Your Bowling Eyes Have It

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 1/4/2014; Updated: 12/29/2022

The eyes have it. You have the free will to focus on a sighting target on the lane, to “spot” bowl, and to watch your bowling ball pass over your “spot” on the lane.
It is surprising, however, how many times bowlers admit to losing focus of their sighting target because they are thinking so hard about the mechanics of their game.
The trick to bowling well is to trust your mechanics, your physical game, and merely monitor where you are delivering your ball. Watch your mark on the lane and then watch the entire ball path as it travels down the lane.
Focus on your sighting target. Focus your ball roll carefully in the mid-lane.
Watch precisely where your bowling ball transitions (hooks) from the skid phase to the hook phase of motion in the mid-lane.
Depending how quickly your bowling ball begins to hook, whether it is closer to the bowling arrows or further down the lane than you expected, will tip you off if you need to make an adjustment.
You cannot make the determination if an adjustment in your ball reaction is needed unless you watch the ball react in the mid-lane. “Reading the lanes” effectively if an important part of the alignment and adjustment process.
If you peek by looking up when delivering your ball and taking your eyes off of your spot, you may also be missing the opportunity to carefully watch ball reaction in the mid-lane and again on the back end.
However, if you wish for your ball to react properly on the back end of the lane and hit the pocket consistently, then you must learn to read your ball reaction in the mid-lane.

Avoid bowling in blind desperation by hoping that your ball will react as you wish it to react. Rather, line up properly to hit the pocket and use your concentration abilities to keep your eyes on your ball the entire distance it travels down the lane.
Every youngster is taught to keep his or her eyes on the ball when trying to play baseball. The same principle applies in bowling.
You simply cannot read the lanes unless you carefully watch your bowling ball travel the entire distance of the lane and make impact with the pins.
If you are lined up correctly, you can get away with a slightly errant shot and still hit the pocket on most lane conditions.
Your eyes are a valuable tool. Your eyes send feedback information to your brain and then your brain can command your body to make any needed adjustment and to execute the adjustment accordingly.
Success in bowling lies with your eyes. The eyes have it.