Bowling Tips: The Secret To Hit Your Target (BEGINNER & ADVANCED) 

Keeping the elbow bent has greatly improved my game scores. Targeting has been one of my areas of practice lately so you are right on time. Thanks 😊

no one has ever explained it like you did, as far as i know. Excellent info.

I’ve watched quite a few videos on RU-vid and you’re the only one who suggests looking at the arrows first and then draw a line to the dots and then just past the foul line. I only use the dots for targeting because I had a hard time hitting the arrows consistently let alone the breakpoint. I’m certainly going to give this a try. Thanks for uploading.

I have used that targeting style for decades. On a fresh shot I will look at breakpoint, arrows, and then 18 inches in front of the foul line. This format gives me an earlier read of the lane. When the lane starts to break down in the heads I will move my closest target down to the dots, this will buy me distance. If the lanes are really fried or I am really deep I will look at arrows, breakpoint,

Excellent video. I should state first that I play two-handed. Playing tentatively? This really hit home for me. I am certainly guilty of this. I slow up on my shot because I'm trying to hit my target (I also don't always feel like I have my legs under me just right, or maybe more precisely, I don't feel like I'm sliding and I'm afraid I will go flying forward with the ball... so I slow up my legs and my arm swing). What you said about drive and coming through with the ball and being aggressive I have given a different description: Play with conviction and trust the process (this also falls into the mental aspect of the game). When I do this, when I'm feeling good and balanced, etc., the strikes come in batches. Then I lose it again. So, my goal is to be more consistent, and again, that goes back to playing with conviction and trusting the process. My targeting are the dots around six feet down the lane (although the boards I usually aim at, such as 18 or 20, or 22, technically don't have dots) trying to get the ball to about 15 at the arrows (more or less... depends on where I'm aiming at the dots). I should try what you said, to aim even closer to the foul line and then out to the dots and the arrows. Anyhow, the further out I aim, the less accurate I am. For years I tried to aim for the arrows, but they're just too far away for consistent accuracy. Lastly, I use a figure 8 arm swing to get the ball on the right angle/trajectory. If I don't do this, my ball tends to hook too early. When I do everything right, the results are what they should be. But too often I'm just off target and not playing with conviction (I think I lack confidence). It's a work in progress. My high games (250s-270s) tell me that I can be very good if I can only be more consistent. Until then, my avg is in the 180s.

Congratulations on 5 thousand!! 🎉, I did learn something though. Definitely helpful

That is indeed a very correct approach to focus on the dots however there is way more in play. The stability of your throw, your hand position, under or behind, the slowness or hardness, the lane patterns, how you release. But I guess it is part of the whole complexity that bowling can be when taking it more serious. It is fun to do but it is certainly underestimated :) Good job

Fabulous video, best, clearest targeting informational video I’ve seen🎉

Thanks for this video Robert! I understood your tips very clearly. Subscribed as well and will keep on watching. Thanks for this informative tip! More power to you, sir!

I just started bowling again I haven’t bowl in 34 years I’m on a league I also quit be u inspire me with your video to keep bowling and don’t give up love. I found this video on RU-vid.

This was very helpful!!! Well put together. Thank you!

Excellent video. Very clear and different than anything I was told before.

Very nice content! I'm looking forward to more videos. Ty!

Very well explained. Thanks for the share of knowledge

Very helpful! I love the thought process. I need to work on my hand position when I release the ball to create more angle so would love a video on hooking the ball!!!

Thanks for this video. Having lost my right eye targeting has been a struggle. Will try your method tonight.

Thank you! Very cool method and I will work on implementing this

I'm an older league bowling and targeting is really important. Thanks for your clarity.

This was very helpful. Thank you.

Spot on! Thanks for this video.

I found this to be a great help in giving me a better idea of a target down the lane to hit the pocket.

Just found this channel. This is the first video I've watched and very informative. I always try to go from breakpoint to arrows to where i stand on the approach. Going to try the closer 3 points and see if that helps me hit my mark more. I also bowl 2 handed and being aggresive does help

Thanks for great video. Targeting made easy with two options to learn.

Thanks that is very important information. One thing you might add is watch your ball roll over your target first then look up following the ball to the strike zone. If hitting light or heavy move your feet one way or another a board or so to better pocket strikes .

Thank you so much for your tips. This has helped me a lot and has definitely made me a better bowler. ❤

Great video. I’ve been working on three-point targeting starting with breakpoint, but I’m struggling (slight vision issues) which causes tentativeness and inconsistency. I’ll try incorporating the dots instead. Thanks

You're pretty good at teaching. You provided several different options for targeting and sighting so people can find what works for them. You also describe things that you're working on. It makes learners feel better and less stressed about their own progress.

