The best spare shooting tips come down to three habits. Aim at a fixed target on the lane, shoot corner pins across the lane, and use a straight ball for single pins. A bowler who strikes rarely but makes every spare can still average close to 190. Here's how to build a spare game that holds up when the strikes aren't coming.
Why spares matter more than strikes
An open frame costs you more than you think. When you miss a spare, you lose the bonus from the next ball as well. Our guide on how to score bowling shows the maths. A game of all spares with nine-pin first balls scores 190. In other words, you don't need strikes to bowl well. You need to stop leaving open frames.
So the quickest way to raise your average is not a new ball. It's practice on spares, especially the 10 pin and the 7 pin. The spare shooting tips below focus on those first.
Spare shooting tips: the two main systems
Most coaches teach one of two approaches. Both work, and many bowlers mix them. Pick one and stick with it for a month before you judge it, because spare shooting tips only help if you repeat them.
The 3-6-9 system
The 3-6-9 system keeps your strike target and moves only your feet. You move in the opposite direction from the pin you want. For a right-hander shooting at pins on the left:
- 2 pin or 8 pin: move 3 boards right.
- 4 pin: move 6 boards right.
- 7 pin: move 9 boards right.
Left-handers mirror this and move left for the 3, 6 and 10 pins. The idea is simple: your target stays the same, so you only need to learn one line. Then small changes in angle send the ball to each pin. It's one of the oldest spare shooting tips in coaching.
However, the system relies on your hook ball doing the same thing every time. On a house shot the ball may hook more as it goes wide, and the oil changes during the night. Also, the system is weaker for pins on the other side. For a right-hander, the hook works against you on the 6 and 10 pins. So many bowlers use a straight ball there instead.
The cross-lane, straight-ball system
This approach takes the hook out of the picture. You throw a straight ball, ideally plastic, and shoot diagonally across the lane. For a pin on the right, you stand on the left side of the approach. For a pin on the left, you stand on the right side.
Crossing the lane gives you the widest margin for error. When a ball rolls diagonally at a corner pin, it travels along the edge of the lane only at the very end. So a small miss still clips the pin rather than sliding into the gutter.
Target table for single pins
The table gives starting points for a right-hander with a straight ball. We worked them out from the lane geometry. Pins sit 12 inches apart, 39 boards span 41.5 inches, and the arrows are about 15 feet past the foul line. Boards count from the right gutter. Treat them as a first try, then adjust a board or two after watching your ball.
| Pin | Pin sits near board | Slide foot near board | Target at the arrows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 pin | 3 | 35 | About 23 (between 4th and 5th arrow) |
| 6 pin | 9 | 30 | About 20 (4th, centre arrow) |
| 3 or 9 pin | 14 | 25 | About 19 |
| 1 or 5 pin | 20 | Strike position | Strike target |
| 2 or 8 pin | 26 | 13 | About 12 |
| 4 pin | 31 | 14 | About 14 |
| 7 pin | 37 | 12 | About 14–15 (3rd arrow) |
Here's one of the more useful spare shooting tips hidden in the table: notice how close the targets are on the left side. The 4 pin and 7 pin share almost the same line, because the 7 sits nearly behind the 4. That is why one good line takes out both in a 4-7 leave.
The 10 pin: the spare everyone misses
For right-handers, the 10 pin is the most common single-pin leave and the one most often missed. Three spare shooting tips help most:
- Go straight. Turn your hand so your palm faces the pins and your thumb points up at about 12 o'clock. Then roll the ball like a beginner would.
- Walk to your target. Many players drift left on this shot without noticing. So walk straight towards the board you're aiming at, not the pin.
- Add a touch of speed. A slow ball hooks more. With a reactive ball, a slightly firmer roll keeps it from bending into the gutter too early.
Left-handers face the same problem with the 7 pin. Mirror every step.
The 7 pin for right-handers
The 7 pin is on your hook side, so it is a little kinder. You can shoot it with your strike ball using the 3-6-9 move: start 9 boards right of your strike spot and keep your target. If the lanes have dried out on the right, though, your ball may hook too early and miss behind the pin. In that case, switch to the straight-ball line in the table above.
