Making Your Spares - Is This Really the Secret To a Higher Scoring Average?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jimmie_Newell]Jimmie Newell

Let me begin with a true story about a spare that I missed that may have cost me a lot of money. Some years ago, I was bowling in the qualifying rounds of an "over forty" tournament. This was at the time a fairly popular local tournament club that attracted a lot of older very accomplished bowlers, qualifying consisted of bowling a four game set across 8 lanes, with the high 16 bowlers moving on to a match play format, the eventual winner would collect about $1000.00, along with what ever he won from the "brackets" he had entered.

"Brackets" are a mini tournament using your game scores in whatever event you are competing in, there are typically 8 bowlers starting each bracket who are eliminated from the bracket as soon as they lose a game. The bowler has the option to buy as many of these "mini tournaments" as he would like, usually at a cost of $5 - $10 dollars each. The bowler competes, on a blind draw basis against another bowler in the event, if he wins his first game, he moves on to another winning bowler for the second game, and then again on to the third game. The payout for brackets is made form the entry fees for the brackets. It is not unusual for a bowler who is hot to make more money from brackets than from the original tournament. So this one spare miss really could have cost me more than $2000.00. But alas we will never know, however on to the story.

I was not bowling well on this particular day only averaging about 190 for the first 3 games, at the end of the third game I calculated that I could still make the cut with a final game of around 250. I switched bowling balls, changed to another line and led off with strikes for the first 6 frames, in the seventh frame I left the dreaded "ringing ten pin" the destroyer of more great bowling games than any other pin. I then proceeded to miss the spare, and score strikes in all of the remaining frames for a score of 258. If you are familiar with bowling scoring, had I picked up that ten pin and still struck out, my score would have been 279. The last qualifier made it into the match play round with a score of 268.

Now ask yourself, how important is picking up your spares?

You may have heard the adage "Pick up your spares and the strikes will take care of themselves" this is the honest truth; even professional bowlers do not succeed if they are not good spare shooters. In the preceding paragraph I made reference to the dreaded "ringing ten pin", in my own bowling experience this is the pin I leave most often, and also the one I miss most often. Several years ago, when looking back at my league scores for the just completed season it struck me, that if I increased my conversion ratio of just the ten pin spares, my average would probably be 5-10 pins higher than the 193 I had just finished with. The next summer I bought a new plastic ball, to use for straight shots at the ten pin, and practiced a lot at hitting just the ten pin, my finishing average the following year was 204. Most of that increase can be attributed to concentrating on just one particular spare. Picking up your spares is the difference between being a good high average bowler, and a mediocre average bowler. Actually the difference between a 190 average and a 210 average is about one more spare per game.

If you want a little help with increasing you conversion ratio on all spares, I recommend the ebook and video instruction set "Bowl Them Away', this instruction set is based on the teaching and techniques of Hall of Fame bowler Joe Wilman, coupled with the added videos, that actually show the correct targeting procedure for all your spare shots, this an unbeatable combination. For more information please go to our website.

Jim Newell is the publisher of http://www.BowlingInfo101.com "Start Here...To Improve Your Game!"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmie_Newell http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-Your-Spares---Is-This-Really-the-Secret-To-a-Higher-Scoring-Average?&id=859495

Related Articles:

Weird Bowling - Come To The Dark Side
Bowling instances of intervention from the dark force Bowling is one of the most loved participant sports ever

One Step at a Time the Bowling Ball up the Ladder of Success!
I have often been asked the question, "What is true success?"Unlike many, I do not grade success by how much money one has or how many claims to fame they possess. Success is not based on facts and figures.

Professional Bowler Draws on Experience to Deliver What Bowlers Need in a Bowling Shirt
Former professional bowler, Sandy Raddue, uses her professional experience to solve bowling enthusiasts struggle to find bowling shirts and apparel at http://www.shirts4bowling.com

Google Bowling and Negative SEO: Tearing Down Rather Than Building Up
There's been a lot of talk recently about some methods of dirty SEO, known collectively as Negative SEO. The basic premise behind these methods is the simple idea that it is quicker and easier to rear down your competition than it is to build yourself up.

NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon Hosts Annual Charity Bowling Event in Las Vegas
Sports heroes and celebrities returned to Las Vegas for the 8th annual Sports Dream Bowl to benefit the Urban Youth Scholarship Fund.

Comfortable Bowling Shoes Can Make Your Game
There are really only two needed items to play the game of bowling. The first is the ball and the second is the bowling shoes. You don?t need to own either of these as it is standard practice to rent them at the bowling alley. However it won?t take you long to realize that most serious bowlers have their own ball and bowling shoes.

Zapp It Bowling Products Making Strides in the Bowling Industry
Zapp It Bowling Products introduces their first product into the bowling industry, a new bowling ball cleaner that extracts oil and dirt from bowling balls without any hazardous chemicals involved. This bowling ball cleaner has been tested and approved by the American Bowling Congress as acceptable for use during ABC/WIBC sanctioned competition.

Guide in Picking Out Bowling Shoes Online
A lot of bowlers have already started to shop bowling shoes online. For a bowler, the most important equipment for the game is the ball. However, there is something else beyond that. A bowler must always have a good pair of bowling shoes. Picking out a pair of bowling shoes online has been a trend for most bowlers. Bowling shoes play an important role for all bowlers no matter how and where the game is played. Buying the right bowling shoes online could take time and careful consideration. It is better to have your own shoes rather than rentals.

The Official Launch of Zapp It Bowling Products
Zapp It Bowling Products introduces their first product into the bowling industry, a new bowling ball cleaner that extracts oil and dirt from bowling balls without any hazardous chemicals involved. This bowling ball cleaner has been tested and approved by the American Bowling Congress as acceptable for use during ABC/WIBC sanctioned competition.

Statement by Bowling Brook Preparatory School Regarding the Medical Examiner's Findings in the Death of Isaiah Simmons
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has completed its investigation into the cause of death in the incident on January 23, 2007, involving Isaiah Simmons. The staff at Bowling Brook wishes to again express our deepest sympathies to Isaiah's family. Our understanding is that the Medical Examiner's report indicates that Isaiah's death was ruled a homicide. Isaiah's death is a personal tragedy for both his family and for the students and staff of Bowling Brook. Bowling Brook has always placed the health and welfare of every student at the forefront of our mission to youth, and we continue to grieve the passing of this young man.

Bowling Tip - Correct Your Timing
Out of sync Here is a simple cure for a complex problem

A Bit About Bowling Balls
Besides the money you?ll save by bringing your own gear, ball and shoes with you, why would you necessarily want to own a bowling ball? The reason is that having a ball of your own is the same thing as choosing the right bat when you?re playing baseball, or finding your own racket when playing tennis. These things aren?t going to make up for lack of skill, of course, but if you know your equipment inside and out you?ll be able to up your bowling average at least by a fraction. Let?s take a look at some of the different kinds of bowling balls and discuss the particular makeup of each ball.

San Francisco Bowling Center to Host Professional Bowlers Tour Event, August 31st through September 2nd
Sea Bowl Entertainment & Bowling Center in Pacifica, just South of San Francisco, will open it's bowling alleys to the 4th Annual Don Johnson Memorial Classic Tournament

Bowling Green-Based BioFit Sheds New Light on Ergonomic Seating
Biofit Engineered Products unveils a new educational resource for applied ergonomic study. By visiting www.biofit.com/ergonomics.html, users will find online access to the science, practical applications and the history of ergonomics, as well as links and resources to help them benefit personally from utilizing ergonomically correct products.

Recommended Bowling Gifts for Bowling Enthusiasts
Bowling gifts that are available in the market today have interesting choices and affordable. The wide range of choices makes it easier for you to choose what the best are and suited to the person you are giving them to.