I need to get a ball for shooting spares. I was wondering if there are any concerns with getting a ball that is a second/blem, or a used ball that has been plugged? Would this be a problem?

As long as it's drilled properly to fit your hand correctly, and it's a plastic ball (or if you throw it straight, it wouldn't matter) than it's perfectly fine for a spare ball.

it shouldn't be a problem with a blem or used ball. as only you make sure you drill it to your specs and you should be good to go. i like the idea of a used ball for a spare ball. i should have done that my self.

Technically a plastic ball is a plastic ball. When they plug it they fill it with plastic. So I 'spose you could have a ball that has been plugged ten times and still roll like it was new.

Thanks guys, that confirms what I was thinking.

With regards to a spare ball:

How do you line up straight spare shots? Middle arrow? Or do you stick with the second arrow and adjust your feet?

Where is a good starting point for straight shots?

Here is my spare system:

I am a big advocate of throwing straight at all of your spares.

To learn to throw the ball straight, stand on the 7 board with your left foot (right handed), aim at the two board at the arrows and try to throw the ball straight up the gutter and pick off the 10 pin. This exercise will help teach you to stay behind the ball and throw a straight ball.

My spare system uses the middle arrow for all but a few spares. Start by lining up to pick the 10 pin out of the rack using a straight shot across the middle arrow, take note of where your feet are. Keep trying until you can pick the 10 pin out of a full rack of pins when ever you want. Like I said pay attention to where your feet are, as this is where all of your other spares are based on.

The pins line up with the arrows, 10 pin is on 5, 6 is on 10, 3 and 9 are on 15, the 1 and 5 are on 20, the 2 and 8 are on 25, the 4 is on 30 and the 7 is on 35.

There is a two at the pins to one at the arrows ratio, so if you move your feet one board to the right and aim at the same target, the ball will finish 2 to the left. Lets say you lined up to pick the 10 out of the rack and you were standing on 35 and going across 20 at the arrows, to hit the 9 pin you move your feet 5 boards to your right and stand on 30, the 8 pin you would stand on 25 and the 7 you would stand on 20. You will have to experiment as everyone's body is different, some move 6 boards between pins others move 7, I move 7 to start with from 37 for my 10 to 30 for my 9 then 25 for my 8 and 20 for my 7.

The 4,5,and 6 pins are half way between the 10 and 9, 9 and 8, 8 and 7.

The only thing I shoot different is washout splits (1,2,4, and 10) and buckets (2,4,5,and 8) I shoot them standing 33 and going straight up 25.

If you are having a problem with the left side spares it usually means your shoulders are not square to the 7 or what ever spare you are shooting. It also probably means you are walking and lining up straight with the boards instead of square to your target.