The 3-6-9 Spare System: How It Works

The 3-6-9 spare system is one of the simplest ways to pick up spares more consistently. Instead of finding a new target for every leave, you keep the target you use for your strike ball and change only where you stand on the approach – by 3, 6 or 9 boards, depending on which pin is left standing.

What is the 3-6-9 spare system?

The 3-6-9 spare system is a set of fixed moves for your starting position. You move your feet a set number of boards in the direction opposite the spare, while your eyes stay on your usual target on the lane. Because only one thing changes, the adjustment is easy to remember and easy to repeat.

To use it, you need to know your strike line and be able to count boards. If you are not yet familiar with arrows, dots and boards, start with our guide to targeting with arrows, dots and boards.

The 3-6-9 moves for right-handed bowlers

Start from your normal strike position and keep the same target. Then move your feet as follows:

• 3 boards: for the 2-pin or the 3-pin, the pins closest to the centre.
• 6 boards: for the 4-pin or the 6-pin.
• 9 boards: for the corner pins, the 7-pin or the 10-pin.

The direction is always opposite the spare: when the pin stands on the left, move right; when it stands on the right, move left. For the 7-pin, a right-hander therefore moves 9 boards to the right; for the 10-pin, 9 boards to the left.

Left-handed bowlers mirror the system: the same numbers apply, with the pins and directions swapped.

Why moving your feet works

When you start from a different board but roll the ball over the same target, the ball crosses the lane on a different angle. The further you move, the larger the change in angle, and the further across the pin deck the ball arrives. This is why a small move covers the pins near the centre and a large move reaches the corner pins.

How the angles work for individual leaves is explained in our article on the most important spare-shooting angles.

Fine-tuning the numbers

The 3-6-9 moves are a starting point. Ball speed, the ball you use and the lane conditions all influence where the ball actually goes, so many bowlers adjust the numbers to their own game. Note which spare you left, which move you made and whether you converted it. After a few sessions you will see whether your personal numbers differ from the standard moves.

A plastic ball for spares

The 3-6-9 spare system works best with a ball that goes straight. A plastic (polyester) ball hooks very little and is much less affected by the oil on the lane than a reactive strike ball, so it travels close to the line you aim for. That makes it well suited to single pins and especially to the corner pins. The differences between the two ball types are covered in reactive resin vs polyester bowling balls, and the 10-pin in particular in how to shoot the 10-pin spare more consistently.

How to practise the 3-6-9 spare system

• Use the approach dots. They help you find your starting board and count your move precisely.
• Practise specific spares. Pick one leave, for example the 10-pin, and repeat the move and the shot several times in a row.
• Keep a record. Write down the leave, the move and the result.
• Walk a straight line. The system assumes that you walk to the foul line the same way every time. If your approach drifts, the angle changes even from the right starting board.

A consistent approach needs a predictable slide

Every spare system relies on a repeatable approach, and that includes your last step: the slide into the foul line. Shoes whose soles slide the same way every time make that easier. BOWLIO bowling shoes have a genuine leather upper and a full-length leather sole under both shoes, which makes them suitable for left- and right-handed bowlers, from beginners to professionals.