This is a huge helpful lesson video. Fall League is over and I'm going to spend a lot of time focusing on improving my spare shooting this summer, thanks for the video elise
Nice video Elise. I have been shooting straight at my spares for a few years now and everything you say is valid. I will be directing folks to this video when they ask about making spares. 👍
This is a great video. Elise is good at breaking things down to make it easy to understand. When able to start practicing again, I will try this method.
wow I l learned this but I've been lining up w my right foot instead of the left. Now it makes sense why I had to adjust 5 boards. I feel so dumb. Thanks for this....I'll practice today.
Elise, Thank you I am an old man and have been Bowling for 54 years and never new how to do that.. I would always through and hope.. Nate you are a very Lucky man to have such a wife that does things you both can do for a life time...
The hardest part for me in picking up the 10 pin is getting the correct alignment. I'm getting better, but still too inconsistent to feel comfortable in picking it up. I've always kept my hips open, but until now I've never really paid attention to how much they're open. Im going to test out different placements of my right foot against my left to add into my spare shooting system. Thanks for the tips!
Elise, the comment you made about "trust your alignment" is SUPER valid for me! So many times I was lined up perfect, and then "helped" the ball, only to have it miss, me cursing myself for not trusting, and shooting confidently. Another important thing I've learned from another more skilled player, is to stop, SLOW down, VISUALIZE your line, position your body to throw the ball on the MARK that intercepts that line, and ONLY then, shoot your ball!
I loved the explanation, and it is similar to what I do. I know where I stand and target. I pivot around that point depending on what pins need to be included. I have a similar spot for the other side. These spots are only for my spares. My friends talked me into going to practice with them. The first three threw their ball like it was a regular game. I said I thought we were here to practice. I picked up my ball and took out the 7, and the second ball took out the 10. I told them they needed to work on their spares. Their opponent gets ahead of them every time they miss one. Three years later, I heard one of them telling others how I practiced when I practiced. He told them the only ball I took out of my bag to practice that day was my spare ball. Hopefully, this video helps a lot of people.
Thank you so much. I have been looking for someone to show me how to stand and where to throw. This is a great starting point and I am confident that I will be able to use this system. I can’t thank you enough for this information. 🎉
Love this video. I'm missing too many makeable spares by being mentally caught on whether to hook it the left side rather than using my spare ball. Thanks so much for helping my simplify my thought process. Got instant results practicing today on both sides! ❤🔥
Thank you so much for describing your spare system. I've adopted it with great success! I am twice your age and have recently renewed my love for bowling after serious back surgery. My rev rate and ball speed closely match yours so I am a student of your videos. Could you PLEASE put forth a slow-motion video of your RELEASE? I and others would be so very grateful. Thanks!
The funny thing about shooting cross lane, picking up single pins are harder to pick up at first, but at the same time, splits feel so much easier to pick up compared to before.
Not to be rude, but you need to drop this video right in Nate’s lap. Missing single pins has been a real nemesis for him. Might of cost him a win on the weekend😢
Love the info here but I think before any of it can be utilized, bowlers gotta change their mentality/attitude towards leaving spares. It is SO easy to get mad at spares when you leave em and that will affect how most shoot em. Would see this SO much in college: Even though I was mostly on the JV team because I only struck a third of the time, my single pin spare rate was in the mid to high 90 percentile while those who struck more than a third of the time could barely hit 90% on single pin spares. My multiple pin spare rate was even more ridiculous: It was close to 75%, and that INCLUDED washouts and splits. Highest across both teams by nearly 10%. The one underneath me was at 62.5%. Wasn't even a good bowler back then, average hovered around 205 or so, was super duper speed dominant. Like 175 RPMs but threw the ball close to 18 MPH...I was that a$$hole who would get my most aggressive ball, take it down to like 360, and hurl it out to the 10 board from the 15 board...lofting it to the markers haha. Everyone hated it. Even me, but it was all I knew at the time. WAY too one-dimensional to be part of ANY college team. Everyone I bowled with was like "what is your secret? You strike like four times a game at most but only run MAYBE two opens a game." My response was "well spares are free sticks if they're not splits. And if it's a single pin you have literally half the lane to cover it (unless it's a corner then you have a third of the lane). Those are like the 'free throws' of bowling: There's no defense, don't need to worry if your throw was on time, it's just ball to pin just like in basketball it's ball in basket." You could have the best and most optimized technique for spare shooting but if you're getting mad because you left a ringing 10 that should have carried, left a blower 7 that should have carried, or went light and left a 2 pin, went high and left a 4 pin, that mentality will get you to whiff it. It's even worse if you got mad at a spare you left on a bad shot and you thought it was a GOOD shot, cuz now you're mad for the wrong reason lol. I've run into so many bowlers in league who will leave 2s and 4s and complain that those should have carried. Um, no. If you leave a 2 pins and 4 pins you should consider yourself lucky there aren't other pins WITH it. Gotta treat single pins (and most 8 count multiple pins like 6-10, 4-7, etc) like how basketball players treat free throws in that they are pretty much guaranteed to improve scores.
