Author Topic: Lane Targeting, and average.... (Read 4471 times)

stopncrank · « **on:** August 30, 2011, 04:45:51 AM »

Just as the topic says, in general what do you use target wise on the lanes-arrows, dots, shadows, breakpoints, specific boards...as well as state your highest book average so far.

Wondering if in general a specific targeting area or method leads to better scores, etc.

My high last year was 209, and I used the arrows the majority of the year. I have used the breakpoint system in the past and find that on a THS I just really cant find an advantage that justifys using that system. And it seems like using the breakpoint as a target in general really stretches and lengthens my swing which forces me to move right on the lane.

Any thoughts on how targeting can affect certain average levels for bowlers in all skill levels?

Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....

jaydee · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2011, 01:13:48 PM »

I find it pretty difficult to target breakpoints at my house with no dark colored boards down the lane. I'm an arrow guy, 200+ avg. I probably would use breakpoint if I had the benefit of darker boards down the lane to distinguish the 5 and 10 boards.

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2011, 01:23:08 PM »

I switched from the arrows to the breakpoint a couple years ago and it was a great change for me. My house shot average only went up a handful of pins to 230, but my sport average went up from 186 to 200. On synthetic lanes even (ones without the breakpoint markers) it's usually a little easier to pick a spot on the lane right at my break point, but even on wood, I can usually find a spot to look at somewhere downlane. Looking at a point further away from me encourages me to keep my head and body more upright and use more kneebend at the foul line, and it also makes me more accurate downlane -- I'd rather miss my target at the arrows by two boards and still hit my breakpoint target than vice versa.

trash heap · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2011, 01:29:29 PM »

My average has been in the 200 range. My target is just beyond the the dots.

stopncrank · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2011, 01:50:07 PM »

Thanks for the replies, Dan I get what you are saying. When I use the arrows I feel like im not as accurate as when I use the breakpoint. But, like I said I find that it adds loft and speed to my game, and i already feel like a little bit speed dominate as it is.

Did you change anything in your setup to lower your ball speed? Do you find it changes anything like this with you when using the breakpoint instead of the arrows?

Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2011, 05:08:37 PM »

I target the arrows. Highest book avg last year was 226.

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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2011, 12:33:35 AM »

While I watch the breakpoint of the ball and try to place it in a certain area down the lane, I use the arrows of spots between them as target. What I found (for me) most beneficial ist that when I stay focussed on the arrow area my body will gradually descend during my approach, helping me getting deep down and bending my sliding foot's knee. Doing so creates a lot of leverage and consistency for me, and release timing improves. When I aim for a target further down the lane I rather tend to stay up and bend over, which is more "natural" but lacks balance and leverage. Average is 190.

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budda · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:22:08 AM »

My target changes pending on what condition I am bowling on. If the lanes are heavy, I will look at the dots to get the ball down sooner. If they are dryer, I will for the break point or a marker board down lane. It always changes pending on what I am bowling on. It has worked so far, Highest average on house is at 240. Sport is around 210.

Respect the skill....not which hand it's thrown with.

dmonroe814 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:35:16 AM »

I average between 205-215 on a normal basis. I use approach board with my feet, arrow/boards as a target. This works well on the THS because my target line goes straight to the breakpoint. I struggle on the sport shot and dry lanes, because the breakpoint changes so much and very quickly. I am not confident enough to look at an area on the lane, when there is not spot for me to target. Our house does not have range finders at 45 ft mark, so I am left with the arrows.

chrisleftwich · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:29:36 AM »

On normal condition i will target the arrows and breakpoint, if bowling on something where I need to get the ball longer down lane I will move my target to a spot down lane, if I need the ball to start up sooner on oil i will look at dots to get the balls down early. Averaged 220+ last year.

stopncrank · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:13:12 AM »

One thing Ive for for me is that if im playing straighter, in general the arrows work better. When I have to cross boards, it seems like im more accurate at the breakpoint if I look further down the lane.

What Ive also found through conversations with fellow bowlers in my area is that the majority in my area use arrows.

For myself, even on a house shot, and depending on a certain reaction shape im looking for, I will use different targets. For instance, alot of times if I move really deep, I will target the dots area to get the ball down early so that I make sure I dont blow the ball through the breakpoint. But when I try the dots from say the 15 board area on the lane, in general it just doesnt hold for me.

Basically the further right I play, the further down the lane in general I need to look to get it to hold.

Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....

JohnP · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2011, 10:33:42 AM »

I have targeted at the arrows for almost 50 years. My highest average ever was 213 year before last, 208 last year. I haven't gotten better, the sport has gotten easier. -- JohnP

T C 300 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2011, 11:16:59 AM »

i target break point and feel.... avg was 239.

i have always done was wes malott. draw an imaginary line from foul line(or where i want to lay the ball down at) all the way to the pins. and keep feet slow!! lmao

Pinbuster · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2011, 12:25:53 PM »

I target a board at the arrows.

But it is all the same thing to me, if you get to the line at the same spot and hit your target around the arrows then you reach the same breakpoint and if you get to the line at the same spot and hit your breakpoint then you are probably hitting a board at the arrows.

For me it is easier to see a line I want the ball to take and pick a target at the arrows to get the ball down that line. Then if I see the ball start to react differently as the lanes breakdown I will adjust that line.

As said earlier the general tendency is that the further down the lane you target with your eyes the straighter you will play which is an adjustment that can be made if the lanes are hooking a lot to help project the ball down the lane.

Mr Hurt24 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:30:26 PM »

Well for me I tend to use both the arrows and breakpoint method. I am more accurate when using the arrows when playing straighter. My leverage is better and I tend to lay the ball down earlier. Now, for the breakpoint technique I use the pins as targets mainly the 3, 6, and 10 because we dont have range finders in any of the alleys here. If I want to throw the ball to say boards 3-6, I aim at the 10 pin. If i want to play around the track area, I used the 6 pin. And if i want to play fall back and play a really deep shot, I used the 3 pin only if anything outside of 12 and out is out of bounds or if the shot is really burn up. I use several techniques from other pro bowlers and even good league bowlers and implement them into my game. I do tend to loft the ball more and pop up more on the shot when using the BP method, but I am working on that. Average 232 ths.. Average 202 sport.

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Edited by Mr Hurt24 on 8/31/2011 at 6:31 PM

Author Topic: Lane Targeting, and average.... (Read 4471 times)

stopncrank

Lane Targeting, and average....

jaydee

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

Dan Belcher

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

trash heap

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

stopncrank

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

Good Times Good Times

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

dizzyfugu

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

budda

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

dmonroe814

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

chrisleftwich

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

stopncrank

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

JohnP

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

T C 300

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

Pinbuster

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....

Mr Hurt24

Re: Lane Targeting, and average....