How to Configure Bowling Lanes

Improve your bowling scores with strategies based on standard bowling lane designs. Learn to use dowels and board counts to aim your bowling ball and wipe the pins from the lane. Begin to understand strategies used by professional bowlers. Learn the basics of bowling lane design and configuration.

Instructions

    • 1

      Walk around your local bowling alley and look at the configuration of each bowling lane. They are all the same--60 feet in length from the foul line to the head pin. The foul line is the solid line at the entrance of the playing area and denotes the last place a bowler may place his feet.

    • 2

      Stand on the foul line and look back toward the scoring table. Look down. 12 feet from the foul line there are a set of approach dots or dowels. Measure 3 feet and a second set of dots or dowels are on the floor. Use these dots to determine your approach on strikes and spares.

    • 3

      Measure the width of a bowling lane. It needs to be 41 ½ inches wide, give or take ½ inch, made from 1-inch wide planks. Look for the largest approach dot in the middle of the floor. It is considered to be on board 20. Approach dots are placed every 5 boards. Line up on board 20 with the inside of your left shoe if you are right-handed. Left-handers need to line up on board 20 with the inside of your right shoe. Begin a middle approach at this location.

    • 4

      Look for arrows on the floor placed every 5 boards. Aim your ball at the arrow you determine is proper for your shot. The second arrow is the target suggested for beginner bowlers. Your approach position and your target determine your bowling ball's placement.

    • 5

      Adjust your approach and target depending on your bowling style. Learn advanced bowling techniques that combine approach dots and arrow targets to achieve certain bowling goals.