What Is a Shots on Target Bet? Meaning, Rules and Payouts

What is a shots on target bet? It is a wager on how many goal attempts reach the target in a football match. In other words, you back a number, not a winner: over or under a line the bookmaker sets. For example, backing a striker over 0.5 shots on target needs only one attempt on target to win.

Above all, this market rewards accuracy, not goals, and this guide covers what counts, the lines, payouts and settlement.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• A shots on target bet predicts whether the count lands over or under a line set by the bookmaker.
• A shot counts if it goes in, the goalkeeper saves it, or the last defender blocks it on the line.
• A shot off the post or crossbar does not count, and neither does a shot blocked by a defender who is not the last man.
• Match and team totals settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time; extra time and shootouts do not count.
• Player lines usually sit at 0.5 or 1.5, so one on-target attempt often decides the bet.

What Is a Shots on Target Bet?

A shots on target bet asks a simple question: how many attempts hit the target? In short, the bookmaker sets a line, and you choose over or under that line. For instance, a match-total line of 8.5 means nine or more for over, or eight or fewer for under.

The market comes in three versions. Firstly, the match total adds up both teams. Secondly, the team total counts one side. Finally, the player version counts one named player, and it draws the most attention, because a single striker can decide it with one accurate effort.

How a Shots on Target Bet Works

Placing the bet takes five steps:

1. Pick a match and find the market, often under “Player Stats” or “Match Stats”.
2. Choose the version: match total, team total or a named player.
3. Pick over or under and check the odds.
4. Enter your stake on the betting slip.
5. Confirm the slip.

The counting works attempt by attempt. For example, take a striker with four attempts: a goal, a saved shot, a shot off the post, and a shot blocked ten yards out. In other words, only the first two count, so he finishes with two shots on target. As a result, over 1.5 wins, while over 2.5 loses.

What Counts as a Shot on Target?

Opta, the data provider most bookmakers use, defines a shot on target as a deliberate attempt to score that is on target. In short, three outcomes count: a goal, a goalkeeper save, and a last-defender block.

Event	Counts as on target?
Goal scored	Yes
Shot saved by the goalkeeper	Yes
Shot cleared off the goal line	Yes
Shot hits the post or bar, stays out	No
Shot blocked, not by the last man	No
Shot goes wide or over the goal	No
Penalty hits woodwork or goes wide	No
Own goal	No

Woodwork. A shot that beats the goalkeeper and rattles the post was never going in, so Opta grades it as off target. For the full guide, read our explainer on the post and crossbar in football betting.

Blocked shots. By contrast, an ordinary block does not count. For example, a defender ten yards out who blocks a strike stops it reaching the goal, so Opta records a blocked shot.

Intent and own goals. That said, Opta counts only deliberate attempts to score. In other words, a cross that drifts towards goal and forces a save does not count when Opta judges it a cross. Similarly, an own goal counts as a shot for nobody. Finally, a shot pulled back for offside or a free kick does not count.

What Is a Shots on Target Bet Payout?

Firstly, the payout follows the same rule as any single bet: stake multiplied by the odds. For example, a ₦2,000 stake on over 8.5 at 1.90 returns ₦3,800, for a profit of ₦1,800. In other words, the return includes your stake, so subtract it to find the profit.

The odds also show the implied chance: 1 divided by 1.90 gives 0.526, or 52.6%. Next, a ₦1,000 stake on a player over 0.5 at 1.60 returns ₦1,600, for a profit of ₦600 (implied chance 62.5%). Similarly, a ₦1,000 stake on the same player over 1.5 at 2.50 returns ₦2,500, for a profit of ₦1,500 (implied chance 40.0%).

Payouts at common prices, all for a ₦1,000 stake:

Odds	Return	Profit	Implied chance
1.50	₦1,500	₦500	66.7%
1.80	₦1,800	₦800	55.6%
2.00	₦2,000	₦1,000	50.0%
2.50	₦2,500	₦1,500	40.0%

Match Total, Team Total and Player Lines

Firstly, the match total combines both teams, so its line runs highest: a typical line in a top-flight match sits between 7.5 and 9.5. For example, a line of 8.5 needs nine on-target attempts for over to win, while eight or fewer lands under.

Secondly, the team total counts one side alone, so its line runs lower.

Thirdly, the player version carries the lowest lines. In practice, most players sit at over or under 0.5: does the player record at least one shot on target? By contrast, heavy shooters get a 1.5 line, which needs two on-target attempts. In addition, “1+” means the same as over 0.5, and “2+” means the same as over 1.5.

