Should You Be Using a Plastic Ball For Spares? -

[@bowldog1]

Love that advice....especially for the players in the 170-210 range. Continuity of shot making between strike and spare ball is so important to this level of player.

[@tbone0303]

Adding the spy to my arsenal was one of the best things I've done. Great for spares and love the ability to use it once everything has burned up up the 7 board and still strikes hard. Have mine sanded up to 2k just for a little more surface for the houses I bowl in

[@jfabritz]

I've stopped using a plastic ball for spares and used my reactive up the back with a bias to create a slight backup ball. I use an IT and didn't want to have to keep switching the thumb between balls during play. Also, being able to master the up-the-back roll brings more versatility to my game, and the best way to practice is with my reactive ball. It is easy to see when my roll is off when it hooks past the end of the oil. Wearing out the ball prematurely is the least of my worries.

[@reubenhandel210]

I use a house 6 pounder for certain spairs. Especially splits. I want the hook and use the ball to hit both pins in the split instead of hitting the pins into each other

[@johnsunn1256]

I use my Brunswick Twist as a spare. Stays straight as long as i keep my speed up or my Strike ball with 3 6 9 method.

[@denmanfite3156]

I learned the break points for various common spares I encounter. Staying consistent with getting my ball to square up at the gutter to clean up a 10 pin is probably the hardest thing to stay solid with but that's a consistency problem not a "is it possible" problem.

[@EviLNox8]

I got a storm mix for my spare ball. Should I have gotten a plastic instead?

[@jimnewton5904]

when I use plastic spare ball I throw with yo yo release to improve my accuracy with that release you see the revs but no motion on the ball

[@jmfoty4280]

I have found that flattening out my hand with my polyester ball is even better than using my strike ball release with the polyester ball. Why? Because I am better at hitting my target when I don't turn my hand at release. My consistency has increased significantly. I never pull the polyester ball any longer. I've gone from 85% converting spares to over 90%. That is worth the change. I use the polyester ball for all spares except for double wood. Using the polyester ball for most spares also increases the number of games I can bowl with my strike ball before it needs replacing.

[@jvmiller1995]

I have finally learned this game does not care how big a hook is. I use to play the outsides a lot and have that big angle. I started really working on keeping that elbow tucked in and my arm rotated so my hand is flat and coming up the back of the ball in a forward roll. I can keep it inside the 10 to 15 depending and straighten up my game. I get more ball speed because the ball is rolling towards the pins and not to the left. But much like you I noticed my aim is way more consistent when I throw like that. I don't open my shoulder and push it right or pull the ball as bad. I still play both ways depending on how they are falling, but it made a huge difference in my average. was 170 not over 190 and still rising. I have had 2 700's in the last week. I also hang less 10 pins when I keep the ball in the oil and flatten it out. I have got decent at taking some of the angle out I am considering getting a weaker urethane ball for my corner pins. I just got back into it this fall after laying out a good 15 years. The more versatile you can be the better bowler you become. I am even teaching my self how to loft the ball some when the lanes are over hooking. I have also learned there is no such thing as to many bowling balls.

[@jmfoty4280]

@@jvmiller1995 congrats! Keep it up. Soon you may be ready for a scratch league.

[@jvmiller1995]

@@jmfoty4280 Thank you. I man I still have off games but changing anything that gives me more consistency is key to improving my average. A huge hook looks gorgeous when they hit. But leaving a makeable spare when they don't hit is key. I love Norm Duke. He under stands the game more than most. I am not to far from being able to hold my own a scratch league.

[@BARBELLS-AND-BUDS]

Is the spy going to hook if I'm throwing two-handed at it towards 7 or 10 pin?

[@charlesgerlach7059]

i have been using a plastic ball for 30 yrs or more, made me a much better spare shooter

[@mbberry135]

I am so happy I had a chance to buy and use a rubber 16lb spare bowl. P.S. it sounds like heaven going down the lane. I can get that to hook too.

