When you’re lining up your bowling shot, it’s natural for many bowlers to look at the pins as they aim their shot. After all, the whole object of the game is to knock them down so this makes perfect sense! But is this the best place to look?
Most casual or social bowlers will look at the pins as they roll. And for them, who most likely don’t care too much about their score, this is perfectly fine.
But for those who want more consistency in their stroke and higher scores (which we guess is just about all visitors to this website!) there is a much better strategy for where to look when you make your shot.
Looking at the Bowling Lane Arrows
Most serious bowlers don’t look at the pins, but rather at the target arrows that you will find on the lane. More specifically, there are seven target arrows that run across roughly 15 feet down the lane.
Even though it can be tempting to just look at the pins, aiming at these arrows will give you a lot more bowling consistency.
Why is this? Well, for one, the pins are a whole lot farther away (60 feet), while the arrows are a whole lot closer (15 feet).
Would you rather hit a target that’s relatively close to you, or one that’s four times as far away? We’d definitely pick the closer target, and that’s why hitting your target arrow will bring you a more consistent shot.
Many people refer to this as spot bowling, since you are aiming at a spot on the lane rather than the pins which are situated at the very end of it.
So the next step is to determine which arrow to actually aim at. This actually gets a little complicated, as it depends on what type of bowling shot you employ and also if you are right or left handed.
At the most basic level, aiming at the center arrow will line you up with the center or head pin, assuming that you roll a straight ball that doesn’t curve.
But if you bowl with a hook, you will want to aim at an arrow farther to the side you roll from (right handers on the right; left handers on the left.)
Don’t forget, however, that hitting the head pin with your bowling ball dead on will lead to a frustrating split, so shoot to hit the pocket instead.
And in addition to the arrows, some bowlers prefer to aim at the dots that are spread across the lane even closer than the arrows.
This is a personal preference, but the main take away point is that you shouldn’t look at the pins if you’re serious about consistency!
Where do you like to aim when making your shot on the bowling lane?
While bowling at arrows is ONE method or targteting, you should take into effect your body size the way you walk to foul line and the lane conditions. Many more experienced bowlers actually find a spot further down the lane on hte floor at one or tow boards of where they want there ball to break into the pocket. My advise to you is to find a good coach and let him help you get set with your feet and eyes, it will save you a lot of time in the future.