ApproachAt least 15 feet long, behind the foul line.
Foul lineBetween approach and lane; step over it and the throw scores zero.
Approach dotsRows 12 and 15 feet behind the foul line, for foot placement.
Lane41½ inches wide, made of 39 boards.
ArrowsAiming targets about 15 feet down; many bowlers aim here.
GuttersCatch a ball that rolls off the lane; also called channels.
The pin deck 5
Pin deckThe hard end section of the lane. The pins are set on it.
Head pin (1-pin spot)60 feet past the foul line to its center.
Pin spotsTen in all, 12 inches apart in an equilateral triangle.
KickbacksSide walls 60⅛ inches apart that bounce pins back into play.
PitCatches the ball and fallen pins behind the pin deck.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-23. (1) United States Bowling Congress, Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual (updated 10/25), https://bowl.com/getmedia/08ef148d-c0e4-4e00-9e0d-855ba4729ad5/equipment-specs-manual.pdf: approach of at least 15 ft; foul line between lane and approach; lane 41½ in wide and 60 ft from foul line to the No. 1 pin spot's center; guides on the approach at set distances, guides 6 to 8 ft down the lane, up to seven targets 12 to 16 ft down the lane; round gutters 9¼ in wide from the foul line to the pin deck area; flat gutters and kickbacks (side partitions) from a point within 15 in ahead of the No. 1 pin spot, kickbacks 60⅛ in apart; ten pin spots 12 in apart in an equilateral triangle, 3 in from the 7, 8, 9 and 10 spots to the pit, 34 3/16 in from the No. 1 spot to the pit. (2) Wikipedia, Ten-pin bowling, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-pin_bowling: 15 ft approach separated from the lane by the foul line; 60 ft from the foul line to the head pin (1-pin); guide arrows (aiming targets) about 15 ft from the foul line; 39 boards; two sets of approach dots 12 and 15 ft behind the foul line; gutters (channels); pin deck and kickback (side) plates. (3) Wikipedia, Bowling alley, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_alley: approach, foul line, target arrows, pin deck. (4) Wikipedia, Pinsetter, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinsetter: the pit, an area behind the lane that collects balls and struck pins; the pin deck. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-23, from the USBC equipment specifications. Licence: own work
How it works
A bowling lane runs 60 feet from the foul line to the head pin. Behind the line is the approach with its dots; down the lane, the arrows; at the end, the pin deck, kickbacks and pit.
Read the full guide
Two views
The top drawing is the whole lane, squeezed lengthwise so it fits: every mark sits at its real distance from the foul line. The bottom one is the pin deck at true scale, with the ten spots 12 inches apart.
Dots, arrows, pins
Bowlers line up their feet on the approach dots, aim at the arrows about 15 feet down, and let the ball carry on to the pins.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a bowling lane called?
From the bowler forward: the approach with its dots, the foul line, the lane itself with its 39 boards and arrows, the gutters along both sides, then the pin deck, kickbacks and the pit behind the pins.
How long is a bowling lane?
60 feet from foul line to the head pin's center, plus about 34 inches more to the pit. The approach behind the foul line is at least 15 feet, and the lane is 41½ inches wide.
What are the arrows on a bowling lane for?
They are aiming targets about 15 feet past the foul line. The pins are 60 feet away, so many bowlers roll over an arrow instead of looking at the pins.