[@kevinquick4844]

I have tried everything. I use the ball necessary for what's in front of me. It took me a bit but I rarely miss a corner pin working with my spy. I still flatten my hand a little with it due to the fact that lane conditions will change whether it has has a slight hook. I throw it at everything that does not have the head pin or a sleeper in it. Generally if I have the head pin I throw a variation of my strike ball. If it has a sleeper I may still throw the spy out there with a more aggressive hand position and a more active hand at release. I've thrown a 212 using nothing but the spy ball. If you don't have it get it. It's a great ball. Definitely the most used ball in my bag. I only throw radical balls and I have all of them since the zing pearl. It's not the best ball radical makes as far as show, but if you wanna win that dough it will get thrown many times a game while you switch out your strike ball adjusting for lane conditions and the transition. The spy took me from a 140 to a 180 overnight. Once I got it dialed in to my style I rarely throw anything else at spares.

[@justmakingthistoreply5085]

Just added the spy for my house shot. The house shot we have is very over under. I think I need a CAS to help me out. The Pearl I have screams off the spot and over hooks even with a super weak layout.

[@jameslemons7304]

I also picked up The Spy for spares/dry lanes because of the Incognito core (everything else I have is Motiv currently). I resisted getting a proper spare ball the past 3 yrs and finally did. It jumped my Avg over 20 pins. Also, something not mentioned in the video, Plastic balls are better for finding your PAP, and I have found when I am releasing the ball poorly, using The Spy slows me down and helps get me back to proper form. I love dual purpose of the Spy, have it sanded down, probably around 1000 at this time. It's amazing to throw The Spy up the 5 to 8, and watch is scoot over to the pocket, not sure how else to explain the way it never really turns like a normal ball yet it makes it into the pocket somehow, and the pin action is absurd. I throw 14#, and the pin action and sound The Spy makes is reminiscent of a 15# ball. I've not needed to use The Spy in competition due to extremely dry lanes, though I'm really anticipating the day I need to and seeing others wondering how I can hit so hard with a Polyester ball.

[@FrankKachinski]

I want to buy a SPY to shoot 10 pins. What layout should I have drilled? Clearly I shouldn't use any of the standard layouts because I don't want any flair or hook. I want it to skid on the same track the entire length of the lane and take its rotational energy with it off the back of the lane. Does this mean I should have it drilled with the Pin right at my PAP?

[@FrankKachinski]

I think I mean to say: *Should the pin be 180 degrees from my PAP, to act as negative side weight, and to get the weight block flat to eliminate flare. Or should the pin be 90 degrees from my PAP to stand the weight block up to eliminate flare and maximize RG?

[@remoevans2233]

Get a Columbia Blue Dot, layout irrelevant, practice and watch the spare conversion % increase dramatically.

[@FrankKachinski]

@@remoevans2233 I have an old circle rio now and it’s mostly fine. But, I feel like if it had a core and I could put a no flare layout on it, and it would hold even straighter.

[@remoevans2233]

Pancake core with high tensile polyester coverstock on the blue dot will guarantee straight and very little deflection compared to all other poly spare balls.

[@dougbelanger8655]

I have used my plastic dice for years. I don't plan one changing any time soon.

[@alexwhitt4731]

I bowl in a house that anything past 8 is like the Sahara desert. I love to keep my shot in front of me. Not saying I can't get the ball out but. I'm not as consistent. Advice?? It's a 40 foot pattern. About 17 mils of oil and nothing past 8.

[@auzzie4435]

I find that my Strike ball my ball that hooks. I bowled better spares with that than I do with my plastic bowl that doesn’t hook. Personally, I pick up more seven pins with hooking ball than I do with my plastic ball and I’m a lefty.

[@elr2141979]

I always bring Urethane and a plastic ball when ever I go bowling 🎳

[@nelsonpangilinan1116]

Is the radical spy a plastic ball? Will this Crack easily?

