Key points
- The 3-6-9 system keeps the same target and only moves your feet: 3, 6 or 9 boards depending on the key pin.
- Left-side pins (2, 4, 7, 8): move to the right; right-side pins (3, 6, 10, 9): move to the left.
- The key pin is the one closest to the bowler: it is the one you need to hit to knock down the others.
- A split requires the headpin to be down and a gap between the remaining pins.
- Boards are counted from the edge on your bowling hand side: from the right for a right-hander, from the left for a left-hander.
How the 3-6-9 system works
The 3-6-9 system is the most widely taught method for converting spares. The idea is simple: you always keep the same target on the arrows (the one from your strike line) and only change where you stand. By moving over, you change the ball's angle, so it goes after a different pin at the far end of the lane.
For a right-handed bowler, with a strike position on board 20 and targeting the 2nd arrow (board 10), the moves are as follows.
| Key pin | Feet move | New board |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 5 | None (strike line) | 20 |
| 2 or 8 | 3 boards to the right | 17 |
| 4 | 6 boards to the right | 14 |
| 7 | 9 boards to the right | 11 |
| 3 or 9 | 3 boards to the left | 23 |
| 6 | 6 boards to the left | 26 |
| 10 | 9 boards to the left | 29 |
For a left-hander, the physical moves are the same (to the right for left-side pins, to the left for right-side pins), but because boards are counted from the left, the numbers change in the opposite direction. The tool does the conversion automatically.
Finding the key pin
In a leave with several pins, the key pin is the one closest to you. For the 2-4-5-8 bucket, it is the 2 pin: by hitting it on the right side, the ball takes out the 4, 5 and 8. So you line up as for the 2 pin, i.e. 3 boards to the right for a right-hander. When the headpin is still standing with pins on one side only (for example 1-2-4), aim for the pocket on that side rather than dead centre.
Split or spare: how to tell them apart
Under the rules, a split is a leave where the headpin is down and either at least one pin is down between two standing pins (7-10, 3-10, 4-6), or a pin is down immediately in front of two neighbouring pins (5-6 when the 3 pin is down). On a scoresheet, a split is often marked with a circle. Leaves such as the 2-8 or 3-9, where one pin is hidden behind another, are not splits: they are called sleepers.
Nicknames of famous leaves
- 7-10: the “goalposts”, the most dreaded split, converted less than once in a hundred attempts by professionals.
- Bucket (2-4-5-8 or 3-5-6-9): a compact diamond-shaped cluster, which can be converted by hitting the key pin.
- Washout (1-2-4-10): looks like a split, but the headpin is standing, so it is not one.
- Baby split (2-7 or 3-10): two pins separated by a single gap, which the ball can hit together.
- Big Four (4-6-7-10) and Greek Church (4-6-7-9-10 or 4-6-7-8-10): very difficult splits.
Corner pins: the exception
The 10 pin for a right-hander (and the 7 pin for a left-hander) is in the corner opposite your bowling hand: the ball has to travel right across the lane. Many bowlers then switch to a plastic ball and throw it dead straight, diagonally across the lane: with no hook, it does not react when it leaves the oil and follows exactly the line you aimed at. The 3-6-9 system still works with a reactive ball, provided you know the lane conditions well.
To adjust your strike line itself, use our 2-for-1 adjustments tool and read our guide on how to pick up spares.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 3-6-9 system in bowling?
It is a method for picking up spares: you keep the same target on the arrows as for your strike ball and only move your feet 3, 6 or 9 boards depending on the pin you are aiming at. For example, a right-hander moves 9 boards to the left for the 10 pin.
How do you pick up the 10 pin in bowling?
A right-hander moves 9 boards to the left while keeping the same target, or uses a plastic ball thrown straight, diagonally, from the left side of the approach. A left-hander applies the same logic to the 7 pin.
What is the difference between a split and a spare?
A spare means knocking down all the remaining pins with your 2nd ball. A split is a difficult leave where the headpin is down and there is a gap between the standing pins, such as the 7-10.
Does the 3-6-9 system work for left-handers?
Yes. The physical moves are identical: to the right for left-side pins, to the left for right-side pins. Only the board numbering changes, since boards are counted from the left for a left-hander. The tool handles both cases.
What is a bucket in bowling?
The bucket is the 2-4-5-8 leave for a right-hander, or 3-5-6-9 for a left-hander. The key pin is the 2 (or the 3): you need to hit it lightly on the correct side to knock down all four pins.