If you have seen a 1+ or 2+ shots on target price next to a striker’s name and paused before staking, you are in the right place. Shots on target betting rewards you for reading a game the way we do at Betting Village: through shot volume, fixtures, and recent form.
This guide sets out exactly what counts, how the 1+, 1.5, and 2+ lines settle, and how we approach the market when we build our slips.
Shots on Target Betting Explained
Shots on target betting is a market where you bet on how many efforts a team or player has that either hit the net or would have gone in without a goalkeeper save or a defensive clearance on the line. Both team and player versions exist. Goals count, saves count and shots cleared off the line count, but the total is measured across the full match unless you back a specific half market.
What Counts as a Shot on Target and What Does Not
A shot on target is any goal-bound effort that beats every outfield player and is only stopped by the goalkeeper, the net or a clearance on the goal line. This is the definition that decides whether your bet wins, so it pays to be precise about the edge cases.
| Counts as a shot on target | Does not count |
|---|---|
| A goal scored in open play | An effort that hits the woodwork and stays out |
| An effort saved by the goalkeeper | A shot blocked by a defender who isn’t the last line, with cover still behind them |
| A shot blocked or cleared by the last defender on the line | A shot that goes wide or over the bar |
| A penalty scored or a penalty saved | An own goal (generally excluded) |
The distinction between a save and a block is the one that catches punters out. A save is made by the keeper, so it counts. A block by a centre-back sliding in front of the shot does not, because the effort never truly tested the goal. A clearance on the line is treated as on target because the ball was heading in. This mirrors the standard Opta football statistics definition that UK bookmakers use to settle these markets, so the same rules apply across sites.
1+ Shots on Target Explained
1+ shots on target means the player or team must record at least one shot on target for the bet to win. The plus sign means one or more, so 1+ does not mean two. A single on-target effort settles it as a winner, whether that is a goal, a save, or a clearance off the line. If a forward has one shot pushed round the post by the keeper, your 1+ bet lands even if that is his only attempt all match.
2+ Shots on Target and the 1.5 Line Explained
2+ shots on target means at least two on-target efforts are needed to win. To answer the common question directly: 2+ settles on two, not three. Two qualifying shots is enough, and any total above that still wins.
The 1.5 line trips people up because half a shot is impossible. A 1.5 shots on target line needs two on-target shots to win, since a player cannot record 1.5 of anything. In practice, over 1.5 and 2+ require the same outcome: two or more on target. The same at-least logic runs up the ladder, so a 3+ line needs three or more on-target efforts, and so on.
Team and Player Shots on Target Markets
There are two broad families of shots on target bet, and knowing which you are backing changes how you should read the fixture.
Team shots on target markets
It cover a whole side. You will see a match line for each team and over/under totals, for example, over 4.5 shots on target for the home side. These suit sides with heavy possession and a habit of testing the keeper, and they link neatly to goals-based markets. A team that racks up on-target shots often ends up in profitable territory for both teams to score tips, too, because volume tends to breed goals.
Player shots on target props
It focuses on one individual. The most common lines are 1+ and 2+, with 3+ available for the highest-volume forwards. These are the building blocks recreational punters use most, since a starting striker is a clear candidate to test the keeper at least once.
You will also find alternative lines such as shots from outside the box or first shot markets. Whatever the line, most UK bookmakers settle on official Opta data as the standard, so settlement is consistent from one site to the next and disputes are rare.
How a 1+ Shots on Target Bet Settles
Say a regular starting attacker is priced around 4/6 to record 1+ shots on target against a mid-table side. This is an illustration only and not a prediction of a result.
You place a £10 stake at 4/6. If the player forces the keeper into a single save, or scores, or has an effort cleared off the line, the bet wins and returns £16.67 (your £10 stake plus £6.67 profit). One qualifying effort is all it takes.
Now the losing scenario. If that same player has two shots during the match but both are blocked by defenders in front of goal, and nothing else troubles the keeper, the bet loses. Blocks by outfield players do not count, so two blocked efforts settle as zero on target. The important nuance to remember is that a shot cleared off the line would still settle the bet as won, because the ball was goal-bound and only a defender on the line kept it out.