[@TRAXRIPPER]

1st frame 1st game... Wiffed the 10 pin. Got over it & moved on. At the end of the night finished up with.... 799! So it cost me the 800 by a stick! Buried every ball in the pocket and carried my hits! Man I was lit! Now my high series since is 853 @255 300 298 but it never goes away, the thought of that wiff! I just had to learn how to apply it as a lesson I was taught that I earned as a gift instead of teaching me that lesson over and over getting whipped! You can rip the cover off catching breaks at the flip but there will always be a time when you flop with a miss! It can be a useful tool or I could Let it have no use and have it drive me a fool! I figured it's better to learn how to swim then just sink and drown in the pool! I would rather learn then be right is the way that Mo taught his class of all schools! I'm now 44 but I still abide by his rules! Please continue with his legacy! It is my food and my fuel! I'm an AMF mechanic who will apply some skilled Pro Brunswick staffed tools! If nothing else that makes me for certain a Certified and one hell of a RADICAL DUDE! Moe now knows that I was Larry & also Curly! You can never be too late when you the only one who's early! T RyaN Amrhein. Big N & little n The eNd! RIP Moe! And I dont mean Rest In Peace I mean RIP THE COVER OFF THE BALL! YA SPIN BISCUIT!

[@jvmiller1995]

I hate to admit this but I been bowling 25 plus years and have never owned a plastic ball. I have a 8 ball arsenal at the moment. I did a have a ball league this summer and was going to get me a weaker ball like a hustle. (sorry storm products only) But I finally missed one to many 10 pins. So my bowling center had the new belmo spare ball and I tonight I grabbed it up. I really hope my spare game improves. I have never been so serious until this year. I think in 12 month I have drilled like 11 balls. LOL But I have also never scored so good either. I got my first 300 this year and my second one 6 weeks later on a sport shot even. I have came to the conclusion that strikes are easy and they will happen but what you do with the second ball when you miss is what makes the game. My ten pin is about 60% at the moment. That is 4 out of 10 times I miss it with my strike ball at the ten pin. I don't know why people like me insist on having so many reactive balls and no plastic. Hell I have gave away 3 or 4 balls this year alone. I think this is great advice.

[@atbsigma]

AA was good in these chats. Hopefully Ronnie Russell fills in admirably going forward.

[@bowlnow824]

Use plastic at all my spares besides double wood. I use my reactive or whatever I am rolling for my first ball and flatten out my hand.

[@ScottyThompson-lt7wl]

Cool video talk tech bowling ball radical

[@jmfoty4280]

Rolling a plastic ball it will go faster naturally because plastic doesn't grip the lane as much and spare shots often are in the heavier oil in the center part of the lane. I always average about one mph more on my spare shots without attempting to roll the ball faster.

[@sportsfntc]

I don't change speeds for spares. I just throw the ball as straight as possible. That said, I'm considering a plastic ball for spares just to eliminate a few factors.

[@jvmiller1995]

Depends on the spare for me. I straighten out and throw a bit faster if on my right side but if I left a 4 or seven I will knock a couple MPH off the ball to get some extra turn. Most the time I can cover pretty good with my strike ball but I do intend to get a weak urethane or plastic soon. I only purchased like 8 balls since August but I got a good arsenal set up now. I thinking hard about a urethane because you can still use it on a short pattern or a dryer burned up one. Only bad thing is they create a lot more carry down so they tend to piss some people off when you use them.

[@thebragg]

Another is spare for cash and strike for flash

[@MikeDCWeld]

I do use a plastic ball for my spares. I also use them for strikes.

[@byronfranek2706]

I tell my customers to buy a cheap plastic spare ball to reduce the wear and tear on their expensive reactive balls.

[@kevinmcmahon8647]

The spy is the ultimate asshole ball, I love mine, and see great potential to destroy my opponents line in practice

[@Jason_P]

Why is this still a question??? Throw the ball STRAIGHT AT ALL SPARES. If you can throw a resin ball straight, great. If not, get a plastic ball. DONE.

[@Cdcd4393]

3 months later Andrew goes to Motiv

[@mukskinkinakter6057]

watch Norm Duke shoot spares with reactive.

[@remoevans2233]

If the average league bowler had Norm’s talent they wouldn’t have many spares to worry about. 😆

[@remoevans2233]

Spares = Columbia Blue Dot for 30+ years.

[@dalepelot8477]

I haven’t used plastic since the 1970s and have no intention of using garbage balls ever again. Plastic should be banned.

[@MikeDCWeld]

Why? Plastic balls are a cheap option for people that want or need their own custom drilled ball, but aren't looking for performance beyond that of a house ball yet. I have done relatively well with the two plastic balls I own and am only just preparing to purchase my first higher-end ball.