Become A Great Spare Shooter! | Bowling Tips 

Spares are like free throws. You probably won’t win by just hitting them, but you will surely lose by missing them

You guys should do a show about how you adjust hand positions to adjust axis rotation, tilt and revolutions.

I'm the anchor bowler on my Tuesday league, and I've had 3 separate instances where I got to the 10th frame in the last week, needing a mark for my team to win, and left a 10-pin. Thankfully I'm 3 for 3 on picking them up.

Hey guys, ive been bowling for a couple of months now! thanks to your videos i went from 128 avg in league to 170! i started one hander but no thumb, and made the swith to 2 handed and man, spares and reading the lane.. Keep it going, I live in central america so I cant get the membership but guys keep it going!

Another thing with spares is confidence

I'm honestly impressed by the one take on both corners!

These tips, among many other videos, have drastically helped improve my game. I bowled a couple league seasons as a kid, occasional “midnight” bowling as an adult, but am I’m my second year of league now. Last season, I bowled with a plastic ball, conventional grip. This season, have started working on my spares, as well as getting a reactive resin ball (Brunswick Rhino) while keeping my Ebonite as my spare ball. Earlier this week, I bowled a 204, my first time ever hitting 200, because I was hitting my spares. Tonight in league, I bowled a 169, 219 (new personal best) and 145. Only had a handful of open frames! picking up my spares has drastically improved my average from a 135 last year to a 175 this year. Thanks for all the tips, and keep up the great work!

Thank you guys so much even the first spareshooting video I've drastically improved my spare shooting and I do recommend a urethane ball for beginners helped me out so much!

Brad’s smile in the opening of the video gives the impression he’s ready to tear in to a 32 ounce prime rib! Guess that proves how hungry he is to pick up his spares! Thank You for the great content gentlemen!

Great timing! My spare game was awful in league the other night. Thankfully I was able to strike. We lost total wood by 6 pins. If I had just made one more spare...

Great video . Really enjoy you guys . I get pumped when I see you make a tv tourney

Brad Miller, best spare shooter on tour? I can get behind that, lol. Brad is the new Norm Duke. I've made a lot of tough spares (I'm not talking the 7-10 or greek church or anything), but I've made the 6-7-10, 4-7-10, 5-7, washout, baby split, 6-7, maybe a 4-10, and a few others that are not coming to mind right now. You guys do a wonderful job making videos. Can't help but smile every time I see the notification that another Brad and Kyle video has been posted. 🥰❤🎳

I've always found it comfortable to hook at spares on the left side of the left, specifically 7 pins, that's what works best for me, just slow hook into the 7

I always tell my students the secret to making spares, is having a system that works for you 100% of the time and on all lane conditions. For me that is the KISS system, kinda like Brad does, only i use a spareball. The fact that you make that spare or not, is practice, and getting comfortable with your system. Pin 10 = board 36, with my left feet, and board 18 at the arrows. Pin 7 = board 19 with my feet, and board 18 at the arrow. From 10 to 6 is moving 3 boards with feet to the right, pin 3 another 3 boards to the right, but keeping same spot at the arrows. For pin 4 i move 2 boards to the left, same spot at the arrows, and pin 2 another 2 boards left. I can dream my system, and can visualise it. When i release my ball on a 10 pin, i do not even need to look at it anymore, i know that i make it, or not (on bad release) I've done a full 4 month practice on spares with 10-12 hours a week, and when league started, i was 96% accurate on making my spares in first 45 games, splits excluded. Right now that number has dropped to about 76%, so i guess it's time for more practice again. I know my system works, i just need to work on my accuracy towards the arrow a bit more.

