SPARE SHOOTING TIPS! INSTANTLY UP YOUR AVERAGE!!!

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What's even more important than throwing your strikes is cleaning up your spares. Jungo and Barks give us the inside scoop on how to become an amazing spare shooter! Special thanks to Jimoo, Simoo, and Andie for showing us their spare game as well!
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[@Sexiraina1993]

“It doesn’t have to be Storm”. “YES IT DOES!”. I felt that in my bones. I only own Storms and when people offer me other balls I recoil like a vampire in the sun.

[@jmfoty4280]

Funny... My strike balls are all STORM, but I shoot spares with a Columbia 300 White Dot.

[@dovejoshua]

I had no idea hooking at a spare was frowned upon. Granted I just purchased my 1st ball ever and have used house balls for my entire life, but now I have something to work on to get my average up. Thanks guys!!! Oh and I have very accidentally picked up a 7-10 split as a young adult. I got angry and tried to punish the 10 pin. It bounced off the wall, across the lane and took out the 7. I stood there like...😮😮😮...😎😎😎

[@mathewsmith5713]

7-10 When i was 17. With 3 friends as my witness.

[@daltoncleveland3824]

Should’ve recorded it man, must’ve been an amazing experience to get it!

[@joshuab1707]

I bet it was. Every time I get a 7-10 split, I have one of my buddies record me attempting to spare it. Haven't made it yet but one of these days it's gonna happen and I'll have it on tape.

[@vrz2000]

so annoying honestly i’ve gotten one twice in the past couple sessuons

[@BillyDaGoat1017]

He’s lying

[@jarviscorbin5276]

7-10 when I was 15.

[@enigma8464]

i've spared the big 4 twice. I have seen my dad pick up the 7-10. On a completely non spare related note, my friend was shooting for 10 pins only on a full rack, he managed to do a shot where he hit only the 10 and ricochet of the back and hit the 7. only the 7 and 10 went down.

[@brandondriley]

I love watching bowlers hooking at their spares on short + tough patterns

[@nelsonpangilinan1116]

6-7-10 and 4-7-6-9-10 split.J.R your the best!!!

[@THAT_FLI_KIDD_]

Your videos are always the best guys! Been learning alot from the channel and appreciate the vids 🤌🏽🙏🏽

[@christinasch84]

I recently left a 45710 🤦‍♀️and made it. Havent thrown that ball since 😂

[@michaelplowman8674]

My last game I picked up a 4,7,8, 10 split. Closed every frame picking up 2 splits. Felt good.

[@FSUSean2112]

the 2-10 was really crazy but i got it, but going from the right to hit left and vice versa is really good thats what i do and alot of ppl do but my friend doesnt, i need to show him this vid, really good guys thanks. ill try that 4th arrow technique

[@FN24neon]

I have the Storm Mix as my only ball, and since I don't know how to hook properly yet, it's probably the only thing i'll need for a WHILE. That thing barely curves, just the way I like it, and the durable urethane surface makes it look shiny and new no matter in what condition your lane is in. This video was also extremely useful btw. Thanks for the tips!

[@dejabowler873]

2:04 God that gets me every time😂

[@igorhabljak3218]

Great tips for all level bowlers, especially for those under 190. Spares win games! Period. I have one tip for two-handers out there for getting better at spares. If you are a two-hander, and can not throw the ball straight (end over end), start practicing the backup ball. Take it easy at first, don't injure yourself, and in a short time practicing, you will get the feel for controlling the forward rotation of the ball. It is a good thing to practice it with the strike ball. Then you can start practicing straight release (also with the strike ball). When you master it, you will see that even the strike ball does not hook at all when you release it dead straight. Always throw the spare ball when competing, but practice often with the strike ball. I give these drills to all of my two-handed student's, and the spare percentage always show a large improvement. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the next video.

[@jrproshop]

Thanks Igor! Yea the two handers just naturally want to come around the ball, the end over end will definitely take some practice!

[@deathseekergibbsy]

I've noticed my spare game really improving over the last year. 5-7 I can convert quite consistently. I've managed 6-7-10. This year, the two I've been most proud of were a 3-7-10 conversion and a 6-7 conversion. I almost got the 4-6-7-10 conversion earlier this year, but could get to the side of the 6 enough for it to get near the four

[@brindinboi6826]

I've converted the 7-10 split 3 years ago during league. I didn't expect to get the conversion, so I threw my spare ball at the 10-pin, knew it was going to hit it, turned around, and was told I hit the 7-10 split from my teammates. Turning back around I saw both the pins were gone.

