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Ten Pin Cross-Lane

Roll across the lane to knock down a corner pin on the far side.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Right-handers aim at the 10 pin by starting on the left side; left-handers aim at the 7 from the right.

Core: Three. Beat your own best spares.

Ages
7 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Bowling ball, lane
Level · skill
Beginner · Spares

The steps

How it works

  1. Right-handers aim at the 10 pin by starting on the left side; left-handers aim at the 7 from the right.
  2. Walk straight toward your target.
  3. Roll a straight ball.
  4. Roll 10 and count makes.

Coaching point

Cross the lane, walk straight.

Safety: Never step past the foul line; the lane is oily and slippery. Wait for the pinsetter to finish before you bowl, and never go down the lane.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Pin-pick game: pick a spare leave and aim for it. The pair keeps one total of spares made and tries to top its own last session.

Challenge

Pick a leave: Less (two pins), Core (three), More (a split you choose). Beat your own best spares.

Story

You are a detective cleaning up the last pins one by one.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best spares. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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