Thank you for sharing yes it did help 😊

Thank you for your sharing.

Thanks really appreciate your time.

Ty Robert this is great instruction

Very helpful information.

Excellent video and I think it might have just helped me with an issue I'm having. This is my first year playing league (on 3 teams) and I really thought I'd do well but, haven't come close to putting up the scores I do in practice. I think I know why now.

Very good info!

Robert, I found your description extremely helpful and I will put it to test at practice right away. I have been struggling for a year trying to get back to my 200+ average of pre-covid-19 of 2020. All my league averages are in the 190's and it's frustrating knowing I have been better in the past and being competitive just is not there anymore. Being in my mid-70's probably is not an asset that helps. LOL. The mind has it all figured out, and the body does not agree.

Awesome video. Articualted very well.

Excellent!

Great approach to encouraging any skill level of bowler to expand on target points to create better accuracy and ball shape for greater scoring potential.

Great video, do that myself now. For Jason, I would use the word "athletic".

I get it that you draw a line from breakpoint to arrows to dots. But how do you aim at that line, given that you first aim for it while standing at your starting position, then have to walk up 4-5 steps forward to the foul line. The angle from the start point will not be the same as the angle you see at the foul line?

Good to know, my teammate was just telling this on Friday. I have to practice this all I ever look at is my lay down and the ball going through the pins.

Thanks for a great video! I am a new bowler and love the game. I just bought a fairly inexpensive ball. Will I be able to get it to angel or does the ball need a special core?

one of the best explanation

Thank you for this. Really helps! I'm trying to take my scores up a notch but I know looking at the breakpoint is difficult 😂. U explain it very well. I have a high back swing so my arm tilt ends up having me look right at the fowl line 😂😂

Good explanation. I think using breakpoint down lane helps you see ball reaction and when you need to change angle or ball.

Thanks for that I hope it helps. I’ve been struggling with making the right adjustments to hit my pocket . Or what to do if I’m leaving the same pins up like 10 pin or 7

thank you your tips is a very helful to me

As a beginner, I’m thrilled to find out that my preference to look at the arrows instead of down the entire length of the lane is A-okay. It feels like that might be about the only thing I’ve gotten sort of right so far!

Thank you. I really needed to see this because I messed up my right arm and l bowl for many years, and now I am back bowling. I wanted to just quit, but now l am not bowling, nothing In my league. It's hurt and embarrassed. People in my league laugh at me. It's hurts. I love bowling, but l just can't bowl like l use to I am thankful for the video. I will keep watching your videos.

Good tip according to your focus on arrow, dots,lay down line, but where do you suggest to stand? Before approaching the lay down the bowl? Thx

I’ve trained myself to line up my feet with the board that the ball will lay on top of at the foul line. My angle is extremely consistent because of this and that magic board for me is the board just right of my right foot. This also allows me to adjust my speed and not change my approach and release. As long as my approach stays straight, the ball will launch at that spot and now it’s a matter of making sure it hits my target arrow. I then pay attention to where the break point occurs and how it hits the pins and adjust accordingly.

Thanks for the video. I wanted to ask if you could show some ways to correct your form to get the proper angle. I find myself struggling to make the adjustments to get the angle, because I try to focus on hitting the points and it throws my body mechanics off. I mean by having to change my shot, I find myself going across my body. Do you have recommendations on how to fix this quickly, without wasting games?

Great tips for 21st Century Modern high rev bowlers and two-handers using resin. I however am a vintage style bowler who is playing down and in and very direct with little to no shape. My targeting technique is to look at the pin I want to hit and draw a line from that pin to an arrow or board that is in line with it based on where I am standing. I then move directly towards that arrow or board in my approach and deliver the ball over that target. If I hit the target then my ball will go straight to the pin. Where I line up for my strike shot depends on the pattern and oil volume of course. On most house shots my target is going to be the oil line just right of second arrow, around 8 board and where I am standing is going to generally be right of 8 board, generally 4 board.

I will practice arrow, dot and form, thanks.

I've got a question about this targeting thing: do you mind at drifting before or after the targeting? Cause I'm 2 handed and I drift like 5-6 boards to the left in order to keep my body out of the swing. Thanks for the video, I'll practice hard on it.

I really wish you could help me personally because I have taken a strong love for bowling, a passion for it and all I want to do is learn. Everything costs to much money… I joined two bowling leagues, bowling twice a week but no one is there to really help anyone else improve. I have never felt such a drive to want to continue to learn and improve. Bowling makes me smile, it makes me happy no matter what my score is.

question: before you release the ball are your eyes fixed on the target closest to you or the the target farthest from you?