I think the biggest thing is having a system. I have seen all kinds of different systems from bowlers at every level. Do what works for you, practice it, and stick to it. I think a lot of bowlers miss spares because they have no system and do not have structured practice sessions where they work on spare shooting.
That is basically what I do, but I have never created an actual "method". I think I tend to go too far to the extremes for the 7 or 10. So, corner to corner. (I'm a beginner hack rolling a hook). Having a method to practice will certainly help with my consistency. I have one ball that I'm presently using as I just came back to bowling after ~40 years and it is a Rhino reactive pearl, 14# ball. I need to get a spare ball and was wondering what you recommend, and do you drill it the same as your hook ball? I was thinking 13# for spares but not sure and have no idea what to look at. My hook is coming along, but my release I can see that my fingers are about an inch above the equator of the ball and that I need to work on getting my hand more underneath. Anyhow, I love how you teach, and appreciate your video! I'll follow you and hope to learn more from you.Thanks!
Great vid, Elise and thank you, not just for explaining your spare shooting system, but also for explaining the rationale behind it! A few questions, please: 1. I struggle using 20 as my spare target area, because it looks as if it's in the middle of my chest. I know this is an optical illusion, but do you have any suggestions or thoughts about this? 2. Could you please explain more about the relation between foot position and the position of the hips and shoulders, when shooting spares? When we shoot strikes, we typically align our entire body toward our intended strike target, or at least toward our intended strike path: feet/hips/shoulders. Yet when we shoot spares going straight with plastic, it seems that other than moving our non-slide foot back or forward a bit, as you demonstrated in your vid, spare shooting angles seem to be determined more with hips and shoulders, not the feet, so there is a disconnect, between the feet and the hips/shoulders. What is the down side, if any, to aligning feet/hips/shoulders when shooting spares, just as we do when attempting strikes? 3. Do you have any tips or drills to help bowlers roll their plastic ball spare shots straighter? At the amateur level, simply switching to a plastic spare ball, even with a spare system, isn't going to work if we still rotate our hand around that plastic ball at release. If we release our spare ball the same way we release our strike ball, the slightest dry spot on the lane will cause even that plastic ball to hook and miss the spare. How can we get better at switching back and forth between strike and spare releases? Thank you, and wishing you success on the upcoming 2024 PWBA season!
Excellent video Elise, thanks very much. I do have a question. For the 10 pin, you stand on 30. Do you slide on 30 and look at 20? Thanks again, love watching you and Nate.
Unfortunately the angles change depending on where you start from. I bowl from the up dots and not the back dots. This changes the board placements and the bowling angles. From my position each angle is steeper. THUS I don't use the center arrow and must use the 17 board more which causes difficulties by sliding out of the oil and more into the dry on the 10 pin side,,, which is my harder side to pick up spares on [my straight shooting side].
I only have one ball, just changed to fingertip from conventional. I was throwing my spares with it 12lb Storm tropical surge. and doing pretty good cause its a pretty straight ball. Struggling with fingertip. and now wondering if I will be able to be as acurate with it for straighter angles for the ten , i was getting pretty good a tthose from the left part of the lane straight into the 10.
I think this video has great tips but i think it would be way more helpful if we had the camera looking at the lane with a line pointing at where her intended target is from where she is standing before she throws the shot.
As a newer bowler who has been using whatever ball is in my hand at the time (Rhino, Infinity, Perfect Mindset, Theorem, Slingshot) to hit spares, are there certain spare balls that are better than others? I know it's mostly the responsibility of the player to aim correctly, but I was curious if there is a clear winner out of the various brands?
