Double wood and the bucket are 2 of the only spares you see most pros hook the ball at.

There are just so many different ways to leave something on the bucket no matter what your style for picking it up. I believe Norm likes to go straight up the lane at it pushing the 2 pin straight back into the 8 pin with the ball pushing through and catching the 4 and 5 pins. As long as he's not completely off, at most he leaves a pin. I think this way is the best.

Other ways of doing it, such as hooking, or even coming at an angle can be a little unpredictable, kicking some pins around.

There is always the risk of deflection with a straight ball, and a chop with a hook for double wood spares.

I tend to play a hook. Rarely miss a 2-8 or 3-9, but the 2-4-5-8 has given me trouble. I usually leave the 5, and if I play right more, the 8 stays. I have changed to playing more of a straight line rather than cross, and it seems to be helping. It's a matter of correct targeting.

Where I will often hit both the 2 and 8 with the ball, I don't on the bucket.

That was my point, either way has risks, but straight takes any lane condition out of the equation, but requires accuracy. Hooking at them puts you at the mercy of the lanes while needing a little less accuracy. A hang spot and the ball slides a little further maybe deflecting, or missing a front pin or all of them, or a dry spot and it takes off.

Throwing straight at all spares will help you when you bowl on sports shots and the PBA patterns. The lane is basically out of the equation unless the lanes are bone dry. For me its usually...If I hit my mark (on easier spares) I just turn around and walk away and wait for the sound. but yea...Shooting straight at your spares is the way to go. Your accuracy will be so much better when you get good at it and your spare percentages will go up to...give it a shot and see how it goes :]

Of course there are pros and cons of throwing a straight ball vs a hooking ball. But I would have to agree with Recobbs and Cal. Throwing a straight ball is a much better way to become more accurate, and take the lane out of the equation. You have to get used to throwing a straight ball at certain spares and learn how and where to throw the ball at those spares.