Shots on Target Betting Explained

Last updated: 25/08/2026

Shots on target betting sounds about as straightforward as it gets.

Player has a shot. It's on target. Job done.

And the shot on target meaning really is that simple on paper: an attempt that scores, forces a save, or gets stopped on the line by the last defender. You're backing a player, team or match to finish over or under a set number of them.

Except, obviously, football never makes anything that easy.

Does hitting the post count? What if the keeper tips it onto the bar? What about a defender clearing one off the line? And yes, we've all seen a shot we were certain was on target quietly disappear from the stats.

So here's how it actually works at Midnite. No guesswork, no "well, the graphic said it was on target", just the rules we use to settle the market.

What is a shot on target?

A shot on target in football is an attempt at goal that goes in, is saved by the goalkeeper, or is stopped by the last defender when it would otherwise have scored. You bet on a player, team or match finishing over or under a set number of them.

Simple enough.

Until someone hits the post.

What counts as a shot on target, and what doesn't?

This is the bit that causes most of the group chat arguments.

Here's exactly what's classed as a shot on target at Midnite, and what isn't:

There are two in there worth knowing properly.

First: the post.

If a player absolutely leathers one against the inside of the post and it somehow stays out, it's not a shot on target.

Harsh? Maybe.

The logic is simple enough though: without anyone intervening, the ball still wasn't going in.

Now, if the keeper gets a fingertip to that same shot and pushes it onto the post, it does count. Without the save, that's a goal.

Same bit of woodwork. Completely different settlement.

Then there's the block.

If a defender is effectively standing in for the keeper and stops a shot that was heading in, that counts as on target.

If a defender blocks it further out, it doesn't. That's just a blocked shot.

And penalties? A penalty during the match counts like any other attempt, scored or saved. Shootout penalties don't, because the match is already over as far as settlement goes.

Shots vs shots on target: what's the difference?

Easy one to mix up. Especially when you've got half a Bet Builder open and kick-off is in four minutes.

Shots covers any clear, intentional attempt at goal.

On target. Wide. Over. Blocked. All of it.

Shots on target is the smaller bucket: goals, saves, and last-ditch stops that prevent a goal.

So yes, a player can have five shots and finish with zero on target.

Anyone who's watched their full back start fancying himself from 30 yards will understand.

Midnite prices both markets, so have a quick look at the wording on your betslip before you place it. They're similar. They're not the same.

How shots on target betting works

Most shots on target bets are simple over/under markets.

We set a number. You back whether the final total lands above or below it.

The important bit: that number comes from the rules above, not from how dangerous a shot looked or what the co-commentator made of it.

Match shots on target

The total from both teams added together.

So if the line is 8.5, you need nine or more for the over.

Seven shots on target in a frantic 3-2? Under.

Ten in a miserable 0-0 where both keepers have had the game of their lives? Over.

Football, eh.

Team shots on target

Exactly the same idea, just for one team.

If you reckon one side is going to spend the afternoon camped on the edge of the opposition box, you can back their total without worrying about what happens at the other end.

Player shots on target

This is the one you'll see all over Bet Builders.

You might back a player to have 1+, 2+ or 3+ shots on target.

It's a popular way of backing players who get themselves into shooting positions regularly, without needing them to actually score.

You can add player shots on target to a bet builder, and our bet builder tips guide goes into more detail on how those markets fit together.

First half, headers, left foot, right foot

Yep, it gets more specific.

Midnite can also offer first-half and second-half shots on target, as well as headed, left-footed and right-footed attempts.

How many of those you see depends on the competition.

The top five European leagues and the Championship usually get the full menu. Smaller competitions can have a tighter selection.

You might also see alternative player shots on target.

Sounds fancy. Isn't really.

It just means extra lines beyond the standard one. So if a player is priced at 1+, you may also see 2+ and 3+ at bigger odds.

You're asking for more to happen, so the price gets bigger too.

What do 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 shots on target mean?

This is one of those betting things that looks odd for about ten seconds, then never looks odd again.

So the over 0.5 shots on target meaning is simply one or more. 1+ says the same thing in different clothes.

Same with Over 1.5 and 2+.

Nobody can have 1.5 shots on target, obviously. The half is there so the bet can't land exactly on the line.

So if you back a player Over 1.5 shots on target, they need two or more.

Take Under 1.5 and they need one or none.

That's it.

If betting lines in general still look like someone's handed you a maths exam at kick-off, have a read of our betting odds explained guide. Our over 2.5 goals meaning explainer does the same job for goals.

How does Midnite settle shots on target bets?

Worth knowing, because your stats app isn't settling your bet. We are.

Midnite settles shots on target markets using data from our official provider, chosen for the reliability and accuracy of its feeds.

Different providers make different calls on marginal attempts, so the number on your TV graphic, football app or fantasy account won't always match ours.

For settlement, Midnite's official data is the one that counts.

Shots on target markets settle across 90 minutes plus injury time.

Extra time doesn't count.

Penalty shootouts don't count.

Once the final data is confirmed, the market settles. Cash out is available on eligible bets before then, including in-play where offered.

Where can I find shots on target markets on Midnite?

Open a match on Midnite's football sportsbook and head to the shots or player stats markets.

For a big Premier League game you'll usually find plenty to get stuck into: match totals, team totals, player shots on target, halves, headed shots and foot-specific markets.

Smaller competitions can have fewer options.

Player shots on target also feature heavily in Bet Builders, often alongside goals, cards and other player stats.

Our football betting tips and football betting statistics guides can help you make sense of the numbers before you pick a line.

Just remember: a stat can tell you what has happened. It can't promise you what happens next.

If this sort of market is your thing, cards betting and corners betting work in a similar way. We've got an explainer on booking points coming too.

FAQs

What does 1.5 shots on target mean?

Over 1.5 shots on target means you need two or more for the bet to win.

Under 1.5 means one or none.

The half is there so the total can't finish bang on the line.

What actually counts as a shot on target?

An intentional shot counts as on target if it scores, forces a goalkeeper save when it would otherwise have gone in, or is stopped by the last defender when it would otherwise have scored.

How does a shot on target work?

The market counts every attempt that meets the definition above, then settles over or under the line you backed.

Midnite counts them across 90 minutes plus injury time, using our official data feed rather than whatever your stats app says.

Do penalties count as shots on target?

During normal match time, yes.

A scored penalty counts. A saved penalty counts.

Penalties in a shootout don't, because shootouts sit outside the 90-minute settlement period.

Does hitting the post count as a shot on target?

Not by itself.

If a shot hits the post or bar directly and stays out, it's off target.

If the keeper saves it onto the post or bar, it counts, because the ball was heading in before the save.

The short version

Goals count.

Keeper saves count.

Goal-line heroics from the last defender count.

Smashing the post with no touch from the keeper? Doesn't count.

Neither do own goals or shootout penalties.

And if you remember nothing else, remember this: shots and shots on target are not the same thing.

You'll find both across Midnite's football betting markets whenever they're available.

Pick the one you actually mean, know what needs to happen, and decide what you're comfortable staking before the game starts. No player stat is a sure thing.

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About the author

Jordan Willmott is Sportsbook Experience Manager at Midnite, where he leads the team behind sportsbook operations and propositions, from bet settlement and price boosts to the range of markets and specials available across every sport on site.

He has spent 13 years in sportsbook and trading, previously in similar roles at BetVictor, Sporting Index and Sky Betting & Gaming.

He writes here on how markets are built, made available and settled once the whistle goes.

Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn.