What is the 3-6-9 spare system in bowling?

The 3-6-9 spare system is a board targeting method where you move your feet 3, 6, or 9 boards from your strike position depending on which pin you need to pick up. For right-handed bowlers, pins on the right side of the lane require moving feet to the left, and pins on the left require moving feet to the right. You always aim at the same target arrow — only your starting position changes.

How do you pick up the 10 pin spare?

To pick up the 10 pin, stand far left on the approach (about 9 boards left of your strike position for right-handers). Use a plastic spare ball to eliminate hook, aim at the third arrow from the right, and throw straight across the lane diagonally. Consistency in your approach and release is key — the 10 pin is the most missed single-pin spare in bowling.

What is the hardest spare in bowling?

The 7-10 split is the hardest spare in bowling. Both corner pins remain standing with the entire pin deck cleared between them. To convert it, you must clip the inside edge of one pin with enough speed to send it sliding across the deck to hit the other pin. Even professional bowlers convert the 7-10 split less than 1% of the time.

How can I improve my spare conversion rate?

The best ways to improve spare conversion are: 1) Learn and practice the 3-6-9 spare system for consistent targeting, 2) Use a plastic spare ball for cross-lane spares to eliminate hook, 3) Always aim at the arrows on the lane (not the pins), 4) Keep your approach footwork identical for every shot, and 5) Practice specific spares deliberately — especially the 10 pin, which is missed most often.

Bowling Spare Chart - How to Pick Up Every Spare

Why Spares Matter

Converting spares is the fastest way to improve your bowling average. Most recreational bowlers leave 15-30 pins per game on makeable spares alone. Converting just one more spare per game adds roughly 10-15 pins to your average.

A spare is worth 10 plus your next throw. If you leave a spare open, you get zero bonus. That means every missed spare costs you the bonus pins AND the confidence of a clean frame. Professional bowlers convert over 95% of single-pin spares and 85%+ of all spare attempts.

The difference between a 150 average and a 180 average is almost always spare shooting, not strike rate. You do not need to throw more strikes to bowl better — you need to miss fewer spares.

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The 3-6-9 Spare System

The 3-6-9 system is the most popular board targeting method for spare shooting. It gives you a repeatable formula instead of guessing where to stand for each spare.

The concept is simple: start from your strike position (where you stand when throwing at the pocket) and adjust your feet based on which pins remain.

For Right-Handed Bowlers — Pins on the Right Side

3-pin (or 6-pin): Move your feet 3 boards left from strike position. Throw at the same target arrow.
6-pin (or 10-pin): Move your feet 6 boards left from strike position. Same target arrow.
10-pin: Move your feet 9 boards left from strike position. Same target arrow.

For Pins on the Left Side (Mirror)

2-pin (or 4-pin): Move your feet 3 boards right from strike position.
4-pin (or 7-pin): Move your feet 6 boards right from strike position.
7-pin: Move your feet 9 boards right from strike position.

Key principle

Your target on the lane (the arrow you aim at) stays the same. You only move your feet. By shifting where you stand but throwing at the same arrow, you change the angle of the ball to reach different pins. The further right the spare, the further left you stand (and vice versa).

Single Pin Spares

These are the most common leaves and the easiest to convert. Professionals make these 95%+ of the time. If you can consistently pick up single pins, you will see an immediate jump in your average.

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7 Pin

Target: Move 9 boards right from strike position. Aim at the third arrow from the left. Throw straight at it.

Tip: Use a straighter ball — hook balls can curl past the 7 pin. Walk toward your target and follow through directly at the pin.

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10 Pin

Target: Move 9 boards left from strike position. Aim at the third arrow from the right. Throw as straight as possible.

Tip: The 10 pin is the most missed single-pin spare in bowling. Many bowlers use a plastic (polyester) spare ball to eliminate hook. Stand far left, throw diagonally across the lane.

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5 Pin

Target: Stay in your strike position or move 1 board. Aim at your strike target arrow.

Tip: The 5 pin is nearly dead center. Throw your normal strike shot — if your ball is anywhere near the pocket, you will pick it up.

