7 pin and throwing across the lane. Do you twist your body at the end?. You are not walking toward the ten.

[@631strongislandkid]

What is the arm tape for?

[@shytaq]

how do i not hit the ball return when im standing that far left

[@penaej]

2-4-5 straight. Hook at the bucket but that’s just me.

[@drsudz]

Are you going to make Black Oak this year?? *fingers crossed*

[@chrismarsden6633]

Or you can do what I do and grab a plastic house ball and bowl it straight. Doesn't work on crazy splits but I'll take a ~90% spare rate all day

[@Jewlrunner]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@nxthao08]

Forget spares, what's the pole the guy behind you is using! I need one to stretch!

[@timothybrooks5921]

I'm more interested in how you are able to throw a reactive that straight.

[@joecoppola3974]

Thats my problem im good most of the time with any spare accept the corner ones and i realize especially the right corner spares sometimes i miss and throw it wide and goes up the middle instead and left shots i miss sometimes as well but thats my weak spot as a lefty but im not too bad with the left

[@JusticeExplorer]

Used the spare system you've used for 2 years and for some reason it never worked, switched to only looking straight at the pin and almost doubled my single pin conversion ;-; Idk whats wrong with me

[@natrixxvision6997]

Interesting that you move CLOSER to the pin to shoot left side spares.

[@mikeheinrich1853]

How do throw it straight without the ball hooking???

[@mjheggie2]

Great video, appreciated!!

[@BillyDaGoat1017]

Averaging 198…because I’m inconsistent with 10s

[@kidgraz9139]

Was watching the lesson in the background lol

[@timothytan2018]

My problem is I don't know what my wrist is gonna do. I could be aiming for my 10 pin, standing around 35, and my wrist decides it wants to go straight and goes the complete wrong direction

[@poltergeistskateteam]

If that's the case you might have to think about changing to a ball weight you can properly control.

[@phlllbthh]

I always do better with my spares when I lift free weights. Low weight (15lb) with high reps (40). It can also help strengthen your wrists. Another exercise would be taking a dowel rod with a cord attached and some sort of weight. You twist the rod until the cord is completely wrapped around it. That can make a huge difference. Good luck!

[@rcajun91405]

When are they gonna do videos for left handed bowlers, even though we are a rarity, we still might need some help now and again????

[@aaronlakanen4041]

Well done

[@skinniestjeans]

Bro shooting a video with Alex Gurkov in the background

[@bruinsrulz]

I heard you should line up the pin, make an imaginary line through the middle arrow and throw the ball through that line.

[@rcrichman6066]

What if whole game is either strike or split?

[@juanitawatson596]

What's that on your arm?

[@rishiaman2288]

0:37 uk he is a retired goat if he does this (guy in the back)