[@jrproshop]

Haha amazing

[@machinethesun9243]

I've only gotten a 7 10 spare once, and it was exactly the same as you!

[@seanwillis8483]

dash, what a great nickname. My favorite spares are between multiple pins. The ball is wider than it looks going down the lane. So on splits sometimes going up the middle can knockdown both sides.

[@williamturner1517]

Super. Excellent. Actually, very informative. The MENTAL game!

[@BlueJimmie48Fan]

This may sound weird but I am a lefty backup bowler (meaning that I throw left handed but I hook it from the right side of the lane). Spares have been a huge problem for me over the years, but this year I have been improving and now I average over 190 on a consistent basis. These tips are extremely helpful! If I can do it, so can you!

[@clowny2396]

Thanks guys. Great tips. I have a spreadsheet to keep my spare shots one. Unfortunately I keep making changes to it though. I'm getting closer and closer to aiming at the 34 foot mark on Brunswick lanes at the front tip of the range markers to hit most all the spares. This gets me to a little more than 50% down the lane with the ball to target at. So even if I'm a little off with my approach I'm likely better off at hitting my spare anyway. I'll keep working on this until I'm honed in... :) Keep the tips and great ball reviews coming. That Axiom Pearl is one hell of a ball...

[@jrproshop]

Thanks for the kind words again clowny!! Yea target whatever is most comfortable, one of our really good friends, great bowler, looks at the foul line.

[@polarbearchad5871]

I'm a lefty. This summer picked up the 4-6-10. Another week I picked up the 4-7-10 back to back

[@michaelplowman8674]

My past game I picked up a 6,7,8, 10 and am also a lefty. I picked up a 5-7 a couple of weeks earlier.

[@williekelty5601]

I'm a STORM guy as well, went to school with Timmy Mack. I have 3 Hammer Balls but they are Trophy's now... :( - Proton, Dual Lock, (GB 4) < great ball!!!, Wild Streak, IQ Tour Sapphire and Moe's space plastic piece.

[@Mikey-1990]

Took me a long time to break that habit of hooking spares. When I first joined a sport shot league from years being in a normal house shot league, I can't tell you how many seven pins and easy spares in general I missed hooking it. I would go practice ever week for months in the off season, and literally five games of just picking a target, and throwing straight balls the entire time. I went from a 180, to a 192 in our sport league from improving my spare game. Just having more confidence in my accuracy and not over thinking it.

[@jrproshop]

That's excellent! Perfect example of how important it is

[@kardss4924]

Thankyou I appreciate this a lot

[@joshuab1707]

My best spare was a 7-9. Love tapp e the 9 from the right side just enough to slide it over to the 7

[@oseano313]

Clicked for the pic.. Stayed for the very informative content!

[@TheGeniusHaileyPerlstein]

Big four!

[@OneMoreLP]

I've picked up the Greek Church and Big 4 one time each in my life.

[@gregnapier1181]

Greek Church twice. 7-9 is another very tough spare I picked up (bounced the 7 out of the pit into the 9).

[@tswej]

In league play you only get so many practice balls so I would alway shoot for corner pins on my 1st ball then go for the pocket with the second shot.

[@jmfoty4280]

First get lined up making sure you can carry the 7 and 10 pins. Then shoot 7s and 10s on your first ball. Practice 2-8s and 3-6-10s since they are relatively difficult and fairly common. Then throw your strike shot. Scores are meaningless during practice.

[@baze3SC]

You make excellent point at 4:24. Just knowing that I have half the lane to hit a single pin helped my game significantly. It's like "you can't be that useless, really". If I occasionally leave the 5 pin I simply imagine that all of them are there and proceed as normal. Having a system is definitely important. It removes uncertainty which is the source of tension and doubt.

[@matthewb.cheeley9612]

As a right hander I once made the greek church. But in a weird way I bounced the 6 pin off the ball and it slide in between the 4,7 and split them knocking them over.

[@ianelgar6472]

Big 4 baby!!!

[@mikeboglio1410]

7-10 a few months ago. 22+ mph at the 7 pin and got the bounce!

[@treyarico8140]

I loved this guy. He’s funny

[@JoeBrrFan]

Two favorite spares I have made 4-6 and 9-7.

[@StreetSmash24]

I'm a lefty(no thumb hole) and I throw backup at 4-7 spares. I don't throw straight though. I hook away from my body to the weak-side. This consistently works for me.

