When you leave a single pin standing, it is easy to decide where to stand and which target you'll use to pick up the spare. It is when multiple pins or splits are left that many beginner bowlers tend to have problems deciding where to aim and throw for the spare combination.

Remember that on a "perfect" strike hit, the ball only touches four pins - the 1, 3, 5, and 9. The 3 pin hits the 6 pin which, in turn, takes out the 10. The 1 pin goes into the 2 pin, which then covers the 4 which then gets the 7. And finally (for explanation purposes), the 5 pin takes out the 8 pin.

Here, then are the general guidelines that will make it easy for you line up quicker and have more confidence with which to pick up your spares:

1. Get a non-hooking spare ball. In the modern era of bowling, this is a must because the back ends of the lanes are just too unpredictable. A rubber- or plastic-surfaced ball insures that your spare ball will roll consistently and not over-react or under-react to the drier (albeit, "spotty"} pin deck area of the bowling lane.

Note: If you cannot, or will not, get a spare ball (the reason doesn't matter) then you will have to just have to practice more and hone your accuracy to the "nth degree."

2. If there is a 1 pin or 5 pin left standing (alone or in a combination), line up and aim the same as you would for a strike ball. I refer to this as your "strikeline."

3. If the pins that are remaining are on the right of the 1 pin ("headpin"), move to your left.

4. If the pins remaining are on the left of the headpin, move to your right.

5. In combination leaves, identify the "key pin" and line up your spare shot on it. There are thousands of spare combinations; but learning how to spot the key pin will make it easier for you to know where to stand and where to aim to convert the spare.

• If the pins are in a solid group (or cluster), the front-most pin is the key pin.

• In "baby splits" (3-10, 2-7, 1-4, etc.) and side-by-side (4-5, 5-6, 7-8, etc.), the missing pin the is the key pin.

• In wide splits (4-6, 4-6-7, 4-6-10, etc.) it is best to aim for the side which will give you the highest pin count; but move your target by one or two boards further to the outside or inside of the mark. This insures the higher pin count but give you a chance (although slight) to luck out and pick up the big split.

6. Try to get your spare shooting targets down to no more than two - this is in addition to your strikeline. My suggestion would be the 2nd arrow for the left side spares and the 3rd arrow for the left side spares.

It can never be overstated that practice is of prime importance in becoming a high percentage spare shooter. In a recent issue of the "US Bowler" magazine, Walter Ray Williams was cited as having the highest spare conversion rate on the PBA Tour and that was 87%. The closer you can get to that standard, the higher your scores and of course, your average, will be. The difference between a 130 average bowler and a 150 average bowler is only two to three more spares per game.

Keep in mind, also, this basic truism that you will hear all bowling coaches tell to their students, "throw for your spares and the strikes will come." Believe it!

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)