I just caught this video a few weeks late. High Avg I have but say 75% spare shooter.😂 When I practice for spares as you are shooting I use a plastic ball. I also carry a urethane ball’ I drilled the ball pin between fingers and a 6” pin. I use that and I pick up every spare, when I use the plastic I usually miss. So what should I do, I have a feeling what you’re going to say. Plastic ?
I line up with my left foot still when shooting at the 7, but I still position my right foot up as if to trap the ball. It was pretty vindicating to see your right foot is very close to where mine is/would be. My left foot goes to 18.
So, when shoting spares like 3-4-6-7-10 do you feel shooting straight at it is better than hooking at it? I seem to have better luck hooking at it, but on a sport shot tghat can be challenging. Also, 2-10. What would you recommend for converting? No leaving it is way better, but happens....lol
Depends on what you’re bowling on. On something that’s not completely flat, Nate may hook at it but for me, I have found success hooking my spare ball a little bit that the spare but the spare ball is still going fairly straight.
I think when you’re showing people how to shoot a spare need to see more of your body of what you’re doing so that we can actually accomplish what we want with trying to pick up my spares
I know straighter is greater for spares and I switched to shooting straight at all spares this past league season which has helped a bit. Still looking for the right system for me and I think I'll give this a shot, it makes sense to me. However, I was also told that "you shouldn't shoot straight at all spares" like the 2-8 for example or 3-9, or a bucket. My question to you is, do you shoot straight at those? Or do you hook? And is it all personal preference? I see pros shoot straight at 2-8, 3-9, buckets, with a spare ball and I see others hook at them.
It sounds to me that you are saying to position your body (hips & shoulders) toward your pin, walk toward your target and I assume cross over step with your target being the middle arrow and your starting position in alignment with your target and middle arrow. Is that correct?
I hadnt picked up a 10 pin in months and months, lost a few games because of it. Watched this video today, also got my new venom shock in. Went to practice and was 3 for 3 shooting the stupid 10 pin! Turned my body like you said. Thanks for the video.
This is a huge helpful lesson video. Fall League is over and I'm going to spend a lot of time focusing on improving my spare shooting this summer, thanks for the video elise
Nice video Elise. I have been shooting straight at my spares for a few years now and everything you say is valid. I will be directing folks to this video when they ask about making spares. 👍
This is a great video. Elise is good at breaking things down to make it easy to understand. When able to start practicing again, I will try this method.
wow I l learned this but I've been lining up w my right foot instead of the left. Now it makes sense why I had to adjust 5 boards. I feel so dumb. Thanks for this....I'll practice today.
Elise, Thank you I am an old man and have been Bowling for 54 years and never new how to do that.. I would always through and hope.. Nate you are a very Lucky man to have such a wife that does things you both can do for a life time...
The hardest part for me in picking up the 10 pin is getting the correct alignment. I'm getting better, but still too inconsistent to feel comfortable in picking it up. I've always kept my hips open, but until now I've never really paid attention to how much they're open. Im going to test out different placements of my right foot against my left to add into my spare shooting system. Thanks for the tips!
Elise, the comment you made about "trust your alignment" is SUPER valid for me! So many times I was lined up perfect, and then "helped" the ball, only to have it miss, me cursing myself for not trusting, and shooting confidently. Another important thing I've learned from another more skilled player, is to stop, SLOW down, VISUALIZE your line, position your body to throw the ball on the MARK that intercepts that line, and ONLY then, shoot your ball!
I loved the explanation, and it is similar to what I do. I know where I stand and target. I pivot around that point depending on what pins need to be included. I have a similar spot for the other side. These spots are only for my spares.
My friends talked me into going to practice with them. The first three threw their ball like it was a regular game. I said I thought we were here to practice. I picked up my ball and took out the 7, and the second ball took out the 10. I told them they needed to work on their spares. Their opponent gets ahead of them every time they miss one. Three years later, I heard one of them telling others how I practiced when I practiced. He told them the only ball I took out of my bag to practice that day was my spare ball.
Hopefully, this video helps a lot of people.