What is the slide about do you need to slide when you get ready to throw the ball or just stop

I’m trying to become a more target focus Bowler I bowl in two leagues this give me Something to practice that will make a big. Difference I my game

Saludos desde Mexico,

Do you walk straight up the approach or on an angle toward your target?

Hi……..I pin bowl….I’m a lefty and trying to improve my game. Should I follow the arrows ?

Lil bro, this video was right on time, I had hip surgery 2yrs ago and for some reason my targeting and confidence in my game have suffered severely, this video has given me a good starting point to get back on track... You Definitely received a new subscriber...

I look where I want to throw, but once I start my approach I look just past the foul line. How do I train myself to look more down lane the whole time?

This will probably work horrendous with a brand new ball. That's what I am confronted with this weekend, so I'm really not looking forward to breaking this hammer beast in. I usually never went inside like that I always used the 2nd arrow from the right or slightly to the left of it, maybe 1 board. I used to work with a rubber ball long before all these modern balls. I'm sorta scared I will fail miserably. But I'm gonna try your location. I was pretty accurate back in the day especially on spares!

It's interesting. I have a team mate who averages 240. When I ask him what board he stands on he said he doesn't pay attention to what board he's on. All he does throw the ball like you do, along an imaginary line from the foul line through the dots and arrows to the break point. If he misses the pocket he just shift the entire line over to a parallel path about an inch over. He's a tremendous bowler. Me, on the other hand am looking at what board I'm standing on and just using the arrows as my target. Maybe that's why he's a 200+ bowler and my average is only 175. 😅

Me too

I’m going to practice looking at the dots!!! I’m strictly an arrow guy!!

I wish I'd known that when I was bowling pre-Internet. I only used the arrows and always struggled with maintaining my focus on the target arrow. As a result I couldn't always be sure I was on target. Maybe that's why I didn't progress beyond a 182 average. 😞

I use the arrows on the lane. I’m a lefty(south paw) and I’m a very aggressive bowler and I average about 179. The house we bowl in isn’t a very good house. I throw a roto grip gem a very strong

I look at my pin/pins then draw an imaginary line about 18 inches after the foul line. Then calculate my hook and angle out. There are a ton of other variables that come into play but this is what I do. Trying my best to improve but don’t bowl as much. Consistent 215 bowling.

Actually the 3 point targeting the pros use, doesn't involve targets closer from the arrows. It involves arrows, break point, and the projection of the break point onto the pin area.

I’m playing arrows then dots and it seems that no matter what I do I keep going through the nose. It’s embarrassing! I’m throwing a Hammer Black Widow Ghost, Layout 90x 6 1/2x 43. 15 lbs fingertip. Any ideas?? Thx Kelly

/subbed /liked This help in that the second dots are easily ignored and now I can use them as an extra targeting tool (that's closer) with spares too, obviously. Thanks. Fine tuning your spare game is always good bc open frames are death. Don't forget us lady bowlers....everyone does, and we have lower ball speed and revs so our improvements are have to be strategized differently. I have little to no skid phase and I'll bet other ladies have the same situation. Any help for the ladies would be much appreciated.

How do you know the breakpoint ?

Can you explain the numbers you’re mentioning?

I play arrows and the breakpoint

I have trouble with looking at the arrows

Why cant you throw straight down the boards?

WHAT IF YOU'RE LEFT EYE DOMINANT AND BOWL RIGHT HANDED?

I'll try this method at practice today. Buying a new ball is not the answer

This thumbnail looks familiar 🧐

I don't think pros resort to such precision because of so many other variables involved such as ball speed control, placement on the pattern at hand, type of ball surface and weight block setup . I seen pros with a clumsy looking 5 or 6 board shot get away with targeting the pocket repeatedly.

Have to be able to throw it that hard too. I can't

When I watch the pros on TV it appears they are looking only at break points? I say this because their eyes are very much down the lane….

Of course none of this matters when the bowling center refuses to keep conditioner on the lanes…

😀 "promo sm"

"If you grew up when you were younger..." ? Lol

Ouch! That's the worst way to score 299

I Know the 299. LOL.

Soo..."Shape" is the new "Hook" and "Curve"? Why so complicated....

Missing your SPEED !? PLEASE INDICATE.. THANK YOU

Thank you for the clarification on targeting. I loved loved the video! You made it very easy and simple to follow. I’m having a problem watching my target which is the dots. Too much to type here. I have more to ask. You have an email?

Still a beginner at 50.🟡🟠