Where do you aim?

[JaMau24]

What mark do you aim for? Do you use an arrow to aim at? Do you use a particular board to aim at? Do you aim out past the arrows or right at the arrows? Some people even use the reflection of the pins to aim at, so what do you do?

I noticed today when I was practicing, I targeted a specific board out past where the arrows are (closer to the break point), and I found that I was much more accurate. Usually, I aim at a board right at where the arrows are and I have a hard time hitting my mark consistently. Aiming further out made me more accurate though (for today anyway), is that normal? I would think it would be easier to hit a mark closer to you than further from you. I certainly found it easier though.

[bowl1820]

In general I aim at the arrows or a board l/r of a arrow, but depending on if I want the ball to react earlier or later. I might aim past the arrows or before them. But I also look at the breakpoint I want to help set up a target line to pay.

Yes its easier to hit a mark closer to you, but most people tend to set the ball down earlier when they do ( or when they aim at a mark farther away they release it later), so you have to be aware of that and project the ball the right amount.

[TheSheibs]

I have been using the second arrow from the end for years now. We all have that one spot that we look at(aim for) that allows us to hit the pocket consistently. Since your not using a mark I wonder if you throw the ball out past the arrows. Do you have long arms that causes you to release the ball further over the foul line then most people?

[billf]

Jason, as with most of my answers; it depends. Have you heard of or read the 3 point targeting system? I use my practice shot to determine what will cork best for me that particular day. Not being left-handed (:eek:) we need to be a tad more versatile.
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_nov_08.pdf

[Etrain]

i always aim for the arrows, 2nd to 3rd usually BUT i never tried aiming past the arrows and i will keep this in mind! next time i play

[MICHAEL]

I always use the arrows! It depends on the lanes which arrow I use. and I also use the dots, form my 3 step no slide approach. Its a killer combination!! Works for me! I start out that way, I am old, and I doubt I will change! Too darn set in my ways!!! And I like it that way!!
Some times I don't look at the darn marks at all!! I just look on down the alley, where the pins look like one solid object, (bad distance vision), and throw the ball! People rely way to much on signs, marks, symbols, characters, directions you name. lol

[billf]

I start out that way, I am old, and I doubt I will change!

Your correct Michael. You started out old and will never change to young again. Oh wait, I took that slightly out of context. It must have been the $20 bill a certain person paid me to harass you lol

[JaMau24]

Jason, as with most of my answers; it depends. Have you heard of or read the 3 point targeting system? I use my practice shot to determine what will cork best for me that particular day. Not being left-handed (:eek:) we need to be a tad more versatile.
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_nov_08.pdf

Interesting. I'm gonna give this a read here in a second.

[MICHAEL]

Interesting. I'm gonna give this a read here in a second.

Don't waste your time Jason... I will be your coach!! I am the ONE,,, not Bill,,,, He's nothing but a coach, and fair bowler,,,, what could he give you that the King Pin can't???
Don't muddle your head with great coaching tips, and pointers..... where will that get Ya!!! (:) LOL!!

[JaMau24]

Jason, as with most of my answers; it depends. Have you heard of or read the 3 point targeting system? I use my practice shot to determine what will cork best for me that particular day. Not being left-handed (:eek:) we need to be a tad more versatile.
http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_nov_08.pdf

Great Read.. Looks like some incredibly helpful information..

I have a question about the "exit point"... I understand if its a 40 foot pattern, you subtract 31 from that and you'll have an exit point at board 9 at 40 feet. Now, are you supposed to just make an educated guess where 40 feet is at on a lane? Or is there an easier way of figuring out where the 40 ft mark is at?

and another question if its a 42 foot US Open pattern (considered one of the hardest patterns in the world), the exit point would be at board 11 at 42 feet, correct? Even on the most difficult pattern out there, this would work? So you'd look at the focal point between pins 3 and 6, move your eyes to the exit point on board 11 at 42 feet, then move your eyes up to your visual, slide at board 18 or so (varying depending on your release), and this would accurately get you into the pocket on a US Open pattern? That seems crazy to me. Also, if that didn't work, would you then just adjust based on the same exit point still? So if I went high, I'd slide my focal point over to about the middle of the 6, draw a line from the focal, through the exit point, then determine a new visual point/slide point?