Thank you so much. I have been looking for someone to show me how to stand and where to throw. This is a great starting point and I am confident that I will be able to use this system. I can’t thank you enough for this information. 🎉
Thank you so much, coming from a woman with hips.
Your tips are so helpful, it will definitely improve my spare game!
Love this video. I'm missing too many makeable spares by being mentally caught on whether to hook it the left side rather than using my spare ball. Thanks so much for helping my simplify my thought process. Got instant results practicing today on both sides! ❤🔥
I came for the thumbnail, stayed for 5:45 😂🎉
She's a full-on snack. 😋
I just bought plastic ball for spares, now I need to follow your guidelines. Thanks for the tips.
PERFECTLY timed! Just got my first spare ball, and been struggling with targeting since I've been hooking at my spares. Thank you!
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much for describing your spare system. I've adopted it with great success! I am twice your age and have recently renewed my love for bowling after serious back surgery. My rev rate and ball speed closely match yours so I am a student of your videos. Could you PLEASE put forth a slow-motion video of your RELEASE? I and others would be so very grateful. Thanks!
The funny thing about shooting cross lane, picking up single pins are harder to pick up at first, but at the same time, splits feel so much easier to pick up compared to before.
Yes, using this system makes picking up splits way easier!!!!!
Great tips once again! Would have liked to have seen where your feet ended up at the foul line vs where you were lining up.
Wow, you really break it down really well. I never knew how involved this is.
I wish I had RUclips as a kid. I could never bowl correctly. These videos are great
broken down very well, thank you for this
Thank you! I'm new to league bowling and have been struggling with the 6 and 10 pin on my spares. I will try this tonight
Good luck! It will make a huge difference!
Omg this helped me in just Two visits to bowl I can see improvement. Thank you so much.
I'm so glad! Yayyyyy
Best video in a long time!
Not to be rude, but you need to drop this video right in Nate’s lap. Missing single pins has been a real nemesis for him. Might of cost him a win on the weekend😢
New spare ball time lol problem solved
Boring
A saying I was taught was.Trust is a must or your games a bust. Trust your alignment.👍👍👍
Love the info here but I think before any of it can be utilized, bowlers gotta change their mentality/attitude towards leaving spares. It is SO easy to get mad at spares when you leave em and that will affect how most shoot em.
Would see this SO much in college: Even though I was mostly on the JV team because I only struck a third of the time, my single pin spare rate was in the mid to high 90 percentile while those who struck more than a third of the time could barely hit 90% on single pin spares. My multiple pin spare rate was even more ridiculous: It was close to 75%, and that INCLUDED washouts and splits. Highest across both teams by nearly 10%. The one underneath me was at 62.5%. Wasn't even a good bowler back then, average hovered around 205 or so, was super duper speed dominant. Like 175 RPMs but threw the ball close to 18 MPH...I was that a$$hole who would get my most aggressive ball, take it down to like 360, and hurl it out to the 10 board from the 15 board...lofting it to the markers haha. Everyone hated it. Even me, but it was all I knew at the time. WAY too one-dimensional to be part of ANY college team.
Everyone I bowled with was like "what is your secret? You strike like four times a game at most but only run MAYBE two opens a game." My response was "well spares are free sticks if they're not splits. And if it's a single pin you have literally half the lane to cover it (unless it's a corner then you have a third of the lane). Those are like the 'free throws' of bowling: There's no defense, don't need to worry if your throw was on time, it's just ball to pin just like in basketball it's ball in basket."
You could have the best and most optimized technique for spare shooting but if you're getting mad because you left a ringing 10 that should have carried, left a blower 7 that should have carried, or went light and left a 2 pin, went high and left a 4 pin, that mentality will get you to whiff it.
It's even worse if you got mad at a spare you left on a bad shot and you thought it was a GOOD shot, cuz now you're mad for the wrong reason lol. I've run into so many bowlers in league who will leave 2s and 4s and complain that those should have carried. Um, no. If you leave a 2 pins and 4 pins you should consider yourself lucky there aren't other pins WITH it.
Gotta treat single pins (and most 8 count multiple pins like 6-10, 4-7, etc) like how basketball players treat free throws in that they are pretty much guaranteed to improve scores.
I think the biggest thing is having a system. I have seen all kinds of different systems from bowlers at every level. Do what works for you, practice it, and stick to it. I think a lot of bowlers miss spares because they have no system and do not have structured practice sessions where they work on spare shooting.
