Corner pins look easy.
They are just one pin.
But every bowler knows the truth: the 10 pin and 7 pin can ruin a good game fast.
You can throw a solid shot, hit the pocket, and still leave a corner pin staring back at you. The good news is that corner pins usually become easier when you stop guessing and start using a repeatable spare plan.
This guide will show you how to make corner pins in bowling with simple 10 pin and 7 pin spare tips, better targeting, better alignment, and smarter practice.
One important thing first: every bowler is different.
Your speed, rev rate, release, hand position, comfort level, and lane conditions all matter. The ideas below are not strict rules for every person. They are strong starting points. The goal is to test them, adjust them, and build a spare system that fits your own game.
What Are Corner Pins in Bowling?
Corner pins are the pins at the back corners of the pin deck.
For many right handed bowlers, the toughest corner pin is the 10 pin.
For many left handed bowlers, the toughest corner pin is the 7 pin.
They are difficult because they sit far away from your normal strike line. If you try to shoot them with your normal hook, the ball can easily miss because of oil, friction, speed changes, or too much hand rotation.
That is why many bowlers prefer a straighter spare shot for corner pins.
Why Bowlers Miss Corner Pins
Most missed corner pins come from simple issues:
- Too much hook
- No clear target
- Unstable foot alignment
- Changing speed under pressure
- Not using a repeatable spare system
- Practicing strikes more than spares
The biggest mistake is not always technical.
Sometimes the bowler simply does not have a clear plan.
For corner pins, repetition usually beats guessing.
A Simple Way to Shoot Corner Pins
For many bowlers, the easiest method is to shoot corner pins as straight as possible.
That usually means:
- Use a plastic spare ball if you have one
- Keep your wrist flatter
- Reduce side rotation
- Aim across the lane
- Keep your speed steady
- Finish toward your target
A straighter spare shot reduces lane reaction. That can make the shot easier to repeat.
But comfort matters.
Some bowlers can shoot spares well with a reactive ball. Some prefer urethane. Some flatten their hand better than others. The key is not copying someone exactly. The key is finding a method you can repeat under pressure.
How to Make the 10 Pin and 7 Pin in Bowling
The 10 pin and 7 pin are similar shots, but they are mirrored depending on your bowling hand.
For a right handed bowler, the 10 pin is usually shot by standing more left and throwing across the lane.
For a left handed bowler, the 7 pin is usually shot by standing more right and throwing across the lane.
A simple starting point:
- Move to the opposite side of the approach
- Use a plastic spare ball if possible
- Aim around the middle arrow or a nearby board
- Keep your hand quiet
- Roll the ball straighter across the lane
- Finish toward the corner pin
This is not the only way to make corner pins.
Your exact board, arrow, and angle may be different. What matters is that you find a line that feels natural and repeatable.
Try not to over hook the spare.
Try not to slow down too much.
The goal is simple: clear target, clean release, steady speed.
Should You Use a Spare Ball?
For most bowlers, yes.
A plastic spare ball is one of the easiest ways to improve corner pin spare shooting.
Plastic reacts less to the lane. That means your ball usually goes straighter and is less affected by oil patterns, dry boards, or lane transition.
But if you do not have a spare ball, you can still improve.
You can work on:
- Flattening your wrist
- Reducing hand rotation
- Keeping speed consistent
- Choosing a better target
- Repeating the same setup
A spare ball helps, but the system still matters.
Where Should You Aim?
Do not aim only at the pin.
Aim at a closer target on the lane, usually the arrows or a specific board.
The arrows are much closer than the pins, so they give your brain a better reference point.
Simple targeting rule
Pick one arrow or board and test it.
If you miss right or left, adjust your feet slightly.
Do not change everything at once.
Your target should feel clear, comfortable, and repeatable.
Keep Your Speed and Hand Simple
Many bowlers miss corner pins because they get careful.
They slow down.
They guide the ball.
They turn their hand too much.
For corner pins, simple usually works better.
Think:
- Steady speed
- Quiet hand
- Clean release
- Straight roll
- Finish toward target
This does not mean every bowler must throw the exact same way.
It means your spare shot should remove unnecessary movement. The less the ball depends on hook, the easier it usually is to repeat.
Practice Corner Pins on Purpose
Do not only practice strikes.
If you want to make more corner pins, practice them directly.
Simple corner pin drill
- Shoot 10 shots at the 10 pin
- Shoot 10 shots at the 7 pin
- Count how many you make
- Write the number down
- Repeat next practice
Then adjust based on what you see.
If you miss the same side often, your setup may need a small move.
If your ball hooks away, your hand may be too active.
If your speed changes, focus on rhythm.
The goal is not to copy a perfect system.
The goal is to build your own reliable system.
Final Thoughts
If you want to make more corner pins in bowling, keep the plan simple.
Use a straighter shot if it fits your game.
Aim at the lane, not just the pin.
Keep your speed steady.
Keep your hand quiet.
Practice the 10 pin and 7 pin on purpose.
But remember: bowling is personal.
Your best spare system depends on your release, ball choice, speed, comfort, and the lane condition in front of you.
The basics matter, but your system must fit you.
Bowledge helps bowlers build smarter systems for spare shooting, targeting, lane reading, ball motion, and better decision making on the lane.
When your spare game gets better, your whole game becomes more stable.
For more general improvement, read our full guide on 10 bowling tips to improve your game faster.