Why Bowling Lane Markings Exist & How they Works?

From a distance, a bowling lane may look spotless, smooth, and slick. But the closer you get to a lane, the better you will see all the markings it has on the surface. What are they there for? Do all of them serve a purpose? Well, bowling lane markings are there for no reason. Today we will focus on bowling lane markings and highlight on everything you need to know about bowling lane specifications. So if you are interested to know every bit of information regarding the markings of bowling lanes, read on, my friends!

Things to know about bowling lane markings—

Every bowling lane you have ever bowled on has two types of markings on the surface. These markings are indicators and the lanes are marked with several dots and arrows. Each serves different purposes. So, let’s get into the details, shall we?

Approach Area

The approach area is where you take your stance, take the steps and roll your ball on the lane. When you are still in the approach area of the bowling lane, you will see some markings on the ground. You will see there are dots in three lines. The first set of dots is placed at the beginning of the approach area which is 15 feet (4.57 m) behind the foul line and the second line of dots is 12 feet (3.66 m) behind the foul line, and the third set is 2” behind the foul line. 

On all of these sets, there are 5 or 7 dots. These dots are placed on 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. If the approach area contains 7 dots, you will see two more dots on the 5 and 35 boards. The center dot that is placed on board 20 is larger than the others, and it lines up with the head pin and indicated the center of the lane.

Bowling Lane Area

Foul Line: 

Okay, so the bowling lane area starts with a red line which we call the foul line. The foul line is laid across the boards and placed between the two gutters. You are not to step on or cross this foul line. If you do it will be a foul, meaning, you have gone too far during your approach. Since the foul line is a reference point, you have to make sure your body doesn’t go beyond the foul line and get in contact with any part of the lane during or after the ball delivery.

Lane Dots:

Look a little forward. You will see two more sets of dots about 7.5 feet from the foul line. These dots are located right in between the foul line and the set of arrows. You will see one set of dots on the right side of the lane, and another set on the left. These dots are placed on boards 3, 5, 8, 11, and 14, starting from either the left or right side of the lane.

Arrows:

As a kid, I thought that those lane arrows are just indicating the direction the bowling ball is rolling. How silly of me! Little did I know these arrows on the lane serve the greatest purpose. If there is one indicator you cannot ignore, it’s the set of arrows painted on the lane. So why are these bowling arrows so important?

USBC-certified bowling lanes are 42 inches wide. There are 40 narrow boards put side by side. Bowlers despite their ranks, rely on the lane arrows for better targeting. This set of arrows helps them achieve better ball motion, entry angle, and pin hitting. 

The arrows on the lane align with the sets of dots on the approach area, and the center arrow aligns with the headpin. Every lane has exactly 7 arrows positioned on boards 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35. Remember, these are just reference targets. You can use the boards between two arrows to set up your target.

Range Finders:

Okay, you won’t see range finders in every bowling alley, but some manufacturers place them on the lanes. Range finders are basically 3-foot-long darkened boards planted on the 10 and 15 boards.  

There are two sets of range fingers you will see on the lanes if they have any. The first set of range finders start 34 feet beyond the foul line and run till 37 feet.  One was placed on the 15 and another placed on the 25 boards. The second set of range finders start 40 feet down the lane and that run to 43 feet beyond the foul line. Each is located on boards 10 and 30. Bowlers use these markings to roll a bowling ball in a hooking motion. 

Pin Deck: 

The Pin Deck is the area of the bowling lane where the pins are positioned for you to hit with your bowling ball. Although you may not see the markings when the pins are put down right on top of it, you will be able to see them when the pins are knocked down. These markings are not for you to use, rather they are for the machine to set the pins on the marked positions.

How to mark the lane for better targeting?

Did you know you can take full advantage of the markings on the lane? Most bowlers use these marks as guidelines or indicators to target better. Here’s how you do it—

Approach Area Dots:

The first sets of dots where the approach area starts are there to help bowlers take their stances. They act as the starting points for bowlers and it’s important because the stance affects the ball’s starting angle. Moreover, they assist bowlers determine their final feet position after ball release. You can also use the dots as guides for alignment and trajectory.

When right-handed bowlers bowl, they line up from the center dot and move to the left. The left-handed bowlers, on the other hand, move to the right after lining up from the center dot. Each dots have 5 boards in between two dots. So for every dot, you move five boards.  

Lane Dots:

As I said, there are dark-colored dots planted on the lanes. What are those for? They are for bowlers to figure out the best entry angles for their bowling balls. Some bowlers prefer these lane dots over the arrows. That’s because the arrows aren’t helpful enough to count the boards and roll the ball accordingly. Sometimes all you need is to move one or two boards to your left/right. This is when these dots come in handy.

Lane Arrows:

Lane arrows are the most visible markings on the bowling lanes. When you set your target pocket to roll the ball, the marked arrows are a big deal. Your eye will be on the arrows first, and yes, they are the best way to set your ball’s direction. Once you learn to use these arrows properly, the motion of your bowling ball will become more precise and you will have better control over your ball.

Do you want to practice bowling using arrows to target better? Good! Just what I wanna hear. A bowling ball rolls a 60 feet long distance on the lane. A lot can go wrong before it reaches the pockets. If your ball’s motion is off by a board or so, it’ll completely throw off the shot. You can get the maximum advantage out of these bowling lane arrows to bowl straight for picking up the spares. 

Conclusion

So there you go, folks! I have put all the necessary information you need about visible lane markings. If your local bowling alley has any more markings that you need clarification on, ask me about them. I will enlighten you with my knowledge. So memorize these markings, and learn how to use them for the best ball motion and reaction. Good luck and catch you later, my fellow bowlers!