AboutChip Aki Expertise Ball drilling/fitting, Layouts, coaching related questions, any. USA Bowling Bronze Certified Coach, International Bowling Pro Shops and Instructors Assocation member, 15 years Experience in ball drilling, Storm Staff member.
Experience Team USA State Champion Indiana'87 and Lousiana '97, National Collegiate Championship Wichita State '87, Ky state Singles Champion '99,Team USA National Finalist '97,'98, USBC Open Singles Champion 2007 (814 series)
Cher wrote at 2006-08-23 14:59:19
I am a five pin bowler. To answer your question, it is possible to spare after the headpin has been removed. It is hard to do so and is very rare. If you have a lot of power behind your ball, it may be easier to make the spare.
Matt McLean (Canadian National Champion 2006) wrote at 2007-06-20 01:52:01
To answer this question, yes it is possible to spare when the headpin (5 pin) is missing. It is very hard to do and rare but if you throw the ball with enough spin and in the right spot you can have a chance. Usually it happens with having the right hop. I have done it numerous times myself, and know where to throw the ball, its just the matter of hitting that exact spot. It also depends on the oiling of the lanes, the rubber around the pins, and other technical stuff. But yes, it is possible to spare.
icemanbowler wrote at 2007-10-01 19:22:34
Yes it can be spared but it is very hard to do.
It is not done very often.
Iceman
Pauly wrote at 2007-10-09 06:47:38
I think it would be possible for a high rev bowler throwing the ball quite hard. Maybe throwing a very light ball at it my spare it as light balls have very interesting leaves.
:)
James wrote at 2007-12-30 19:57:29
It is very rare, but it can be done. Someone in my league has managed to knock down all but the head pin on his first ball, so sparing the head pin is certainly possible.
jaydee wrote at 2008-11-26 05:53:47
It is extremley difficult make a headpin spare in five pin bowling. This because the one has to make a three pin move at nearly a 90 degree angle to take out the three and two pin on the opposite side. After punching a headpin, it looks like this:
BEFORE: 5 AFTER:
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
