Defeating the Enemy

Or, How to Convert (knock down) That Pesky Corner Pin

​

For right-handers, I'm talking about the dreaded 10-pin, of course. For lefties, it's the equally-dreaded 7-pin.

​

For some people, the 10 and 7 are just ho-hum, easy spare opportunities. But for others, they are the leaves that can cause the strong to weep. They sit down there, 62 feet, 10.25 inches from the foul line, taunting you. 

​

I think people tend to miss corner pins because of performance anxiety. When they attempt the conversion, instead of committing to a confident follow-through, they "freeze-up" as they release the ball, tugging it inside, away from the pin. Sometimes, though, they get brave, over-throw the ball, and toss it into the gutter ten feet in front of the pin.

​

The good news is, there's a secret to converting a corner pin: Don't aim for it. Instead, aim for the pin that sits in front of it on a full rack. For right-handers, it's the invisible 6-pin; left-handers should target the 4-pin. Simply roll a hard polyester or a really hard old, rubber ball over the third arrow from the right, straight at where the 6 or 4 normally stand. Your ball will cover the 10 (or 7) as you "hit" the 6 (or 4).

​

​

Whether you're after the 10-pin or the 7-pin, the idea here is to take anxiety out of the picture. By aiming for a pin that's closer to you and fairly far away from the gutter, you take anxiety out of the equation and drastically increase your chances of success.