As you know, the game of bowling is more than just bowling strikes every frame. You are going to be placed in situations where you have to complete a spare instead of that coveted strike. So practice for them! Practicing bowling for spares isn’t the always the most fun, but you’ll be much better off stringing several spares together rather than getting more strikes and leaving open frames in between. Learning how to bowl for spares is a strategy that could push your bowling game from a 150 to one that is 200 or more.

The great news is that there are some things you can do to greatly improve your spare pickups, instead of just hoping that you luck out.

Make Adjustments

Making adjustments to your bowling stance to the left or right depending on the pins still standing will help give you a better chance to pick up a spare. A rule of thumb is to move in increments of five boards. For example: if you move ten boards to the left, and aim at the same target on the lane, your bowling ball should go ten boards to the right of your first ball target. Find out which board the remaining pin is on and make the appropriate adjustments.

When facing a single pin spare, some bowlers tend to straighten up their shot and go with less hook. It’s up to you whether you want to keep your same shot and adjust your target or switch to a straighter bowl. When you’re just getting started, you should try both and go with what feels most natural.

Approach and Delivery Consistency

In order to bowl for spares consistently, you will need to have your bowling fundamentals under control. Your delivery and approach will need to be as consistent as possible in order for you to be able to hit your intended target time after time. However, due to different lane conditions and other factors that can affect the path of your ball, your spare adjustments won’t always be perfect every time. So working on the approach and delivery of your ball will help you know how to read the lane conditions, and make adjustments.