Common multi-pin leaves
Our spare shooting tips for multi-pin leaves start with one idea: find the "key pin". It is usually the pin closest to you. Hit it on the correct side and it does the rest.
- 2-4-5-8 (bucket): aim at the 2 pin, a little on its right side. Throw at the pocket of the bucket, not its middle.
- 3-6-10: aim to hit the 3 pin full and slightly on its left. Then the ball carries through to the 6 and 10.
- 1-2-4 or 1-2-4-7: hit the head pin on its left side, almost like a Brooklyn strike shot.
- 6-10: aim between the two pins, nearer the 6. Shoot it cross-lane, like a 10 pin.
Splits: what you can realistically make
A split leaves two or more pins with a gap between them and the head pin gone. Some are easy. Others are nearly impossible. Knowing the difference keeps your scores steady.
| Split | Difficulty | How to play it |
|---|---|---|
| 3-10, 2-7 (baby splits) | Easy | Hit between the two pins; the ball takes both |
| 5-7, 5-10 | Fair chance | Clip the 5 on the outside so it slides across |
| 4-7-10, 6-7-10 | Hard | Take the two-pin side for a safe count |
| 4-6, 7-10 | Very hard | Shoot one pin with your spare ball |
| Big four (4-6-7-10) | Very hard | Take the two pins on one side |
| Greek church (4-6-7-9-10 or 4-6-7-8-10) | Very hard | Aim for the three-pin side |
In league play, a single pin counts the same whether you tried a hero shot or not. So on the 7-10, pick the pin that's easiest for you and make it. That one extra pin often wins a close game.
Do you need a plastic spare ball?
Once you own a reactive ball, yes. Of all the spare shooting tips here, this is the one with the fastest payoff. Reactive covers grip the lane and hook, even when you try to throw them straight. A plastic (polyester) ball barely reacts to the dry boards. As a result, it goes where you aim it. Our guide to types of bowling balls compares the covers.
If you still use house balls, you already have a spare ball. In fact, beginners on house balls often shoot corner pins better than new hook bowlers do.
Spare practice drills
- Ten-pin only: shoot the 10-pin line ten times in a row on an empty rack. Count how many balls pass over your target, not how many would hit.
- Corner ladder: alternate 10 pin, 7 pin, 10 pin, 7 pin. This trains you to change sides of the approach without losing your line.
- Spare-only game: in practice, pretend every first ball left a set leave (for example 10, 7, 6, 4). Score it like a real game.
Many centres in Malaysia are quieter on weekday afternoons, which makes them a good time to practise. Check our list of bowling alleys in Malaysia for a centre near you. Pair these drills with the other spare shooting tips here and you'll see your average rise within a few weeks.
Watch out
Don't change your target and your feet for the same spare at once. Move one, then the other, so you learn what each change does.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pick up a 10 pin spare?
Use a straight ball, ideally plastic, and shoot across the lane. A right-hander stands on the left side of the approach, around board 35, and rolls over roughly board 23, between the fourth and fifth arrows counted from the right. Keep your hand behind the ball so it doesn't hook, and walk straight towards your target.
What is the 3-6-9 spare system?
It is a way to shoot spares without changing your target. You keep your strike target and move your feet: 3 boards for the 2 or 8 pin, 6 boards for the 4 pin and 9 boards for the 7 pin. You move away from the pin, so a right-hander moves right to hit pins on the left. It works best on pins on your hook side.
Should I use a plastic ball for spares?
Yes, once you own a reactive strike ball. A plastic ball grips the lane far less, so it goes nearly straight even on dry boards. That makes corner pins much easier. Plastic spare balls are some of the cheapest balls in Malaysian pro shops. A house ball also works if you can find one that fits your hand.
Which splits can be converted?
Baby splits like the 2-7 and 3-10 are very makeable because one ball can hit both pins. The 5-7 and 5-10 are fair chances if you slide the front pin across. Even top players rarely make wide splits such as the 7-10, 4-6 and the Greek church. So take the pins you can count on.
How do you hit the 7 pin as a right-hander?
Stand on the right side of the approach and shoot towards the left corner. With a straight ball, a slide foot near board 12 and a target near the third arrow (board 15) is a good start. With your hook ball, try the 3-6-9 move: stand 9 boards right of your strike position and keep your strike target.
