It's the tenth frame, you just spared and you need 1 pin to win your match. Do you:

[can-ham]

Shoot your normal strike ball and shot
Throw your spare ball up the middle for count


Just curious about everyones thoughts on this. In the past If I heard the phrase "he needs one pin to win" I would usually dump it in the gutter. As of late I've been taking the pros (we several do this like Chris Barns) and just throwing my spare (plastic) ball up the middle.

Curious about everyone else's approach to this?

[jman69]

I would use my strike ball and move to the right and stroke it up the 10 board. That is a pretty straight shot for me so absolutely no fears about throwing it in the channel.:cool:

[Lightning1]

1 pin for the win

spare ball....stand at 25, throw over center arrow, watch split happen and win match

UNLESS

I have 11 in a row going into the last ball....with one pin to decide, I would throw my strike shot, which only moves out to the 6 or 7 board anyways and go for the 300...

[JoshWithrow]

I'd just throw a normal strike. I place the ball at about the 17 board, swing it to 12, and it just comes in. I've never really messed that up.

[BlackWidow95]

I don't gun it down the middle, I honestly don't think that is the smartest way to go about it.. If it is down the middle all you need to do is grab your strike ball, plain and simple.. Unless, your horribly inconsistant.

[jman69]

I agree. Besides, I dont even have a spare ball anyway.:o

[BradM]

I'd send it straight up the middle unless I had a really high score.:o

[technik]

id go for my usual strike ball and hope for another strike but slowing down some to make sure no gutter.

[slap]

I don't throw many gutter balls so it's business as usual for me.

[jedi47]

My normal strike shot,,,,, down & in off of 5.

[Thepainscoming]

i would throw my strike ball with no hand down the middle. The reason y is that my house puts out a sport pattern so i sometimes gutter it.

[Street Racer]

normal strike line...

[dw800seeker]

On sport pattern I would shoot spare ball. Gutters are available right and left on the PBA patterns. Let me know if I am wrong!

[#1_HawgZilla_Owner]

I've been in this situation before and I just throw my strike ball. Since I started bowling, last Summer league and this past Winter league, so for 1 year, I have only thrown the ball in the gutter once since I started bowling.

[Toolman-Tim]

Strike ball for me.

[Blackwidow-Mac]

I'm guessing if your shooting for one pin to win you're the anchor. Throw your stike ball and win. The reason your the anchor is your steady and a gutter ball is not likly to happen from you.

[can-ham]

I'm guessing if your shooting for one pin to win you're the anchor. Throw your stike ball and win. The reason your the anchor is your steady and a gutter ball is not likly to happen from you.

Actually in our league it is a classed scratch so we have three bowlers each in a different average range. So each game is a match between the bowlers in each scratch we also get points for totals.

If I'm running a good game 200+ I always throw my strike ball. But if it's down to a few pin for the win, I start thinking about the getter and then slip there it goes. Last year I dumped it in twice. So this year when it comes up I just spare it up the middle take my points a sit down. I also like how it makes the other team mad.

[BlackWidow95]

I also like how it makes the other team mad.

Lol, I don't see how it makes teams mad.. But, if thats the case maybe I outta start doin' it, lol..

[can-ham]

Lol, I don't see how it makes teams mad.. But, if thats the case maybe I outta start doin' it, lol..

So some of the other teams know that I've dumped it before (the A bowlers talk about peoples weakness) So they think there is a lock by saying he needs one pin in ear shot. Or they will directly say "don't dump it". And I love it because some times I'm not paying attention to the score so when I hear that I check the score, put down my strike ball and fire the spare ball. They get mad cause they lose the chance of me f-ing it up...

[Gryndryno]

I would grab my spare ball and throw it down the middle, the count isn't the issue as much as I believe it is a show of good sportsmanship, the same thing as dribbling out the clock with 15 seconds when you don't need another basketball. Just shows you aren't trying to rub anyone's noses in it.

[BlackWidow95]

I would grab my spare ball and throw it down the middle, the count isn't the issue as much as I believe it is a show of good sportsmanship, the same thing as dribbling out the clock with 15 seconds when you don't need another basketball. Just shows you aren't trying to rub anyone's noses in it.

I agree with you to an extent, but I bowl to score well.. So, throwing a strike to me, wouldn't be rubbing their noses in it.. Kinda understand what I'm sayin'??

[Gryndryno]

I agree with you to an extent, but I bowl to score well.. So, throwing a strike to me, wouldn't be rubbing their noses in it.. Kinda understand what I'm sayin'??

totally, I don't disagree with you.

[BlackWidow95]

totally, I don't disagree with you.

I think either way is okay.. It is really just personal preference, I really don't throw the ball in the gutter, I play down and in off the 10 board, so it is a REALLY rare occurance..

But, for those feeling more comfortable throwing the spare ball, more power to ya!!

I get what ur sayin' to though, Gryn.. I don't disagree with you either..

[can-ham]

Hey if I'm in the pot then every pin counts. But this situation came up in play-offs two weeks ago.

My opponent struck out for a 150, I just picked up a spare for 150 plus my next shot. If I win that's 2 more points to our team plus we already had total pins. So a 157 isn't as good as a 160, but a guaranteed chance of winning is better than a 99% chance.

I think generally in bowling people compete with themselves first for high score and then with others for points. I am never offended if the person I'm bowling run up the score. But it does fuel my effort for the next game :D

[Thepainscoming]

On sport pattern I would shoot spare ball. Gutters are available right and left on the PBA patterns. Let me know if I am wrong!

Yeah because if you get it past 5 with too much swing, it's in the gutter. I usually play around 12-10 and back. I would probably start to sweat, thumb get stuck, then in the ditch.