and another (sorry to bombard you with questions, just find this interesting and want to put it to use), What if you don't know for certain the length of a pattern? I'm not sure the exact distance our house lays down for our typical house shot. I know a THS can vary between 38-40 feet or so, maybe even longer, so what if I don't know for sure? Can I just play as if it were 40 ft long, use the exit point of 9, even though it could be a 38 ft pattern and exit point of 7? Or would that mess it all up? It seems like it would still work out ok, because it seems as though the true helpful part of this is just focusing your eyes using the Quiet Eye System. Am I wrong to think that? or is it actually very important to make sure you know the length, and use the correct exit point and that the 3-point targeting system coupled with the Quiet Eye System is what makes this so good?

Last question, wouldn't ball reaction discredit this a little as well? If you used a strong ball, as opposed to a weak ball, you obviously couldn't stand at the same spot and throw at the same mark. I'm assuming you'd just move left for an aggressive ball, and move your focal to the right, correct?

Thanks again for posting, although you are probably regretting it now after all the questions I have asked lol

[billf]

I will try my best to give the answers as I understand them
1. How do you know where the pattern ends? (40' pattern, where is 40'?) Newer lanes have range finders. One set is at 45' and I don't recall where the rest are. Obviously I don't have these either and I didn't see them ion your tournament video. So yes, I guess. I went with a tape measure once and going down a walkway next to a lane I saw where 38, 40 & 45 feet were looking back to the foul line just to get a reference.

2. If the 3 point targeting system, or any system, were without flaws, we would all be PBA top guns. A lot of it sounds crazy but will get you close. Then it's just a matter of fine tuning the adjustment for the individual and the equipment. You are correct that using the system with an entry-level ball as opposed to a pro-performance ball would have different results but I think equipment matched to the lane conditions was an assumption made during this study.

What I found most interesting in this article was that it's perfectly fine to target different areas other than the arrows like most people preach. Noticing how it affects my ball reaction depending on how far I'm targeting, it gives me one more option for lane play. Instead of having to move every few frames, I can just look a little further down my sight path. It works for me but is something I am still working on. Not quite comfortable with it yet.
I have a tendency to move my eyes from my target. Huge problem before. Now not so bad because if I do move my eyes (not head), now I do so along the sight line instead of laterally.

Overall I think this just reinforces the first rule in bowling; there are no set rules with technique.
Did I miss anything?

[striker12]

when i aim i want my ball to go over the 3rd arrow but me i look to the right of it on the 14 board and it works perfetly for me.

it coudl also be cause im part blind i need to go and get my eyes checked and get new glasses

[JaMau24]

I

Overall I think this just reinforces the first rule in bowling; there are no set rules with technique.
Did I miss anything?

You answered it for the most part. It sounds like what really makes this work is just completing the process and not really worry about where exactly you end up targeting, but that you target the same exit point every time, and that where you are throwing, you get in the pocket and adjust from there.

I'll give a it shot tonight. Thanks

[billf]

I don't know about you but I really can't tell the difference between 37' and 40' when I'm that far away with any certainty.

[JaMau24]

I don't know about you but I really can't tell the difference between 37' and 40' when I'm that far away with any certainty.

No I don't know either, I'll just use my best judgement.

I can only hope and pray that I can get the results that a lot of those other bowlers have had when using this system.

Do you use it? If so, have you became more accurate?

[JaMau24]

Billf, I used the method tonight, and I had a 74.5% strike percentage for 4 games (Maybe the best I've ever done). So needless to say, I think it worked quite well. I was much more accurate. There were a couple times I messed up and pulled the ball, but hopefully, I'll get even better at it with more practice. Thanks again for posting that.

[billf]

I do use the method and it has helped my game. Glad to hear your strike percentage went up. Maybe it will be enough to beat Michael on Friday.