That is so true! I've always heard that spares make a game, and strikes are just an added bonus.

Absolutely. Keeping a game clean is extremely important. Sure you can string a few to make up for an open, but if you're going to be consistently putting up numbers, gotta make the makable. Carry can be fickle, but you can can't blame carry on missing the 10-pin after leaving it!

That's one of my problems. I forgot the basics to pick up spares. I use to never have to think about it. I saw what I had to shoot at...I knew where to stand, and what to do. It just came natural. Now, I have no idea, and I can't follow through on a spare shot. Having to relearn how to bowl, is very frustrating.