Ten Pin Corner – Bowl Canada

Targeting for Advanced Bowlers

Bowl Canada — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:33:14 +0000

Bowlers who are throwing the ball with a hook need to worry about more than just the front part of the lane. Targeting for these bowlers used to be called ‘area’ bowling, but now it could be called ‘window’ bowling. Every lane condition has a ‘window’ that you want to get to down-lane in order to hit the pocket consistently. Depending on the condition, this window is usually a few boards wide, and a couple feet long on the lane, anywhere between 35’ and 45’ down the lane. You can still look at arrows, but the goal is to base your targeting on getting the ball to pass over the arrow and through the window. Finding that window is the goal of every bowler that wants to strike.

The advantage of looking for this little area in the mid-lane is that it tends to be quite stable. Even as lane conditions change and force you to move your target at the arrows, the window is often very close to the same place as when you started. When we talk about lane conditions, we’ll see where you can start looking for this window based on the condition you’re bowling on.

Team Canada Head Coach TYREL ROSE of Montreal provides top tips for all levels of bowler in Coaches Corner. Check back regularly for more. In the meantime…ENJOY YOUR GAME!

Targeting for Intermediate Bowlers

Bowl Canada — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:31:40 +0000

Bowlers who have already developed a solid base of fundamentals are most likely looking at either the dots or the arrows. These are by far the two most effective areas to target. If you look at the foul line, it is likely causing some problems with your delivery of the bowling ball, and should be changed.

For the intermediate bowler, targeting is not just about the arrows, but also the boards between the arrows. Whether you are throwing a hook ball or a straighter ball, your targeting might need to be adjusted depending on the day and time you bowl. Oilier lanes often require a different foot position and target than drier lanes.

Most bowlers tend to move their feet without moving their target. The problem here is that it promotes poor footwork and can have detrimental consequences to your armswing. As a rule of thumb, your target should move with the direction of your feet if they move more than 2 boards. For example, an adjustment of moving your feet 3 boards left should require moving your target 2 boards left as well. This is what we call a “3 & 2 Left”.

Next time you move your feet more than a couple of boards, remember to ‘bring your target’ with you. When we discuss lane conditions next time, we’ll talk about when you want to make these kinds of adjustments.

Team Canada Head Coach TYREL ROSE of Montreal provides top tips for all levels of bowler in Coaches Corner. Check back regularly for more. In the meantime…ENJOY YOUR GAME!

Targeting for Beginners

Bowl Canada — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:22:57 +0000

On a bowling lane, there are lots of things to ‘look at’. There are dots at the foul line, a different set of dots 8’ past the foul line, a set of arrows 15’ away, and sometimes a set of 4 dark boards well down the lane. There are also the pins. Most beginners tend to look at the pins because they’re the most obvious visual cue. They’re also the thing you’re trying to knock down so it makes sense. Unfortunately, an object that is 60’ from you is not the easiest to hit.

When learning to bowl, it is best to use the arrows as a targeting system. They are consistent across all makes and models of lanes, and they are exactly 1/4 of the way down the lane. Creating this 1:3 ratio on the lane is important as you progress and learn to use different targets.

For right handed bowlers, the best thing to do is to aim at either the 2nd or 3rd arrow from the right, creating a little bit of angle onto the head pin. Aiming at the 4th (or middle) arrow is comfortable but not very effective. The second arrow is also located near the ‘oil line’ of the oil on the lane, which will definitely benefit you, for reasons that will be explained in our entry about lane oil.

Team Canada Head Coach TYREL ROSE of Montreal provides top tips for all levels of bowler in Coaches Corner. Check back regularly for more. In the meantime…ENJOY YOUR GAME!