[@Ewigi]

These were great tips! My biggest problem is negative self talk and it has messed me up so much in the past. I will try my best to always think positively😁. Also, the craziest spare I made was the 8-10. I was in a tournament and I was actually meeting my now gf for the first time and kinda showed off for her lol. I threw my ball super hard at the 10 pin and smashed it into the pit and it then it bounced out and demolished the 8 pin. It was so cool haha.

[@jrproshop]

Haha amazing, must have been the spare that got the girl 😂😉

[@Ewigi]

Maybe 😂

[@marchellejohnson-king7816]

Made the 7-6-10 and have made the 2-10 a few times Thanks for the great spare shooting tip, now I plan on picking up the 4 pin consistently.

[@mikebrown5798]

Made the 7-10 once in non sanctioned Tourney just shooting at the 7 the pin came off the back and hit my ball and shot across the deck. Made the Big 4 in league by slicing 6 over to the 7 off the wall and took out the 4. Im 40 been bowling 20 years only once on both.

[@jrproshop]

Yea both are insanely rare

[@dawdlinghydra41]

i got a tzone spare ball it works perfectly my spare conversion average has gotten way better it goes perfectly straight at the pins and has a very small hook

[@TeaTimeTv69]

I picked up the 7-9-10 last night with dozens of people around. Definitely a crowd pleaser

[@matthewbissonnette2658]

Craziest spare I picked up was the big 4, 4-6-7-10. Pure dumb luck. Clipped inside the 4, sent it into the 7 and off the wall, came back across the lane to take out the 6 and 10. This was in practice with a buddy. Since then I've gotten 3/4 on that spare a couple times.. My Roto Grip Bullseye has been a godsend in my spare game. I've also used it as my strike ball in a long practice and put up a 223 game with it.. So it's staying in the bag for the foreseeable future.

[@athlonen]

One of the things our coach did to us in Collegiates because we were missing a lot of corner pins, was that before we could go home for the night (our practice night was Mondays at 10pm at a 40-lane house), we were all to start on lane 1, and take the 7 and the 10 ONLY off the rack. If we did that, we went to lane 2 and did the same thing. If we took anything else off with the 7 and 10, we stayed on that lane and tried again. Wash/rinse/repeat from lane 1 to lane 40. After we finished on lane 40, we could go home. A couple of us (who are now lady pros) got done in 35 minutes. I took about an hour. A LOT of others on the team didn't get out of there until around 1:30am or later, keeping in mind that we still had class the following day. We missed no more than 10 corner pins for the rest of that season.

[@frankdelplato5997]

Picked the 4-6 split for the first time last season.

[@nevinkinzel]

When I got back into bowling, my roommate made a comment to me "You're the only person I know that can say 'damn it' or '$hit' or something almost every frame and still break 200." It's all thanks to picking up spares to keep that score going! :-D Best spares picked up are probably the 4-7-10 (lefty) and big 4.

[@ChitownSneakerGeek]

I hit a 4-7-10 spare last night.

[@DaytonGems3]

Converted the Greek Church once, 2-8-10 once, multiple 6-7-10s, a couple of 4-7-10s, but mostly 2-4-10s, 2-10s, and 4-10s

[@jonbennett1624]

4-10 was my coolest split. I pulled it and almost missed the 4 pin but I was so lucky

[@scxtter8738]

I’ve made the 4 - 10 and the 6- 7 as a Right handed 1 hander

[@Dan-oi4kt]

4-7-10 split 6-10-7 split Have got both several times

[@Cobra_427]

I've been hooking my Turbo R at spares, been doing that for years, might try a house ball for spares next session, its the closest to a spare ball I can get without buying one being both are plastic, so I feel I might be able to get an idea of how plastic goes down the lane, don't have a huge understanding of bowling balls though so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not even close

[@jameshart5493]

I've picked up the Greek church going for 3

[@Cdcd4393]

9-7 probably my craziest spare picking up.

[@louwebb8253]

Made the big four a few times the Greek church 3 times never the 7-10 by itself but left the 4-7-10 missed the 4 hit the 7 bounced off the back and nipped the 10 to knock it down

[@mig3872]

5-7-9. It was so cool.

[@helix9089]

O O O O hardest spare Ive made

[@user-jk1eh2tn4s]

In junior high I made the 7 10 split. And I picked it up with a urethane bowling ball. And that was in a tournament.

[@dragoon1205]

I use the black gold and silver tzone as my spare.

[@imshred6273]

my most crazy spare was a 7,4,10,3 hit it yesterday in reno

[@atrout114]

I’m a 1 handed bowler but my craziest spare was probably making the 3-4-6-7-10 while bowling 2 handed.

