Hello....I have always had a very akward way of shooting or aiming for my target.  I dont look at the arrows, rather I look at the dots(the first set up front).  I know this is not the "recommendend way of doing things" but it seems to be working well for me.  I do think that if I were to at some point change and focus on the arrows I could better develope my accuracy and make better ajustments.  What are your guys thoughts? When I try to look at the arrows and throw the ball, I loose the sense of where I am at on the lane and am afraid of fowling or steping over the line.  What do you guys think....should I stick with what works for know or change now because ultimately it will improve my game. I feel like I dont really have a target but rather go by the "feel" of my release.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

i also go by feel. i dont target the dots though, i target my laydown point. i've been told by many people not to but good coaches haven't said there is a problem with it. keep it if it works!!!
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Today:......was it you?........or was it the Laneman?.......or was it God?

Unoffical Youth Brunswick Staffer
Yea, I'm a crown bearer. Why aren't you???

Jared Wolf
Jonesboro, AR
http://brunswick802.bowlspace.com/

I guess it only matters how you do what you do, I personally, for years look at the foul line, it helps me with the ability if I hit what I'm looking at, at release it is easier for me to make my adjustments. I have done just fine for the past 30 years plus, average over 220 and I have thrown my fair share of honor scores. Do I recommend it for everyone, NO. But it works for me

I feel that you should do whatever works for you.  I know that there are "text book" ways of doing things in bowling but feel one should do what works.

I target at the dots and arrows.  It all depends on the situation.  I have found that I release the ball a lot better when I target the dots.  When I target the arrows I tend to release the ball a tad bit past the ankle which is not a good thing.
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HAMMER NO MERCY is Un-freaking real!  Using this ball is like cheating!

I focus on the arrows as my mark, but before I get up there I visualize the line I want to play and keep that in mind when choosing the board/arrow I am targeting.

Though sometimes if I need to get the ball out farther I will focus on the dots and getting the ball there.
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Bowling up a storm with a punishing hammer.

I've tried them all and have found varied success.  I do have two observations that steered me away from looking at the dots:

(1) I have found is when I look at the dots, I find myself jamming the ball into the lane.  Looking at the dots, you get a false sense of security in that you hit your mark and the shot is done, so there may be many a time where you find yourself not following through and "short-arming the ball".  I have done this and many others that I have come across.  

(2) A miss at the dots is significantly multiplied down the lane.  We are all going to miss, that's a given, but the closer your target, your miss becomes larger downlane.  I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but missing by one board left at the dots will cause a greater affect than by missing one board left at the arrows, and even more of an affect that by missing by one board at the breakpoint.  It's like a risk/reward factor.  The closer the target, the less risk you have of missing it, but if you do miss it, the consequences are severe.  

I understand that to each is own, and there are definintely times when the shot may call for you to look at the dots to force you to get the ball down early or some other reason, but for the average bowler on the average/modified house shot, I would recommend looking downlane, I think that in the end it can only better your game.
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Why does everyone try to make it harder than it really is?  Overthinking makes the game that much more difficult.

I used to look at the dots. I had a hard time on sport shots and such doing so. In late April, I taught myself to watch the arrows instead. My aiming got so much better. In my travel league for the last month, I shot 1280 over 6 games (sport shot), and I qualified for JOG with a 191 average. It didn't take too long for me to adjust, about one day. All I really had to do was keep my head up and trust that I was making it to the line and my approach was ok. Once I trusted my approach, my aim has gotten a LOT better.
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---Ryan