That is basically what I do, but I have never created an actual "method". I think I tend to go too far to the extremes for the 7 or 10. So, corner to corner. (I'm a beginner hack rolling a hook). Having a method to practice will certainly help with my consistency. I have one ball that I'm presently using as I just came back to bowling after ~40 years and it is a Rhino reactive pearl, 14# ball. I need to get a spare ball and was wondering what you recommend, and do you drill it the same as your hook ball? I was thinking 13# for spares but not sure and have no idea what to look at. My hook is coming along, but my release I can see that my fingers are about an inch above the equator of the ball and that I need to work on getting my hand more underneath. Anyhow, I love how you teach, and appreciate your video! I'll follow you and hope to learn more from you.Thanks!
Thanks for your tips
You're welcome 😊
Thanks for the tips Elise, Great Video. I can try this also. Love from Holland
Very good training video. Thank you.
Great vid, Elise and thank you, not just for explaining your spare shooting system, but also for explaining the rationale behind it!
A few questions, please:
1. I struggle using 20 as my spare target area, because it looks as if it's in the middle of my chest. I know this is an optical illusion, but do you have any suggestions or thoughts about this?
2. Could you please explain more about the relation between foot position and the position of the hips and shoulders, when shooting spares? When we shoot strikes, we typically align our entire body toward our intended strike target, or at least toward our intended strike path: feet/hips/shoulders. Yet when we shoot spares going straight with plastic, it seems that other than moving our non-slide foot back or forward a bit, as you demonstrated in your vid, spare shooting angles seem to be determined more with hips and shoulders, not the feet, so there is a disconnect, between the feet and the hips/shoulders.
What is the down side, if any, to aligning feet/hips/shoulders when shooting spares, just as we do when attempting strikes?
3. Do you have any tips or drills to help bowlers roll their plastic ball spare shots straighter? At the amateur level, simply switching to a plastic spare ball, even with a spare system, isn't going to work if we still rotate our hand around that plastic ball at release. If we release our spare ball the same way we release our strike ball, the slightest dry spot on the lane will cause even that plastic ball
to hook and miss the spare. How can we get better at switching back and forth between strike and spare releases?
Thank you, and wishing you success on the upcoming 2024 PWBA season!
Great instruction! You really do a great job. Thanks for taking the time to share!
You are so welcome!
Great video ms. lady....for corner pins.i use my strike ball...
Excellent video Elise, thanks very much. I do have a question. For the 10 pin, you stand on 30. Do you slide on 30 and look at 20? Thanks again, love watching you and Nate.
Yes and yes.
Should be the goal... doing perfect spares on every game sets are all ok all the way. Strikes will come on a calm manner.👌
Really great breakdown. I'm going to have to practice this next time around
Glad it was helpful!
this was extremely helpful. thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Love watching your videos has shown me a lot
Thank you. I can’t wait to try this out.
Awesome! Practice practice practice! You will get it down!
Thanks for the tips. Works for me.
Good to hear!
Excellent video! Very well explained!
Glad it was helpful!
piece of cake then I'll forget what I had just learned during League play!
I love all your videos u are absolutely incredible u bring good information and u are absolutely awesome at bowling I love it and u
Thank you so much 😀
@@NateandElise u are welcome have a good weekend I love u guys 💜💖🤗
Unfortunately the angles change depending on where you start from. I bowl from the up dots and not the back dots. This changes the board placements and the bowling angles. From my position each angle is steeper. THUS I don't use the center arrow and must use the 17 board more which causes difficulties by sliding out of the oil and more into the dry on the 10 pin side,,, which is my harder side to pick up spares on [my straight shooting side].
Why is your starting point 2 dots over from 20 for the 10 pin and only 1 dot over for the 7 pin? Wouldn't you want to create the same angle? ty?
Love your content! Question? What is your go to Pearl ball on house shots vs Solid ball?
I only have one ball, just changed to fingertip from conventional. I was throwing my spares with it 12lb Storm tropical surge. and doing pretty good cause its a pretty straight ball. Struggling with fingertip. and now wondering if I will be able to be as acurate with it for straighter angles for the ten , i was getting pretty good a tthose from the left part of the lane straight into the 10.
I think this video has great tips but i think it would be way more helpful if we had the camera looking at the lane with a line pointing at where her intended target is from where she is standing before she throws the shot.
As a newer bowler who has been using whatever ball is in my hand at the time (Rhino, Infinity, Perfect Mindset, Theorem, Slingshot) to hit spares, are there certain spare balls that are better than others? I know it's mostly the responsibility of the player to aim correctly, but I was curious if there is a clear winner out of the various brands?
Great explanation video gives me a lot to work on
Awesome! Put it to good use!
Great video!! Thank you
I just caught this video a few weeks late. High Avg I have but say 75% spare shooter.😂
When I practice for spares as you are shooting I use a plastic ball. I also carry a urethane ball’ I drilled the ball pin between fingers and a 6” pin. I use that and I pick up every spare, when I use the plastic I usually miss. So what should I do, I have a feeling what you’re going to say. Plastic ?
Great video Elise!!!
Glad you liked it!!
I line up with my left foot still when shooting at the 7, but I still position my right foot up as if to trap the ball. It was pretty vindicating to see your right foot is very close to where mine is/would be. My left foot goes to 18.
If you're using a spare ball, why does it hook at the last second?
Need to try this next practice.
Yes, it will change your whole game!
What is a wash out?
For 7 pin yo start on 15, but you have to finish 15?
Poor nate never wins an arguement... because he can never remember his point.
Great video!
Thanks! 😊
Great info, easy to understand!
@@NateandElisehey nate and Elise
I still struggle at the 10pin every so often
You can fix it!!
So, when shoting spares like 3-4-6-7-10 do you feel shooting straight at it is better than hooking at it? I seem to have better luck hooking at it, but on a sport shot tghat can be challenging. Also, 2-10. What would you recommend for converting? No leaving it is way better, but happens....lol
Depends on what you’re bowling on. On something that’s not completely flat, Nate may hook at it but for me, I have found success hooking my spare ball a little bit that the spare but the spare ball is still going fairly straight.
What is this method or style called.
She said "full Rack"
When shooting crosslane, do you still do a crossover step? I couldnt see your approach
Yes… nothing changes with your physical game 😃
I think when you’re showing people how to shoot a spare need to see more of your body of what you’re doing so that we can actually accomplish what we want with trying to pick up my spares
moving from 6-10 to 3-6 made zero sense...oth with left foot on the 30?
your looking at 20 but rolling 15 or 18??? none of that makes any sense.
The rg spare ball is 81 hardness urethane..
The black one yes. Not this one. It’s clear plastic.
What foot did you lead off with and which one was your first step
right😂
How do you make a 10 pin spare
It’s all in the video.
I literally heard nothing
Then you literally were not listening. Slow the audio speed down smh 😂
@@colbyepps2434 I was distracted by the other green bowling ball behind her
Hey nate and Elise
I hate the 10
Bend ova girl show me what you working wit 😮
My fucking ears are bleeding.
You talk way to much, just bowl the damn ball
Wayne… that is not the point of this video.
Who are you kidding? Even the best bowlers miss spares . How are you at making the 7-10 ? I don’t think you could make one out of ten .
Enough talk….
Great stuff! 🎳
I know straighter is greater for spares and I switched to shooting straight at all spares this past league season which has helped a bit. Still looking for the right system for me and I think I'll give this a shot, it makes sense to me. However, I was also told that "you shouldn't shoot straight at all spares" like the 2-8 for example or 3-9, or a bucket. My question to you is, do you shoot straight at those? Or do you hook? And is it all personal preference? I see pros shoot straight at 2-8, 3-9, buckets, with a spare ball and I see others hook at them.
It sounds to me that you are saying to position your body (hips & shoulders) toward your pin, walk toward your target and I assume cross over step with your target being the middle arrow and your starting position in alignment with your target and middle arrow. Is that correct?
Thank u! I need to practice this I will keep reviewing to get a complete understanding and take to lanes and practice😊
I use the 369 spare system and flatten out for 10pins
I hadnt picked up a 10 pin in months and months, lost a few games because of it. Watched this video today, also got my new venom shock in. Went to practice and was 3 for 3 shooting the stupid 10 pin! Turned my body like you said. Thanks for the video.
Awh!!! I’m so happy that you were able to figure it out!!!!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it