[@peteg475]

I understand going for count, but on any 2-pin spare, wouldn't you almost always try to convert it? If you miss you're still getting the one pin anyway, usually. I can see just making sure you get the one for count on a parallel split, like a 4-6 or 8-10.

[@ianandersen265]

With splits involving the 2 pin, the margin of error is higher. As such, there is less to worry about when going for the split. Also, even if you do hit the 2 pin solid, bounce outs can and do happen, unless your bowling ball speed is weak.

[@NicholasPickolaus]

Craziest spare had to be that 10 pin I got yesterday

[@allenthomas914]

Last tournament I bowled in I missed 11 single pin spares in 6 games 7 of them were 1o pins and yes I have a plastic ball just not good at all my ball tends to go in the gutter alot when u shooting at corner pins especially

[@chef35700]

5-7-10 split is the best one I picked up

[@Slo2Roll]

What do you think about using a lighter spare ball? Also good to have a wierd design so not to confuse it with your strike ball.

[@jrproshop]

Hmm we usually advise against that as different weight will change your timing in your swing

[@chrissimpson7770]

4-10 to save a 277 game in my 857 series in June

[@jrproshop]

So sick

[@feddyvonwigglestein3481]

I somehow converted a 4-7-9-10 once. One of my teammate, a veteran bowler who's seen it all, said it was the only time he'd ever seen it converted. Granted, it's not left much. But still, incredibly lucky.

[@zlabreche10]

Hit a 7-9 in league last shot of the last game with everyone watching 😂

[@davidk2137]

My positive self talk is mostly "this strike or this spare is easy", and I believe it! That thought relaxes me and I bowl my best shot. The results nearly always add a bunch of points to my game. Forget the last shot and just set up and execute your best shot. You are going to do it so don't worry and stroke that good shot.

[@edwh164]

Last fall I picked up a 6,7,10 in league play. Twice I have picked up the 7,9.

[@mikebrown5798]

I'm guilty of hooking at the 4 and 7 as a righty but don't ever remember missing one in a long long time. I don't hook the whole lane but only use spare ball on the 5, 6, 9,10.

[@jrproshop]

Are you bowling at different houses and different oil conditions ?

[@mikebrown5798]

@@jrproshop not in league at the moment but practice I do. It's never been an issue but eventually I'd like to practice throwing straight at it straight.

[@JR-hy2mq]

I have an ebonite tornado I have been using for my spares and just let the ball curve right into them. I have a regular plastic ball I think a Columbia 300 for spares but just can’t get the accuracy down. I guess I will have to take time and just practice a lot with it. I can get majority of the spares around 90% of the time unless it’s the 10 as I have to curve the ball and have it hold on the 1-3 board which is hard and not consistent for me.

[@Jarrid313]

i picked up a 7-10 in state like in 2007

[@TheEhodge]

I’ve actually converted the Big 4. It sucked because I threw the shot and turned away out of frustration. It wasn’t until I turned around just in time to see the last pins fall and the animation in the monitor that I actually knew what happened. Wish I hadn’t given up in it.

[@smg7244]

Me when i picked the 7/10 dude i chucked my spare ball so hard at the 10 it apparently bounced from the back and hit the 7 off of the ball and i was half way to the door to go smoke a cig bc that was the 3 pocket 7/10 i never say i made it untill i came back and checked my score and got told

[@brianmercure9558]

I once made a 4-9 that caused someone to have to do 100 push up. I was trying to convince a teammate to let me help improve his overall bowling, as he would miss a lot of spares due to bad technique. Part of the deal was he do 10 push ups for every miss, kept saying "no". One night, I leave a 4-9, he says if you make that spare, I will start to take your advice and do push ups. I step up on the lane, find my target, release onto said target five minutes later he's in the pro shop doing push ups. He had 7 or 8 opens that night.

[@jrproshop]

Haha amazing

[@mikebrown5798]

Nice!! I Left that the other night on a pretty good shot. Hadn't seen that leave in awile.

[@georgepipito2802]

When I throw the curve ball do I throw it like my strike ball?

[@EnzOrtiz]

I hit a 6-7-10 spare last week. My gf was definitely impressed lol

[@jasonsmith3537]

Craziest spare I ever made?? 4-6 split on lane 1 .I was on lane 2. MY SPARE was 1-3-6 and I'm a lefty. We were playing around with trying to hook across the lane from one end and all the way back and I fired an 8lb house ball across lane....when it hit the gutter it found a break in the gutter where the pieces weren't lined up and jumped into the lane next to me and wiped out the baby split from the person on that lane. I was never thanked.