Two-Pin Spares

Two-pin combinations require hitting the lead pin at the correct angle to let it (or the ball) take out the second pin. The key is choosing the right entry angle.

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3-10 Spare

Target: Move 6 boards left from strike position. Aim to hit the 3 pin on its right side — the ball carries through to the 10.

Tip: Hit the 3 pin flush or slightly right. The ball deflects into the 10 pin. Do not try to hit both pins directly.

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6-10 Spare

Target: Move 6-9 boards left. Aim to hit the 6 pin head-on — it flies back and right into the 10.

Tip: This is essentially a 10-pin shot with a wider margin. Hit the 6 and let it do the work.

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2-7 Spare

Target: Move 6 boards right from strike position. Hit the 2 pin on its left side so the ball deflects into the 7.

Tip: Mirror of the 3-10. Hit the 2 pin and let deflection carry the ball to the 7.

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4-7 Spare

Target: Move 6-9 boards right. Hit the 4 pin head-on — it drives back into the 7.

Tip: Similar to the 2-7 but further left. Stand right, throw straight, and hit the 4 flush.

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1-2 Spare

Target: Move 3 boards right from strike position. Aim to hit the 1 pin on its left side — the ball carries through to the 2.

Tip: A slight miss on a Brooklyn shot often leaves this. Aim slightly left of center and let the ball take both pins.

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3-6 Spare

Target: Move 3-6 boards left. Hit the 3 pin on its left side — the ball deflects through the 6.

Tip: The 3 and 6 are stacked vertically, so hitting the 3 head-on or slightly left sends the ball into the 6 naturally.

Three-Pin Spares

Three-pin spares are clusters. The strategy is to hit the front pin at the right angle and let pin action clean up the rest.

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1-2-4 Spare

Target: Move 3-6 boards right. Hit the 1 pin on its left half — the ball drives through the 2, and the 2 takes out the 4.

Tip: Treat this like a Brooklyn pocket shot. The chain reaction does the work if you hit the front pin correctly.

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1-3-6 Spare

Target: Move 3 boards left. Hit the 1 pin on its right half — the ball carries through the 3 into the 6.

Tip: This is essentially your strike shot aimed slightly wider. Same mechanics, slightly adjusted starting position.

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2-4-5 Spare

Target: Move 3-6 boards right. Aim to hit the 2 pin flush — the ball takes the 5, and the 2 kicks into the 4.

Tip: Focus on hitting the 2 pin head-on. Pin action handles the 4 and 5. Do not try to aim at all three.

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3-5-6 Spare

Target: Move 3-6 boards left. Hit the 3 pin flush — the ball carries into the 5 and 6.

Tip: Mirror of the 2-4-5. Hit the front pin dead-on and let physics clear the rest.

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4-7-8 Spare

Target: Move 6-9 boards right. Hit the 4 pin on its right side — the ball deflects to the 8, and the 4 flies into the 7.

Tip: You need the right angle to get all three. Stand far right and throw across the lane at the 4 pin.

Splits

Splits are the hardest spares in bowling — the remaining pins have a gap between them with no adjacent pins to help. Some are nearly impossible, but knowing the right approach gives you the best chance.

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7-10 Split (The "Impossible" Split)

Target: Aim to clip the inside edge of either corner pin at full speed. The pin must fly across the pin deck and hit the other.

Tip: Even professionals convert this less than 1% of the time. Your best bet is to clip one pin on its inside edge with maximum speed so it slides across the deck. Pick up at least one pin to minimize damage.

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4-6 Split (Baby Split)

Target: Aim directly between the two pins. The ball must contact both pins simultaneously.

Tip: This is the most makeable split. If your ball fits between the 4 and 6, you can hit both. Aim dead center at the 5-pin position and throw straight.

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3-10 Split

Target: Hit the 3 pin on its right edge. The 3 must slide across and reach the 10 pin.

Tip: Requires hitting the 3 pin thin on the right side with good speed. The 3 pin kicks right and back to take the 10. A difficult but not impossible conversion.

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2-7 Split

Target: Hit the 2 pin on its left edge. The 2 slides left to take out the 7.

Tip: Mirror of the 3-10 split. Hit the 2 pin thin on the left side so it kicks across to the 7. Throw with speed.