How We Approach the Shots on Target Market
Our edge in this market comes from doing the homework rather than backing the biggest name on the teamsheet. Here is the checklist we work through before we like a shots on target selection.
- Prioritise attackers and penalty takers who shoot often. A designated penalty taker carries a built-in route to an on-target effort, and high-frequency shooters give you more chances of the line landing.
- Check recent shots on target per game. We look at a player’s on-target average over his last five to six matches, not the season as a whole, because form and role change through a campaign.
- Target the right fixtures. Sides that sit in a low block and concede volume invite shots, which lifts a forward’s chances. A striker facing a deep defensive line usually sees more of the ball in dangerous areas.
- Weigh minutes and rotation risk. This is where most player props lose. A rested star, an early substitution or a place on the bench can sink an otherwise sensible pick before he has a shot away. Always confirm the player is expected to start and stay on.
Once you are happy with two or three player shots on target picks, they combine well. Folding several 1+ props together builds a healthy price, which is why we regularly weave them into our football accumulator tips when the fixtures line up. For daily selections across every market, you can browse our latest football tips and load your picks straight to your slip.
Betting Shots on Target Pros and Cons
Like any market, shots on target has trade-offs. Here is our honest read on both sides so you can decide whether it suits your betting.
Pros
- It settles on measurable, in-game action rather than a single decisive moment, so a player can miss and still land your bet.
- There are plenty of qualifying players in every fixture, from wingers to centre-forwards, giving you a wide pool of selections.
- Player 1+ lines make useful acca building blocks, letting you stack modest selections into a bigger return.
- Because settlement runs on public Opta data, disputes are rare and you can check the result yourself.
Cons
- Minutes and rotation risk are real, and an early substitution can undo good research.
- Odds on the safest 1+ lines are short, so the value is often thinner than it first looks.
- 2+ and above carry far more variance, and even in-form attackers can go a match without two on-target efforts.
None of these lines is certain. We frame every selection around the stats we like and the fixtures that back them, never as a sure thing.
Turn Your Shots on Target Picks into an Acca
Once you know how the 1+ and 2+ lines settle, pair your player shot props with our goals accumulator tips and load your selections straight to your slip.
Betting should be fun. Gamble responsibly. 18+ only.
Shots on Target Betting: FAQs
What counts as a shot on target for betting settlement?
A shot on target is any goal-bound effort that beats every outfield player and is only stopped by the goalkeeper, the net or a clearance on the goal line. Goals, keeper saves and shots cleared off the line all count. Shots that hit the woodwork, are blocked by an outfield defender in open play, or go wide or over do not.
What does 1+ shots on target mean?
1+ shots on target means the player or team must record at least one shot on target for the bet to win. The plus sign means one or more, so 1+ does not mean two. A single qualifying effort, whether a goal, a save or a clearance off the line, settles it as a winner.
What does 2+ shots on target mean, and is it two or three?
2+ shots on target means at least two on-target efforts are needed to win. It settles on two, not three, and any total above two still wins. Two qualifying shots is all it takes.
What does a 1.5 shots on target line require to win?
A 1.5 shots on target line needs two on-target shots to win, because half a shot is impossible. In practice, over 1.5 and 2+ require the same outcome: two or more on target.
Do penalties and blocked shots count as shots on target?
A penalty scored or a penalty saved counts as a shot on target. A shot blocked by an outfield defender in open play does not count, because it never truly tested the goal. The distinction between a keeper save (counts) and an outfield block (does not) is the one that catches punters out.
How do team and player shots on target markets differ?
Team shots on target markets cover a whole side, with a match line and over/under totals such as over 4.5 for the home team. Player shots on target props focus on one individual, most commonly at 1+ and 2+, with 3+ available for the highest-volume forwards.
How do we pick players for shots on target bets?
We prioritise attackers and penalty takers who shoot often, then check a player’s shots on target per game over his last five to six matches. We target fixtures against sides that sit in a low block and concede volume, and we always weigh minutes and rotation risk, since an early substitution can sink a prop.