Good stuff. I like the explanation of how a spare shot is different from your strike shot. Get a system, be consistent, keep it simple. Thanks

I’ve gotten myself to 80% or so on 7 pins and just that continued improvement is gonna push me single-handedly to my goal of averaging 200 on sport. Just gotta practice em. 50 seven pins every time I go out, then I work on feel and timing, whatever it is. Then I go back to 10 more 7s to see if I can make em when I’m tired. They are much harder then tbh

Please expand on this. Talk about targeting, body position when shooting cross-lane, hand positions, etc. Make this a series, please!

Thanks for the video it was really interesting. I had problems all year long missing spares. You said the key word PRACTICE!!! Hopefully the video will help me.

You guys are so helpful and fun. Thanks.

Kyle did prompt Brad to talk about his aiming process for spares, which would have been nice to hear, especially for mid-lane pins and combos. Do you pick an arrow for your eyes and move your feet around that spot, for instance?

My thinking on spares is that if you only play on typical house patterns you should shoot straight, cross alley at the 6, 10, 4, & 7 pins, you can get away with hooking at everything else. If you enter tournaments that use sport or PBA patterns learn to shoot straight at everything and do so no matter what pattern you're playing on.

Tiny people are better at spares thanks for the advise even tho I don't think there was any

Brad, what board do you stand on, and what is your taget for 10 pins?

Picking up the spare gives you the next ball to count in the spared frame so yes picking up a spare could be an extra 10!

#TeamSpare - I'm proud of my spare shooting as its bailed me out more times than I could ever count. I will always be #TeamSpare and kids... MAKE YOUR SPARES! I'm a cross lane spare shooter. No matter what spare it is, I shoot them across lane. I never hook at my spares. I always throw straight at them unless its a specific type of spare like a 2-8, etc... I throw reactive at my spares and flatten out my wrist.

On all the spare videos on youtube there is one thing never mentioned. What board people stand on and what mark at the arrows as well as walk straight or walk at target

I can’t seem to figure out how to clink the lick

Hi fellas - I have a question to ask. What bowling ball would you recommend when the lanes are dry? Many thanks - Ronnie

I am teaching my kids to bowl and explain to them spares make pros strikes win championships.

Ive used my black widow on my ten pins, and it usually has the little break at the last second for a miss. When i pick it up it goes out to the edge and rides it up to the pin.

What board are you standing on and what board are you aiming at for the 7 and the 10 pin?

Where do you guys bowl at?

When you say you stand to the left as far as possible, could you please elaborate and tell and show us which boards? Sometimes my ball goes right to the center arrow, but still misses it so I'm assuming it's where I'm standing? Thanks!

I can straight shot the right side all day. I am still struggling to do it on the left side of the lane. On the right side i can look at the target pin and hit the target pin. on the left if i look at the target pin, the ball goes left of the target pin about 2 feet. should I be opening my shoulders to the target if on the left side???? I'm stumped lol. I tried looking 2 feet to the right of the target, but most of the time, there is noting but curtain to see.

Cool video talk to tech bowling ball Brad and Kyle

Lol , you guys are great , but NormDuke is the best spare shooter 😄

I heard Kyle Troup say that when he was a kid learning from his Dad that Guppy said that "strikes are for show and spares are for dough." Great video Gents.

Great video

I have a ton of Inconsistencies with my left side spares as a Lefty because I tend to Pull it

Thanks!

I use my strike ball for the ten pin. I have plastic, but it tends to slide into the gutter at the last second. Grr. So I stand far left and aim middle arrow with my thumb slightly turning to the right. Is that ok, or am I committing a bowling sin? I wish you guys were closer, I would coach with you in a heartbeat. Ah well.

I understand you try to cover a broad range of topics on the channel, But it would be more exciting going to random cities that have big non pba tourneys and announce ahead of time where the tourney is in a video .Vlog that, im sure all the BK fans would show up to bowl as well. Also think it would build your Subs up mingling , get out there and meet your peeps

rubicon uc3 or purple hammer? what do you think would be the best ball to get next?