Line	Final total	Result
Over 8.5	9	Over wins
Over 8	8	Push — stake refunded

For the wider guide, read our explainer on over/under totals betting. Above all, the half-number line removes the push: with 8.5, the count lands over or under, never exactly on the line.

What Is a Shots on Target Bet Compared With Total Shots?

Total shots and shots on target sound alike, yet they count different things. In short, total shots counts every attempt at goal, whether on target, off target or blocked. By contrast, shots on target counts only the attempts that would have gone in without a goalkeeper save or a clearance off the line.

For example, a winger who takes five shots but drags three wide and sees one blocked records only one shot on target. As a result, a regular attacker might sit at over 2.5 total shots but only over 0.5 shots on target. For the glossary entries, see our football betting glossary. Above all, check which market your slip shows before you confirm it.

Settlement: 90 Minutes, Extra Time and Abandoned Matches

Settlement runs on 90 minutes plus stoppage time for match and team totals. Firstly, stoppage-time attempts count. Secondly, extra time does not count for those markets, and neither do penalty shootouts.

Player markets differ. In practice, some bookmakers settle player shots on target on 90 minutes too, while others include extra time. For instance, bet365 includes extra time for its listed player markets, including Player Shots on Target. As a result, always read the market wording before you stake.

Abandoned matches usually void the bet, with the stake refunded. That said, a bet whose result was already decided stands: if the over line had already been passed, the over bet had already won. Similarly, a player who takes no part voids a player bet.

Finally, settlement follows the data provider named in the bookmaker’s rules, usually Opta. In other words, the television graphic does not decide your bet: Opta’s record does. What is more, Opta can amend its stats after the match, so a settled count can still change.

What Is a Shots on Target Bet Strategy?

The best guide is the player’s own record. For instance, check how many shots on target the player averages per match. Firstly, a striker who averages over one shot on target per match clears over 0.5 in most of his matches. Secondly, a winger who shoots often but rarely hits the target can mislead.

On the other hand, the match matters as much as the player. For example, a striker facing a deep defence finds it harder to register on-target attempts than against an open side.

Above all, compare prices before you stake: one bookmaker might offer 1.60 while another offers 1.75 on the same line. Finally, keep the stake small on the longer lines: over 1.5 and over 2.5 need repeat accuracy.

Mistakes to avoid: counting woodwork, counting every block, confusing total shots with shots on target, and assuming extra time counts.

What Is a Shots on Target Bet Under Nigerian Law?

Meanwhile, betting in Nigeria is for adults only — 18+ only. Regulation is state-led: the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission framework applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. As a result, a bettor should check that a bookmaker holds a licence in the bettor’s own state, rather than assuming a site is “licensed by the NLRC” as a general rule. In addition, licensed bookmakers ask for identity checks before paying out winnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a shots on target bet if a shot hits the post?

It loses that attempt: a shot that hits the post or crossbar and stays out does not count. For example, a striker backed over 1.5 who scores once and hits the post once finishes with one shot on target.

Does a penalty count as a shot on target?

Yes, when it scores or the goalkeeper saves it. In other words, a scored penalty counts as a goal, while a saved penalty counts as a save. On the other hand, a penalty that hits the woodwork or goes wide does not count.

Does a blocked shot count as a shot on target?

Only when the last defender blocks it on the goal line. For example, a goal-line clearance counts, because the ball was heading in. By contrast, a shot blocked ten yards out does not count.

What happens if my player does not play?

The bet is void and the stake is refunded. In short, a player market needs the named player to take part. As a result, check the team news before you stake.

Do shots on target count in extra time?

Not for match and team totals: those settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. For player markets, it depends on the bookmaker: some include extra time, while others settle on 90 minutes.

What is the difference between over 0.5 and 1+ shots on target?

There is none: both mean the same bet. In other words, over 0.5 and 1+ both need at least one shot on target. Similarly, over 1.5 and 2+ both mean two or more.

The Bottom Line

What is a shots on target bet, in one line? A wager on how many goal attempts reach the target, settled over or under a line. In short, it rewards accuracy: a goal counts, a save counts, a goal-line block counts. Above all, remember the two traps: the count follows Opta’s record, not the television pictures, and match totals settle on 90 minutes.

Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Treat it as entertainment, not as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, stop. For help and guidance, visit our Responsible Gambling page.