The Bucket

The bucket is a diamond-shaped cluster of four pins. It is one of the most common multi-pin leaves and is very convertible once you know the entry angle.

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2-4-5-8 Bucket (Left Bucket)

Target: Move 3-6 boards right from strike position. Hit the 2 pin on its right side — the ball drives through the 5 and 8, and the 2 kicks left into the 4.

Tip: This is a Brooklyn pocket shot. If you can hit the 1-2 pocket on your strike ball, you can convert the left bucket the same way. Consistent approach and follow-through.

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3-5-6-9 Bucket (Right Bucket)

Target: Move 3-6 boards left from strike position. Hit the 3 pin on its left side — the ball carries through the 5 and 9, and the 3 kicks right into the 6.

Tip: Mirror of the left bucket. This is your regular pocket shot. If your strike ball hits the 1-3 pocket, use that same angle to pick up the right bucket.

Tips for Spare Shooting

1. Use a Straighter Ball for Spares

Hook balls are designed to curve into the pocket — but that curve makes cross-lane spares (especially the 10 pin) unpredictable. Many bowlers carry a plastic (polyester) spare ball that rolls straight. This eliminates the guesswork of how much your ball will hook on different lane conditions.

2. Pick a Target on the Arrows

Never aim at the pins directly — they are 60 feet away and too far for accurate targeting. Instead, pick a specific arrow (15 feet from the foul line) or a dot on the lane as your target. The 3-6-9 system works because you always aim at the same arrow and only move your feet.

3. Be Consistent with Your Approach

Your footwork, timing, and release should be identical on every spare shot. The only variable is where you stand. If your approach changes between strike shots and spare shots, your accuracy will suffer. Practice the same four-step (or five-step) approach for every delivery.

4. Walk Toward Your Target

Your feet should drift toward the arrow you are aiming at during your approach. If you are shooting a 10 pin from the left side, walk slightly right toward your target arrow. Your body naturally follows your feet, and this ensures the ball goes where you want it.

Practice Drills

Deliberate spare practice is the fastest way to lower your average open frame count. Try these drills during your next practice session.

3-6-9 Drill

Bowl an entire practice game using only the 3-6-9 system. On every first ball, intentionally leave a specific pin (or ask the center to set single pins). Cycle through the 7, 10, 3, 6, 2, and 4 pins. Focus on moving your feet the correct number of boards and hitting the same arrow every time.

10 Pin Challenge

Throw 20 consecutive shots at the 10 pin (or 7 pin if you are left-handed). Track how many you convert. Goal: 17 out of 20 (85%). This is the single most impactful spare to practice because it is the most frequently missed. Use your spare ball and focus on a consistent release.

Spare Shooting Game

Bowl a full 10-frame game where you intentionally gutter your first ball in every frame, then try to pick up the full rack as a spare. You will not score well, but you will get 10 chances to throw at all 10 pins from different angles. This builds confidence and muscle memory for various spare leaves.

Track your spare conversion rate

PinTracker shows you exactly which spares you make and miss. Tap the pins still standing, and the app calculates your conversion rate per pin — so you know what to practice.

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Bowling Spare Chart

Why Spares Matter

The 3-6-9 Spare System

Single Pin Spares

7 Pin

10 Pin

5 Pin

Two-Pin Spares

3-10 Spare

6-10 Spare

2-7 Spare

4-7 Spare

1-2 Spare

3-6 Spare

Three-Pin Spares

1-2-4 Spare

1-3-6 Spare

2-4-5 Spare

3-5-6 Spare

4-7-8 Spare

Splits

7-10 Split (The "Impossible" Split)

4-6 Split (Baby Split)

3-10 Split

2-7 Split

The Bucket

2-4-5-8 Bucket (Left Bucket)

3-5-6-9 Bucket (Right Bucket)

Tips for Spare Shooting

1. Use a Straighter Ball for Spares

2. Pick a Target on the Arrows

3. Be Consistent with Your Approach

4. Walk Toward Your Target

Practice Drills

3-6-9 Drill

10 Pin Challenge

Spare Shooting Game

Track your spare conversion rate

Related Tools & Guides

Never miss a makeable spare again