Hello guys when I was a very young kid I was like 4 years old my parents signed me up for a bowling league and during this bowling league on Saturdays and they would also be people there to help you learn how to bowl. So having said all that to say this when I was taught about spare shooting from these coaches I guess you can say they taught me to use the 369 spot and I have since watched several other videos done by professionals that also use the 369 so you know from the center of the deck for right-hander going towards the right if you leave the two pin you basically still throw your strike shot and if you leave the the best thing to do though is to move three words to your left and throw your same strike shot and it's going to delay the hook enough to pick up the two pin you leave a four pin and a correction a 6 pin and you end up moving another three boards to the left and then with a 10 pin another three boards now I used to throwing a big look like Mark Roth who was my idol at the time through I left a lot a lot a lot of 10 pins so but I was only averaging probably you know 50% at best of covering the 10:10 so I went out and practice and for three solid hours I did nothing but through at the 10 pin spot whether the pin was there or not and after doing this for like 3 weeks or so my average went up to about 93% of covering the 10 pin and I really never had that much problems with the seven pins so but my point is you know instead of just turning and throwing the ball hard and straight which a person who hooks the ball it's really hard for them to throw the ball straight without putting some sort of rotation on it but use the 369 system

I still struggle with being consistent w/the 10 pin. I usually try to add that into my practice

Sorry for another question, but when you say "spare" ball, what so you mean? I bought a new reactive ball, Track Paragon, and have been trying to just use it, but maybe I should be using my old straight ball?

So are you saying I should buy a second ball that does not hook much for shooting spares? If so, what material and should it be lighter than the strike ball?

Brad aka B-Rad!

I just got a brand new ball and noticed it’s has a bunch of little dots on the surface of the ball there the size of like a pencil tip will this affect my ball poorly?

Ok, Mr Brad "freakin 7 pin" Miller. And I do mean that in jest, sir. I love your tutorial videos, and really enjoyed your BTS of the PBA tour. Keep up the great work.

The Triax spare system seems to help a lot of people out.

As awkward as it might sound, any tips for someone who can't really throw with a straight release? Been bowling since high school (even with house plastic balls) and I've never felt comfortable nor like i was able to throw directly straight line with no hook.

I wish you’d have mentioned where you are standing and looking for that 7 pin shot. I personally think the 7 is much harder to pick consistently than the 10 for a right hander when the lanes aren’t super easy, since going that far cross lane just feels unnatural to close down your shoulder and hips that much. I prefer going “up the left side” but I keep messing with my start position and target trying to get more consistent.

I have so much trouble with the 10 pin especially

Make sense to go lighter on a spare ball to get speed up to cut any hook?

Gentlemen, I was watching a good part of your live stream today. Very good ironically this is my first time watching this particular video. I talked to my Pro shop guy watching a lot of review videos and a lot has changed. I am thinking about getting a urethane ball by also thought about getting a spare ball my Proshop guy thinks a regular spare ball is perfect for it, but I was also told that it can’t take a spot up in the bag, but I’m stuck. Should I get a pitch black or IQ tour 78U they both look great prom with my face two and IQ tour then again I am not the best at execution. When it’s the 7 or 10: I tend to do the following things and most of the time it’s not successful. Number one I tried Boeing straight at it. The problem with that is it’ll go to the middle or if I play too close it automatically gutters. The other approach is I’m afraid the ball down the middle with no pins there. I’m trying to do line diagonally across the lane either two things happen and this is where I run into you you think you’re on the right track and all of a sudden it doesn’t turn in strained out and it ends up in the gutter or on the other hand which tends to have a lot to the seven or 10 then it hooks out to sea. So any specific tips regarding that otherwise great video as always.

Is that a Messenger Pearl at the start?

My plastic ball curves left when shooting spares. What can I do about this.

I've never had a problem with the 7 pin... I've always just stood all the way to right and threw a normal strike ball and it almost ALWAYS finds it's mark.

Have y’all ever bowled at imperial lanes?

What does a "little bit of back up" mean?