[@epeng271970]

Big 4

[@rowanian4197]

Have no hash marks down lanes... kills me takes away a tool to line up with an help read to oil pattern. JUNGO'S BACK with POSITIVITY!!!

[@jrproshop]

Hahaha positivity baby !!

[@GlennFeldmann-cc6km]

The 7 10 split in duck pins.

[@CaliHunnid]

I bought a mix but for my spares I need a little hook it's just to straight for bowling league

[@Buddy69Love]

I picked up 7-10 split by luck. 🙏 I'm a righty and was trying to pick up the 7 pin. I pulled the ball too far to the left and thought the ball would go into the gutter but the ball just nip the 7 pin which roll across the lane and knock down the 10 pin. 🙏🙏🙏

[@whoaandreww]

4-9-10, I couldn't believe I left it, and I somehow I was able to skin the 4 into the 9 and 10

[@angrywally4087]

I still have a few inconsistencies with my spares even with your tips because I tend to pull the ball.

[@wormatemasterjedi251]

I picked up an 8-10 split with a Back-up ball

[@tylerneal5390]

I bought a black yellow and blue spiral viz a ball from brunswick. i dont know why but on the edges of the yellow stripes the color is turning orange is that normal did i store it in the wrong way or is it a production problem?

[@jrproshop]

Haven’t seen that happen before. I’d take it into your pro shop and have them take a look at it. If it’s a production issue, it may be covered by warranty

[@lildumpling3108]

How would you shoot straight at a five pin?

[@markklemens3319]

4, 7-10 split pickup

[@yakstreamtv495]

You guys using 15 or 16 lb balls I've recently picked the sport back up an im trying to decide on sum new balls

[@jrproshop]

Commented !

[@qball7820]

I have made 7-10 once in league and once not, also 6-7, and an 8-9 right between the pins!

[@ianandersen265]

I have to strongly agree with you. In my hometown, it drives me nuts, to see so many league bowlers try to hook at their spares. To make things worse, we have 2 bowlers in our league team who do exactly that. The negative impact on their spare game, especially the 10 pin, is glaring! I told them polyester and straighter is greater, but they don't listen, and they just don't care. Best I can do, is set a better example, and hope they repent of their spare hooking ways. The only times you absolutely need hook on your spare, is when you're taking out the 3-6-7-10, and the 2-8-10 (reverse hook on the latter). In the documentary Pin Gods, I saw Walter Ray Williams Jr criticize one of the bowlers, for hooking at his spares way too much! The reality is, most bowlers are league bowlers, and have zero interest of going pro, even if they are scratch bowlers at home. Hooking at spares is all fine and dandy on a house shot, but when you get to the pro patterns, you need to be damn sure you know the lane conditions, before you even consider hooking at your spare. If you don't make your makeable spares you have no chance of success at the PBA.

[@Yalikejazz_69]

6:47 😂😂😂

[@angrywally4087]

I have a Hard time Hitting my Mark Consistently to pick up my spares, I had Difficulties with Accuracy and How I can Hit my Mark consistently

[@mattjjaz8477]

Converted 7-10 and 2-8-10 this year. I’ve never seen so many salty old man bowlers when I converted the 7-10 😂

[@duce5hpt]

7-9 and 6-7-10 spare in the same game 😱

[@alecedgeworth2814]

Craziest spare for me was in warm up 2 weeks ago for league. I hit a 4-6-7-10 and still have no clue how I did it. Lol

[@bowlingxp8345]

Nice video. Just a correction. The pin is 4.75 inches at its widest, not 3 inches. (2.75 at the base, but the base is irrelevant of course)

[@jrproshop]

Thanks for the correction! Even more room to make spares!! Lol

[@bowlingxp8345]

@@jrproshop True haha ! :)

[@BARBELLS-AND-BUDS]

What do you think of the Radical Spy or the Black Widow VisABall as sure balls?

[@jrproshop]

Those are both ok. They hook a little on really dry lanes, but they will go straight enough to make spares when needed

[@BARBELLS-AND-BUDS]

@@jrproshop S just bought a Spy. Thanks for the reply!

[@lildumpling3108]

Which spareball goes the straightest?

[@jrproshop]

The Columbia 300 Blue Dot and the Brunswick Crown Jewel have an extra additive in the coverstock to make them go extra straight, so I’d definitely recommend one of those!

[@adamlee5504]

Made the big 4 and Greek church back to back frames on different lanes. Probably should have bowled better to avoid leaving them in the first place.