How accurate are you aiming at the arrows?

[NewToBowling]

After watching Richard Shockleys video on drilling got me thinking about accuracy at the arrows. Say you aim for middle arrow (20 board). For 10 rolls how close do you get to your target. I'm talking exactly at the 20 board. Or do you sometimes hit 19 or 18 or 17 arrow.

I'm getting better but I'm off 2-3 boards each way on average. Sometimes hit the mark, other times 2-3 boards off.

[Amyers]

On my good days I would be willing to say +- 1 board on my bad days not so much where I tend to struggle even on my more accurate days is the angle the ball passes the target by.

[mc_runner]

If my timing is on, +/- 1 board at most. If my timing is off, and badly, I can miss by almost 5 boards either way. Luckily those are usually one off throws that dont' occur with any regularity (might be a couple in a bad night).

[RobLV1]

There is a reason that elite level bowlers refer to where they stand with their feet and where they look with their eyes. Nowhere do you see the word "target." Many elite bowlers never hit the board where they are looking at the arrows, but they miss it by the same amount each time. What is important is where your ball is when it exits the pattern, and at the breakpoint.

If you get the chance to watch last night's telecast of the Queen's, check out the first game between Maria Rodriguez and Liz Kuhlkin. Both players are playing very similar lines. Watch what happens based on where each ball is at the far tracer. In both cases, every single ball that hit eleven board at the end of the tracer was a strike. Most balls that hit nine or ten left a corner pin standing, and balls that hit right of nine barely hit the head pin. This is the point where accuracy is paramount. Shannon Pluhoski actually targets her breakpoint, but is one of the most accurate bowlers at the arrows on the planet, despite the fact that she never looks there.

[vdubtx]

Rob is so correct. Not saying I am elite bowler by any stretch, but anymore, I don't target at the arrows. My eyes are focused further down lane or at a reflection from pins etc. I think I am pretty accurate when I need to be and can be within a board of where I want to hit with my eyes.

[Amyers]

Rob is exactly correct and stated the point I was trying to make much better than I did. I wish my eye site was good enough to pick out the individual boards that far down the lane but it's just not and none of my houses have tracer boards

[NewToBowling]

There is a reason that elite level bowlers refer to where they stand with their feet and where they look with their eyes. Nowhere do you see the word "target." Many elite bowlers never hit the board where they are looking at the arrows, but they miss it by the same amount each time. What is important is where your ball is when it exits the pattern, and at the breakpoint.

If you get the chance to watch last night's telecast of the Queen's, check out the first game between Maria Rodriguez and Liz Kuhlkin. Both players are playing very similar lines. Watch what happens based on where each ball is at the far tracer. In both cases, every single ball that hit eleven board at the end of the tracer was a strike. Most balls that hit nine or ten left a corner pin standing, and balls that hit right of nine barely hit the head pin. This is the point where accuracy is paramount. Shannon Pluhoski actually targets her breakpoint, but is one of the most accurate bowlers at the arrows on the planet, despite the fact that she never looks there.

I have it recorded. Plan on watching it tonight. By tracer are you referring to the off colored boards down lane usually at the break point. I would love to aim for those but like Amyers said they are harder to see and sometimes with overhead lights the reflection takes over.

But maybe I should look downlane more. I've only been targeting the arrows. Since I'm new to this might as well try something different.

[Aslan]

I'm +/- 2-3 boards at the arrows. Most of the time I'm within a board. My struggles are less accuracy-based and more based on other approach related variations like timing, and footwork, and ball speed.

[mc_runner]

Same, Amyers - tracer boards would be great! I do watch where the ball begins it's break but it is also tough to tell what distance that is at without a reference mark.

[RobLV1]

I have it recorded. Plan on watching it tonight. By tracer are you referring to the off colored boards down lane usually at the break point. I would love to aim for those but like Amyers said they are harder to see and sometimes with overhead lights the reflection takes over.

But maybe I should look downlane more. I've only been targeting the arrows. Since I'm new to this might as well try something different.

While you're watching, note the last two games. Liz Johnson obviously targets at her laydown point as her eyes looking straight down at the foul line!