Day #11: January 11th, 2026
Targeting with the arrows gives bowlers a consistent, repeatable place to look that connects their starting position, launch angle, and breakpoint into one simple system. Using the arrows correctly helps the SpareTime Bowling community hit the pocket more often, read lane conditions faster, and make smarter adjustments shot to shot.
What the arrows actually are
The arrows (also called lane guides) sit about 12–15 feet past the foul line, roughly one‑third of the way down the lane.
There are seven arrows laid out in a triangular pattern, spaced about five boards apart from center to center.
Each board between and around the arrows is its own individual target; the arrows simply help you see and “zone in” on a specific board.
Why look at arrows (not pins)
Aiming closer to you is easier for your eyes and body than trying to “laser” the pins 60 feet away, which is why most coaches teach sighting at the arrows.
When you stand on the approach, the arrows are only a fraction of the distance to the pins, so small visual errors at the arrows translate to more controlled ball motion downlane.
Watching your ball cross your chosen arrow also makes it easier to track how it transitions from skid to hook and then into roll toward the breakpoint.
Basic targeting: where to look
Use the approach dots to place your feet in a consistent starting position, then lock your eyes on a specific arrow (or board between arrows) as your primary target.
Straight players often line up on or near the middle dots and look at the second arrow from the gutter, while hook players tend to target arrows further in or between arrows to match their shape.
As you walk, keep your head steady and your eyes quiet on that one arrow, letting your swing pass naturally under your head toward the target.
Using arrows with lane adjustments
If your ball misses the pocket to the right, move both your feet and your arrow target to the right; if you miss left, move left—the key is moving feet and eyes together.
Because the arrows are farther away than the foul‑line boards or dots, a one‑board move at the arrows creates a controlled, smaller change in breakpoint than the same move at a closer target.
On house shots, you may only need one‑ or two‑board moves at the arrows, while tougher or changing conditions might require targeting a different arrow zone entirely.
Building a three‑point picture
Many advanced players think in three points: laydown (near the foul line), the arrow zone, and the breakpoint where the ball starts to hook (often around 35–45 feet).
Your laydown point plus your chosen arrow builds the launch angle, and your breakpoint confirms whether that angle is correct for the pattern you are seeing.
Over time, you can train yourself to look “through” your arrow to the breakpoint while still letting the arrow anchor your visual focus, tightening both accuracy and ball motion awareness.