SolveYourProblem Article Series: Bowling
Teach Me How To Bowl

Bowling - The Most Difficult Shots To Make

Of the many different combinations of pins that can make up a bowling shot, some are more difficult than others, and there are a few that strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned bowlers.

Before one can understand what makes up a bowling shot, it helps to understand the pin numbering system. In bowling, each pin position has a number assigned to it, to make it easier to talk about which pins are still standing after a shot. The front pin is the number 1 pin, and the pin on the left side of the next row is number 2. Number 3 is the pin to the right of number 2, and then the numbers continue on to the left side of the next row until the final pin is reached, which is the number 10 pin in the back right corner. Bowling shots are commonly referred to by the pin numbers of the pins that are standing when the bowler is attempting his shot. For example a 1-3 is when the bowler is attempting to knock down the front pin and the one behind it on the right, and a 1-2-4-7 is when the leftmost pins on each row are standing in a line.

One shot that is a relatively difficult one to make is a 10 for a left-handed person, or a 7 for a right handed person. As this shot consists of a single pin on the same side as the bowler’s throwing hand, it allows for very little leeway in the shot due to the close proximity of the pin to the gutter. As many advanced bowlers prefer to throw the ball with a “hook”, or a curve that is caused by a spinning motion, they usually cause the ball to first travel to the right or left of the spot that they want to hit, before curving back to hit the pins. But because the gutter is in the way, this preferred throwing technique cannot be used, and the ball must be thrown in a straight line.

When a bowler is attempting a second shot, and there is a gap between some of the pins, this is known as a “split”. While no split is easy, there are some that are extremely difficult even for top professional bowlers. In fact, there are two splits that are considered the most difficult shots in bowling, one of which is the 3-6-7-10. In a nutshell, this shot consists of three pins lined up on the right, and a single pin in the back left corner. The best way to attempt this shot is to hit between the 3 and 6, and hope that one of them will travel across the lane and pick up the 7 pin, while either the 6 pin or the ball knocks down the number 10.

But the granddaddy of them all, the 7-10 split, is when the two back corners are left standing, and it is considered a rare treat when a split like this is picked up. Some bowlers have a favorite technique that they try when faced with a situation like this, but most people just try to hit one of the pins really hard in an attempt to cause it to bounce across the lane and hit the other pin.

The most difficult shots in bowling can be frustrating, but with some practice, one can become adept at making them from time to time. It is shots like these that keep the game challenging and interesting and if bowling was too easy, then it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.

# # # # #

SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

> Home > Bowling: Main Page