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Defeating the Enemy

Or, How to Convert That Pesky Corner Pin

I'm talking about the dreaded 10-pin, of course. (I'm addressing right-handers here. I'll talk to lefties in a few paragraphs.)

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For some people, the 10 is just another ho-hum, easy spare opportunity. But for others, it's the leave that can cause the strong to weep. It sits down there, 62 feet, 10.25 inches from the foul line, taunting you. 

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I'm convinced that people tend to miss the 10 because of a fear of failure. When they attempt to convert it, they either tug the ball to the left, away from the pin, or they over-throw the ball and toss it into the gutter ten feet in front of the pin.

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There's a secret to converting the 10-pin: Don't aim for it. Instead, aim for the pin that sits in front of it: the invisible 6-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 normally stands. Your ball will cover the 10 as you "hit" the 6.

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For left-handers, your scary corner pin is the 7. No problem: Aim for the 4-pin.

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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.

(415) 419-4501

USBCBowlingCoach@aol.com

 

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