are there still PIN bowlers out there?

[LOUVIT]

I do not and never did look at arrows or dots. I look at the pins and know if my arm and follow through is there i'm in the headpin area. if i look at arrows or the floor I get all out of shape.

[RobLV1]

Personally, I've been working on increasing my versatility in terms of aiming. I sometimes look at the dots, sometimes the arrows, sometimes the reflections of the pins, and sometimes the pins themselves. It all depends on how far you want to get the ball down the lane, and what type of shots you want to throw.

[1VegasBowler]

I usually go by the dots at the foul line when things are fresh on a THS.

When the transition gets me away from my normal playing area, I'll use the dots and the arrows.

When things are burned up, I'll use the dots, the arrows and the Range Markers at the backend.

[ChuckR]

I primarily look at the pins. This helps REACH for the shot I am trying(Strike, Spare).

Years ago I looked at the arrows. Now when I try this in practice, I find I short arm the shot and there is nothing in the ball
to knock down pins.

[Amyers]

I do not and never did look at arrows or dots. I look at the pins and know if my arm and follow through is there i'm in the headpin area. if i look at arrows or the floor I get all out of shape.

There are advantages to looking farther down the lane but unless your eye site is a lot better than mine I'm not sure how you ever know if you hit your target or not. I try to focus on my break point move my eyes back to the arrows and try to envision the ball crossing the arrows and over to the area I selected as my break point.

[NewToBowling]

I am a pin bowler. Used to be arrow bowler but I find it easier looking further downlane.

[got_a_300]

When I first started bowling back many years ago I pin bowled but
I never could hit the same place on the lane twice. I only look at the
pins now to make sure they are all there and on spot I look at maybe
a board or two on the lane now days to hit.

[Tampabaybob]

Lou....Interesting to see how many still use the pins as targets. It does have some advantages and some disadvantages. The basic advantage is the help in getting a better follow through by reaching further down the lane. IMO using the arrows or even looking three or four feet past the arrows will do the same thing. When you look at the pins, you miss the ability to "see" what your ball is doing ( how it's reading the lane) after you let go. As Suzie Minshaw stated in one of her articles in BTM magazine, "...your ball will give you a great amount of information as it goes down the lane...". So, in essence, the further down the lane, you target, the more information you're missing out on getting from your ball. That info will tell you when and where to move, change balls, angles, or even hand positions.

My normal targeting area is 3-4 feet past the arrows. With that said, when the lanes start to transition or really dry out, sometimes I'll go as far as shooting the range finders. The key here is the need to be flexible and to be able to adjust to what the lane is reading.

No two bowlers are the same, both in technique, and eyesight, so it's whatever works best for that individual.

Bob

[JJKinGA]

I look at the pins, then mentally draw a line back to the arrows. i focus on the arrows as I set up but usually look down lane towards the pins as i move down the approach. i track the ball as it crosses the arrows so I have a good idea if i am on my target line.

[Tampabaybob]

I look at the pins, then mentally draw a line back to the arrows. i focus on the arrows as I set up but usually look down lane towards the pins as i move down the approach. i track the ball as it crosses the arrows so I have a good idea if i am on my target line.

Ok, But you're still looking at the arrows as you release the ball, if I read your thread right. What you're doing by mentally drawing the route you want the ball to take is a great way to start. You then have a better idea where that track is intended to go and where your break point is at. Most coaches teach that exact theory, but it's questionable how many people actually follow through and do it. Just looking at the pins leaves out a great deal of information that a bowler really needs to have, in order to adjust their next shot(s).

Understanding, that some people may have balance issues, or eye sight issues and be forced to look at the pins, every bowler may be different. It's then up to the coach to figure out a work around for that individual.

Bob