Can anyone who reads this recommend a wrist support for me? I have a very bad/weak wrist due to arthritis and carpel tunnel...I need that extends up my forearm to give me more support.. I do not like the type that extends your pointer out as when I do that is puts more of a stain on my bad wrist

Y’all should do a competition of a low ball game, to see who is the best spare shooter?? See if the man, the myth, the legend, Norm Duke wants to play too?? Next video recommendation??😁

I have a problem with 10 pin spares. Would a convention grip ball still hook? My plastic ball with finger tip grip still hooks at the end causing me to miss the 10 pin.

Lmao “we aren’t 100% on any spare.” That’s why I’m 50 / 50 shooting a ten pin 😂😂💀

On your first shot: Throw just enough hook so you get the 10 pin, but keep the shot straight enough that if you miss you leave the 10 pin or a single pin spare. That is success. If you leave more than one pin or hit high and leave the 4 pin, that is failure. Massive hook and entry angle often flirts with second shot danger. On your second shot: Never miss a non-split pickup, especially since you followed the above rule and only have to deal with single pin leaves.

Being a 2 hander my spare ball is the best ball in my bag 😅

Is there a spare drill that you can do at home?

10 pin, 9 pin or 6 pin im always aiming at the 6 pin. So I know I’ll hit any 3 of them and not gutter ball

You know what's never in any video.... how to fix what I do wrong only me all the other videos tell me where to stand how to bowl by the dots what ball to use how to flatten hand how to hook the ball but where do I stand on the days I bowl what ball do I use do I throw it hard or soft... if anything they need a beginners bowling channel I'm being sarcastic BTW

Is that kinda like missing a easy 4 pin on national television??

All we need is one pin, Rodney!

Drills drills drills and more drills

5:15 yo let's give Brad a massive like and subscribe for the cleanest low-ball 10-pin pickup EVER. That was beautiful.

I always curve my ball into the 7 and throw it straight at the 10

I'm still on team 8 baggers.

Well, now we need a Lavoie vs. Miller low-pin showdown like The House did with Packy. Gotta earn that title of best spare shooter lol.

I am planning to quit bowling. I am bowling tonight and I missed four single pin spares, I swear that’s like 40 points, I am bad luck, I swear, does anyone know what to do.

5:50

brad you would have a title if you made a four pin

St Charles Lanes

How are you guys not going to mention the Keven William's theory?! Just throw an 8 bagger every game and you won't need to worry about your spares :P

i love you guys and this channel but these 'off season' videos arent really fun to watch. Feels like you guys are forcing it for continuity of content. I would love to suggest some video ideas for you guys to use, as a youtube content addict, i know i could provide some quality suggestions for the channel, either way, love you guys and ill watch every video dropped but..

🤟👍

I realize that muscle memory, reps and not wanting to burn oil dictates throwing hard and straight at most spares. But I don't understand why pros, especially on TV for money, throw hard n straight at buckets and washouts. Seen so many chopped and missed and losing games for these guys that you'd think you'd just line it up like you were taught as a youngin.

Is Brad high?

Btw never run into the other lane like a leprechaun. 9:00

Not said enough: I see many who move RIGHT to hit 10 pin! 🤦‍♂️ They limit lane and aren't good enough to only use 5 or 10 boards for full length (if that). Makes no sense. Move left!!

Bounce it out or it doesn't count

First!

Brad says he’s the best spare shooter…..I think not says the 4 pin! Lol

Just want to learn how to throw a hook not buy anything

First

I'm experimenting with my eyes. What do you stare at?

did not watch your video.. just read heading... you want to know how to be great spare shooter... learn to BOWL not chunk .. you younger guys have balls that hook by themselves, you draw back either one handed or two and chunk ball as hard as you can from one gutter to the other & if you don't chunk hard enough it leaves you all kinds of crap to try for a spare..please.. learn to bowl and make spares then if you want to be a two handed draw back and chunk type at least you know basics and can make spares.