BUMP

I don't think I'm "upper crust", but here's my take.  I target anywhere from the arrows to near the pins, depending on a couple of things: the need to get the ball downlane, thru the heads, before reacting and to free up my swing (as you said).  Your comment about staying in the puddle longer is correct - that's why, as lanes dry out, I'll target deeper and deeper so as not to bump the dry too soon.  In targeting deeper I find that I reach more toward the target which probably does a lot to keep the ball on line better.
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"I do desire that we may be better strangers."  Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)
"I'm capable of being just as sorry as you are, Dimitri."

I pick a board down the lane to for my breakpoint.  Then, I pick my arrow board.  Then, I make sure my alignment is good and thats it.  

I know lots of guys that target deep.  Some are very good at it, others aren't.

Andrew
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I am not upper crust either, but I will give my $.02 worth also.

I use a method much like nova.  I select my breakpoint, draw a line back thru which arrow I want to hit, then figure out where I need to stand from there.
I then focus on the target at the arrows as I throw the ball.
I think the key from here is to watch your ball trajectory as it goes thru "both" targets.  It is real easy to hit your arrow target, but miss the breakpoint target.  

I agree with kdameyer's system of lining up your breakpoint with the arrows and then lining up your body with that line you've created in your mind.  The difficulties I see in what you are trying to explain is in what you are targeting and what you are hitting.

What you target (i.e. look at) could change dramtically whether you are trying to get the ball down the lane or gt the ball on to the lane early.  But what you are trying to hit should be pretty similar everywhere you go.  

For me the arrows are only used to line my body up to my breakpoint.  I actually look down at just in front of the first dots pretty much everywere I go.  I don't pick the ball up off my hand until almost after the arrows so I wouldn't know what I hit at the arrows anyway.  I damn sure know what I hit at my breakpoint though, no matter if it's at 35 feet or 45 feet the breakpoint is what's important.  

The arrows are a good way to target but you can nail the 10 board all day from all over the lane with different angles and miss the breakpoint every time.

So target wherever you feel comfortable but make sure that you're hitting your breakpoint.


*backswing
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*...Got the 5 out clean!

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My thinking and reason to do this are more for a really tough shot, like Nationals where the lanes aren't as forgiving.  On a normal league pattern if you target the arrows and miss a board or so wide the ball screams back.  If you miss in the ball will hold rather than cross over.  On a flatter pattern like Nationals if you miss out at the arrows a board you go washout or bucket, worse if you miss by more.  If you miss in you go nose or left.  I'm still going to target arrows in league, it's just right now with Bowling in Reno next week I figured I'd use these next three nights to throw at the breakpoint instead.  I find it does free up my swing as Ragnor has also said.  I'm not trying to be so fine at the arrows and trying to "fit" the ball which as I've said kills my carry even though I am in the hole.  And as Minx said it does tend keep your head still.  Last night as I said there wasn't any of those shots we all throw once in awhile where you ask yourself "where was I throwing that one?"  It just seems like it helps to take an out of bounds out of play or mellows it.  I would agree on a league shot with the overexagerated puddle in the middle it's probably better to go around some of it.  I was standing 37 last night and just purely threw at 10 at 43' so I was in that puddle pretty much to the end of the pattern.  Normally I'd be 40 or left throwing about 17 out to 8 at say 40'.  On a pattern with OOB (which I tried to think there was) that shot stays out at 8.  I was just wondering if anyone else thinks it's more advantagous on a tough pattern to target breakpoint. It does take some getting used to because at first you do want to extend to that dark board.  But as I have played around with it a little more it's gotten easier.  Sorry I'm so long winded.  Riggs, what are your thoughts?  Your on tour and I know alot of the time your level throws at breakpoints or so I'm told.

theiceman

Upper Crust..lol. NOT.. but I'll give it shot too here..

I target a board at the arrows and a board at my break point.. Thus hitting my line rather then just a mark..  

My thoughts for going for such a broad targeting point rather then a mark or board of some sort is this..  

Before I bowled, I shot archery competitively for 6 years.. 3D's 300 rnds and Penn Dutch..
All the "Crust" in archery taught

"YOU'LL HIT  DEAD CENTER OF A GOLF BALL FASTER THEN YOU'LL HIT DEAD CENTER OF A BASKETBALL"

You eyes will focus on the smaller object better then a larger one..  
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Looks Like a Telefunken U-47

F.O.S        

Jeff